Triangle Social Media Club Hosts Panel Discussion on Social TV

The day is winding down and I have a few minutes to reflect on events from the Triangle Social Media Club panel discussion on Social TV, which took place at the NBC-17 studio in Raleigh, North Carolina.

In thinking back over the course of the evening, I am humbled by the opportunity to serve with the likes of Gregory Ng, Ryan Boyles, and Tim Arthur, all of whom are really great guys to know.

What Is Social TV?
The term "Social TV," as I understand it, refers to modern televisions that allow viewers to engage with other viewers through social networks and their related applications. While the word strongly suggests advancements in television technology, I believe it also encompasses the regular use of mobile and web applications during television consumption.

To help you understand what I mean, let me give you an example. Let's assume that you're watching the American Idol on FOX. Instead of just watching the show, you jump on Twitter or Facebook and hold discussions about the contestants. This common occurrence is not limited to Twitter or Facebook. In fact, being social while watching television may involve a number of other popular networks and applications. Some of the tools discussed last night include:

• GetGlue
• Miso
• IntoNow
• Shazam

From a general point of view, these applications allow viewers to check-in to a show or movie, exchange opinions about what they're watching, or engage with the digital content to learn more about its cast, characters, and behind-the-scene details. As some would describe it, the tools provide a virtual water cooler.

Here Come The Marketers

During our discussion, I believe it was Ryan Boyles who first spoke about the divide between consumers and marketers. Social TV, to the viewer, is just a fun way to watch shows; however, to the marketer it is a way to increase brand awareness and loyalty.

Earlier, I mentioned that viewers could check-in to a show or watch bonus material by way of the mobile and web apps. Well, marketers are hoping that we'll use these tools to spread the word and increase consumption. According to Tim Arthur, we are and he referenced a Superbowl advertisement about Ferris Bueller to prove it.

To Ryan, marketers are ruining the original purpose of these tools by encroaching in our private lives. Greg disagrees.  In fact, Greg supports marketing efforts and even shares some ideas on how to maximize the opportunity. To drive his point home, Greg spoke about the cable companies and their failure to capitalize on collected data. Why aren't they (cable companies) recommending shows to watch when they clearly know my viewing habits? Did I mention that also includes the Bachelor?

After The Show It's An After Party

While the event seemed to last for only a few minutes, we talked for an hour or more. During that time, we shared our favorite shows and showcased our various entertainment centers. Some of us chose to cut the cable cord while others fully embraced it. That wide spectrum of solutions offered an insightful discussion on viewing habits.

Overall, I think the panel discussion went well. If given the time, we could have easily explored the LCD vs. LED vs. Plasma debate as well as other closely related subjects. However, the night was getting late and many had return home in preparation for work in the morning.

For those that stuck around, we had the opportunity to tour the studio and learn how the station makes the magic happen. 

The most memorable moment was walking on the set and taking a picture in front of the green screen. While playing around, I saw Penn Holderness and the weather guy. Too bad Sharon Tazewell wasn't around because I would have paid money to get a picture with her. 

In Closing

Let me take a moment to give a quick shout out to my friend Wayne Sutton, who showed up in support of the meeting. Also, I'd like to thank NBC-17, Triangle Social Media Club, Lisa Sullivan, and all those who helped make that night a success. 

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Are Your Tweets Any Good? Find Out Using "Who Gives A Tweet?"

What makes a tweet retweetable? How can you earn more followers? Why aren't people responding to you? These are just a few questions people regularly ask regarding Twitter. While there are many different ways to answer these questions, I believe the solution starts with you. Do you understand what makes a good tweet? Are your tweets any good?

In this post, I would like to introduce a free service that solicits the help of your friends and strangers to provide anonymous feedback on your tweets. Are you interested?

Who Gives A Tweet?
The service is called "Who Gives A Tweet" and it is a part of a research project involving three graduate students from the University of Southampton, MIT, and Georgia Tech. Kurt Luther, Michael Bernstein, and Paul Andre' launched the site "to understand what aspects of Twitter content are considered valuable, and how that impacts presentation and perception of online identity." Stated another way, the guys want to know what makes a good tweet and how it affects YOU on Twitter.

