Angela goes to a Tweetup
So yesterday I hit up the Dover Tweetup (#chopup) for my very first social media event. The event was put on by NH TweetUP at the Orchard St. Chop Shop. It was an interesting experience for me- I was definitely the youngest person there, aside from an infant who accompanied another attendee (up and coming SM guru I’m sure). But in all seriousness there were a few good points that I took away from the evening as a total SM newbie.
One of the first things I noticed was the variety of different businesses represented at the event. I’m sure it seems obvious to some people, but it never occurred to me before that even an oil/heating company can reach out to locals and customers on twitter and FB. Naturally, there is a different level of online involvement for everyone when it comes to marketing strategies, but meeting some NH small businesses who utilize these tools was cool.
Another bonus of the event was finding common interests with others in the area who are on twitter. For instance I talked to someone who had knowledge about marketing and psychology, which happens to be my major. Hearing about real business applications to the types of things that I study was interesting and encouraging… maybe I will get a job someday after all.
As a student, I also found it advantageous to be able to talk to people who work in start-ups, small business, and large companies because frankly, I have no clue where I’m going to be in a couple of years. Even having a slight idea of which direction to look is nice when you’re a junior in college. So the chance to pick someone’s brain about the different pros/cons of different work environments is interesting and gave me lots to think about.
I think that before attending the Tweetup I was a little concerned that as a student with relatively little knowledge/experience I would be uncomfortable in the setting, but that wasn’t the case. The environment was casual and friendly-I thought it was fairly easy to engage with people in the room. It also helped that I went with two others (@liangtfm, @MRDaveThompson) so I didn’t feel totally out of place (thanks guys! haha). In the future I would absolutely encourage more college students to attend these events. There is a lot of potential for this community to grow in NH, and I think that students could help make that happen. Tweetup at UNH perhaps?? We shall see..
I am back from Spring Break feeling refreshed, although not necessarily ready to work, but oh well. I thought I would post two pictures that sum up my trip to Sugarloaf Resort in Maine. The area was gorgeous, the weather was fantastic, and the snow/ski conditions were amazing. Basically the hat trick of skiing right there.
Staying at the Sugarloaf Inn was a bonus as well, a real ski on/off location which is so convenient! Plus there was a deck attached to the hotel room which was great for enjoying a PB & J at lunchtime while taking in a view of the mountain. The bar/restaurant downstairs was good but priced like all ski resort amenities-expensively!
I would love to take another trip up there next year and maybe try out the condos with a group of friends. After my little vaca I am totally hooked :)
Traditional entertainment meets social media-My perspective
I like to think I am a pretty busy person. Of course, who isn’t these days? Work and leisure seem to get in each other’s way a little too often. After a day that starts with a few hours of class, followed by a 4-hour shift of servin’ up food at the dining hall, errands or a meeting, emails, and a mountain of reading… oh crap! I totally forgot that my favorite show was supposed to be on 3 hours ago! And alas, the college-grade apartment does not include such luxuries as a DVR to record shows to watch later.
Luckily, we busybodies do not have to worry about missing out thanks to many networks streaming popular television episodes online. Streaming episodes online seems like it would create problems for networks, especially those that rely on advertisement for revenue. However, the fact that many viewers are switching to the online medium to watch TV shows has unlocked a new potential for networks to allow consumers to “join the conversation” and become even more hooked on their favorite programming.
For instance, take one of my personal favorite shows, Project Runway. Designers compete each week in designing and producing high fashion clothing to ultimately win a grand prize. This type of show is a perfect candidate to link itself to social media because viewers love to pick favorite designers to follow throughout the season and would be likely to seek more information about the designers online.
On the Project Runway site, readers have access to text and video blogs of some of the show’s most popular designers and judges, as well as access to the portfolios and sketchbooks of each contestant. The “Buzz Room” section of the site allows consumers to sign into their twitter accounts and leave comments on any aspect of the show, as well as view tweets from cast members. Additionally, there are links to share the site’s videos and other content via Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and more.
This combination of media types gives the consumer a heightened ability to become immersed in the content of the show. Fans can really get to know their favorite designers, which will likely keep the viewers coming back week after week. With tweets coming into the Buzz Room every minute, it is clear that consumers of the show have indeed joined the conversation. The strategists over at the Lifetime network have done a great job blending social media into their programming- I know I’ll be back for more.
