Digital transformation in the time of COVID-19
As Americans are instructed to stay home to slow down the spread of coronavirus, your digital footprint is now more important than ever. Across the country, people are working from home, avoiding public gatherings, and spending more time on their screens. This means campaigns will need to rely more heavily on the digital world to make up for the absence of in-person campaigning.
Cue RTBiQ Political! We have the social media expertise and digital tools you need to stay connected with your team, reach potential voters, and train volunteers all from the comfort of your home. Our team of digital strategists have been supporting Democrats with our services since 2016 and we are eager to help you too!
Here's a list of some of our FAQs for how to bridge the gap from real world to digital world:
How do I stay connected to my team without an office space?
We know that campaigns rely heavily on in-person organizing and activities, including field work based out of their campaign office. In place of a physical office, you can connect through video-chat (cameras on!) using Google Hangouts or Zoom, and use Facebook Groups to facilitate staying in touch, setting up online events, and sharing news. Chat tools like Slack and WhatsApp are also very helpful for getting in touch in a timely manner (these are available as apps for Android and iOS). Regularly scheduled emails via tools like Mailchimp will keep your supporters plugged in to build a sense of community.
How can I reach voters if I can't knock on doors?
Phone-banking and text-banking targeted to voter files can be done easily from home (it's also a great way to help send reminders internally to activate volunteers!). Be sure to record trainings via your favorite video-chat tool, so the recordings can be referenced as needed. Building a robust organic and paid social media plan is also a key to success. Now is a great time to utilize "live" video features and upload content to YouTube and other platforms to stay engaged with your followers.
How can I fundraise if I can't host events?
First and foremost, if you don't have a website or social media presence, now is the time to build one out or optimize what you have (spring cleaning, anyone?)! Be sure to highlight your donate button and ways to connect with your campaign online. Search ads with a clear call-to-action (i.e. donate or learn more) will help drive traffic to your site. You can also host online events using all the tools mentioned above. Do consider the time scheduled for online events to accommodate for our new daily routines.
Is there anything I can do digitally to supplement mail?
With more people being at home, we anticipate a surge in direct mail. We suggest coordinating mailers with digital ads to reinforce the messaging and ensure multiple touch points for minimal investment.
Tell me more about political advertising opportunities.
Whether you're running a federal or local level campaign, we can help you target the voters that matter to win. We offer:
An in-house digital ad platform (DSP) that allows you to micro-target against voter files and political affinities across mobile, tablet, desktop, and ConnectedTV
A team of politically verified analysts to optimize your Facebook ads and get you to the top of Google search
Proprietary products like digital campaign info cards to quickly share lit via mobile devices at a fraction of direct mail's cost
Social media management across all major social media channels
Peer-to-peer texting, phone banking, and more!
Remember: everything you do now to build your digital presence will help your chances of success in the future. We're in this together and we can't wait to help you succeed in 2020!