These people are nuts

Still doubt that this whole social networking thing is for real and actually works?  Still think you can lock yourself in your ivory tower and not listen to your fans/customer?  Well, apparently if you do, you can expect 20 tons of peanuts.  Huh?  Say what?

Yeah that's right - thanks to Defamer and Brains on Fire for the scoop - it looks like a group of passionate fans of the show Jericho have sent 8 million peanuts, 30,000 emails as well as donated over 15,000 dollars to tornado-ravaged Greensburg, Kansas.  And for what?  So CBS would bring back their favorite show from extinction.

These inspired fans sent the peanuts through a service called NutsOnline.  The site has posted the letter from CBS as well as links to the show, links to donate to Greensburg, buy a Nuts for Jericho Tshirt as well as a forum to share your love for the show.

This is awesome.  I am totally intrigued now.  All this talk has made me want to watch.  I am not nuts for Jericho now, but if all these people are willing to go through this to save this show, it has to be worth something.

Now on the flip side of this you argue where have these fans been all this time.  Why did it take canceling this show to get them to raise their voice?

Regardless if you a brand owner you need to take note immediately.  There are many voices out there.  When they band together with technology at their side, they are extremely powerful.  Reach out to them.  Learn what they like what they don't like, listen.  Don't wait till you have 20 tons of peanuts in your office to do something.

Congrats Jericho, I will give you a shot.

Anyone else a fan or going to give it a chance?

Comments

[sean howard]

Love this! 8 million peanuts. Talk about a great way to generate a newsworthy story in addition to making your point!.

[Robyn McMaster]

I'm impressed that peoples' voices are heard and considered through social media. It is a very powerful tool as seen in this example. I sense the same principle is applicable in many other scenarios we'll be seeing soon. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Matt Haverkamp]

Thanks for stopping by.

Robyn - It really is amazing what you can do when you unite. This implications way beyond simply saving TV shows

Sean - I would love to know what the CBS team will be doing with the peanuts.

[Geno]

Matt, thanks for stopping by our blog. My original opening line was a shot at social media critics. But the story speaks for itself. To quote author Chip Heath "that was a sticky idea." Another interesting item in this story comes buried in Nina Tassler's letter. "We will count on you to rally around the show, to recruit new viewers with the same grass-roots energy, intensity and volume you have displayed in recent weeks."