How Does It Work?
The core function of the project is rating tweets. As shown in the image below, users receive a combination of 15 tweets from Twitter friends and strangers. The grading scale is made up of three options: Not worth reading, Ok, and Worth Reading. For each answer, you are encouraged to provide additional comments explaining the reason you gave it that specific grade.

Note: Feel free to share your honest opinion as the answers are completely anonymous.

Once you finish grading 15 tweets, you will be redirected to a page that displays what others think about your contributions. The first section displays what a stranger thinks and the second area shows you what your friends think.

Stranger's Feedback

Friend's Feedback

Note: I'm not sure what algorithm the researchers are using, but the more you rate others, the more often your tweets are graded. As a result, it is beneficial for you and your friends to rate more than just 15 tweets.

Findings
After grading 925 tweets, and earning the #1 spot on the leaderboard, I have learned the following things about my rating behaviors:

Tweets with quotes, jokes, and interesting observations get higher ratings. It was rare that I gave any tweet that posted a quote, joke, or observation a not worth reading. At worst, I gave it an OK, but it often did really well.

Automated tweets get ignored. How many times have I shared my location with people using Foursquare? The answer is a lot. Unfortunately, when other people do it, I tend to ignore the tweet as not worth reading. It's not just Foursquare, but it includes automated tweets from games, sites you frequent, and contests you joined.

I like tweets with links. People that share good information often enclose a link as well. A good example is @chrisbrogan where he sets up a link with an awesome intro. Chris writes, "This is why you should follow @MargieClayman - http://ow.ly/3wpvQ" While I don't know Margie, I'm interested to find out why she is worth the follow.

Ask questions. I find that tweets with questions are more engaging than those that just state a comment. Those questions with a link attached lead me to believe there is a possible answer involved. Assuming I like the question, I tend to follow the link as well.

No fragments, please! There are many tweets that I rated poorly simply because it lacked context. These tweets were not addressed to any one person, but rather stated as a stand alone announcement. My advice is to write a tweet like you would write a complete sentence.

I don't like to be sold. I know Twitter is the breeding ground for marketers and all, but it gets old, fast. Try listening to my problem first before you bombard my Twitter feed with spammy solutions I don't need or want.

It's all relative. Not everyone agreed on what was a great tweet. Often times, it just depends on who the reader is. I shared one tweet about an upcoming sermon series at church. Some had no interest at all, but others found it to be the contrary. In the end, you just have to be you and do what fits your personally.

Think about how you are adding value. Ultimately, this is the biggest lesson of all. After reviewing nearly 1,000 tweets, I realized my favorite tweets were the ones where they created value.

Before this exercise, I would shoot off a tweet giving it nearly no thought at all. Today, I am learning to think like my followers. What can I convey or share that would be of value to those who read it. Telling you what I had for lunch does little to help others. However, sharing a link to an interesting article, with my personal thoughts, is on the right track.

Conclusion
What makes a tweet retweetable? How can you earn more followers? Why aren't people responding to you? These are answers that you can answer once you have taken the time to examine the tweets you like and dislike. Additionally, encouraging your friends to participate and share their anonymous feedback on your tweets will do wonders to help you understand which tweets bring the most value.

Once you've given it a try, why not share with me your own observations? What did you learn? What would you change? Let me know in the comment section below.

If you like what you've read, take this opportunity to subscribe to my RSS Feed and Newsletter.  However, don't forget to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Buzz, Dailybooth, CinchCast, YouTube, or Friendfeed.

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Do You Have The Signs Of Social Media Addiction?

Social Media is finding its way into just about everything we do. From watching television, dining, stores we frequent, and items we buy, we are able to share our experiences with friends and strangers. The question many are now asking is, "How do you know if your're addicted?" In the following video, we see the fall of a family from too much social media. Don't let this happen to you.

In the comment section, let me know if you know someone who needs an intervention.


If you cannot view the YouTube video, click here.

If you like what you've read, take this opportunity to subscribe to my RSS Feed and Newsletter.  However, don't forget to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Buzz, or Friendfeed.

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