The Great Telford Live! Survey 2016.

I wanted some feedback as to what followers on twitter, likers on Facebook and website visitors thought of Telford Live and what in particular they liked about it.  I had a few hunches that I wanted to prove or disprove, and here they are.

My hunches:

• People on twitter are more politically aware and would like this content more than other platforms.
• People on Facebook like the funny stuff.
• People on the website get there mainly via social media
• The What’s On calendar will be universally popular
• People don’t like national politics
• People like in depth news analysis rather than breaking news

The website had the lowest number of respondents, at 77.  Twitter generated 84 and Facebook, with half the number of followers as Twitter, generated the most with 242 answering the six questions.

So how did my assumptions hold up?

People on twitter are more politically aware and would like this content more than other platforms.

Nope.  Twitter folks only disliked National Politics more than Local Politics, a view reflected across gender and platform. Wounded!  The team put a lot of effort into live-tweeting, filming council meetings and broadcasting then via YouTube.  A couple of respondents mentioned the political nature of the content, and while it ranked low, it generated lots of comments.

Love what Telford live does to support the locals, and, expose and debate local politics and the local media.

Just keep doing what you do and keep on at those local elected members who are supposed to represent us

Could be more impartial politically.

… But when you talk about politics either local or national you seem far to biased, sometimes to the extent I consider unfollowing you.

I do find Twitter to be somewhat unusable during local events you’re covering; council meetings and whatnot. Your tweet frequency is too high during them.

Keep up the good work. The live stream of council meeting was great.

I think you seem biased at times, towards people/areas and usually politics. I appreciate the service you provide but I think it needs to be more objective.

Stop banging on about politics, who cares

How about some campaigning on key local issues?

People on Facebook like the funny stuff.

It’s true. And not just Facebook either, Twitter and Web users all said that Funny Stuff was in the top three subject matter along with Breaking News (top) and Whats On (second).  Funny stuff is quite objective and some people commented that they didn’t like it.  Breaking News was the top category of content across Twitter and Facebook and second for Web viewers.  This is particularly interesting because I do not claim to do much Breaking News because of limited resources, but it’s good to know that what I can cover goes down well.  This was demonstrated recently when I shared content on Facebook about a local fire that had a high level of engagement, and people love to share this.

Comments on Breaking News and Humour:

Love the humour

You put Shropshire Star and BBC Shropshire to shame!

Keep up the good work. Have you thought about a news broadcast via Facebook? Shropshire (Telford) needs a local news service.

Sometimes I find the comments posted by Telford Live that make fun of others unkind.*

Keep up the informative and funny work!

More sarcasm please

I like Friday comments. Sometimes you have to be careful as some are quite sensitive over some subjects. Oh and more unicorns please.

*I never make personal comments.  Ever.

People on the website get there mainly via social media

True.

Only 3 website respondents view Telford Live content on Web only.  All the rest use either Facebook or Twitter to view the content.  It could be that casual browsers to the website chose not to complete the survey.

I rarely look on the website, prefer the quick catch ups of what’s going on via Twitter or FB. I may click through occasionally if some catches my interest.

The Whats On calendar will be universally popular

Yes, yes it is.  Once again the love of the recently introduced Whats On Calendar is universal.  It was the most popular feature for Web visitors and Twitter users, and second on Facebook.  The appetite for things to do and places to go is completely inverse to the enthusiasm of most venue owners and event organisers to supply details and play the game.

Comments on the Whats On:

I like finding out about local events and think the service you offer is great for that and I’m grateful you’ve advertised my society and events.

Great way to let people know what’s going on, in and around Telford.

Keep promoting Telford, it’s a great place. Do you work?

People don’t like national politics

No.  Universally disliked across platforms, gender and age groups.  I’m not going to ignore it completely, there is a referendum coming up that could even be classed as International politics and I think that deserves at least some debate.

People like in depth news analysis rather than breaking news

I was wrong.  Maybe not because people didn’t like the analysis, it came out with a positive score, but I underestimated the high score that Breaking News had.  While it takes a bit longer to do the research for analysis, it’s much less resourceful than trying to cover ‘drop everything’ breaking news on limited resources.

Will the results change what I do?  I think they already have.  While I personally enjoy the local politics, I know that others do to, and from the engagement during live tweeting the council meetings, I know some people engage every time, and look forward to finding out what is going on.  I’ll leave you with every comment that was added to the survey, and thank you all for taking part.

Website Comments:

How about a Local Good Trader/Restaurant/Walks etc Guide powered by your readers. Or have these been done to death
Always Reweets my Tweets and vice versa. Great Tweeter. 😊
Could be more impartial politically.
Keep up the good workj
FUCK SHREWSBURY!
Keep up the good work.

Have you thought about a news broadcast via Facebook?

Shropshire (Telford) needs a local news service.
Love what Telford live does to support the locals, and, expose and debate local politics and the local media.
Keep up the good work
Just keep doing what you do and keep on at those local elected members who are supposed to represent us
when I work it out I’ll let you know

Twitter Comments:

Keep doing what you do, it works.
My choices are based on mostly Twitter experience, tend not to visit site. Also tend to my own national analysis so score is not a comment on quality, just of my use. Keep it up.
Keep doing what you’re doing.
Keep up the good work
Need another social – still never met Mr TelfordLive!
Love the humour
Keep promoting Telford, it’s a great place. Do you work?
More Polls and surveys. Interviews.
Keep up the good work
Great way to let people know what’s going on, in and around Telford. Plus you’ve support me a lot. Good work guys, innit x
Keep up the good work!
Keep up the great work. You put Shropshire Star and BBC Shropshire to shame!
I like finding out about local events and think the service you offer is great for that and I’m grateful you’ve advertised my society and events. But when you talk about politics either local or national you seem far to biased, sometimes to the extent I consider unfollowing you.
Keep doing what you’re doing as you do it so well
Give Steve at game a key to he city
Keep being yourself. it works.
Keep it up
You need to find the camp cocktail man and your work is done here.
Keep up the great work
You’re a legend! Thank you for all that you do!
More crap parkers
Keep up the good work
How about some campaigning on key local issues?
Keep it up! Loving the awards thing 🙂
N/A
No more apples in the vending machine, please.

The content is all fine. I do find Twitter to be somewhat unusable during local events you’re covering; council meetings and whatnot. Your tweet frequency is too high during them. Otherwise no complaints.
More unicorns

Facebook Comments

I dont see many posts so you need to get yourself out there more
Keep up the great work
Keep up the good work. The live stream of council meeting was great.
Sometimes I find the comments posted by Telford Live that make fun of others unkind.
Keep up the good work.Thank you.
Keep up the good work
Local food place reviews and what’s on for sure!!
Apart from demolish the town and start again? No.
Stop banging on about politics, who cares
Keep it up! Brill
Good site, keep it up!
Problem page
Keep up the informative and funny work!
Keep going please , very needed site 🙂
I like it.
I think you seem biased at times, towards people/areas and usually politics. I appreciate the service you provide but I think it needs to be more objective.
No
I’d like to have even more information
I rarely look on the website, prefer the quick catch ups of what’s going on via Twitter or FB. I may click through occasionally if some catches my interest.
No just thank you for your hard work,
More effort should be made to promote local redeveloped houses for sale 🙂
Keep up the good work, whoever you are😉
More sarcasm please
I like Friday comments. Sometimes you have to be careful as some are quite sensitive over some subjects.

Oh and more unicorns please.
Great site, with great community around it and still experimenting with new ideas to keep it fresh. Keep up the great work