Over the last year or two a lot of oxygen and column inches have been consumed by commentary about Obama’s online campaigning phenomenon.
But there’s no point in just pontificating about the lessons to learn from that success – we should actually do something to try and apply those lessons to a British context.
Since my blog on this theme at the start of the summer we’ve been working hard to do just that. And today you can see the result: MyConservatives.com.
MyConservatives is an online platform that helps anyone campaign and fundraise for the candidates they support, and issues that they care about. Here are some of the things it can help you do:
- Take part in campaign activities and social action:
- Donate directly to individual campaigns
- Ring voters from the comfort of your home
- Set up fundraising events with online ticketing
We’re really pleased to have got this off the ground, and that it’s already being talked about as one of the most advanced campaigning platforms of its kind anywhere in the world. But we don’t see this as a finished product by any means, it’s very much the start of a journey, and it’s a journey we’re going to need your help with.
Whilst we’ve got lots of ideas about how to develop it further, we’re sure you do too – and we want to hear them. What works well? What doesn’t work? What could work?
If that sounds like too much trouble, we’ve even put in an “Ask Sam” feature for members to message me directly with general comments like this. I’ll also be Twittering, and blogging on here from now up to the election.
In the mean time, I look forward to seeing you on MyConservatives!
p.s. we don’t want it to be all work and no play – as you can see by our customised page not found and access denied errors featuring our esteemed Chairman (although we hope you won’t be seeing too much of them!).
( 10 comments ) Tags: blog, my, myconservatives, Social Action
Pingback by Introducing MyConservatives « on October 2, 2009 at 11:09 am
[...] Introducing MyConservatives 2009 October 2 by yorkshireconservatives By Samuel Coates – from The Blue Blog [...]
Comment by Malcolm Dunn on October 2, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Well done sSam. The best of luck with this
Comment by Jamie on October 2, 2009 at 12:43 pm
loving the pictures of the error pages!
just waiting for the DNS settings to update so that i can visit the actual site!
Comment by Sean Lever on October 2, 2009 at 1:37 pm
Good work Sam, will make thes best use of it here in Northamptonshire.
Comment by Clare Hilley on October 2, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Excellent work Sam. I look forward to contributing in any way that I can. See you in Manchester!
Pingback by First look at the MyConservatives.com system – the start of Liquid Politics? | The Wardman Wire on October 2, 2009 at 3:14 pm
[...] Matt Wardman • October 2, 2009 The Conservatives have launched a new online campaigning platform, at MyConservatives.com. Sam Coates kindly gave me a peek inside. [...]
Comment by Tristan Downing on October 2, 2009 at 6:06 pm
I wrote an email to CCHQ over a year ago outlining exactly what a Conservative networking/ campaigning/ fundraising website should include and how it should work.. I am interested to see if I was taken any notice of.. I’ve been waiting a long time for this to start up so I will be annoyed I were ignored!!
Comment by Samuel Coates on October 2, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Thanks all.
Tristan – I’m glad we’re in the same line of thinking. No idea what might have happened to the email but I look forward to seeing you on there…
Comment by Antonia Cox on October 2, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Great start and very encouraging.
Comment by Jaybs on October 8, 2009 at 7:26 am
Fully agree with you Sam! we studied the Obama campaign and now we must action the best of what they did, if anyone can do it, You Can! wishing you every success!