Jason Michaels

RedBubble is one of five nominees in the Community category of the Webby Awards. This is the Academy Awards of the Web, and we can win the PEOPLE’S VOICE award if we channel our enthusiasm.

Here are my 10 Ways to Get Out the Vote

1. Email your contacts and ask them to support art online. RedBubble is a vibrant community of people worldwide that have worked tirelessly to bring creativity to the Web; that’s worth voting for! The multiplier is amazing if everyone shares this news with their friends, and those friends tell their friends, and on and on.

2. Facebook asks, “What’s on your mind?” Well, tell your FB friends to vote for our website.

3. Twitter asks, “What are you doing?” Well, you’re asking your Twitter followers to vote for RedBubble! Don’t forget to tag RedBubble and Webby with a ”#”. E.g., #RedBubble and #Webby

4. LinkedIn asks, “What are you working on?” Again, you’re working on your art (or you’re at your other job), but you’re thinking about how RedBubble can win that Webby award.

5. Post to MySpace, Orkut, Bebo, etc. All of these online communities have the power to help the RedBubble “engine that could.”

6. Have a personal website or blog? Your personal web endeavors are, well, personal. Their deep connection with readers can help you spread this news.

7. IM and Skype status. Your instant messenger allows you to put a small note next to your username. That small note can implore your contacts to vote!

8. Your email signature is a great space to place a personal note. Replace that Rumi quote (just for two weeks) with one about this opportunity.

9. Create a RedBubble Journal article. Sure, we’ve hyped this exciting opp. in MyBubble, but when you publish a Journal article it creates an extra reminder for your Watchlist. You can use the article to recommend some of your other Webby picks (aside from RedBubble, of course).

10. Word of mouth. Quite possibly the strongest endorsement of all comes from personal interactions with you – yes, you. Start every conversation with, “Hey, good to see you too. Did you vote for RedBubble to win the People’s Voice Webby Award?” :-) Perhaps this is a bit much, but you get the idea!

Bonus. Publish a podcast or have a YouTube channel? Perfect! A quick tag about the Webby would do quite nicely thank you. A link in the margin of the YouTube movie clip description would be even better.

There are my “10 Ways” as related to the Webby. If you read between the lines, you could just as easily use these same ideas to promote your artwork on RedBubble.

What did I miss, or do you suggest?

- Jason