The one social media post I want to ban forever!
Hey Hey
If there is one piece of political content I would ban forever, it would be the “I was here…” post.
A lot of pollies like to share this content, because it’s easy, and it shows you’re out and about in the community.
But it’s not 2009 anymore, and sharing this type of content is a huge missed opportunity to connect with your audience, and tell a story.
In this edition of the bright spot, let’s look at how you can use storytelling to connect the dots and elevate your content.
Wrapping it up into a recap
Can’t resist the urge to share where you’ve been and what you’ve been doing? The 2025 version of a “I was here post is a recap reel.
Done well, a recap reel can tie together a string of disconnected moments into one story.
Come spend 100 hours with me!
Using the 100 hours figure sounds a lot more interesting than the usual one week or one day recap. To keep the energy up, each clip in this 50 sec video is quite short and combines different angles and selfie shots.
10 months of Government back on the clock
This one is a simple piece to camera to film - but David Janetzki had to deliver all of the messages before the clock runs out. The time pressure keeps the reel tight and compelling. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice this one wasn’t filmed in one take (which is totally fine!)
Elements of a good recap reel:
Tell a story! How can you tie it together into an interesting narrative rather than a photo dump?
Use a timer or a time-frame besides one day or one week to make it more interesting and challenging.
If you’re going to use different photos or clips, try using a similar style or transition to tie them together.
Add insights or commentary rather than just a list of what you’ve been doing.
Remember to ask yourself, why should people care?
Pollies on the podcasts
One format that allows for in-depth storytelling is podcasts. It feels like every pollie is sitting in front of a mic to share their views - some important… some not so important.
Podcasts are great because they give you more breathing space than a short-form video or a grab on the news to tell a story or explain a policy.
If you’re a guest on someone else’s podcast you get to reach a new audience of voters - sometimes through skits…
And if you have video footage from recording that podcast, well that makes great social media content.
But before you start your own podcast… know that starting a podcast is easy, but keeping it going is a whole other story.
Most podcasts fade out very quickly - probably because the creators forgot to factor in these steps:
Prep: research, scripting, or at least planning talking points to keep the pod interesting.
Presentation: we know you can deliver a speech, but how are you in a recorded conversation? Particularly if it’s one-sided?
Guests: chasing and scheduling people can be harder than recording.
Editing: even “raw” style podcasts need cutting, audio cleanup, and uploads.
Distribution: getting it on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and promoting each episode so people can find you.
If you want to dip your toe in the podcast pool - start with guest appearances or even a podcast-style set up for reels, to get the same effect without the long-term grind.
Jumping on a love story? Say yes!
Having a content calendar and forward plan is great, but sometimes you just have to jump onto a breaking news story.
ICYMI the world's biggest pop star and her footballer got engaged last month, and that got some politicians thinking about their honeymoon.
Check out the NZ Prime Minister’s pitch and the Queensland Tourism Minister’s response.
How to always be ready to jump on a news trend:
Pick your moment. If there is a way you can easily align a pop-culture moment with your portfolio or electorate, go for it.
Keep it simple! Jump on the trend quickly by making a simple reel - there’s no time to create something complex.
Be mindful of copyright! Do you have the right to use a photo of a celebrity or use their name as an endorsement of you, a product or a policy? Probably not.
The above videos work because they are an appeal to Taylor and Travis, not a claim they endorse Queensland as a holiday spot.
That’s it for now, but as always I’d love to hear from you. Send me your reels or something cool at @katewilson.au
Cheers,
Kate
