The BBC iPlayer and buzz monitoring in action
Last night, while half watching an episode of Skins on Channel 4 and half messing about with BBC iPlayer, I spotted that a new episode of Ashes to Ashes was available to download. Slightly miffed that there didn’t seem to be any way of getting an update prompt when a new episode of a show is released I twittered a flippant (yet fortunately expletive free) remark.
Minutes later I found I had a new Twitter contact. Some bloke called James Cridland had obviously been tracking the keyword “iPlayer” and a quick visit to his site revealed him to be the Head of Future Media & Technology at BBC Audio & Music Interactive. Turns out that he was interested in finding out what I’d meant by my off the cuff tweet and I explained (in 140 characters or fewer) how neat it would be if new episodes would “automagically add themselves to the download manager. Or it’d prompt you. I expect you’re already thinking about this :)”… Of course, it turns out that they are. Because he told me.
Morals from this story?
Firstly, the BBC still kick ass.
Secondly, never underestimate the powers of your own actions online (no matter how insignificant or throwaway they initially seem).
Thirdly, the wealth of opinions about your entity (organisation, product or even person) have never been so readily available. Actively listen to your critics, users or visitors, like James is, harness that information… and use it to make something better!
What is tracking? (From the Twitter FAQ):
Tracking is an SMS or IM only feature that allows you to receive all twitters that match a word you’re tracking. For example, if you send track Obama, you will receive all updates that match “Obama.” All updates sent from tracking will begin with parenthesis. You can easily stop getting these messages by sending untrack Obama.
More about buzz monitoring
Read ‘Essential Buzz Monitoring‘, Chapter 5 of our FREE e-book – “A Marketers Guide to Social Media”.
This is a user-friendly, no-jargon guide with great examples and useful tips on how to use the latest digital techniques to make your online campaigns successful. Essential reading for marketers.
Download the PDF from our ebooks section, and sign up for notification of future chapters while you’re there.
Trevor May wrote this on 22.02.08 – 7 comments
It's filed in the Buzz monitoring, RSS, Social networks box
On February 22nd, 2008 at 1:00 pm, Joshua responded:
wow i am impressed and nice image on your blog article just how it should be done, well done dear designer friend. well done! your on the pulse. which reminds me – how is that video coming along we need to educate the world about images….
On February 22nd, 2008 at 3:40 pm, Edd responded:
Great post, the BBC rawks :D
Im happy they are acctually listening to what the public are saying rather than frittering away thier money.
On February 22nd, 2008 at 4:35 pm, Will McInnes responded:
Love it – a heart warming tale of customer-focused innovation in the first place, smart, prompt buzz monitoring, and good all round shizzle.
On February 22nd, 2008 at 5:56 pm, James Cridland responded:
What a nice man you are. Thanks for the blog post.
Would comment further but I must get back to frittering away your money. Nurse? Could you massage my lower back now?
;)
On February 22nd, 2008 at 6:20 pm, Roy Martin responded:
Great story – twitter at its best.
Now James we just need every BBC radio station on the iPhone and your job will be done :)
On February 23rd, 2008 at 1:23 pm, A trawl around the web, February 15th to February 23rd - blog - James Cridland responded:
[...] The BBC iPlayer and buzz monitoring in actionNixon McInnes decides that I might know what I'm doing, and that "the BBC still kick ass", which is very nice of him. Must get back to the kicking. [...]
On February 26th, 2008 at 2:11 pm, Another Satisfied Customer « Nick Reynolds At Work responded:
[...] Another Satisfied Customer February 25, 2008 James Cridland once again shows his sterling qualities. [...]