NWI vs. NWIndiana – an Example of How Fast New Media Can Work
We often get asked about how fast New Media can work. I have an answer, but usually what it takes to explain the scenario is often slower in tempo then the example itself.
Luckily, up here in in Northwest Indiana, a perfect example of how fast New Media can work just took place:
This morning, Brett Fuller at Valpolife.com published a post on their site titled,
“It’s Time to Get Rid of the “#NWIndiana” Tag on Twitter“
Then he published a link to the post on twitter using both the #nwi and #nwindiana hashtag.
What transpired was a flurry of twitter activity which debated this issue…
Those in favor of using #nwi wrote about how since one can only use 140 characters when sending a tweet on Twitter, the 7 characters saved by using #nwi as opposed to #nwindiana means they can craft a better message.
Those who oppose the switching from #nwindiana argued that the hastag was started by The Times of Northwest Indiana when they started using the twitter account @nwi and that use of the #nwi hashtag would allow for excessive crosstalk and cross-promotion.
By the time I came back from a meeting and had brunch, Chris Keller, Editor for Time’s online site – nwitimes.com – wrote a post on nwitimes stating his position.
Here’s an excerpt:
Is it within the realm of possibility that someone could see a tweet from someone using #nwi and confuse it with @nwi. Again, I think it’s a reasonable assumption.
From where I sit, getting timely information to people, and learning more about what is going in the lives of #nwindiana residents is my biggest goal, and whatever mechanism, method or hashtag that is used should carry with it the same consideration and attention to that end.
Then Chris shared on twitter about how others were posting their thoughts, where to find them, and shared additional thoughts as well.
And the only reason it’s taking me so long to share this example with you is because I’m still trying to make heads or tails of how best to communicate using Google Buzz.
To recap.
- Breakfast
- Someone published a post
- A community debated about it using social media
- The regional newspaper shared their thoughts using social media
- Lunch
And we didn’t even have to discuss it in a committee.
Next time, the topic could concern you or you company.
Wouldn’t you like to make sure your business can move this fast?
We can show you how. Drop us a line.
(photo credit: lapoutre2tek via Flickr)
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