Traditional advertising gets vote of confidence

The result comes as the three main political parties enter the second week of the general election campaign, ahead of polling day on 6 May.
Many have expressed a view that the 2010 election is the UK’s first real digital campaign.

The major parties have used email, search, social media, video and display advertisements in a bid to attract voters.

All three have used crowdsourcing to engage with supporters. Labour recently unveiled a poster ad, depicting David Cameron as Ashes to Ashes character Gene Hunt, following an online request for ideas.

The Conservative Party has used its website to ask supporters for responses to Government policy announcements, while the Liberal Democrats have used Facebook to ask for views and suggestions from voters.

However, all three main parties have continued to use traditional media alongside digital channels to attract votes.

The Conservative Party has launched several high-profile poster campaigns this year, while all three are using direct mail to target voters in marginal seats.

Tory outdoor ads have switched focus in recent weeks from depictions of first time Conservative voters to attacks on Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s record in office and Labour Party policies.

Do you think that traditional forms of advertising, such as billboards, can still influence a general election in the digital age?