Did I miss the discussions of Sanders purchasing the top twitter topic?

[FSogol]

Originally heard this on NPR. This is from the Wall St Journal

Bernie Sanders Makes Big Twitter Purchase

Ahead of the Democratic debate, Sen. Bernie Sanders became the first 2016 presidential candidate on Tuesday to pay six-figures to take over Twitter’s top trending topic.

Twitter users watching the debate via their smart phones will see the hashtag #DebatewithBernie at the top of the national trending topics – above the hashtag for the debate and other popular items for the day.

A spokesman for Twitter confirmed the Sanders campaign purchased the top trending hashtag, but declined to say the exact cost. In the past, Twitter has charged $200,000 for similar campaigns.

The promoted hashtag is one of Twitter’s most expensive ad options. It allows the campaign to choose which links users see when they click on the hashtag – in order to avoid spam or unsavory tweets “taking over” the hashtag. In this case, the Sanders campaign chose a tweet from Mr. Sanders’ account that asks users to sign up to say good luck to the candidate.

Rest of the article here:

http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/10/13/bernie-sanders-makes-big-twitter-purchase/

[leftofcool]

1. LOL!

[djean111]

4. But paying $630,000 or so for Facebook likes is good business? n/t

[wyldwolf]

66. leftofcool is laughing because of the faux outrage over what you just mentioned

Bernie + Twitter = GOOD
Hillary + Facebook = BAD!

[djean111]

67. Bernie did not buy followers or likes.

LOL.

[wyldwolf]

68. buying a hashtag is buying news placement

[djean111]

69. So is spending millions of dollars on TV ads.

News placement really is different than buying likes or followers, because buying likes or followers gives a false impression that many people are liking or following.

"Hillary is the queen of social media!!!!" Using numbers which include purchased likes and followers. Which means she is not the queen.

[Motown_Johnny]

70. This was an ad. It is described by Twitter as an ad. He bought an ad.

Hillary (or her campaign) paid third world workers to create false profiles and then "like" her.


If you can't see the difference then you have serious honesty issues (as does your candidate).

[randys1]

2. Clever, actually. Give em credit where due. Think about it.

[pinebox]

3. Those aren't trending topics

Those are "promoted tweets" and there is a huge difference.
It's essentially an ad and an example of such is this. They appear at top of trends but aren't trends.
It's sad to see that so many don't have a clue how social media truly works when it's so entrenched in our society on a daily basis with news and current events.

See the #EasyThrowback tag from Google. That is an ad. Much the same way that #DebateWithBernie was an ad. Everything below it is what's trending. That being said, #FeelTheBern was trending during the debates.

[FSogol]

6. From the article:

Twitter users watching the debate via their smart phones will see the hashtag #DebatewithBernie at the top of the national trending topics – above the hashtag for the debate and other popular items for the day.

[Fawke Em]

13. That's what the poster just showed you.

It will appear above the trending tags, but will show as an ad because it says, "promoted."

It's the same thing as the ads that appear at the top of a Google search.

[FSogol]

15. Here's what I see for trends now. None have an "ad" or "promoted" designation.

[TM99]

17. Irrevelant post.

You are not logged in. The ad campaign is done.

You have been given the facts. Why do you continue to dispute them incorrectly?

[artislife]

25. I think it is because they really don't understand it. nt

[pinebox]

62. "New to twitter"

LOL That just says it all right there folks lol

[HooptieWagon]

50. The campaign purchased an ad on Twitter.

WTF is wrong with that?

[Luminous Animal]

5. Smart ad buy.

[JaneyVee]

7. He's probably regretting it now.

[Fawke Em]

14. Why?

He garnered more social media followers and buzz than anyone else.

[virtualobserver]

18. nah....smart buy......much better than the millions that Hillary has spent on ads in Iowa and NH

[bigtree]

8. interesting

...like many others who read these pages regularly, I can just imagine if it was reported that Hillary had done this.

Trending topics can be purchased? That is amazingly cynical for such a supposedly straightforward candidacy.

[demwing]

11. And I'm sure you have quite the imagination

clearly...

[Luminous Animal]

39. For taking out an ad? I just logged into twitter. Google Photos has an ad which is clearly marked

"Promoted by Google Photos"

There is nothing nefarious about it.

[Autumn]

52. Advertising can be purchased by anyone, a straightforward candidate or a crook.

Log and and look at the advertising here, Hillary should do that and get some bang for her bucks.

