Busy Busy Busy
Wow…it’s been a long time since I last posted to this site! A lot longer than I thought. We have been very very busy evangelizing technology in the Town of Olds. This has been a project with Olds Connected Community which is part of the Olds Institute for Community & Regional Development. The goals of the project have been to encourage use of the Community Engagement Site at the new Olds Municipal Library and create a culture of technology use in the folks of the town. It’s been a very exciting project and it will come to an end on June 30.
Here’s a sample of some of the things we’ve done in the project:
Featuring people around town who are using technology to get the job done. These are uber-geeks, just folks who embrace technology and use it as a tool for social and business communication.
This is one of our favourites:
Economic Developers Alberta Award
Our social media marketing strategies won an EDA award and our team also shared an award with the OICRD and their fibre to the premise project which will provide super high-speed internet service to the community.
Seniors enrolled in computer training classes
A ‘Computers for Seniors’ course at the Olds Library experienced an overwhelming enrollment turnout. It was great to see these folks come out and master the use of computers. Yes it was to use SKYPE and eMail and Facebook so they could keep in touch with family. How cool is that?
Growth in use of social media
Businesses in the area are beginning to embrace social media such as Facebook and Twitter. A local social media marketing company hosts a monthly meeting/get-together and it is well attended. Tweet-ups for the town twitter users are also doing well.
Chamber of Commerce technology training sessions
The Olds & District Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Olds Library and our project to provide training workshops and lunch’n'learns for local businesses with a focus on internet and websites for biz.
For more of what’s going on with this project check out the website at www.oldscc.com and the blog at www.oldscc.com/blog
Political candidates and social media: don’t miss out on spreading your message
Walter Schwabe from “fusedlogic” recently asked via Twitter ‘if a candidate’s use of social media would affect your support for them?’. We don’t have access to the answers that Walter received from the Twitter community but we will offer our own here.
There is a lot more to a candidates platform than whether or not they use social media in their campaign. The real community issues and how that person proposes to deal with them if elected is what matters. Their use of social media is a secondary element. However, since social media is an important and effective communications tool a candidates use of things such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube or a website with interactive dialogue can be a benefit for them and the folks in the community who live online.
With the increase of social media as a key and sometimes only source of news and information for many people, not using the web can be detrimental for a candidate in communicating their ideas and plans for the future. If a candidate doesn’t use social media in their campaign, they run the risk of missing out on opportunities to connect and promote their vision for the community to a segment of voters who use social media in place of traditional media such as newspaper and radio.
And then there is the future use of social media from city hall. If a candidate makes use of social media and is elected then there is a possibility that they will make use of online communities and communication while in office. This can be a good thing in bringing communities, large or small, into the new age of online communications.
If your candidate of choice isn’t using social media but you do, encourage them to take part in online activities even if it means that you set things up and maintain it for them. Although ghost-blogging and ghost-tweets are typically frowned upon by online communities, something is better than nothing and who knows, maybe your candidate might take an active part once they see the value of social media.
Dean
The many faces of Podcasting
While reading Tom Webster’s blog post where he gives a preview of his upcoming talk at Blogworld 2010 it was exciting to see that according to his work with Edison Research, the audience for podcasting is growing. A slow but steady growth since 2005 now shows that in 2010 almost 1 in 4 Americans have listened to an audio podcast. Podcasting never took the world by storm like Twitter or Facebook but when compared to traditional media it’s a big winner. While broadcasting and print media are fighting for their life and trying everything they can to slow down the decline in viewers, the continuing growth trend in podcasting is incredible in comparison.
Podcasting has grown in two ways. Quality of podcast production has improved thanks to affordable technology and production processes shared by the podcasting and open source community. Trailblazers willing to share their successful strategies with others have made it easier for independent content producers to bring quality shows to the listening audience. As a delivery platform for content it has taken off in different directions with podcasting becoming a tool for both sides of the same coin.
Traditional Broadcasting
Broadcasting, radio and television has taken to podcasting as a delivery method to redistribute or re-purpose their content. They produce a show for traditional television viewing and then repackage it in whole or in part as a podcast. They have the material anyway and this adds to the reach by making it available to another segment of the audience through time shifting. Just like the traditional broadcast model the costs of a podcasting strategy are supported by advertising in the podcast. Typically the advertising assets used are commercials inserted into the podcast episode. Examples of broadcast networks re-purposing content are CBC, NPR and TSN.
Independent Producers
The oddity of podcasting is that it gives independent content producers the opportunity to bring their material to a world wide audience which is in direct competition to the traditional broadcasting industry. These independent producers provide access to niche topics which the traditional broadcasters do not include in their lineups. Classic examples of the Long Tail theory of digital production and distribution, these podcast shows provide an opportunity for alternative views and narrow interests to find their audience. Many of these podcast producers are driven by the love and passion for their topic and generate little to no revenue. There is however a sector for podcasting producers who are creating premium quality content which are recognized by advertisers as being a valuable platform and are viewed as operating with robust business models. The ultimate example of the independent podcast producer making it big is Leo Laporte and the TWIT network. Laporte left traditional broadcasting many years ago to pursue internet based content delivery and now heads a multi-million dollar web media network which has grown to include live web casting as well as podcasting.
