* Yesterday was Cyber Monday, when online sales really start to kick off during the holiday season…
Cyber Monday sales rose 14% this year compared to 2008 and consumers also bought nearly 30% more items per order versus last year, according to research firm Coremetrics.
Also, the firm said shoppers bought 10% more items per order online than they did in stores on Black Friday.
Gatehouse takes a look at estimated state sales tax revenue from online sales. It’s puny…
Estimated state sales tax collections on retail sales to households
* 2005 — $47 million
* 2006 — $57 million
* 2007 — $68 million
* 2008 — $73 million
* 2009 — $78 million
Illinois doesn’t automatically collect sales tax on online purchases. Hence, the low numbers.
* Rep. John Fritchey’s prodigious social media usage was profiled by Chicagoist this week. Fritchey adds his own two cents at his blog…
But the point that I tried to convey in the article is that I think the key to maximizing both the intention and the value of social media in the political arena is to use it to let the public see more of who you really are as opposed to simply repackaging the canned messaging that they get all too often from their elected officials.
I know elected officials with Facebook pages and Twitter accounts who likely couldn’t turn on their laptop if their lives depended on it; they have staffers handle everything. In my mind, that not only defeats the whole purpose, it actually sends just the opposite message from the one you want to convey.
He’s right. All of that is very important.
It’s also important that you not say something stupid online, like Jim Ryan’s campaign did the other day. As I told subscribers this morning, JRyan’s campaign found itself in hot water - again - with the Illinois State Rifle Association. From a Rifle Association press release…
The ISRA-PVF is today calling upon Illinois gubernatorial candidate Jim Ryan to retract claims that he received the group’s endorsement during his failed 2002 run for governor against Rod Blagojevich. Such misleading claims have surfaced on Ryan’s social networking internet sites in recent days. Additionally, individuals have made reports to the ISRA-PVF that Ryan campaign staffers have made similar endorsement claims when questioned about Ryan’s stands on issues important to law-abiding Illinois firearm owners.
The fact of the matter is, the ISRA-PVF declined to make an endorsement in the 2002 race for Illinois governor as neither the Republican candidate, Jim Ryan, nor his Democratic opponent, Rod Blagojevich, were deemed suitable for endorsement.
Ryan’s campaign then issued a kinda/sorta apology on its Facebook page…
Our campaign staffers in 2002 recalled working closely with ISRA on several issues and remembered being endorsed. If we erred in our recollection, we apologize. We have deep respect for gun owners in Illinois and for the ISRA. We look forward to working with them in the governor’s office, with or without an endorsement.
That would’ve been pretty easy to check. Sheesh.
* Speaking of ill-advised remarks, Greg Blankenship takes me to task for referring to Dennis Byrne as an ultra conservative today on the blog. He may be right about a possible mislabel, but his analysis is a bit off…
Maybe it’s just a knee jerk reaction to someone who disagrees with Miller. I guess disagreement means your some kind of extremist or something. I’ve asked in the comments section for a definition of an ultra-conservative is. Let’s see if I get answer.
As I noted in comments, I might define an ultra conservative as someone who labels suburban women voters as “out-of-touch suburban ditzes.” Just sayin, buddy. lol
* Tony Peraica is live-Tweeting the Cook County Board’s override vote of President Stroger’s veto of the partial sales tax rollback proposal. Have a look.
Here’s some other stuff on Twitter today…
* QuinnStories: Check out our first installment of Quinn Stories, a behind-the-scenes documentary on Governor Pat Quinn: http://ow.ly/Hvbt
* kmrasmussen: QuincyNews poll finds bad re-elect numbers for Rep. Phil Hare. 66% believe stimulus hasn’t helped western IL http://bit.ly/7jOwGz#twill
* And here’s today’s online video, from the Quinn campaign. It’s about the governor’s holiday card drive for the troops. Watch it…
What are you seeing out there on social media today?
* Related…
* Cop Blog, CTA Tracker Among Top Local Web Searches - Google Compiles Lists Of Unique Searches For Chicago, 30 Other Cities: The Chicago Police officers’ blog Second City Cop made the list with an assortment of transit, education and other local Web sites, is one of the most popular Google searches in the Chicago area this year.
* WUIS launches ‘alternative’ digital station: The station, called “Xponential Radio,” first arrived on the airwaves in mid-October and can be received using an HD radio or listening online at www.wuis.org, according to Bill Wheelhouse, WUIS general manager.