[NorthCarolina]

9. Bet that ruined some planned fun for his detractors.

Good for him in forcing the debate to stay focused on the issues that concern everyday Americans without being subject to juvenile disruption by establishment sympathizers.

[FSogol]

12. Huh? That has nothing to do with the topic.

[Fearless]

29. It does actually.

But I'm not going to explain social media to you. I don't have the time.

[cyberswede]

45. It was right there in the article exceprt in the OP

It allows the campaign to choose which links users see when they click on the hashtag – in order to avoid spam or unsavory tweets “taking over” the hashtag.

[FSogol]

48. Thanks. n/t

[Fawke Em]

10. Maybe. I mentioned it.

Or maybe I didn't mention it, but I know I linked to an article that contained that information.

Either way, I knew about it and so did others.

That said, I purchase Twitter ads for work quite regularly. It's a good marketing tool.

BTW, purchasing Twitter ads doesn't mean you win focus groups and Google searches.

[aidbo]

16. The whole point of hundreds of thousands of people donating their hard-earned..

..money to his campaign is that they spend that money effectively.

I have no problem at all with him spending money on Twitter ads.

[TM99]

19. Exactly!

This is a different type of campaign.

Clinton will spend millions on TV ads. Sanders campaign can not. So spending several hundred thousand on a Twitter ad was wise counsel. And it is obvious that it paid off.

Well done!

[ChisolmTrailDem]

21. I use Twitter ads in my business too. Get good results. nt

[artislife]

26. Socialist! Nonreality Based person!

republican mole!



or just smart and hip to the times...

[ChisolmTrailDem]

37. You know what's funny... I'm not a social media expert. I manage an ecommerce website and I

do all the marketing, Facebook ads, Twitter ads, Adwords, SEO, etc. When it comes to Twitter, I have a tough time figuring out how my target audience uses the service. I have a product and I have markets to whom I can promote these products. Those markets have hashtags. But I disconnect in what it is my target audience does in order to ultimately see my promoted tweets. I know some do, but if I knew in a more 3-dimensional way how they think, I might have better results. For instance, I can't figure out why or how my target audience would be using Twitter as a tool in their business. So, though I get results, I'm never sure if I'm doing it in the most efficient way and, in the process, missing some opportunities. But, I'm working on it.

[artislife]

40. The men and women during Mad Men times thought the same

You just are never sure!

[Vinca]

20. Now that Hillary knows about this . . .

Just saying, people. Don't throw stones. It was a great idea and sure to be copied by other candidates.

[FSogol]

22. Obama and Romney both did this during the last election. It is hardly a secret.

[Vinca]

51. So the point of the post is what? That Hillary is behind the times?

You seemed to be taking a shot at Bernie, but maybe I misunderstood.

[FSogol]

54. Bernie supporters and MSNBC's Chris Matthews are holding up Sanders as having the top trending topic

on Twitter as an example of winning the debate. The top trending topic was purchased by the Sanders campaign. Hardly the best example of winning a debate.

I have no problems with Sanders, I like what he has to say. I even think he did well in the debate.

[riderinthestorm]

55. He did have the top trending Twitter feed though, that's indisputable

exactly how much the Ad buy helped would be hard to determine unless you have an algorithm for that?

It's like saying Hillary Clinton tv ads that ran during the debate "helped her win the debate".

Sure maybe. But how much?

I guess I'm not seeing this as a big "gotcha" story (other than Hillary's campaign doesn't look smart enough to have thought to do it?)

[Vinca]

64. Dinosaur here . . . not totally Twitter literate.

Isn't the tally of things that are "retweeted?" And, if so, why would it matter whether something was or was not purchased? A number is a number.

[Admiral Loinpresser]

23. Smart politics to neutralize the sleaze coming from Annie Oakley. n/t

[arcane1]

24. Buying an ad is 1,000 times better than buying fake followers.

I'm not sure what the big deal is supposed to be here

[artislife]

27. And it is an AD, which is what money that is raised

is partially for.

[arcane1]

31. Yep, and I'm glad to have pitched in a few bucks here and there :)

And I'll do it again!

[Fearless]

28. You don't understand ad buying on social media. Anyone under 30 is laughing right now.

[FSogol]

32. I do understand social media ads and advertising. Here's an example of my point since you seemed to

miss it:

Recently the HVAC company Trane ran a commercial in which they said, that in an independent study by Ingersoll Rand, that Trane was the best manufacturer of HVAC equipment.

Anyone see the problem with taking this statement?

