With election fever building in the run up to the election, you would think that MPs would be experts at using social media to their full advantage in an attempt to connect with and influence the internet-savvy younger generation. Not so, according to a recent report entitled: ‘An Opportunity Lost – How MPs are the missing the point of social media’ by MHP Communications.
The report suggests that MPs are failing to use Twitter or Facebook effectively to engage with voters, in spite of the Conservatives spending over £100,000 a month on Facebook advertising and MPs tweeting over 700,000 times a year.
It suggests that the most frequent Twitter users in the Commons are either those with a passion for technology, strong local campaigners or headline-grabbing backbenchers who see it as a quick and easy way to communicate their message to a wider audience. However, despite their enthusiasm for the technology, these politicians are failing to engage and influence their followers, despite many being regular Twitter users.
Not surprisingly our Prime Minister leads the way with the highest number of Twitter followers, next comes Ed Miliband, then William Hague.
Twitter is a very effective tool for building dialogue with followers, and as a B2B PR agency who work with clients to help foster engagement, I am amazed that the MPs own PR teams haven’t advised them on how to make the most of it as a tool to engage with and influence young voters. You can read more about this report here.
Fiona Whyatt has worked in B2B PR for many years. She loves blogging!
