iPhones, Sports and Social Media
Introducing the biggest buzz attractor of the year (I know it’s early 07 but this particular object has everybody buzzing like mad) - the newly announced Apple iPhone. Before I get to the social media ramifications of this announcement, Endgadet has a great write-up about the iPhone - including some incredible pics of it in action.
As for the social media aspect of iPhone, take a look around the blogosphere - currently the second most searched tag at Technorati - and other social media hotbeds like Digg (the iPhone announcement is the most popular story with 8294 current Diggs), and you find that news of Apple’s new toy is THE dominant story of the day creating a viral wave that’s may not crest for some time (iPhone is also the top story at reddit and the featured story at Netscape).
The iPhone explosion is a perfect example of word-of-mouth and viral marketing rolled into one. Endgadet’s coverage coupled with their great images started a viral wave that almost everyone in the social media universe reacted to. And considering the way we’ve talked about it at iEntry, I can only imagine what the other Mac geeks are saying and posting to one another since the announcement became official.
Honestly, all of this coverage really shouldn’t come as a surprise considering how much attention Mac news, good or bad, receives. It’s just a good example of how quickly social media movement acts (and how much buzz-worthy information they pass within this same time-frame). However, can the social media universe be used to get an NBA basketball player traded away from a team? Abhilash is certainly going to give it a try.
Introducing TradeKwame.com - a site devoted to the hope that the Los Angeles Lakers will trade Kwame Brown away from the team - launched by Abhilash with the aim of generating enough (negative) fan buzz that the Lakers’ front office will be forced to at least acknowledge the fanbase.
Can social media accomplish such lofty goal? At first glance, I’m sure some would scoff at the idea but when you consider just how actively sports fans have adopted the Internet as a primary source of communication (just check out some of the message boards related to popular teams and you’ll see what I mean), then perhaps his goal isn’t that far-fetched at all. A paraphrased conversation Abhilash had with Vlade Divac reveals more:
Although contract politics play a role in the amount of minutes that players do get nowadays, Divac mentioned that the online PR generated by sites like TradeKwame.com combined with the power of other social networks are starting to have a say in the matter as well.
As you can see, an ex-NBA player with good inside knowledge basically admitted the power of social media can even effect billion dollar sports franchises. Now all Abhilash has to do is generate enough buzz with his site - the lead image is a good start - and perhaps he’ll get his wish (although I still say no one wants Kwame Brown)…
Update: 9723 Diggs and counting. That’s an increase of 1429 Diggs in under an hour.
Update 2: Now at 11004 Diggs
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Chris, you had to blow that site up while it still looks as good as Kwame out on the court.
There are definitely some political barriers, but social media will at least bench him. Social sharing mechanisms (post, share, email this link) should also help.
We’ll see. It could be a moot point, the way the Lakers are as consistent as Windows mobile 5.
We both know the power of the sports fan. Like I said at your place, just check out ANY primary forum for any popular sports team and you will see social interaction at it’s finest (and worst… I’m looking at you UK fans).
another example is fireronzook.com. that site was made and popular before zook even coached a game. unless he would’ve won consecutive NCs (or at least one like urban meyer did last night… what a butt whippin’) he was doomed; probably from the start. this again demonstrates the power of WOM and social media, albeit before the concept became popular.
has for the design, i love your lead image. the rest will come i’m sure. let’s just say we got in there at the ground floor.
btw, i like that image so much, i resized it for you so it doesn’t look, um, distorted.
as for the lake show. you have kobe. lamar will be back. you’ll be fine… for a decent second or third round playoff run.
[…] The early part of the New Year has been especially kind to the mobile phone industry in terms of positive buzz - culminating with yesterday’s Apple iPhone announcement that knocked the social media side of the web off its feet. Standing at the center of this social media storm (well, perhaps not in the middle, but definitely a major player) is none other than Google and Yahoo!. […]
[…] 2.0 by Storm Posted in Uncategorized, Business, Web 2.0 by Stephan Miller on the January 12th, 2007 Trackback WebProBlog - Internet Business and Marketing Trends» Blog Archive » iPhones, Sports and SocialMedia […]
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