Tack the word social onto anything and our ears perk up. Which is why when TechCrunch wrote a piece titled Twitter is Already Winning The Social TV War, But it Will Soon Do More, we read it.
The article outlines new positions opening at Twitter with titles like Manager of TV Relationships, and TechCrunch’s sources say Twitter is reaching out to TV producers and showrunners to find out ways it can integrate with the TV experience.
This got us thinking: As TV-lovers (Downton Abbey, anyone?!), it makes us squeal with excitement; with our PR and marketing caps on, it makes us wonder what will be?
Here are some predictions on the changes social TV could bring to the PR and Marketing arenas:
Exclusive Content for Social Viewers: Socially aware audience members have one eye on their favorite TV show and one on the show’s hashtag. Say your client’s product is featured on a segment of a local news station. In an ideal world, you would be able to seamlessly offer a special promotion to viewers on Twitter, which means more promotion for the client as each viewer tweet is sent out.
More ways to Interact: With the advent of social media and its best friend, smart phones, it’s hard to go a moment without multi-tasking. Since Twitter is allegedly reaching out to TV execs to see how the platform can integrate with the TV experience, you no longer can focus on providing appropriate content for solely a TV audience; you now have to consider how you can help TV staff integrate the experience. If you help them, the chances are they will be more likely to help you. Don’t just pitch an expert; offer the TV audience a 30-minute Q&A slot with your expert on Twitter and create a unique hashtag for the event, as well.
Prepare for Crisis: It goes without saying but now more than ever, you must have a crisis management plan. Not only do you have to prep your client for a 3-minute interview segment, but you have to be prepared for any kind of negative situation that could arise if they say something off-the-cuff that gets the Twitterverse upset.
Check Out HuffPost Live: HuffPo Live is leading the path for a social TV experience. Sure, they’re hosted on the web but its experience is where I imagine social TV to be headed. It focuses on bringing real-world opinions onto its programs so you won’t see too many experts or pitch-able segments broadcast, but if you find a client to be a perfect fit for an upcoming slot, there is no harm in trying. Be prepared, watch feedback from the audience and open your eyes to social TV.
If you want to hear more about TV and its future, register for our free webinar at 1 p.m. CT tomorrow, where we will discuss this topic with David Westin, former president of ABC News and founding CEO and advisor to NewsRight.
