The conventional understanding of the word lobbying could be described as the act of influencing or coercing a leader or decision-maker by the members of the public or certain groups or organizations. Online lobbying which originates from the amalgamation of the digital world and word lobbying simply seeks to explain the act influencing the decision of the leaders through online channels and the digital market. Social media platforms are enabling the public to speak out and express their feelings, discontent as well as demanding evolution in areas that oppress them. It is a process that adopts democracy for the good of the public, which is taking roots in many Western nations. It is also giving the public the chance to take part in the decision-making process, especially in the political arena.
Let's look at the roles of digital marketing in online lobbying.
The digital world, particularly digital marketing, social media, and web publications, has had a major impact on online lobbying. Their impact is significant, which could bring interactions and rallying by a wider international audience. Social media platforms have grown to attract huge masses of users all over the world, which makes online lobbying effective since information spreads quickly and directly. Online lobbying is now a tool that is used to bring unison in the political world as well as influencing the diplomatic relations.
Political lobbying is a crucial indicator of a productive and inclusive government. It helps the government understand the plight of the citizens in a more advanced way. It has also opened doors to effective communication for the members of the public and government legislators. The lobbying process provides a platform for making a truce with antagonistic political affiliations. It also prompts the legislative to act more effectively and efficiently in tackling issues affecting the member of the public.
The digital growth has influenced how political leaders link up with their followers as they utilize the very many social media platforms to rally for votes and tackle pertinent issues with the public. It has opened a new channel and approach for political leaders to carry out their campaigns in the bid to capture the attention of the public quickly and effectively. Public attention and interesting opinions are highly influenced by political related posts, online discussions, memes, and videos. Political leaders have also become cautious since the online platforms are helping in reputation building which is vital in their career.
Social media platforms have also made it easy for the media industry to gather recent and new information affecting the public. Bloggers and content writers also depend on quick first-hand information from the social media pages and profiles. It is easy to pass on information via social media and digital marketing since it changes hands fast in a short period. Digitalization is not biased since it aims to connect people all over the world, and since people are conversant with the online world, it would be an easy task to pass on information and news globally.
