It’s no secret in the Marketing Communications world that Social Media is the hottest way to promote your brand. Everyone, from small businesses to huge corporations, is utilizing Social Media platforms to create brand awareness. Whether it is through Facebook campaigns, strategic hashtags on Twitter, or viral YouTube videos, Social Media is being used now more than ever before.  Even popular television shows are using Social Media to engage their audience.

In the age of technology it is not uncommon for people to sit on the couch watching their favorite show while connected to Social Media through their laptop, mobile phone, or tablet device. Many marketers of TV shows take notice of this constant social connection and use it to their advantage, but there are 3 shows we can think of that “go the extra mile” with certain Social Media platforms.

1. The Voice and Twitter

NBC’s The Voice goes as far to have a Social Media Correspondent on their show to interact with fans through Social Media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. This year’s correspondent was singer / actress Christina Milian. The show’s Celebrity Judges and Coaches, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green, and Christina Aguilera chime in through Social Media too, often tweeting to the audience using hashtags about their team to make it easy for their fans to join the conversation. Each contestant also has their own verified twitter account to make it easier to connect with their fans throughout the season.

During one of the episodes Christina Aguilera tweeted about her team member Chris Mann using her team’s hashtag: #TeamXtina.

2. Glee and Facebook

FOX’s show “Glee” takes its Facebook interactions to the next level with their app “Gleek of the Week” which allows fans to enter a contest through Facebook to describe why they are the show’s #1 fan. At the end of each week’s episode a “shoutout” is aired to the contest winner.  The “Gleek of the Week” app not only drives audience members to Glee’s Facebook page, but also ensures that fans who enter the contest will tune in to see if they are announced as the winner on national television.

3. Tosh.0 and YouTube

Comedy Central’s Tosh.0 features videos from YouTube that have gone viral to essentially address how funny / ridiculous they are in different segments throughout the show. One segment is called the “Web Redemption” in which the show’s host, Daniel Tosh, finds a video where there is an epic fail, and gives the star of that video a second chance to do it right – this week’s episode featured a Spelling Bee contestant who couldn’t quite hear the word he was being prompted with. Tosh also engages with his audience by holding a “Viewer Video of the Week” contest in which fans can submit their own funny videos to hopefully be featured on the show. Much like the Glee’s “Gleek of the Week” contest, the “Viewer Video of the Week” ensures that viewers who have entered the contest will watch the show to see if their video will be featured.