What Your Automated Direct Message on Twitter Tells Me

Almost every day, I get Direct Messages on Twitter from people/businesses I've recently followed, asking (or telling me) to check out their site. I can tell that these messages are almost ALWAYS automated because of how generic they are. It would only make sense to send these generic messages manually if you were going to put my name in there. But of course that would be too much work.

GreenHeroes: My Latest Adventure!

A Toronto shark fin ban? It looks like it's going to happen! Check out this blog post I wrote for GreenHeroes, an online web channel and TVO television series that tells the stories of people who were spurred on to help make changes in the environment. Our GreenHeroes include Jane Goodall, David Suzuki, Sarah Harmer, Rob Stewart and many more!

I've been working with the team at GreenHeroes on their social media and communications for about a month now and I love it! I love that I get to raise awareness about such important work and show people how they can get involved.

Please follow GreenHeroes on Twitter and Like us on Facebook for news on our GreenHeroes and information on how you can get involved in their causes. We'd love your comments on what we post and we will respond.

What Deters You From Commenting?

An interesting #blogchat on Twitter tonight. The topic was how to get more comments on your blog.

Some said that people are deterred from commenting if comment moderation is enabled. (This means your post will not be published until the author approves it.) Some also said that captchas, or word verifications, the distorted images of warped numbers and letters you have to type out in a field to minimize spam on the site, also deter people from commenting.

These may be deterrents for a number of reasons.

For the first point about comment moderation, some people would rather their comment appear right after they click "Send" to maximize the number of visitors who see it, as your post will probably get its highest volume of traffic soon after it is posted. This means exposure for commenters. Another point is that potential commenters may not like the idea of their comment or others' being screened. These people might feel you will censor them, or reduce the comment discourse to praise, not publishing criticism.

And as for captchas, I think the main, if not only, reason is that they're just such a pain to read. Some people on #blogchat said that many people just can't be bothered with the extra step before their comment is delivered or published.

I've never been deterred by comment moderation or captchas. I want my message read and published no matter what the circumstances are. But as an experiment, I changed my blog settings. I no longer have comment moderation or a captcha enabled. I also entered my email into the comment notification box. And I set the comment section to open in a new window. My previous setting changed the page when people commented. I don't think that's wise because it will mean people will be less likely to go back and look at your other posts. It's more work. I'm not sure why I chose my original setting...

What does deter me from commenting is another sign-in, be it to the particular site or to a comment system like Disqus. I don't want to have to register for anything, or re-enter my username and password or try to remember a username and password to some site I seldom use.

I'm also very deterred by commenting on sites that don't provide a field for my URL. These are called no follow sites. With URL field, it's called Do Follow. Obviously, Do Follow takes visitors to your site if they click on your name after it's published. But Do Follow is also helpful to improve search engine optimization. I will comment anyway if there is something I really want to say. Also, I will occasionally put my URL into the comment field if I'm feeling particularly bold. I don't do that much, though, because  I think it looks a bit spammy. I will link to a particularly post if it's relevant, though, and explain the relevance. I have gotten great traffic through doing that.

I also refuse to visits sites whose owners have asked me personally to visit their blog, in a comment on my blog, in a Tweet, email, etc. If you can't be bothered to use my name, say anything meaningful about work, give any kind of incentive for me to visit your  blog and don't even tell me what your blog is about, than I want nothing to do with you. Traffic and comments must be earned. I'm not part of the blogosphere just to do favours for people. It has to be more meaningful than that.

And I am deterred from commenting again if people don't respond to my comments on their blog, don't visit mine (or others' apparently) -- especially if these people then complain that they don't get any comments! So many want something from nothing.

The blogosphere is a community. It's about building relationships, expanding your knowledge and engaging in meaningful discourse.

What deters you from commenting?

Comments on News Stories: Should the Outlets Have Responsibilities?

If you read the comments section of a news story, chances are you you will come across heated exchanges between commenters or abusive remarks about the subject of the story. Some of these people are passionately political, some appear to merely comment to antagonize.

I read a lot of comments sections from a lot of news articles and no representatives from the company seem to respond. Is this a problem? Should news companies moderate their stories to reduce abuse of other commenters and spam? Should news stories contribute to the conversation and respond to commenters' claims of biased research?

News outlets seem to publish the stories and then leave them alone and, perhaps this is a good thing. If they moderate (respond to, delete or edit) comments, commenters affected could interpret this as censorship. An attempt to keep allegations of unethical journalism quiet. Changing comments essentially means tailoring the discourse. Not only will that hurt the outlet's relationship with the affected commenters, but it will diminish the wonderful qualities of social medias: a loud voice for citizens and interaction between the people and "the man." -- Do people use that phrase anymore?

