#CrossTheLine draft

[aimeeinchains]

Without all of my formatting and links, here is the gist:

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Can you keep a secret.…?

On January 13th, prepare to cross the line.

As Peter Bishop heads back to where he has never been - he will be just like Walter- and he'll learn just what it means to #CrosstheLine in his quest to make it back home.

And as we watch the story unfold, we will tweet #CrossTheLine as we journey to the other side with Peter.


Fringe fans are an amazing bunch. Twitter has been an avenue of friendship, discussion and promotion for fans of the show. The Fringe Network brought many of us together to trend the title of the Season Three finale, #TheDayWeDied, worldwide. We’re working to carry-on the fine tradition that they established.


So why is making the Twitter Top Trends List Important for Fringe?

Networks are taking into account social media statistics, known as ‘social media impressions.” This data is a measure of how popular a topic is in online discussion. Fringe is one of the top “social shows” because of it’s rabid fan base (US!)


When we chose the hashtag #CrossTheLine, we kept several things in mind

1) Tweeting a topic that will grab the attention of the casual Twitter user.

2) A hash tag that sums up Fringe and the midseason premiere.

#CrossTheLine will serve these goals because if it does make a blip on the Trends list, curious non-Fringies will jump on the bandwagon to see what #CrossTheLine is about. #FringeSeasonFive is cool for us current fans, but won’t attract the interest of others.

Hashtags and topics often trend because unknowing Twitter users Tweet about them to be cool in using the trend. This happened when The Fringe Network led the successful effort to trend #TheDayWeDied. Other Twitter users liked he phrase and used in it in tweets, even if they had nothing to do with Fringe. But it aided in propelling it to #1 worldwide.

Some Basic Instructions (and some interesting discussion of Trending Topics)

First and foremost - Here’s the “Secret” Part:

Don’t use the hash tag #CrossTheLine at all in any tweets until Friday, January 13th. Two hours before Fringe airs, we will unleash it to the world!

So, don’t start using the hash tag #CrossTheLine until at least 7:00 PM EST.

Why?

Because Trending Topics work like this now: Twitter recognizes new terms, phrases, and hash tags. Things that have not been seen much. Thank the constant trending of Justin Bieber for this change. The more people that suddenly “rapid-fire” this topic, the more likely the topic is to reach the top trend list, which is our goal.

The reason were unable to trend #WhereIsPeterBishop for the Season Four Premier is because it had been used contiounsously over the summer hiatus.

This is also why the X-Files #XF3 movie effort to trend will not work. The hashtag #Xf3 has been used far too many times, that it would take a deluge of additional tweeters t every trend the topic.

For those curious about how Twitter works, check out this NPR article concerning #OccupyWallstreet trending. An Excerpt:


Twitter's trending algorithm finds topics that many people suddenly tweet about at once, like new album releases, TV shows on air, celebrity deaths or political gaffes. The hot topics can also appear when many people rush to Twitter to talk about one thing, like an earthquake. But if a lot of people talk about rain, it probably won't make the list since it's a more common occurrence.


Hashtags also frequently trend if they're new and haven't been through the algorithm before. Topics can start trending, fall off the list and later reappear when a different set of users discovers the topic later on. They usually only appear for around 40 minutes at a time, but the trending list is such a prime spot for marketers that a promoted space at the top runs $120,000 per day, according to Twitter's director of revenue.

As much as we love the support of Fringe fans around the world, it is important that viewers in the United States get the hash tag trending. This is not discount the efforts of our international Fringe family, because every one of us is important. But, the fact is that the decision to renew the show rests with FOX Network, and American viewers support means a lot to their network.

Americans, we have to quit being complacent, because our buddies elsewhere can’t save this show on their own. Get anyone with a Twitter on Friday night tweeting. (I’m even going to ask some non-Fringe friends to help.)

Trending worldwide is also a great accomplishment and gives the show great exposure, plus let’s Warner Brothers know there is a considerable market for the Fringe franchise all over the planet.

Very Important:

Twitter only counts one hash tag per Tweet. So ONLY use #CrossTheLine. It is OK to use other key words such as Fringe, Peter Bishop, Olivia Dunham, Walternate, etc. But only one # term.

#CrossTheLine

If you tweeted:

#Fringe #BestShowOnEarth #IWantToHaveJoshJacksonsBabies nothing will count for trending topics.


Private accounts must have their locked status removed, as the tweets from these accounts do not count toward the trend tally.


We will be rolling out some promotional videos to pass along to every Fringie possible. Let’s get everyone on board for a successful night on Fringe Friday!

Also, please check out the plan to use @Getglue to promote Fringe and the show’s advertisers.

Questions? @aimeeinchains, @birdandbear, or @fringeship on Twitter.

[aimeeinchains]

OK, so I am off to edit it and put on main site.

[Scire23]

So where do these hashtags come from? I've looked all over the site, but I don't see where they originate. I would like to see what the hashtag for next week's Fringe is, and if it hasn't been picked yet I might like to suggest, #NoMoreFreedom.

[birdandbear]

Hey Scire, sorry just now saw your post.
The Fringenuity team has (had, and will have again next season) a weekly meeting to brainstorm for each episode's hashtag. Once Fox started supporting the effort by putting the tags onscreen during broadcast, we started submitting our top 3 to Ari Margolis, who chose the final one after clearing it with Fox. We have no idea if Fox will continue to work with us next season, but we'll be trending every week regardless.
When next season comes, we're always open to suggestions!