Content Marketing Today

Can Content Marketing and WordPress Power Libertarian Bob Barr to White House?

You may not be a fan of Bob Barr or of the Libertarian political persuasion.  Nonetheless, there is a lot to like about his WordPress driven website,BobBarr2008.com.  There is also a lot to learn about his effective use of an online content marketing strategy to spread the word and to raise money.

Barr’s site illustrates how flexible WordPress can be as a tool for building out a full-fledged website. It also illustrates how an effective online content marketing strategy might be able to take a candidate from relative obscurity and little funding to someone who might be taken seriously on the national stage.

Barr, a former Republican congressman from Georgia, recently announced that he is running for president of the United States as a libertarian.  In pre-Internet days, such a candidacy would have gained no traction whatsoever.  Raising campaign funds would have been a prohibitively expensive proposition. Moreover, telling his story to a nationwide audience would have been virtually impossible.

Raising money for almost nothing

Internet age economics are completely different.  Let’s assume for the moment that his website might’ve cost $10-$20000.  Let’s also assume that it costs $1000 per month to maintain.  Since he just announced his candidacy two days ago, his online fundraising expenditure likely totals no more than $20,000.  Because his website shows a running total of funds raised online , $85,790, as of 9:30 a.m. May 15, 2008, he’s probably ahead by more than $65,000.

Just as important, his website enables them to tell his story succinctly for those with a casual interest or in-depth for those who are really serious about him and his candidacy.  The site is well organized with information on him, on issues, on how to get involved, on what his supporters had to say about him, links to Barr bloggers, and video.  Again, in pre-Internet days, no prospective voter would have access to the quality and depth of information that is available for US citizens wherever they reside.

When you compare the impact and cost of this full-featured website with the limitations and huge expense of a direct marketing campaign, the power of a great website becomes obvious. The content of any direct marketing effort would be shallow and probably out of date by the time it arrived in your mailbox.  But, a well executed website with compelling content offers both depth and immediacy.

Bob Barr’s website illustrates that whatever product or service you are marketing, a strong online presence with a focused content marketing strategy and a modest budget can deliver a powerful punch.  In his case, he may be able to raise a lot of money.  In your case, you will be able to sell a lot a products and services.

Bob Barr may be a long shot as a presidential candidate.  But, thanks to the Internet, content marketing, and his WordPress powered website, at least he has a shot.