Many social networking sites enable users to search for “friends” by zip codes, state, and age presenting a unique opportunity to target those willing to be friends within your area and your targeted age group.  Once targeted and “friended” by the campaign traditional field tactics can be incorporated:

 

 

• Ensuring the “friend” is registered to vote
• Further down the road, developing a “pledge to vote” program and tagging those identified as 1-5’s.
• Utilize “vote early” efforts.  Programs like “MySpace Vote Early Day” where friends of the candidate can, in unison, show up at their local city hall where staffers are waiting in a “house party style” venue for “post-vote” activities and where the campaign or organization can gain vital information about the supporter.

 

With an engaged campaign or organization who daily conducts "friend maintenance" such as birthday wishes, replies to mail, and "thanks for the add" comments, there is an appearance of attention and value given to the supporters thus creating more of an incentive for continued participation.

 

Josh Levy's blog post: Rules for Using MySpace in Politics addresses the "MySpace Issue" by setting up his top rules:

1. Reach Out to People Where They Congregate
2. MySpace Isn't Local (Except When It Is)
3. Let People Take Ownership
4. Fundraise Elsewhere

See the piece for details his points are well stated and on target.

 

 

Finally, the personal counts!  Giving that extra time to focus on your MySpace "friends" helps build a more personal relationship.

1. Wish people happy birthday.
2. Say "thank you" for add requests.
3. Respond to mail quickly and thoughtfully. 

 

 

See Also:

 

• MySpace Best Practices
• The 10 Commandments of MySpace Advocacy
• Mike Connery's Future Majority Post
• California Politics Enters MySpace Age
• Politics and MySpace
• Rules for Using MySpace in Politics