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Dear Media Types,
This one is for you.
In recent weeks, you may have noticed a concerted effort by our mutual friends at MLS to get a "new convention" going for conversations about games involving the New York Red Bulls on Twitter. Don't say you weren't informed.
@jefecrandall I believe NYR is the new convention. I didn't make it up.
— Shawn Francis (@TheOffsideRules) March 22, 2015
You heard about it. (And bless you, Jeff Crandall, for gently pointing out where the fans are hanging out on Twitter these days.)
Problem is: Twitter is social media, and the fans who hang out on Twitter chatting about RBNY haven't really bought in to this new convention. What's that? You're just following the instructions of the league?
Watching #NYRvDC on tablet here in Munich. Why? Eurosport 1 is showing curling. #MLS
— Kyle McCarthy (@kylejmccarthy) March 22, 2015
@Once_A_Metro Familiar with NYR issues. Going with MLS standard on this one. Appreciate it.
— Kyle McCarthy (@kylejmccarthy) March 22, 2015
That is your prerogative, though it might be humbly suggested the standard one ought to seek is the one with maximum possible exposure for one's thoughts and work. Or just the one that has been standard long enough to actually be regarded as standard by those who get excited by RBNY games. Anyway, we'll get to that.
Right now, MLS looks all geared up to plug its novel and misguided "NYR" designation for RBNY (or "NY" as was -and ought still to be - before NYC FC apparently caused panic at the league's department of abbreviation) all over again for this week's match against Columbus Crew.
source: mlssoccer.com
I'm not suggesting for a moment that you should listen to a know-nothing blog. You're a pro, media type - OaM respects this.
But there are a couple of things you might want to consider before firing up that #CLBvNYR, assuming your intention with any foray onto Twitter is to communicate with a broad base of fans rather than to advance some peculiar and opaque MLS hashtag agenda.
If you only tweet to chat to employees of MLS or fulfill the media directives of the league office - sorry for the interruption; enjoy your day. If you plan on using Twitter to address a wider audience, however, bear in mind #NYR is the designation for a New York area sports team with (and this may come as a shock, so sit down) a larger following than the New York Red Bulls. And much of that following has a passing association with Twitter.
Ain't she pretty? #NYR pic.twitter.com/LtiQ87GCHP
— Blueshirts Faithful (@NYRfaithful_) March 27, 2015
Rangers fans are going to love you and your soccer talk!
Except, you're not necessarily even to going to run into any Rangers fans over at CLBvNYR, because...well, here's the most recent Tweet referencing that hashtag:
My #Crew96 pictures from #CLBvNYR are only slightly out of focus. Fixed for next time ⚽ http://t.co/OGVVQ2qs0W
— Tom Lillis IV (@tlillis4) August 12, 2013
Those are some photos you should check out by the way. Seriously. Markus Holgersson had the armband for RBNY that day. It wasn't a great game for the Red Bulls - Henry didn't play and the team lost 2-0 - but it was a part of that Shield-winning season nonetheless.
And those photos are criminally underviewed because that Tweet is one of only three that had ever been posted to that hashtag up to just after midnight on March 27 (until fairly shortly, when MLS ramps up its windmill-tilting team). All by the same person: a talented and enthusiastic photographer and Crew fan who presumably found a more receptive audience over on a part of Twitter people actually use.
Somewhere like #CLBvNY, for example.
Eastern Conference Knockout Round Scenarios... If SKC win: #CLBvNY in Columbus If SKC & NY draw: #SKCvNY in KC If NY win: #NYvSKC in NY
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 26, 2014
Look! Even MLS used to use it!
More recently, it has been a channel used by people interested in the match you are likely to want to talk about soon...
Really hope @clade5 gets the start at LB for #CLBvNY -- he more than deserves a shot. #RBNY
— Dan Covello (@DanCovello) March 24, 2015
...and RBNY itself...
THE WEEKLY: Columbus bound Red Bulls look to continue strong form. http://t.co/nTwKRWtECO #RBNY #CLBvNY pic.twitter.com/VW9bjErtAl
— New York Red Bulls (@NewYorkRedBulls) March 25, 2015
...and someone MLS has heard from on this subject already.
@MLS no to # NYR #NY #RBNY #CLBvNY
— Matt (@Metros96) March 23, 2015
That's where the conversation is happening. And we'd love for you to join it.
Please: #CLBvNY. That's where the crowd will be, reading what you have to say - assuming you are receptive to requests for you to put it where you can be read.
Oh, no! I thought we had taken care of this hashtag problem! @MLS take note: #CLBvNY PLEASE! #RBNY pic.twitter.com/eRqLKJSF48
— Ainslie Binder (@ainslieann) March 23, 2015
#CLBvNY.
It's social media: come be social.
Thank you.