How is the Government Using Social Networking to Promote the Affordable Care Act?

The days of the President offering a weekly radio address only are long over.

The government is now turning to the most up-to-date social media channels to promote Obamacare.

Turning to Social Media

Complications with the Obamacare website have led to a lot of criticism. A lot of critics are expressing their displeasure via social media.

Since there are likely more people using Facebook than reading the latest government reports, the government is now using social media to combat the negative press. The government is attempting to reach both supporters and critics to provide updates and information on Obamacare.

Reaching the Target Audience

Social media allows the government to reach their target audience. The government has started social media sites in Spanish so that they can reach the Latino population easily.

Social media also allows the backers of Obamacare to reach out to specific age groups. Many ads and posts are targeted toward the younger population to ensure that they are aware of the marketplace.

Timing Ads According to Special Events

The Obama administration has also created specific social media posts and marketing strategies with specific events and dates in mind.

For example, marketing efforts around Mother’s Day included posts about the importance of children having health insurance.

Reaching Facebook Fans

The healthcare.gov Facebook page has attracted more than 200,000 likes. Updates have been offered to fans which promote the reasons for affordable health insurance.

There are a variety of pictures and infographics that explain the sign-up process. Other posts acknowledge the difficulties users are finding in signing up on the website.

The Facebook page offers a variety of videos that explain the sign-up process and show fans how the marketplace works. There is also a help center that links people directly to a live chat option so they can ask specific questions or talk to someone about their experience.

Tweeting About Obamacare

The Obamacare administration has developed its own Twitter account.

Although the account has less than 7,000 followers, the government is tweeting to spread the word about Obamacare.

The Twitter account sends out educational and information tweets about how many people prove to be signing up and any changes that are taking place on the government website. They’re also re-tweeting posts from people who are sending positive messages about their experiences signing up for health insurance.

Promoting Badges and Widgets

Obamacare is also using various badges and widgets on all of its healthcare websites. Advertisements encourage users to visit the marketplace to sign up for insurance.

Bloggers and website owners are also encouraged to download these badges to help direct traffic to the marketplace. These advertisements can ensure that people who are reading about healthcare or other topics may learn more about the sign-up process.

Hiring People to Spread the Word

The Obamacare administration has hired celebrities to spread the word about the healthcare marketplace.

For example, the Baltimore Ravens were recently granted $130,000 to promote Maryland’s healthcare marketplace.

The Raven’s will feature a badge on their website directing traffic to the website. They will also send out five tweets about Obamacare in an effort to reach the younger male population.

The government’s participation in social media is certainly a sign of the times.

It shows the importance of using various social media platforms for online reputation management, even when it means discussing hot potato political issues.

Photo credit: foxnews.com

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