Social media expertise for the election campaign
Local FDP politicians are to receive training on how to use Facebook and Twitter ahead of the upcoming cantonal council elections. The NZZ am Sonntag attended one such social media training session.
As half of the Swiss population uses Facebook and increasingly also the 30 to 50 age group, i.e. voters, Beni Meier, election campaign coordinator for the Zurich FDP, held a training course for his party colleagues last week. Only the SP is apparently really strong in dealing with social media.
Ill-considered tweets and posts can end political careers, as recent years have shown. "It's better to wait an hour, especially if you're upset," advises Meier. "Only post what could also be a Blick headline." But that's more another party's problem anyway. In contrast to the SVP, the challenge for liberal local politicians lies more in the fact that they are noticed in the flood of information.
"Don't write long texts," is another recommendation, "work with photos or videos." You should also post personal things. Connecting with party celebrities is also a good way to gain credibility.
According to NZZ am Sonntag, the conclusion of the training is rather sobering. Those who are already familiar with Facebook would continue to use it; the others remain aloof. "I'm not the type for Facebook and Twitter", Fehraltorf local councillor Christian Wegmüller is quoted as saying, for example. "I wouldn't know what to post all the time. After all, it has to have content, whether it's on a poster or on the internet." Cantonal council candidate Ernst Reitmair is torn between the two. "I think I'd rather flyer at the train station," he says in the end. "If I want to make a Facebook page, it has to be good. And only a professional can do that." (NZZ am Sonntag)
