Social recommendation service GetGlue has just announced a new partnership with HBO that will let fans of shows like True Blood, Entourage and Hung earn stickers and rewards when they check in to the programs using GetGlue’s new iPhone app…….
GetGlue launched its new iPhone app [iTunes link] last month as a way for users to rate and recommend items on the go, as well as see their friends suggestions, but with the added social element of checkins. However, unlike traditional location-based checkin games, the GetGlue app has users check in to types of media — like TV shows, music, movies and books.
The new app really adds a new layer to the GetGlue service, which we’ve always praised for having a fantastic recommendation engine. Since the mobile app was released, GetGlue usage has skyrocketed, with more than 4.5 million ratings and checkins taking place across the network in just the past month.
GetGlue has a history of partnering with media brands with its Guru Giveaways, but with the new mobile app users can earn special content-specific stickers and also earn rewards. Basically this lets brands identify their most passionate users and rewards those users and fans with free stuff.
The partnership with HBO starts on Sunday, August 1 and stickers can be earned in a variety of ways. Some stickers can be won just by checking in to a show a few times, but other stickers will need to be unlocked. HBO will be offering hints as to how to unlock these stickers via its Twitter and Facebook accounts.
What we love about GetGlue’s sticker program is that it’s not just about virtual stickers. Users will be able to order free physical copies of the stickers they earn from GetGlue.com. Offering a tangible reward really encourages continued use of the service.
As mentioned previously, we’ve always been big fans of GetGlue’s recommendation engine, and we like that we can rate and comment on items across the web with the browser extensions; however, the service has sometimes felt too top heavy. What’s so brilliant about the iPhone app (Android and iPad apps are currently in the works right now) is that it makes using the service fast and easy, adds a new dimension of usability (earning stickers and rewards), and also makes it easy to see recommendations and what your friends are getting hooked on while on-the-go.
Brand tie-ins also now make a lot more sense to us. It’s easy to pull out your phone and check in to a show before watching it on TV or a movie before you enter the theater. That makes rating the type of content you consume away from the standard web browser much more feasible, thus giving the semantic recommendation engine that much more useful information.
Have you used the GetGlue iPhone app? What do you think?
Source :mashable.com
