Common Craft Blog
Jeopardy and the Power of Engagement
By leelefever on June 10, 2004 - 11:23pm
OK, So I'll be back in 213.5 hours...
For those of you that may not be aware, the television game show Jeopardy changed it's policy recently. For as long as I can remember, a player could only win 5 times in a row. Once they won five times, they got the money and a trip back for the tournament of champions.
This policy changed recently. Now, a player can win, and keep on winning until they lose. This is pertinent today because the current player has won seven shows in a row and racked up a record $231,000.
And, AND, you know what? I've never wanted to watch Jeopardy more. I want to root for him and see this person go further. I want to get to know him and marvel at his wit. I feel a connection to this guy and I want to watch again and again. My respect for him grows with each win. (forgive me for sounding like such a Jeopardy nerd)
To me, this is all about engagement. With the new policy, the show is now allowing users to engage in an ongoing event each night instead of cutting off the relationship at five wins.
The more he wins, the more connected I am to the show. The more engaged I get, the more I come back. The more I come back, the better the ratings and advertising dollars. Engagement is good for Jeopardy.
And, likewise, engagement is good for this website- I have the same goal. I'm not comparing me to a Jeopardy winner, but I do want to engage readers/viewers in an ongoing event. I want you to come back and keep coming back. I want you to feel a personal connection and root for me. I want you to look forward to the next post. In this way, Jeopardy and weblogs aren't that much different- its all about engaging people in a flow.
Now, if I could only find a way to earn $231,000 in seven days by writing in this weblog.
Jeopardy and the Power of Engagement
Lee,
I am, admittedly, a blog 'lurker'...and Common Craft is one that I visit/read regularly. There are times when I wonder why we publish our thoughts, newsy items, etc...is anyone listening? The comment feature on a blog is one of the most powerful response mechanisms on any page and it seems that it is one of the least used features on many blogs. All that to say: take heart. I am sure that you have readers and fans. We may not leave comments very often, but there IS a level of engagement. Personally, I believe it is OK to yell: "Is there anyone out there?"..at least once in a while.
I'll take 'blogs' for 100,
Paul:)
Jeopardy and the Power of Engagement
Actually, Lee, if the old rules apply, you should go to LA and try out. When my wife and I lived in LA we tried out and did pretty well except it turned out the out of town people had a leg up on actually getting on Jeapardy. Probably to keep those brainy actors and actresses who live in LA from getting on the show. (That didn't include us, BTW. My wife insisted I try out when, one night watching some other show, someone asked who was the 14th century Italian poet who founded mountain climbing. It's Petrarch, of course, as anyone would know!)
Your point about engagement also is well taken. It's the story, creating a situation where viewers (or readers) can easily connect with the "hero" and their travails. Engagement is the process whereby we become other people, in some way, for some time. We walk a mile or two in their shoes. That's why weblogs work best when they're written in a personal style. That's also why People magazine sells well.