--- title: "Thursday Buzz: Social Smarts from the State of the Union" id: "26905" type: "post" slug: "thursday-buzz-social-smarts-from-the-state-of-the-union" published_at: "2015-01-22T18:04:32+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T13:23:33+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/01/22/thursday-buzz-social-smarts-from-the-state-of-the-union/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2015/01/22/thursday-buzz-social-smarts-from-the-state-of-the-union.md" excerpt: "How one association used a diorama to push its advocacy messages during the State of the Union address. Also: Why your own speeches shouldn't be as long as the SOTU." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Advocacy" - "AssociationsNow" - "Communications" - "Leadership" - "Social Media" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Thursday Buzz: Social Smarts from the State of the Union The State of the Union address is a social media bonanza. While some critique and some crack jokes, it’s a chance to ride the wave of mass attention focused on a single national event. Of course, that approach can be applied pretty effectively to the role of advocacy. Need proof? Check out what the National Retail Federation (NRF) did on Tuesday night. > Follow us to see what retailers are buying and returning from tonight’s [#SOTU (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > . [http://t.co/WROdTRMWgF (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/WROdTRMWgF) > [#SOTU2015 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU2015?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [pic.twitter.com/V2SdG4J1Q4 (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/V2SdG4J1Q4) > > — National Retail Federation (@NRFnews) [January 21, 2015 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/NRFnews/status/557689254114246657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Throughout the SOTU, [the National Retail Federation kept changing up a diorama (opens in a new tab)](https://nrf.com/advocacy/state-of-the-union) , highlighting the things in the address that the retail group supported (which were added to its shopping list) and what the group wanted to throw back (it placed those items in its returns bin). > We’re buying it: [@whitehouse (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > , public/private partnerships are key to [#cybersecurity (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/cybersecurity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > . [#SOTU (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#SOTU2015 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/SOTU2015?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [pic.twitter.com/ajYJBlkUgo (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/ajYJBlkUgo) > > — National Retail Federation (@NRFnews) [January 21, 2015 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/NRFnews/status/557732283680313344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) The diorama presented a constant stream of activity that the trade group could use to keep up with an event that everyone and their brother was watching. By the end of the night, the NRF’s shopping cart looked like this: > .[@whitehouse (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/WhiteHouse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > , 2015 will be a good year if we work together on these issues. [#opportunity (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/opportunity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#sotu (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sotu?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#sotu2015 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sotu2015?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [pic.twitter.com/EcPIsPCUou (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/EcPIsPCUou) > > — National Retail Federation (@NRFnews) [January 21, 2015 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/NRFnews/status/557737082152837121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Now that’s a cool way to stand out during the biggest speech of the year. ### Keep It Short > Avoid Long State of the Association Speeches. [http://t.co/kwG8X8rOdd (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/kwG8X8rOdd) > > — Steve Drake (@SteveDrake) [January 22, 2015 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/SteveDrake/status/558271635602812929?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Just because President Barack Obama** can talk for more than an hour doesn’t mean your association’s president should do the same. SCD Group’s Steve Drake, who has a lot of experience writing speeches for association presidents, explains that long speeches [often have a numbing effect on the brain (opens in a new tab)](http://www.scdgroup.net/2015/01/avoid-long-state-of-association-speeches.html) , putting initiatives out front at the cost of impact. “The long list of ‘new’ initiatives becomes mind numbing,” Drake writes. “Why not just list three key points and share them in a memorable way. It always seems to be that State of the Union speeches are written by committee.” Drake suggests a slightly more modest run time. Think you can make your point in 20 minutes? *(ht @[SteveDrake (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/SteveDrake/) )* ### Other Links of Note **When it comes to social sharing,** Facebook can’t be ignored. A new analysis from ShareThis notes that [Facebook represented 81 percent of the company’s shares (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bizreport.com/2015/01/facebook-dominates-social-sharing.html) in the fourth quarter of 2014—at a time when other networks slumped. **“What is your team or company going to do** if you’re no longer in your current role? If you don’t have a plan in place, that can be a serious deterrent for promoting you.” *The Muse* says that if you’re in line for a promotion, [having a plan to train your replacement (opens in a new tab)](https://www.themuse.com/advice/4-subtle-mistakes-that-are-ruining-your-chances-for-a-promotion) is essential. **The groups setting the tone.** *CQ Connectivity* [breaks down five associations (opens in a new tab)](http://connectivity.cqrollcall.com/five-associations-that-raised-their-advocacy-game/) that managed to boost their lobbying and PAC contributions in 2014. (National Retail Federation) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. 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