Barack Obama’s social media campaign during the 2008 presidential election set the standard for Web 2.0 engagement in politics. Political parties of all ideological stripes in Canada and around the world now look to the Democrats’ approach for implementing social media during electoral contests.

With voting day only a week away in British Columbia, here are a couple tips for the campaign trail:

1. Don’t Forget Email: The email addresses of your supporters are still a valuable commodity in a political campaign. Use social media elements like opt-in petitions to build a permission-based email list. This will allow you to immediately blast your message to people who want updates. Also, keep different lists for different purposes.

2.Set Standards: Ensure your campaign implements standards like custom avatar graphics for Twitter, a minimum number of blog posts per week, and base-level SEO conventions. Train your volunteers to stick to these standards, and your content will have a consistent look and feel and will stay fresh.

3. Mobilize Supporters: Provide updates to your base in a format they can use. Format your messages for Twitter, Facebook or blogs, and keep supporters in the loop. By being able to provide breaking news to their followers, not only will your supporters feel more included in the campaign, you’re unlocking access to hard-to-reach demographics.

These are just a couple tips for social media in political campaigns. If you want to find out how parties are harnessing Web 2.0, I am speaking at the Vancouver Financial Services Marketing Meetup, May 26, 5:45 pm at the Urban Rush Cafe. RSVP at Meetup.com.