Greener Desktop

It’s well known that the Rudd campaign was the first federal election campaign to use social media effectively. The year was 2007 and the slogan Kevin 07 rang thick. Not just through old media but online as well. Obviously this wasn’t the first time the internet had been used to help reach potential voters. Websites, blogs and display advertising have all been used in the last few campaigns. I remember seeing banner ads for Howard’s campaign as far back as 1996 when he took on the then encumbent Labor party. The difference in 2007 was that the dialogue changed. It went from being one way communication to a conversation that listened to and engaged with the voting public. It also quite likely won them the election. There was a huge swing towards Labor much of it coming from young, first time voters. Who obviously felt engaged by a party and potential prime minister who was willing to listen.

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