Donate ONE minute of your time to show your Smaller #Indiana pride! Help Get #Indiana2Trend! 12-03-09 @ 12:30pm ET -

[Amy Stark]

December 3, 2009 (12:30pm EST / 11:30am CST) tweeters from the banks of the Ohio River to the shores of Lake Michigan will donate one minute to the future of our state by sending a tweet containing “#Indiana” The goal is to get #Indiana to trend among the top ten words on twitter, exposing our state to the global twitter audience for a GOOD reason - not because there's been some tragedy or a bad referee call (Bob Burchie informed me that #Indiana trended October 31 when there was a questionable call at an IU game)

It is easy to participate => when you tweet December 3rd simply add "#INDIANA" in a few of them.
That's it! Tweet something fun about "Smaller #Indiana" or mention your favorite #Indiana tradition or vacation spot. Let's show the global twitter audience how cool Indiana can be.

If you want to put an #Indiana twibbon on your twitter avatar - like the groovy people below - just go to http://bit.ly/3EfC5m

(As of 11:40pm on 12-01-09 there were 26 supporters who are sporting an #Indiana twibbon, including Smaller #Indiana's own, Pat Coyle. Thanks Pat!
Here is the press release sent out 11-12-09 if you want to know more.
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Statewide social media initiative to increase Indiana’s visibility on twitter

Twitter is the preeminent emerging technology used by social media advocates and early technology adapters from every continent. There are currently four billion twitter ready devices in use globally because – unlike facebook and LinkedIn – twitter is a text based service that can be accessed from very basic mobile phones. According to Compete.com twitter had over 25 Million unique visitors in September 2009 ( http://bit.ly/3wPSs6 ), and the latest numbers from Pew Internet and American Life show us that 1 in 5 Internet users tweet; “Fully 39% of internet users with four or more internet-connected devices (such as a laptop, cell phone, game console, or Kindle) use Twitter” (Portrait of a Twitter user http://bit.ly/2ZffjH ).

When words or phrases start to trend on twitter there is a snowball effect as tweeters begin to ask, “why is Indiana trending?” Among social media platforms twitter is unique in that virtually all tweeters participate on at least one other social networking platform, so when messages spread virally on twitter they quickly appear on other platforms. If “#Indiana” trends it will increase name recognition globally, it will provide favorable exposure to existing Indiana businesses and possibly attract future business. It will also raise awareness of social media among Hoosiers and encourage them to lend their voice to the global dialog happening round-the-clock on twitter. There is no downside to this initiative.

Twitter can no longer be discounted as an inane platform where self-absorbed individuals share what they are doing minute-by-minute. It is a viable business tool increasingly making headlines – e.g. Business use of Twitter, Facebook exploding, “using Twitter to get the word out .. jumped 250% since Spring..” (Computer World November 9, 2009 http://bit.ly/22BQct) and, Internet Use Increases Social Connectivity, “Rather than pulling people away from each other, Internet use actually enhances the size and diversity of people’s social networks…” (Information Week November 9, 2009 http://bit.ly/3sDmtb).

Twitter is the largest bridging social capital group in the recorded history of our species, and if Indiana wants to remain relevant in the 21st century Hoosiers should actively participate.

# # #

[Amy Stark]

It warms my heart to know that. Thanks for the information, I will add it to the Get #Indiana2Trend Case study I'm working on. You don't have a twitter traffic compare and contrast, do you? e.g. -Typical day=15 visitors from twitter but on Get #Indiana2Trend day 725 twitter visitors? =) Just wonderin'

[Admin Smaller Indiana]

While we didn't make the top trending list, there was an interesting side benefit of the blitz. More than 30 new people applied for membership on Smaller Indiana. A typical day for us is 5

[Amy Stark]

3:53 pm 12-03-09 104 twibboners. Check it out

I agree with Paul - It was an amazing success.
Need proof? Check out the #Indiana tweet stream. http://bit.ly/5wAziY The tweeter who are tweeting about if for the last 24 hours (give or take) are: 1) from #Indiana , 2) technology savvy , 3) comfortable with the #Internet and/or texting on their cell phone, and 5) they GET Social Media. (Er, Um that should be 4 not 5) What type of #Indiana business could benefit from tapping into that genius pool? They also range from #Evansville to #SouthBend.

[Paul Waltz]

#Indiana may not have trended into the top 10 (yet), but I would still call this a smashing success. We were able to bring several things to the attention of people using the keyword and network a little better amongst ourselves.

