• The internet has become the essential touch point, but getting close is getting harder.
• There is social media fragmentation; anyone could be someone.
• The images of brands are not dictated by companies—they are dictated by people.
• Companies don’t need to shout; they need to listen instead.

I was thinking of nice way to share what I learned from Mr. Pao until I remembered the things he told us in the end. Before he concluded his talk, he mentioned some politicians that have websites and how effective are those in engaging visitors. Well, it’s not exactly what he said but it is almost tangential to my rephrased version. With all the things I learned from OrCom 152, I am curious to analyze the social media initiative of our presidentiables and their running mates for the upcoming elections. For this entry, I will be having an objective description of their websites and a subjective analysis of their effectiveness as social media tools. Just a disclaimer, all of my views and opinions are not professionally crafted though I believe I have learned the core principles of social media marketing. Uhuh.

So let us start.

Noynoy  Aquino

Noynoy Aquino

First sight. What I like about Noynoy’s official website is its simplicity. It does not shout “Please vote for me!”. The typical blog layout structure suggests an ordinary person’s blog.

The Engagement. Noy and his team, used a blog platform for his official site. With this, people can post comments and Noy could interact with them through replying. The sidebar is also maximized through placements of different social media tools like videos (blogs), Subscribe to RSS, RSS feeds, related sites and even a “Support Noynoy for President” Blog Badge. On the other hand, his blog is really updated; the last few entries are about Ondoy.

The Final Blow. If simplicity is the sole criterion for an effective social media website, then Noy will win this race. However, I want a more Noynoy personality in the website. It may look so plain or even boring for some visitors especially for the youth considering most of the visitors will come from this segment.

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Mar Roxas

Mar Roxas

First Sight. Mar’s website is really appealing without sacrificing simplicity. In contrast with Noynoy’s, Mar’s site is branded with Mar Roxas. Although there is a humongous, animated Mar Roxas banner on the top of the site, relevant content follows the rather sugar-coated introduction.

The Engagement. Like Noynoy’s, Mar’s site is also a blog. However, they added a clever feature at the bottom of the blog frame. If you don’t want to read the blog and you just want to comment or leave a testimonial a la Friendster, a separate tool is available for you: Mahalaga ka, your opinions matter. On the sidebar, you will see popular sharing options, photo blog entries and a Twitter widget—all of these can’t be found on Noynoy’s website.

The Final Blow. I believe Mar’s site is relatively better than Noynoy’s. My only contention is it’s too formal and has a stiff look. When I visited the site, I didn’t know that it’s a blog or I could leave testimonials for Mar to read. An explicit announcement for interaction could be a great improvement.

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Manny Villar

Manny Villar

First Sight. Manny Villar’s site is really consistent with his campaign’s theme: The orange motif, the check mark and the Sipag at Tiyaga adage. This kind of consistency has a higher-chance of name-recall.

The Engagement. I think the site is more of luring volunteers or recruiting members for Tropang Villar. The blog and RSS feed of Villar-related news are there at the bottom fit to a very small frame. Although there is an attempt for social networking through sharing options and Tropang Villar invitation options, the overall feel of the site isn’t sociable.

The Final Blow. Manny’s site is really information loaded—it became a helpdesk about OFWs, Housing and Livelihood. Though for me, it still sticks to the Mass Communication perspective of relaying information. More engagement please.

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Chiz Escudero

Chiz Escudero

First Sight. Chiz Escudero hasn’t declared his candidacy yet so I think it’s not proper to blame his site not having any election-related propaganda. His site has a red motif, that’s it. Haha, on a serious note, his site has a 2-3 columns structure that made the site overflowing with information though it’s not really the case.

The Engagement. There is a Chiz Escudero blog but, like Manny Villar’s, it is hidden somewhere and it’s not the main feature of his site. Moreover, you could add Chiz in his different social network accounts through the links buried below in his online abode.

The Final Blow. I think Chiz and his team are still developing a more sociable website, well, that’s my no-basis assumption. The website is still an I-tell-you tool rather than an I-tell-you-and-you-tell-me one.

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Jamby Madrigal

Jamby Madrigal

First Sight. Just like Chiz’s site, Jamby’s site is purely an informational one. There is no explicit attempt to sell the Jamby Madrigal brand (She just announced her candidacy for the presidential race).

The Engagement. Get this, there is no engagement at all! There is a pseudo-blog but it’s not really a blog since it’s more of a collection of news articles.

The Final Blow. Jamby, if you wanna be president, be sociable enought.

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Gilberto Teodoro

Gibo Teodoro

First Sight. Like Mar Roxas’s site, Gibo’s site is neat without sacrificing content. It’s green, it’s easy on the eyes and I like green. Haha.

The Engagement. I believe that Gibo’s site is the most social media-centric of all sites I presented. He has a webcast, a guide on how to help and develop his supporters’ pool through online campaigning (I like how the site segmented the different target audiences, clever!),  a Twitter widget, News RSS, Leave Your Testimonial tool, a Photo Blog and of course, sharing options.

The Final Blow. I like the strategy of Gibo, his team is really updated with the social media tools and with the techniques on how to use those. However, my only contention is the absence of a felt-able Gilberto Teodoro on his very own site. A personal blog could answer this problem.

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With all of the sites I have presented, Gilberto Teodoro’s and Mar Roxas’s sites are the most sociable of all. Of course, they have their weaknesses too. It is safe to anticipate that the upcoming elections will take advantage of Web 2.0. I am excited, and I’ll be watching.