How to create kick-ass integrated online campaigns

By Cameron Tolle, online campaign manager at Freedom to Marry, who tweets at @freedomtomarry; and Sarah Kennedy, a political communications consultant, follow her on Twitter at @sarahkkennedy.

How do we get more Facebook fans and what do we do with them once we have them? How can I use online tools to bolster the work being done by our field team? What’s the best way to use video online? Do our supporters even use e-mail anymore?

Effective use of new media offers new, cost-effective means of increasing organizational capacity and enables organizers to engage a wider base of supporters to take important actions. But sometimes, creating and implementing your new media plan can feel like you’re taking a shot in the dark.

If you’ve ever asked yourself of the above questions, join us at our session at Creating Change, “Engaging supporters online: How to create kick-ass integrated online campaigns” on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 3-4:30 p.m.

We (Cameron Tolle & Sarah Kennedy) have led dozens of LGBT online campaigns across the country. Recent favorite campaign? Winning the freedom to marry in our home, New York. But that’s just one. We’ve seen what’s been working across the country as online organizing has evolved for the past five years. We’ve also learned what is basically guaranteed to fail. We’ll teach you how to take your work to the next level, using real-life examples, case studies and tools.

Why you will leave our session energized: You’ll know how to better target your supporters — and opponents. You’ll have a stronger understanding of effective messaging and tools. You’ll be set to take your online campaign goals, execution, and evaluation up a notch. You will kick ass.

You definitely don’t need to be a new media expert to attend, but it’ll be helpful if you have some existing knowledge of and experience in the online organizing world (i.e., knowing what #hashtags are, sending e-blasts to your supporters, managing a Facebook account).

We can’t wait to see you in Baltimore, and we look forward to sharing with and learning from you so that together we can bolster the online power of the LGBT community!