[Fearless]

33. This has nothing to do with anything.

Additionally to address your unrelated example... A company is free to promote themselves by sourcing whatever positive data they wish. Just like CNN is perfectly allowed to claim that Hillary won the debate... despite their polls and focus group saying the opposite... and in spite of the fact that they're a subsidiary of Time Warner... Hillary's 7th biggest donor.

Bernie's campaign... Like Obama's and Romney's last time... purchased AD SPACE on social media. Like all the ads purchased on this website for instance. They did so to promote the candidate... why? Because a lot key demographics that support Bernie are TWITTER USERS... So shoring up support amongst his base is an important thing to do.

Is it some how unethical? Certainly not.

Is it a conflict of interest? Not even close.

Was it a smart ad buy targeted at a key demographic? Definitely.

[FSogol]

35. The example is not unrelated to my point. Ingersoll Rand owns Trane. How can you have an unbiased

"independent" evaluation of something you have a financial connection to?

If the Sanders campaign wants to buy the top twitter topics, cool, more power to them. That is a great way to attract potential supporters.

But to then hold up "the top trend on twitter" as something special that happened independent of their actions is pretty disingenuous.

[Luminous Animal]

41. Ad buys are marked with "promoted by" That is how the WSJ knew that it had been purchased.

[winter is coming]

36. 30 is in my rearview mirror, and I'm laughing. n/t

[cyberswede]

46. Yep.

[NCTraveler]

30. Smart move, speciall considering many of his followers are young and new to politics.

It's why I also have no problem with Hillary or any other candidate spending money to get better space or to look more dominant on social media. It's simply what has to happen in today's climate. Look how many Sanders supporters bought into the extremely flawed and deceptive polls immediately after the debate. I would be going after that segment hard core if I was a politician. Look how many of these corporate tools are in play today. Does anyone want to mention the corporate worth of Twitter? Facebook? I do think it's funny that they are so against PAC's yet will spend hundreds of thousand here that includes direction to links outside of the campaign. It is buying what a PAC can do directly from ones campaign. They all have to do it and no one can take the anti-corporate high ground here.

What people are calling social media is actually some of the largest and most profitable corporations in the world.

[artislife]

42. Scoobie doo head twist

Does anyone want to mention the corporate worth of Twitter? Facebook? I do think it's funny that they are so against PAC's yet will spend hundreds of thousand here that includes direction to links outside of the campaign. It is buying what a PAC can do directly from ones campaign.

I am just going to let this stand.

[NCTraveler]

43. Thanks for you allowance. I feel special?.?.?

I negotiate and buy ads on facebook and google for my company. I know very well what a couple hundred grand will get you. It's more than you are aware of.

[artislife]

44. I am glad you feel special. We all are in our own way!

[riderinthestorm]

34. It's an ad buy - akin to Hillary buying a tv ad spot

its the new ad frontier.

This isn't a problem, it's impressively savvy.

I bet Hillary buys the next one for the next debate.

[Ino]

38. They bought an ad to appear on the top trending twitter...

just like companies buy ads to appear during the Super Bowl.

OP FAIL.

[mythology]

47. A smart buy

It's where his target demographic goes for news. Why not reach out to them at a cost effective rate?

[Eric J in MN]

56. Exactly.

A cost-effective way to get people involved and stay in touch with them.

[99Forever]

49. Those damn kids and their fancy scmancy Twitter machine.

Bwahaha.

[workinclasszero]

53. Oh wow!

A spokesman for Twitter confirmed the Sanders campaign purchased the top trending hashtag, but declined to say the exact cost. In the past, Twitter has charged $200,000 for similar campaigns.



So Bernie was priming the media pump right before the show with a huge amount of cash money eh?

[riderinthestorm]

57. So campaigns should never buy tv ad space during debates?

Is this a new rule? No candidate ads to run during... Which events would you exclude?

Do you think Hillary Clintons tv ads during the debate ensured that she "won" the debate?

[Aerows]

58. OMG!

I can't believe Bernie Sanders is so serious about running for President that he advertises that fact!

Alert the news!

[pugetres]

59. Great campaign ad idea

It'll get my kids and their friends familiar with Bernie's name.

[FSogol]

60. You do know you can talk to your kids without a Twitter interface?

[pugetres]

61. Yep!

But, I don't tend to chat up their friends except for one or two.

[pinebox]

63. You do realize you can talk to the world on twitter, right?

I sure hope so XD

[slipslidingaway]

65. Great the Sanders campaign is spending advertising money wisely. n/t