Media Box Encourages Election Candidates to Up the Ante on Election Week

So today Joanne from Media Box analysed the online footprint of Donegal's 20 General Election candidates today on the Shaun Doherty Show on Highland Radio.

This weekly slot reviews the various activities of all candidates on facebook, twitter, blogs, websites and you tube.

Today Joanne noted that a significant number of posts, tweets and blogs went live following her slot on Highland Radio. And she decided to give out awards to the best, the worst and the best tryers! Here are the results...

• Most engaging candidate to take note of this slot is Cllr. Thomas Pringle who has taken to Twitter like a duck to water.
• All candidates are now embracing social media except Tanaiste Mary Coughlan and Cllr. Ian McGarvey. Now Ian is a man who likes his voice heard so come on Ian get into Social Media! There is no excuse!
• Best Profile pic by Stephen McCahill, Independent, Canvassing and in deep debate with a local voter.
• Ann Sweeney has her twitter account connected to her facebook page which means that she tweets and it appears on her facebook page. No real interaction on facebook in terms of engagement and conversations with Friends.
• Most New Friends on Facebook this week: Stephen McCahill (Ind) + 657 followed closely by John Duffy (Green) +564 – both in Donegal South West
• New Twitter Accounts this week: Cllr. Thomas Pringle: Following 308, 68 followers, 48 tweets, 4 listed.
• Lost Opportunity Vote goes to: Deputy Joe McHugh (has a high profile but not maximising it online – posts are impersonal and generic FG links)
• JoeMcHugh & CharlieMcConalogue have twitter accounts but haven’t tweeted!
• Best overall social media presence & integrated strategy goes to: Cllr. Jimmy Harte – Good facebook presence and engagement, active twitter account, engaging blog and facebook ad campaign.
• Best Blog: Joint Awards go to Cllr. Jimmy Harte & Ryan Stewart
• Most popular in Donegal NE: Padraig MacLochlainn – does this reflect the SF and Social media following?
• Most popular in Donegal SW: Pearse Doherty - does this reflect the SF and Social media following?
• Most influential: Deputy Pearse Doherty – he is listed on 67 lists on Twitter – he has 2,084 followers and has almost maxed out his facebook page. However his engagement could be better – he has the audience.
• Least influential (with an social media presence) Deputy Dinny McGinley – I think his facebook and twitter are being managed by somebody else so given that, he won’t be influential by the lack of his own voice.
• Best online coverage of local election and commentary goes to The Floating Voter – a blog by Liam Porter. Funny, engaging and covers all local media coverage.
• Photo of the Week: Jimmy Harte with Brendan O’Carroll supporting his campaign
• Best Posts: Thomas Pringle posts his “next day itinerary” on his facebook page. He also has the “The Daily Pringle Jingle” to get you in the mood. And most interestingly he has adopted a satirical approach by posting a video with the music from 1980s “Minder”. It shows all the Donegal SW candidates except himself but it is kinda funny.
• Here’s the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgbzkrmWCo4&feature=feedu