Experiencing Check-Ins, Recommendations, and Chasing Stickers on GetGlue

I’ve been using the entertainment check in service GetGlue for the past week. It works similarly to FourSquare , but instead of “checking-in” to a location, you “check-in” to whatever entertainment you’re consuming. Before I started using GetGlue, I compared it to it’s competitor, Miso. I ended up choosing GetGlue because it allows you to “check-in” to several types of media, while Miso is solely focused on television. I watch a lot of television, but I also love books, movies, and music.

Can I “Check-In” to This?
The best part of GetGlue is their impressive database that makes “checking-in” so easy. Generally, I typed in the first few letters of whatever I was watching or reading before the rest was automatically filled in. I also appreciated that I could “check-in” with both a desktop or iOS app; both platforms are cleanly designed, and I had no problem figuring out how to use them.

When I first signed up, I assumed I would only be able to “check-in” to entertainment that was mainstream. This was going to be a problem for me because I enjoy several types of non-traditional media like podcasts, comic books, and technical instruction books. I was pleasantly surprised when GetGlue had entries for some of my more obscure entertainment choices. Even when I did find find a “hole” in their database, the database gave me the opportunity to suggest adding a new entry.

Gamification Works
One of the most popular trends in web apps is to “gamify” content.  Users are rewarded with “achievements” or “trophies” for participating and completing certain tasks. GetGlue follows this trend by rewarding their user with “stickers” for completing tasks like rating content, checking into certain TV shows, etc.  GetGlue puts a unique spin on gamification by actually sending users a sheet with physical stickers once they have accumulated a certain number of achievements.  This little touch of real world value goes a long way towards winning over those cynical about gamification (like myself) who generally feel non-plussed about the value of unlocking an “achievement” or receiving a digital “trophy”. I was unable to earn enough stickers in the one week I’ve been using GetGlue, but I did find myself looking for ways to add to my collection of stickers, even though I am mentally aware that I have no uses for a sheet of stickers

GetGlue Wants My Opinions
GetGlue also streamlined a way to rate media. The process is very simple: GetGlue has created various topic-based lists such as “Sci-Fi Books.” I can click through any of these lists and rate books I have read. Then, GetGlue uses that data to provide me with recommendations.

The only downside to this process is the ratings system itself. GetGlue currently uses a word-based system: “Favorite,” “Liked It,” “Not For Me”  “Disliked It.” I personally prefer a “star based rating” system that allows me to have more flexibility over my critical opinion. Personally, I don’t believe “5 Stars” and “Favorite” are equal ratings.

Stop Spamming My Twitter Feed!
As I used GetGlue, I found a couple usability issues that needed to be tweaked. The most obvious problem is the default sharing settings. GetGlue has great Facbook and Twitter integration; it scanned my friends list/followers to find people for me to follow, and sharing a GetGlue “check-in” to either network is fast and easy. The problem is the default settings automatically share every update, and the user is never asked about this. Any option to change the settings is not immediately apparent.

I connected my social networking accounts to see if any of my friends were using GetGlue, not knowing that GetGlue would then use that connection to spam my Facebook and Twitter feeds. I was able to shut off the automatic sharing and everything was fine after that, but they should have been more upfront with the settings before publishing my activity.

Who Should I Follow?
I have a total of two friends using GetGlue. I obviously wanted to follow more people then that, so I set out to find others I might find interesting. Unfortunately, I had no way to look for these potential interesting people. GetGlue provides no way to search for users to follow by name, there is no list recommending people to follow, and there is no way to search for people by shared interests.

The only way to find other users is either by watching the public stream as everyone “checks-in”, or by going to a media entry and seeing who has “checked-in” recently. If GetGlue wants to be a social experience, this obvious error needs to be fixed by creating a list of celebrities, media critics, etc. In other words: I want a list of people who’s opinions I might care about.

Am I Sticking Around?
I think GetGlue has a lot of potential. As a culture, we spend a massive amount of time consuming media. I know many people may be hesitant to publish their consumption habits, either out of a desire for privacy or perceived lack of value, but I think there is value in sharing. By sharing my “check-ins,” I might be able to help someone else find a great movie.  And in return I might find a great book. I will be hanging around GetGlue in the hopes I’ll see some gradual improvements. If it can become the central place for people to recommend media, it will be a very valuable resource to me.