← Decoding Barack Obama’s Social Media Campaign Strategies

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By Janell Hazelwood | Published July 7, 2011 | Full size is 620 × 420 pixels

In 2008, then Sen. Barack Obama recognized the power of social media as a vital tool for reaching constituents and gaining supporters. He not only became the nation’s first African American president, but he is also arguably the first customer relationship management president as well as the first social media president, based on his campaign’s strategic and savvy use of the Web. (Some even tout his use of Twitter (@BarackObama) as a major factor in his win over Sen. Hillary Clinton). With more than 9 million followers, today the president has been able to use the platform to gain insight on voter's needs and provide a transparent, up-to-the-minute venue for information and dialogue on U.S. and foreign policy. On July 6, he held a town hall via Twitter, where he answered follower's questions on the economy and other issues from everyday people.

In 2008, then Sen. Barack Obama recognized the power of social media as a vital…