Please follow the Wheeler Mission. I'm amazed that they don't have more followers. @wheelermission on Twitter.

[Amy Stark]

As of 8:06am we're up to 73 proud Hoosiers wearing an #Indiana twibbon on their twitter avatar. Smoosiers will definitely recognize Kyle, Dr. Thomas Ho and Steve Dalton aka @DaltonsBriefs. You'll also see Leah B who wrote a Blog about Get #Indiana2Trend day. Let's do it, Smoosiers. 12-03-09 @ 12:30 ET Tweet #Indiana

[Amy Stark]

@Chris -- 111 different countries.. WOW that's amazing. Bravo Formspring! Do you think that would have been possible ten years ago?

Maybe I was trying to make MYSELF feel better. I've been concerned about the appearance of "gaming" the trends all along. When @Scobleizer was here for the MotoGT(?) races at the track I mentioned my Get #Indiana2Trend scheme to him at the late night Tweet Up at Scottys. He offered to contribute a tweet or two and thought it was cool. @ChrisBrogan (in a chat during Blog Indiana between sessions) told me about a wedding he attended where there was a concerted effort to get the wedding party's hashtag to trend. They even encouraged tweeting during the ceremony - but it never trended. Chris told me he thought it would be tough, which of course touched my competitive Hoosier nerve.

I'm really glad you posted your concerns, because it strengthened my resolve. I hope you'll tweet, "I work for a groovy #Indiana company called Formspring and we have clients in 111 countries. Ck us out http://www.formspring.com " I think we can do it, but every tweet will count.

[Chris Lucas]

Amy, you do not have to do anything to make me feel better about this. All I am saying, is if we want to highlight Indiana - let it be about something/anything other than a mass flash of people with a #Indiana.

FormSpring has users in 111 different countries, I very much am aware of the power of global outreach, and as someone who is tasked to use social media as a tool to get the message out about what we do, I also understand the power it can have on a company, an individual, or a movement...but usually there is something compelling that makes it trend, go viral, etc.

I think we are doing great things here in Indiana...we need to sing our praises and I applaud you for doing something than just whining about why it shouldn't be done :). I just wanted some clarifications on why and what the proposed outcomes would be...that is all.

[Amy Stark]

we're up to 58 supporters

@Chris -as I was driving my 14 yr old daughter around, I came up with a way you might feel better about the Get #Indiana2Trend movement, and not view it as gaming => You mentioned it would be ok if it were"organic" and it centered "around a particular event." Get #Indiana2trend is definitely organic so it meets that criteria. If we actually pull it off, It would be an Inaugural Statewide event where Hoosiers stop for a moment to think about how we will compete globally in an information age, PLUS we'll be the first state to do it! I personally think that is a very cool event.

When Rudyard Kipling wrote, "East is East, West is West and never the twain shall meet" he never envisioned twitter. Check out this TED Talk about cellular phone proliferation in India - http://bit.ly/927p5s -- (I can't get the embed code for some reason) EVERY Cell phone is a twitter Ready device. Wouldn't Formspring benefit from global exposure.. your product can be sold via Internet Protocol with a download, right?

@Paul I love your idea about posting a news item or business tweet. If we trend-- the inevitable questions start popping up in the stream like, "why is #Indiana trending?" Indiana business owners have a unique opportunity to get in front of a global twitter audience for the cost of 1 Minute of their time. Great Idea, Paul.

@Chris You are correct - it's a user generated - totally organic - PR blitz for Indiana. Indiana means home to me, and compassionate neighbors, and teenagers opening doors for me, and getting the HAND - have a nice day- gesture from folks driving by my front yard.

[Amy Stark]

Thanks Chris... I'm so glad you posted your "stuff the ballot" concerns. I thought the only criticism would be a question of "gaming" the Trend system. I think promoting a state is just as important as #geekpickuplines or #thingsIllNeverTellMyMom

I think we have some wisdom to share in the global dialog happening round the clock on twitter and yet sometimes I fell like Indiana is like the microscopic community in Horton Hears a Who. If we come together, even for just one minute, our collective Hoosier voice might be heard. Don't you like the idea of our state coming together with one voice to show our pride?
Paul - Chris -- more to come in about a half hour.

[Chris Lucas]

Hey Paul, I am not saying it has to be serious, I am just saying that the trending items are actual conversations. I just think it is better if these things are organic...or around a particular event, and thus would provide a better opportunity to showcase Indiana.

Again. not trying to rain on anyone's parade, just asking a question and stating an opinion.