If you’re a regular Twitter user, you’ve no doubt been annoyed a time or two by a flood of tweets from an event, ballgame or conference you’re not interested in. I don’t want to unfollow people I like and regularly interact with just because they are rabid football and basketball fans — and I hope they don’t unfollow me for my numerous St. Louis Cardinal Baseball tweets.

When I watch a game or attend an event, I’ll often save a hashtag search and follow that stream instead of the main feed. I find new people to connect with and can more easily keep up with the conversation around what’s happening.

A new application called Hot Potato will make it much easier to connect with fellow fans or attendees without alienating followers who don’t share your interest. Though it hasn’t yet caught on in the mainstream, there’s a lot of potential. As an added bonus, you may avoid Twitter’s notorious fail whale, often seen during popular events.

After you’ve created your free account, you’ll see this screen upon login. It gives you a list of events that are currently hot; click the me too button at right to join. You can search for friends via Facebook, Twitter or search your Google contacts. You can also sign in via Facebook Connect. In addition to the events on the What’s Hot? tab, you can select an action, such as watching, listening, reading, attending, and begin typing in the update box. It will bring up a list of already-created activities; if you don’t find what you’re looking for, you get to create your own.

The site allows you to engage with others with similar interests, exchange comments and updates and it stores past events. Become an expert in a particular category and you’ll receive an award posted on your profile.

There is also a free iPhone app.

Though it won’t be truly useful until it gains much wider distribution, I’d love to see this app catch on — the interface is simple, clean and easy to use and navigate. If you’re hosting or attending a conference or other major event, encourage your audience to try it out.

What do you think? Useful or not?

Last week I wrote about how much fun I have with St. Louis Cardinal baseball and social media. This week I’m talking about how to put it to practical use.

I’ve been a St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan since the days of Brock, Gibson, Torre (as a player) and just after Stan Musial. (For the non-fan, that’s the mid-60s.) I’ve been a social media fan since I first started on Twitter in 2007. I love it when these two worlds collide.

Here’s how to catch a bit of Cardinal Fever for your brand or organization:

• Provide a number of ways to interact. I connect with my team via Facebook, Twitter and a variety of blogs, which provide background information, opinions and analysis and add to my enjoyment of America’s favorite pastime. The team’s website includes videos, interviews with players, game highlights and information about Cardinal activity in the community. Take full advantage of the today’s multimedia Web.
  Application: multiple outlets reach your audience where they are.
  Caveat: don’t just broadcast — you must be present and interact within each space. Tailor updates to the particular audience associated with each unique channel.
• Capitalize on the event’s inherent excitement. Is it a championship game? Big rivalry? Ace pitcher returning after weeks on the disabled list? If needed, give background for the uninitiated: what is at stake for the winner and loser? Remind them what the ace brings to the game and why it’s so exciting to have him back.
  Application: why should your audience care about what’s going on with your organization? Help them see why it’s important.
  Caveat: be sure it’s about the reader, not about you.


Cardinal fans follow and comment on game progress, which enriches the experience for all.

• Create a forum for exchange of opinions. Twitter especially shines here, with Facebook close behind. Fans exchange 140-character quips and comments about batting streaks, bad pitching, umpires and whether or not they agree with the manager’s decision to bring in a pinch hitter. Or just commiserate about the fact that Albert Pujols’ bat seems to have grown cold of late.
  Application: Be sure your followers know that there is actually a voice, a human presence. They’ll be more likely to interact if they feel there is a human on the other side of the keyboard.
  Caveat: Know that there will eventually be negative feedback and be ready to listen and respond without becoming defensive.
• Encourage live tweeting. If you have knowledgeable and connected fans, encourage them to post updates, photos and video during the game. Let your fans follow the action even when they can’t be at the game and they will feel more connected.
  Application: Offer free admission for a paid event for a trusted fan who can provide regular updates on the action. I did this for my church for last year’s Leadership Summit with excellent results.
  Caveat: Be sure the person you choose can represent your organization well.
• Create an official hashtag for your team. Flash it on the scoreboard at the games. The Cardinals have two: #stlcards and #stlcardinals. I keep saved searches on both, but it’s even better if you can establish it up front and stick to one. That helps fans find one another and discover new related streams to follow.
  Application: Display the hashtag prominently at the event and in printed materials.
  Caveat: You still might have to explain hashtags to some people, but it’s worth a few minutes’ orientation.

