Joe Barton is the congressman infamous for apologizing to BP executive Tony Hayward. Barton lamented the ‘shakedown’ of BP:
I’m ashamed of what happened in the White House yesterday. I think it’s a tragedy.
As you probably guessed, Mr. Barton is among the largest recipients of oil industry campaign donations.
Joe Should Have Laid the Hammer Down
If ethics or morality aren’t reason enough to do the right thing, then how about the effects of social media and pay-per-click marketing? The BP disaster has shown how effective social networks are at reinforcing an advertising message.
Take a look at how the President (or someone acting on his behalf) have taken to Google to sign up potential voters for the November mid-term elections:
Here’s the optimized landing page. It’s pretty ingenious — a straightforward message and instant barometer of public sentiment (the sign-up form). Not to mention the fact each new sign-up represents a potential voter who can be ‘marketed’ to during the election cycle.
Never Back Down
If you’re going to make an effort to get noticed on the social web — for business, personal branding or otherwise — you have to take unpopular stands sometimes. Don’t try to ride the fence or protect someone if you stand to benefit financially, emotionally or in any significant manner.
Because someone will find out, and with $10, they can make your life hell.
Seriously, it’s just too easy to advertise to the entire world with a tiny budget, so imagine if you had a couple thousand to blow on making a person notorious. Check out the simple steps for making your own Joe Barton eat their words:
- Set up a Google AdWords account
- Create a Facebook Page
- Spend $9 on Email Marketing Software
Seriously, that’s it. You create a Facebook page and direct your Google AdWords ads to it, making sure to include an email sign up form on the landing page. OK, it’s not going to be easy to gain conversions if you’re an amateur, but do you know how many tech savvy people there are in most communities?
Bottom Line: Don’t Be Evil