Most searched Election topics

by Marketing ON 19 August 2010

Australians are taking advantage of online search during the 2010 Election, with climate change, education and immigration as the top three searched political issues, reported research company, Experian Hitwise.

All online searches between 8 May and 14 August 2010 around key Australian political issues and political leaders were tracked by Experian Hitwise.

Searches on climate change reached a peak around 15 May, but witnessed a recent spike in mid-July following a revised climate change policy announcements. At current, climate change is garnering the most online searches, accounting for three and a half times the share of searches than immigration.

Education searches were at their peak in May after the debate around the nationwide ban of National Assessment Programme – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), but have steadily decreased to become the second most searched election topic.

Immigration search figures have remained constant, only increasing in frequency by 10% over the past two months.

Julia Gillard is the top searched political leader, with Tony Abbott’s search popularity only increasing after the new election date was announced on 17 June.

Google jump on election 2010

by Marketing ON 29 July 2010

Google has partnered with a group of Australian politicians to launch ‘Student Voice’, a simulated online election for young Australians.

Utilising standards and processes from the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), Google is inviting 15 –17 year old students across Australia to vote in the simulated online election from 9 – 12 August. The initiative is supported by senator Kate Lundy, senator Scott Ludlam, Paul Fletcher MP and AEC state manager Doug Orr. ‘Student Voice’ aims to educate young Australians about the democratic process.

Prime minister, Julia Gillard and leader of the Greens, senator Bob Brown have each created a YouTube video addressing young Australians in the hope of securing their ‘Student Voice’ vote. The results will be announced the week before the August 21 Federal election and will be available by electorate, state and nation.

Alan Noble, engineering director of Google Australia and New Zealand said: “The internet gives young Australians unprecedented access to political information and politicians. We hope Student Voice further encourages young people to engage in political debate and make their voice heard.”

Google Australia have also unveiled efforts to make election information more useful and accessible. The Google Election 2010 website connects Australians with information about the election, parties, and political issues. Visitors to the site can explore electoral information on a Google map and gain access to up-to-date insights.

Creating a buzz around the election

by Marketing ON 20 July 2010

It’s hard not to notice varying marketing campaigns poking fun at the upcoming electoral candidates and George Patterson Y&R is no exception.

The agency has designed their ‘JULIA & TONY 10’ range of artwork and apparel, which pokes fun at candidates, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott.

“Now that the election has officially been called, we thought it would be fun to light the candle on that issue with our JULIA & TONY 10 range of artwork & apparel,” said Ben Coulson, executive creative director at George Patterson Y & R.

The designs are available on their Facebook page.

When Gillard steals your (clients) thunder…

by Marketing ON 24 June 2010

Digital agency Memery flipped the biggest news week to their client’s advantage through a Google AdWords campaign.

A promotional tour orchestrated by The Diet Plate involving a star from the UK’s The Biggest Loser has leveraged the Gillard ascendancy through a Google AdWords campaign.

Searches for ‘Kevin Rudd‘ returned the following:

The Diet Plate
 Lose weight while 
eating humble pie
http://www.thedietplate.com.au

While searches for ‘Julia Gillard’ returned:

The Diet Plate
Portion control
for women in control
http://www.thedietplate.com.au

Matt Granfield, Marketingmag.com.au guru blogger and Marketing magazine writer, owns Memery.

For a full list of the AdWords campaign, see Granfield’s personal blog.

Gillard crushes Rudd, online records

by Marketing ON 24 June 2010

Julia Gillard’s ascension to Prime Minister has smashed online records for Fairfax Digital properties, as well as nineMSN.

Fairfax Digital reported the Gillard traffic blew away both the Black Saturday Bushfires and Michael Jackson’s death. According to the media owner, smh.com.au recorded more than one million page impressions per hour for two consecutive hours between 9am and 11am.

smh.com.au saw 46% higher page impressions and 66% higher hourly unique browsers than on Black Saturday. Comparatively, TheAge.com.au saw 8% higher page impressions and 61% higher hourly unique browsers.

nineMSN is expecting four million unique hits by day’s end, which would break the previous record of 3.7 million achieved when Barack Obama won the US presidential election in 2008. The network served 300,000 live video streams, setting a record for its highest number in a single 24 hour period.

Jack Matthews, CEO of Fairfax Digital, believes today’s traffic indicates Australians now demand multimedia delivery of political information.

Memery, owned by Matt Granfield, Marketingmag.com.au guru blogger and Marketing magazine writer, leapt on the opportunity for a client’s promotional tour.

Triple M warms up breakfast

by Marketing ON 8 September 2009

Triple M launched its Hot Breakfast radio show.

Hosts Eddie McGuire, Luke Darcy, Tony Moclair and Mieke Buchan debuted their new show with guests Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and John Brumby. Interviewees were Nick Maxwell, captain of Collingwood Football Club, and Rodney Eade, Western Bulldogs’ coach.

Alongside interviews, the show will regularly feature ‘Eddie-torials’. In his inaugural Eddie-torial, McGuire discussed solutions to Melbourne’s prominent inner-city violence.

“We want people to know it’s not about pushing agendas, it’s not about me or Collingwood or Channel Nine, it’s about the Triple M listeners. If you have an issue, you can come to us,” explained McGuire.

“We want to talk to the key people in town, not necessarily prosecuting them but we want answers and solutions.

Mediaweek described the launch as possibly the best radio show launch across the past 10 years.