Get with the bug

With over three quarters of Europeans unaware of the forthcoming EU parliamentary elections, an innovative viral marketing campaign has been devised to help spread the word.  The aim is to improve the low voting and engagement figures and achieve a turnout of more than 25% in each of the key member states.

While responsible governments would normally vaccinate against any sort of outbreak, in this instance they are actively encouraging citizens to ‘catch the bug’.  And this bug is every bit as infectious as the real thing - yet it’s completely harmless.

In-fact, it’s probably the opposite of a ‘bad bug’, if there is such as thing.  The idea is to encourage email users to append a simple strap-line to their email signatures.  The traditional email footer is occupied by variants of the corporate disclaimer blended with increasingly conscious notions, such as environmental pleas.

The code, available in a number of languages, has already been integrated into the email signature of 17,000 email users’.  However, the project has an ambitious target of 20 million users.  This simple yet effective measure is another example of the understated power of one of the most basic yet fundamental participation tools, email.   Get your bug today and support this important campaign.

Tags: elections, vote