Whether or not you’re a baseball fan, you can leverage some social energy for your business or organization. Find the parallels in the examples above that fit your business or organizational needs. What applies? What doesn’t?

I grew up watching St. Louis Cardinal baseball with my dad. When we traveled, we’d listen on the radio, at home we watched games on television and at least once each summer we would see the Cards play in person at Busch Stadium. If we were away from TV and radio, we had to be content with news reports after the game and national sportscasts’ video highlights. But now it’s 2010 and the tech-savvy baseball fan enjoys quite a few more options.

Here’s how I follow my team when I’m on the run:

• MLB At Bat 2010 Available for iPhone, BlackBerry and Android The most expensive app on my iPhone, at $14.95 this year, it performs smashingly well and provides pitch-by-pitch action, audio play-by-play, video highlights, standings, box scores and plenty of statistics. Though not social, it’s easy for me to find games, track standings and keep up with news via the blog feed.
• Twitter I’ve saved hashtag searches for both #stlcards and #stlcardinals (#stlcards seems to be more popular). I use Tweetie2 for iPhone and follow the saved search on these hashtags to (discreetly when necessary) get minute-by-minute updates on the game‘s progress and be amused and entertained by other fans’ comments.
  Must follow: Official Cards Twitter feed and Matthew Leach, formerly with ESPN and mlb.com, now covering the team
• Facebook I love the online camaraderie I have with my Facebook friends who are Cardinal fans. In April, the Cardinals played a 20-inning game, the second-longest in franchise history, as my family and I were traveling back to Memphis from Nashville. Listening to the game in the car via iPhone became a virtual baseball watch party as my friends and I followed the suspenseful game and exchanged comments and updates. Regular sports fans invite friends over to watch a big game with snacks and beer; geeks on the run follow it with far-away friends via iPhone, Twitter and Facebook. Must follow: Cardinals on Facebook
• Related Blogs:
  • Cardinals pitching prospect David Kopp reports from the Minors
  • Cardinal left fielder Matt Holiday (has not been updated since last fall)
  • My favorite: Obviously, You’re Not a Golfer by Matthew Leach

Do you follow your favorite team?

On deck for next week: Double Header, Game Two: Leverage Social Energy to Build Loyalty for Your Brand or Organization

Consider the mosquito. Many a southern afternoon or evening have been ruined by this tiny pest. They buzz about annoyingly and drive you inside on an otherwise pleasant evening outdoors. And they suck your blood.

How to Avoid the Virtual Insect Repellant

As I’ve said before, social media is like a cocktail party. Does anyone invite a mosquito to a party?

Leave the Monologues to Leno and Letterman

Don’t just set up an account, sign on and start blasting. Follow others first, listen and find ways you can contribute to the conversation. Post a link, congratulate someone on a victory or just share something inspiring. Try to see things from the point of view of an outsider and post things that are of interest to them.

Don’t Be a Bot (What’s a Bot?)

There are services that allow you to post once and distribute to multiple social networks. Don’t do this. Unless you plan to go back and look for replies in each place, it’s just a monologue. And if you plan to monitor each network, why not just post there? It’s best to tailor your updates to the network, as you may have different audiences in different places.

An endless stream of nothing but quotes with no engagement or interaction is a snooze. I have my own Bible and access to all the motivational business quotes I can stand. Most people who will follow you do as well. Just spitting out Bible verses or inspirational quotes doesn’t allow anyone to interact with or get to know you. If you do tweet a quote, explain why it is meaningful to you and how it applies. Make it personal.

Don’t Be a Butt

Don’t use your platform to bash or criticize the competition. It’s a shame that it warrants a mention, but, particularly if you are a religious organization, don’t post rude comments about another ministry, denomination, or even a celebrity. I once hid updates from a Facebook friend who posted a Bible verse in her status, then shortly posted a nasty personal insult about a political figure. Snarkiness isn’t becoming.

Don’t Suck My Blood

If you think of your social media presence as an opportunity to sell, sell, sell, your followers will swat you. I’ve heard it said that, for each 10 posts, nine should be about others, and one should be about you. Probably a pretty good ratio; if you’re known as a resource, people will be much more likely to remember you positively.

Remember, its a conversation, approach it as such and don’t be rude or stupid and you’ll be just fine. Oh, and you can follow me at @bethgsanders.

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