can online political campaign become more interactive?

[ps1074]

Most of you have probably already visited the DEMS '04 sites listed at the DU welcome page. Some of them you like, some of them you don't. They all have links to the candidate stance on differens issues, links to a volunteers section, to a contribution page etc etc. Some have many features, some don't.

IMHO the best of these is Dean's site. It has many features the other campaign sites does not offer.

But do you feel there is a lack of feedback in all these sites? Except for the Dean blog I don't see how any of the other sites can 'communicate' with a visitor. It is not enough just to have a web site, where a visitor can go and see Lieberman's stance on abortion or Kerry's stance on the death penalty.

Is it possible these web sites become more interactive? Sure it is.

Scenario : A surfer visits Dean's site. He'she checks the main page, read the campaign news but he/she is still undecided if he is the right candidate to support. The surfer takes a deeper look and visits more pages within the site. Then all of a sudden a chat box pops up (like yahoo messenger) and a REAL person is at the other end.

Volunteer - "Hello, my name is Peter and I am a volunteer for Gov.Dean. It is nice to have you on our campaign site. Can I help you with something?"

Visitor - "I was just lurking and wondering where can I find more info on ..."

Volunteer - "This is great, you can read about it here. Let me help you with it"

At this point a new browser window opens with the location of the needed info.

Volunteer - "Here you can read more about it. Can I know your name please? My name is Peter Smith."

Visitor - "My name is Jane Carlson. I am so excited about this campaign..."

etc etc etc

This way you can talk the visitor to volunteer, to donate, have his/her name, state, address and make a volunteer bank. Online donations can go up 200%... Possibilities are endless...

You see - it is a live interaction and this is never done before. Guess what? I know for sure it can be done. And I am ready to share my ideas with anyone serious about it and show them the way to do it. Believe me, the first campaign to do this will be all over the networks for weeks.

What do you guys think about it?

[Eloriel]

1. This is a GREAT idea

Will you PLEASE go post it somewhere to the blog? Pretty please?

Eloriel

[Orangepeel]

2. If Land's End can do it...

...

[HFishbine]

3. Great Idea

There would be no shortage of volunteers either.

I imagine the candidate wouldn't want people speaking for him or her, so they might ask that "guides" refrain from offering opinions and simply help visitors navigate the site. A detail that can surely be worked out. It's a great idea!

[mandyky]

4. There is already software for that

It used to be called Human Click (I think they renamed it). It allows the web folks to monitor who is on site, where they are on the site and a button to click if they need help.