I don't know if broad social or journalistic change has ever come about because of a comment or comments on a news story, but the conversation about the news story has certainly influenced how I read the news. So many commenters pose questions about the reporter's research methodology, about the unanswered questions. Questions I hadn't asked when I first read the article, but looked back and realized what was missing. Comments have power. But only if people read them. 

Do you read comments on news stories or blogs? Do you see the value of reading these comments? Have you commented and what was your experience afterward? Do you think news outlets or bloggers have any responsibilities regarding comments submitted to their stories? To bloggers: do you moderate your comments?

Stop by my Twitter chat on Monday night from 9 pm to 10 pm EST to discuss these questions and how they should impact our moderating decisions as bloggers. The hashtag will be #beyond comments Everyone is welcome! Again, my Twitter name is @cartooninperson If you can't make the chat, but have something to say, please feel free to drop a comment here on my blog or on the Beyond Passing Time Facebook Page.

For those new on Twitter or new to Twitter chats, simply type #beyondcomments in your Tweets and anyone who types #beyondcomments in the search field will see them. If you search #beyond comments, you will see the discussion. All Tweets will show up live, so you don't need to refresh your page. Please feel free to comment here or email me at aj.ashbee@gmail.com if you don't understand or would like more information.

I will see you there! Please spread the word!

Social Media Opportunities in Healthcare

Tonight I watched a live stream of Health Care Social Media Canada's Tweet Up, a panel discussion by health communicators about the opportunities in implementing social media in healthcare.

As some of you may know, I use social media very often in my personal life and I am passionate about social health issues, but I am also starting to use social media as I begin my career in health communications as an intern for the Association of Ontario Health Centres.

I love what social media can do to engage patients, not just with a hospital or a community health centre, but with other patients and with their communities. It's a great way to share information and concerns, but also a great way for healthcare centres to stay attuned to the needs of the communities.

And I am enjoying this idea of healthcare social media as a patient as well. I want to know what kind of research a hospital is doing; I want to connect with other patients who have the same issues I do.

But it doesn't just happen. The attitude that "If we build it (a Twitter page), they will come" just doesn't work. What I'm most interested right now is learning how to engage people and build followers. That can be hard for an organization, I think, because there isn't necessarily the time or money to effectively operate a Twitter account. Also, I think another obstacle is that an organization Tweeting doesn't necessarily have a face. People like to talk to other PEOPLE. And it has to be interactive with @mentions and relevant, valuable link sharing.

I keep asking myself: do community members want to add hospitals and community health centres to Twitter? Do they want to "chat" with them? More importantly, do the patients and staff who could most benefit from healthcare interaction on Twitter actually even use social media? And how can we encourage people to get accounts and use them?

Raise Awareness about How Twitter Raises Awareness

As a post-grad Public Relations student passionate about social health issues, I have produced most of my communications plans, news releases, blog posts, presentations, Tweets, etc. about why not-for-profits and other organizations are important and how they can improve their awareness and fundraising initiatives. Most of these assignments required research to understand what the organizations' needs were.

So I started checking out the Twitter profiles of organizations I wanted to write about. Organizations I have been personally involved with, or just really admire. I was shocked to find out that many of them have fewer followers than I do and they just don't Tweet much, or Tweet enough.

In my Online Public Relations class, I learned that organizations can reach huge numbers of people by effectively using social media. This means Tweeting often about relevant topics and to promote events and other great things. It means Tweeting in a way that will help people realize that there is a person behind the Twitter account who they can interact with. It means checking out what's trending and what those you are following need and are interested in.

Think about how young people communicate: the internet! Social media! By not Tweeting effectively, these organizations are likely not reaching this audience effectively -- perhaps not even online at all, or at all PERIOD. Young people can really benefit from these organizations.

I do not blame these organizations, though. I know they aren't lazy. I know they really care about young people. I learned in my Online Public Relations course that Twitter takes a lot of time and manpower to really reach people. You have to Tweet often to ensure you are seen and to encourage people to follow you. You have to Follow people and Tweet information that reflects your brand and values. This requires research.

Those of you who use Twitter probably know that you can spend a whole day just reading things on Twitter, searching for interesting people whose interests you share to follow. If you're an organization, you'll probably have to spend even more time doing this to make sure that you're reaching the right people effectively. The words you use and the links you share in Tweets have to reflect what you're all about. They have to interest and motivate people. This is why so many organizations have a communications member who works solely on social media.

With all of the work and small number of staff these organizations have, especially in the communications department, it's no wonder operating Twitter is likely low on their lists of tasks. Maybe it just doesn't seem like a priority.

Well, I think it IS a priority. Twitter isn't just for narcissists like me, celebrities and news organizations. Twitter is about engaging people. What better place to promote a fundraiser? To share a story that addresses stigma or a research breakthrough? To reach citizens you can help or powerful people who can help your cause?

