It seems to me that the barackobama.com site lies at the very top of a support base of sites like the ones that you mention and so it is actually well positioned to convert the brand boosting of the support sites into something tangible for the Obama campaign.

In many respects, as I mention in the post, ordinary businesses don’t have that tidal wave of support that a popular politician like Obama gets. But, on the other hand, companies are as free as any politician to use all proven methods of brand enhancement (whether on or offline) so that they can convert that interest.

But I do think the major point I see in all this is that the Obama campaign know how they want this goodwill to convert – I think a lot of business don’t know this and just hope that it will somehow.

The point you raise about using social networks more effectively in driving your bussiness forward and using every platform available is demonstrated well in the Barack Obama campaign.

Just take a moment to look at the following:

http://www.myspace.com/barackobama

http://www.youtube.com/barackobama

http://presby.facebook.com/barackobama?q=barackobama&ref=ts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom

Just think if we in the travel industry did the same how successful we could become.