Using Social Media Along with Traditional TV

Look how much information we get that starts with a social media tipping us off. The blog, TMZ is a great example. In fact the more accurate this information is, the more likely we are to "follow" that information provider, 'tweeter' or 'facebookie'.

Now celebrities tell us about their every bowel movement and we are able to use newsfeeds and IM to update each other instantly.

How do we apply this to the world of television programming? Well it seems obvious, but a little planning goes a long way.

Thinking about what information you will use your show or commercial to push is important. It has to be good to get an audience and keep it.

It has to offer more than your show or spot does-added value if you will- or it has to provide linkage to information in the show. If you provide good info, promoting your show has value, too.

You have to be ready to operate your social adjacent media. Will you update it weekly, daily...hourly...as it happens? Make sure you have someone who will manage the updates you have planned.

Social media is a great promotional tool. After all, what is better than personal ensorsement in a social scene?

Find out how we can plan your social media adjacent production.

www.theredfish.ca

"It's Just Business" An excuse to be a jerk?

Have you ever been in a situation where someone was justifying their actions by saying these simple words: "It's not personal. It's just business."? This is something I am sure any of us can say we have at least overheard. You ever think about this statement? It basically means: "I could not give a crap about you personally and you might as well just hand me your money or I have no need for you".

When someone says something like this to me I almost instantly disregard doing business with them. I do not want the business of someone who disregards that I run a business that affects the lives of many people... PERSONALLY. If you say that it's only business you are likely justifying an underhanded or greed-infused bit of business that you have embarked upon.

Sure, a business needs to run like one, but let me tell you there are a lot of businesses out there and a lot of clients. I choose to find the partners out there who will first focus on the project, the quality of service or the general outcome of our work together before having to justify their actions by believing that it's "only business" in their own minds.

The other truth about this statement is that you will usually hear it immediately after you have discovered that someone has taken advantage of you. It is usually a dishonorable aftershock.

Use your business mind, but remember you are a PERSON. You deal with PEOPLE. They have PERSONS they are responsible for feeding and clothing..etc... If you are justifying your means with the good ol' "It's just business" line, you need to re-evaluate your approach to life, not just business.

Watch out for these people: Their M.O. is take advantage of you and your business. Your only defense will be to not do business with them. They will shut you down without caring.

Have a great day.

Planning for the future of TV

Contrary to popular alarmist belief, TV isn't going anywhere. It is evolving but not disappearing.

There was a time that we all envisioned TV being interactive in much the same way the internet is quickly becoming. Who wants to interact with their TV? I want to stare at it hoping that it doesn't want anything from me. It already has my attention. That is all I can offer my television. No. It did not take...interactive gaming is now console-specific and the idea that you would email, phone, and make microwave pizza with your TV is a notion that most of us have let go of.

So then what will become of TV in the future? Well, already there are tons networks with targeted programming objectives that make up the 10 zillion channel universe we all pay through the nose for each month with our cable bill. The TV audience pie has been divided so many times now that ad-revenues and cable subscription revenues are almost on-par in some cases, networks generate next to no advertising revenue. Ah-ha! There you go. Already there is a shift away from Ad Revenues to Consumer Revenues. There is the first big change we are seeing. This means that people are already paying for the content they want the most (in theory).

What else is on the horizon? With the advent of social media taking hold (watch for the tweet about this blog later...) television may just turn into a mass launch-pad for people who have similar interests. Once you have affinity with a group of other like-minded people and you can connect with them through social media, the content on TV then just becomes the launch pad for what viewers can do on their own, together. TV might just become the mass-communication voice of Social Media and our participation will become real, but not through our LCD TVs, but through each other and our interests merely covered on TV.

Sure, the more splintered the TV content universe becomes, the more likely we will become a community through targeted programming and the use of social media attached to the broadcast specifically.

Happy viewing.

Mike Wixson

Executive Producer

RedFish Studios