Education
Podcasting is more than a broadcast medium and it has grown in education. Podcasting has proven itself as a valuable tool in the teaching-learning process in K-12 and post-secondary schools. As a technology it has been embraced by teachers around the world while being supported by companies such as Apple who provide supportive services and technology through channels such as iTunesU. Although many educators are interested in leveraging podcasting as another tool to communicate with their students it still hasn’t reached the critical mass it was hoped for when introduced a few years ago. It is expected that the next generation of students who are growing up with the delivery of digital content via smart phones and similar devices will demand that the educational institution of their choice provide learning materials in digital formats such as podcasting.
Marketing
Using an information rich media like podcasting as a customer and marketing outreach platform is growing. This type of show is sponsored by a company but rather than an advertising spot as seen on traditional Television, these shows deal with lifestyle topics related to the sponsors products or services. Similar to the early days of radio where soap companies would sponsor an entertainment based show which would include their advertising commercials embedded in the plot lines or interspersed throughout the show, these podcasting shows are a new way to market to an audience seeking relationship building with a vendor versus hard-sell advertising.
The future path of podcasting may see more twists and turns but there is no doubt that it has a future and will continue to grow.
Red Deer is ready for social media
The City of Red Deer released the latest census report on July 2, 2010 with the full report available on their website next week. The general take on Red Deer is that it is a young city and growing. The average age is pegged at 34 years of age with a fairly even split between men and women. What does this mean for advertising and marketing? Red Deer is ready for social media.
The age groups known as Gen Y (19-25) and Gen X (26-40) make use of the web to gather information and communicate. It’s more than just a visit to your web page but actual interaction and sharing of information, experiences and recommendations. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube videos are a good example of popular social networking and social media sites. If the target market for your Red Deer business products and services is in these age demographics then think seriously about incorporating social media into your marketing and advertising. Otherwise you’ll miss out on opportunities and your competition will gain this growing demographic as customers.
What is a Podcast?
Social media has gone crazy with the skyrocketing growth of social technologies such as Twitter and Facebook but what about some of the other social technologies that started off the current revolution in online communications?
There was a time when blogs, wikis and podcasts led the parade known as Web 2.0 (a new way to use the web). They may have been overshadowed by Twitter and Facebook but they are still alive and well and can be powerful tools in your communications kit. Business, non-profits and educational sectors can all benefit from podcasts.
FAQ’s and FGA’s
(frequently asked questions and frequently given answers)
What is a podcast?
The technical answer defines a podcast as an audio or video file down-loadable from the internet for replay on a computer or portable device. It can be replayed when, where and as often as the listener wants. Podcasts have also been referred to as portable internet radio or as portable media.
Do I need an Apple iPod to listen to a podcast?
No, any computer or portable player such as MP3 players, phones, netbooks and Apples new iPad can be used.
What does podcast stand for?
Portable On Demand Narrow-casting is one description. Typically podcasts include unique, niche or narrowly focused topics that are not found on traditional broadcast mediums such as TV or radio.
Do I need a license from the CRTC to publish my podcast?
No.
Is there a limit to the length of a podcast?
No. Popular podcasts range from a few minutes to over an hour. It’s all dependent on your content and how engaging it is to your audience.
Which is better: audio or video?
It depends on your topic. Audio is easy and costs less to produce and typically your audience will listen to your audio podcast while performing other tasks. It’s easy to listen to an audio show while commuting, exercising, working or even relaxing. Video requires more technology and time to create and view but some topics work better as videos. There are podcast producers who deliver their episodes in both audio and video formats which gives their subscribers the option to choose what’s best for them.
Does it cost a lot to create a podcast?
No. When compared to traditional broadcast media, podcasts are extremely inexpensive to produce and distribute.
Can I do it myself or should I contract out?
It depends. There are benefits to a DIY approach such as low cost, convenience and creative control. Contracting it out to a podcast professional on the other hand will usually result in better quality shows, more focused marketing messages and a targeted distribution.
Will podcasting work for our non-profit organization?
Yes. Podcasting is ideally suited for associations, fund-raising and non-profits. Low production costs, world-wide reach and niche discussion topics are where podcasts perform best.
This is a municipal election year in Alberta, can podcasts be used in my election campaign?
Yes. Just like with non-profits, candidates can make use of low production costs of podcasts in their campaigns. Since podcasts are easy to produce and and can published quickly they are ideally suited to breaking news and up to the minute responses to the voter’s questions. Podcasts also work well to communicate with the community after you’re elected.
Can my school use podcasting?
Yes. There is a long history of podcasts in education. Podcasts can be used for news, updates, events and as a supplement to classroom teaching and learning. Good examples are available at Apples iTunes U.
Can my company use podcasting?
Yes. Externally as a marketing tool. Information about your company and products such as industry trends, new products, advice, demos and user guides are ideal podcast topics. Internally, podcasts can be used as employee training, distributing HR information and inspirational messages from the CEO.
Were can I learn more about podcasting?
Contact us at BRASSmedia Canada and we’ll be glad to answer your questions…
- phone: 403-896-4956
- email: dean.owen@brassmedia.ca
And yes we are on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Here’s a podcast episode that we created using a recorded workshop on Podcasting for Business:
Here’s Part 1 of the audio
click arrow to listen online
click here to download MP3 file >>> [download original file]
