Posted on Thu, Apr 19, 2012
By Elaina Robinson
Beyond the waters of the Boston Harbor lies a great big world waiting to be explored. With all the communication tools and social media channels available to us today, it is easier to always be connected. This ability to connect allows us to gain a deeper understanding of, and relate to people of all cultures in a different way – across the world and around the globe. Social media is bringing together real opinions from real people – displayed in the real world. These types of experiences are likely to continue to increase as we become more globally “social.”
This week Castle principal Sandy Lish is in Cape Town for the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) annual meeting, where Agency owners from 42 worldwide organizations come together to share – best practices, ideas, tools of the trade, insight into a different culture, market knowledge, economy, business opportunity, etc. that help us connect our Clients and friends wherever they need to be around the world. During the meeting, many of these topics are shared through social media – twitter, blogging, Facebook, etc., making our network an important driver of international social connection.
How are we different? How are we similar? We thought this would be a perfect time to look beyond our shores for ideas and inspiration. We will explore everything from pop culture, superstitions and politics to travel and television in the US and abroad.
If you have yet to connect globally, it’s time. Grab your “social” passports and read on.
We can’t talk about all things international with out mentioning social media. From Twitter to Pinterest and Foursquare – it is clear that social media is quickly dominating the way we interact across the globe. Tweets and posts seem to appear on feeds faster than it takes a crew member to punch a ticket on the train.
Did the audience really like that rendition of What a Wonderful World? Who thought that dance was a little sloppy? Thanks to social media on competition shows worldwide we don’t have to wait for the answer. Tune into The Voice any Monday and find #TheVoice hashtag staring back at you encouraging conversation. A live Twitter news ticker that runs across the bottom of the screen offers a more personal interaction. If that weren’t enough, the show even features its very own “social media room,” where Twitter trends are discussed and hashed out (no pun intended).
Across the pond, Britain’s Got Talent, employs similar techniques of cutting-edge social engagement. The show’s iPhone and Android app allows users to access exclusive back stage footage, browse never before seen photos, read the shows latest stories and share opinions and ratings. The app also allows fans to participate in the spin off show, Britain’s Got More Talent.
In Australia, social media is surreptitiously taking the country’s performing arts scene by storm. From backstage status updates to a sultry Cha-cha-cha, performers and viewers are interacting on a more personal level than ever before. The annual Sydney Festival has attracted a record number of Twitter followers, who can’t wait to discuss their favorite performances and give their recommendations. The contestants in Dancing with the Stars, Australia use their Twitter presence to connect directly with their fans, thereby hoping to gain more votes.
Next to Simon Cowell, there is no other person or thing that has more influence on the worldwide reality competition circuit than Twitter. Forget the judges, from now on winners will most likely be decided by the court of social media opinion.
