Hashtags and TV

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Twitter Hashtags are taking off and  becoming part of the TV watching experience. TV networks are now assigning hastags (#) for their shows. A hashtag creates a searchable topic or conversation on twitter. At the beginning of the CBS show How I Met Your Mother, for example, #HIMYM flashes on the screen. Any one that uses that hashtag in a tweet can add to or participate in a threaded discussion.

In addition to sharing what you are watching by using hashtags on twitter you can also check-in using GetGlue. GetGlue is an application and website that is getting some popularity. It is similar to FourSquare and allows you to check into movies, music, television, books, sports and more. You can share what you are reading, listening to or watching. GetGlue also gives you recommendations on other content it thinks you will enjoy based on your check-ins. The mobile app runs on iPhone, iPad, Andriod, Blackberry and other devices.

Our on-line and off-line lives are constantly getting closer to being one of the same.

What do you think?

Shazam!

Shazam is one of my favorite apps. It runs on iPhone, Blackberry, Android, Windows, Nokia and iPad.  It’s magic in your hand. It can detect pretty much any piece of music. Great for parties or when you hear that song  and don’t know what it is.

A few weeks ago I saw a Shazam logo in a commercial for the ABC show Grey’s Anatomy. I don’t like Grey’s Anatomy but had never seen Shazam use in a commercial so I paused my TV. Got my iphone and Shazam!

I was brought to a new screen with the option of watching  two Shazam exclusive sneak peak videos and the music video for the song featured in the commercial on YouTube. I could also purchase the song and season 7 on itunes.

What would an app like this be without sharing possibilities. You can share your discoveries on Twitter and Facebook directly through the Shazam app. No need to copy or paste anything. Very convenient

The exclusive content and sharing model is key and makes it worth using.  Do you Shazam?  Have you seen it in other commercials?

Photo (1) Shazam

Text and Get

We all know about text to give, what about text and get.

With text messaging on the rise, venues like Madison Square Garden  Tumblr_llrrl38xLf1qhoam5o1_500
are now using it to their advantage. Before concerts and in between periods of sporting events people can send a text message and it will appear on the jumbo screen. People use it to give shout outs to the band, sports teams, and to friends.

We all know about text to give, what about text and get.
During Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers last tour when you texted your email address you received a link to a free download of their new album in your inbox the next day.

According to a 2010 report 91% of Americans have a cell phone. As of 2009 only 21% of Americans were smart phone users. Texting is here to stay. It’s not going away any time soon.

What happens if you can’t check in?

What happens when you can’t check in

Geo-location check in apps like Foursquare and Gowalla have become very popular over the past few years. I was at Caroline’s Comedy Club, an underground venue in Times Square, NYC, last week, having diner with friends before the show. Our table was right near the stairs coming down from the street. On the table there was a small flyer announcing some upcoming comedians and letting you know that you can check in with Foursquare. I got out my iPhone and was happy to see I had reception and a 3G signal. However, the 3G signal was not strong enough for Foursquare to find my location. Despite my failed check in atempt, 2,207 people have checked in at Caroline’s.

Living in a big city, you would think that you would always have a strong signal. Unfortunatley, 3G and 4G signals are not always reliable. If you have a brick and mortar business or are hosting an event, indoors or out, and are asking people to check in, be sure that there is a strong signal in your area, or provide wi-fi for your customers.

Many social media services, apps and tools are free and easy to implement. That does not mean that you need to use all of them. You want to make sure that you are investing your time and energy in the right applications not only for your business but also for your customers.

Do you use check in apps? What motivates you to check in? Are you a business that uses them? How do they help your business?