I propose a campaign to raise awareness about great organizations on Twitter. Add me to Twitter (@cartooninperson), @mention me and a great organization and Tweet about how it could benefit from a higher Twitter profile and why its work matters to you. By @mentioning these organizations, we'll also show them that Twitter matters; we care about their cause and we value what they do for us. Twitter is a powerful tool for an organization to measure its impact. I'll Retweet the Tweets you send me that I believe in. You can do the same. @mention organizations to your friends. Let's start a revolution!

Tweet This

I just read this brief article that suggests Twits are "overTweeting" and it got me thinking: do people really Tweet instead of communicating with those they are with in person?

Tweeting does seem to distract me from living in the moment. I may have spent more time in front of my computer screen than in front of the television when I watched the Superbowl and the Oscars. I was Tweeting and reading Tweets. I watched these shows looking for things to Tweet about and wondering what others would Tweet. The constant feed of live Oscar and Superbowl Tweets in my feed let me know others were doing the same. And that's just the people I was following.

So, I can see how Twitter distracts people, but I'm not sure that it's always unhealthy behaviour. It was therapeutic to see clever Tweets about the terrible Black Eyed Peas performance. It made me feel less alone: others hated it too. Please don't think I seek comfort from Twits. I do have friends. I let my family know how I felt too. I always do.

I don't substitute Tweeting for real conversation. And I don't consider Tweets, even @cartooninperson Tweets, real conversation because they are often so one sided. A conversation never lasts for more than a few Tweets and it shouldn't. Who wants to look at your feed if it's loaded with your Tweets to other people that probably only make sense to the people you're directing your Tweet to? I only @ message people if the message is something that will make sense to others, something that could be Retweeted because it's clever and others know what I mean.

I wonder if companies using Twitter for online public relations can promote their company effectively while Tweeting effectively. To do this effectively, I think, companies would have to also Tweet about other things besides their company to really connect with people. Check out Starbucks' Twitter. The company @ Tweets to other Twits, but the Starbucks only seems to be @ Tweeting to respond to customer service type questions. I want to know why anyone would want to ask customer service questions through Twitter. I can see Tweeting to Starbucks about how amazing their marble hot chocolate is, though. Delicious!

Now maybe Starbucks will Tweet this blog entry. I'm going to @Starbucks them to find out. That would be amazing, as they have over a million followers!

Do you think Twitter is an effective tool for companies to reach their fans? Which, if any, companies do you follow on Twitter and why?

Twitter for Market Research?

According to many Tweets, right now, White Chicks is on television in Toronto. Yes, White Chicks is trending on Twitter. It's obvious from the Tweets that the people Tweeting about it have seen it before and love it:

xMrsCrosbyx Tweets "Just watched White Chicks for the 847278573 time in a row...never get tired of this haha #funniestmovieever."

emilym179 Tweets "Definitely watched White Chicks! Forgot how funny it was :P"

Then there are some Tweets blatantly including "White Chicks" to be found through searches of what's trending:

Weirdnesstcz0 Tweets, "COOOLx7 -_Twitter n Google cooperate to develop a brand new SearchEngine - http://bit.ly/fOcmQI === Mubarak #egypt White Chicks"

Yep, just when you thought you'd seen it all, Mubarak and White Chicks were mentioned in the same Tweet, even though Mubarak and White Chicks have nothing to do with the topic of the Tweet: Twitter and Google's new search engine.

These Tweets and others can be used to track how many people have seen White Chicks more than once and how many people love it. It's a content analysis, really. Obviously, it's not terribly accurate research because, like our friend Weirdnesstcz0, many people on Twitter may be writing about White Chicks to gain greater exposure on Twitter and not everyone who loves White Chicks will have Twitter accounts or be Tweeting that the film is on television and that they love it. Still, it is valuable research for television networks to see what is popular, to know that they should air it again. Also, other television networks could monitor trends on Twitter to get ideas about what films they should air.

Now, you're probably thinking that they could get all of this information by evaluating their ratings. True, but by looking at what else "White Chicks" Twits have Tweeted about, networks can assemble pyschographic and demographic research. You can learn a lot by looking at what people Tweet about. You can learn if they're students, what they like to watch on television, who they follow, etc.

Content analysis is often great market research because it is conducted after the fact and is unobtrusive, meaning the researchers aren't influencing the behaviour of their subjects or affecting the results of their research. Plus, it's obviously much cheaper and faster to conduct research by evaluating Tweets because there are no surveys or polls to conduct and information comes out in real time. The information comes straight to the researchers without them even having to prompt it.

Of course, researchers can also search for things in Twitter to see if people are already interested in something the researchers will share with a television network or whoever else is conducting the market research. If a network has launched a Twitter campaign, it can search certain keywords in Twitter to see if they've created a buzz around a topic. Then they just have to look at ratings, sales, etc. to see if that buzz has created results.



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