Mike HackmerMike Hackmer

  • Services
  • Podcasts and Webinars
  • Perspectives
  • Data and Trends
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact

Twitter: Real-time alerting and media solution

by Michael Hackmer / Thursday, 31 July 2008 / Published in Social Media

A lot of buzz recently has been how Twitter was faster to alert people around the recent earth quakes than news organizations. This has led to some conversation about Twitter’s business model and potential applications for businesses.

A few weeks ago I had some thoughts about Twitter and its possible development of an emergency alerting tool (I’ll post sometime soon – though I may back-date it) – among other things. However, in reading some recent blog posts, I see Twitter’s ability as a Web 2.0 news and information aggregator as being the immediate advantage because unlike many news organizations – people consider Twitter “faster, unspun” with the negative of news organizations being that they are not participatory or focused on sharing.

WAIT A SECOND! HOLD THE PHONE!

No sooner had the statement about news organizations not being “focused on sharing” sprung forth and into this blog post, than I discovered a news organization mentioned in a blog post that IS using Twitter to reach out to its specific communities and engage people in conversations (I am sure there are many more, btw).

NBCi4 – MIDWEST

Using Twitter allows reporters, editors and columnists the ability to get real-time stories from people on the ground as well as drive content to people via Twitter, and get specific feeds mentioning their news organization in the different Twitter search engines. So, Twitter is a natural fit for every kind of mass media.

See page where I got the above screen shot at: http://www.nbc4i.com/midwest/cmh/news/nbc4now.html.

The value for radio, tv and newspaper is clear… engage your audience, expand your coverage, grow your audience, and help drive people back to your web properties (where monetization can in many instances occur).

From a marketing perspective, I think a key development strategy (for companies involved in the widget / desktop application space) is integrating Twitter with social communicators / desktop applications / widgets. Doing so would create a “must have” application for news organizations (as well as other markets). Direct Twitter conversations could fuel traffic to radio contests, news / network events, broaden community activism, and much, much more.

As far as emergency managers are concerned, using Twitter within a desktop application or somehow finding a way to convert the Twitter feed (this would take some technical experience with the Twitter API to determine if such an approach were possible) into a CAP (common alerting protocol) message, would create another inbound and outbound communication stream. Alert managers could receive real-time information that could be shared with first responders and others. Likewise, alert managers also could distribute messages via a CAP-based system to Twitter, and thereby reaching their constituents through another touch point. Such an option, for example, would prove enormously useful on a college campus.

In the end, I think the technical and business applications for a simple micro-blogging platform, like Twitter, are starting to come to the head. The question on my mind now is… is Twitter already working with a company on integrating its system with an emergency alert solution, and how many other widget / desktop application / social communicators out there will heed the call and integrate Twitter functionality into their products for the benefit of their customers.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Tweet
Tagged under: CAP, common alerting protocol, emergency alerting, Media, NBC4, newspaper, radio, real-time alerts, tv, Twitter

About Michael Hackmer

Michael Hackmer is the founder of Social Web Tactics (www.socialwebtactics.com), a digital marketing and sales agency focused on providing businesses and organizations the ability to connect with their audience using the latest and most effective digital technologies and tools. He has been a speaker, consultant and marketing strategist for over 15 years. He also has worked in federal and state government relations, and managed industry affairs and association membership. He has developed digital and strategic marketing campaigns for companies including: Adobe, Deltek, HP, K12, Red Hat, Strayer University and more. He has helped non-profits and corporations with marketing automation solutions. He is originally born in Boston, MA. Graduated Phillips Academy, Andover in 1994. Received his B.A. in Politics from The Catholic University of America in 1998. Michael lives in Ashburn, Virginia with his wife and daughter. He loves to run, swim and travel throughout South America.

What you can read next

Social media DOES spur accountability
Twitter: The Enterprise Version?
Who says we all can’t just travel by balloons? Social media encourages big ideas, new thinking

Recent Posts

  • Quantum Leap Forward

    Multiplying Your Personal Effectiveness In Quantum Leaps

    You2 is a formula for dramatically improving on...
  • Healthy Living

    Healthy Living: Vitamin D can help reduce coronavirus risk by 54% according to Boston University doctor

    Vitamin D can help reduce coronavirus risk by 5...
  • How To Get Started Identifying Your Target Audience

    Who is going to buy from you? Or use your servi...
  • When Just the Facts Are What Is Missing

    When Just the Facts Are What Is Missing

    With growing bias and subjectivity in our news,...
  • Stay Home - Save Lives - AdobeStock_334374864 2000 x 500

    Being Pragmatic About COVID-19 At Work

    Warning: A proud Dad tells a story about his ol...

SERVICES

  • Strategy
  • Audiences
  • Experiences

PERSPECTIVES

  • Top Marketing and Communications Challenges
  • Ideas for Your Next Marketing or Communications Campaign
  • Business Trends for 2023
  • Government Trends for 2023

STATISTICS AND TRENDS

  • Latest Data (Home)
  • Business Trends
  • Cybersecurity

NETCASTS / PODCASTS

  • Netcasts, Podcasts and Webinars
  • OPTIMISTIC Talk
  • Webinar & Report: Top Communications and Marketing Challenges
  • Webinar & Report: Ideas for Your Next Marketing or Communications Campaign
  • Webinar: How To Use Search Engine Optimization To Create Effective Content
  • Webinar: How To Create A Successful Lead Generation Webinar
  • Webinar & Report: Business Trends for 2023
  • Webinar & Report: Government Trends for 2023

FOLLOW MIKE HACKMER

© 2022 Michael Hackmer LLC | All rights reserved. | Disclaimer, Terms and Conditions

Contact   571-271-5976
TOP