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Welcome to Rivertown's monthly newsletter. This month, we'll be exploring podcasting. Here at Rivertown, we're gearing up for our own podcast and have found it to be a unique experience. Podcasts go far beyond other forms of media in usefulness. A well-designed podcast can inform employees, educate students, or build a community around a product. According to a study conducted by Edison Media Research in 2007, 2 out of 5 people have heard of podcasting. That number is quickly rising each year as more high profile companies enter the podcast space. Traditional broadcasters such as CNN and NPR release popular shows as podcasts, but in this unique market, there is still ample opportunity for anyone to get their message out there. Connecting With CustomersFirst, it is important to understand that a podcast is not just a simple broadcast and should not be used a such, especially when targeting your customers. eMarketer recently found that 28 million will download a podcast this year alone, with the number increasing exponentially every year. Furthermore, the previously mentioned study from Edison Media Research found that unlike many other online media formats, podcasts are reaching every demographic in near equal parts. Men and women of all ages are enjoying podcasts. That last sentence is important. They are enjoying podcasts. When you create your own podcast to reach them, you have to make sure that it's something they can enjoy. The best way to accomplish this is to involve them in the discussion. Create a blog to go along with your podcast. Post notes from each episode of your podcast and invite your listeners to visit the site and leave feedback. Your podcast is the beginning of the conversation, never the end. Engaging with your customers in this manner will provide you with quality feedback on your products or services and let your customers know that somebody really is listening to them. The benefits of both are innumerable. Reaching Your EmployeesPodcasts don't have to be released to the public. A podcast can be placed on a server within your business or even simply e-mailed out to employees. An internal podcast can be used for any number of reasons from education on new procedures to sharing news of recent events related to your business. Even in this scenario, and perhaps even moreso than with customers, it is important to use your internal podcast to build a sense of community. Employees are more likely to retain the information if it is enjoyable and gives them an opportunity to offer feedback. Reaching out to employees and discovering how they feel about recent changes can help an employer build and maintain a productive workforce. Educate Your ListenersWhether your listeners are employees or customers, podcasts offer an exceptional method for education. Words on a page or in a company-wide e-mail are ok for short, informative pieces, but for large or extremely important information, a podcast may be able to reinforce the printed information. A podcast containing a conversation between two employees will draw a listener in and increase retention of the information. Likewise, you can better educate your customers on a product or service by explaining it to them with a warm, welcoming voice rather than sending out a brochure. And if you're building a community around your podcast, your listeners will help to educate each other as well as conversations start in your podcast and continue on through the comments on your website. Soon, you'll have customers educating each other on the merits of your product or employees helping each other to understand new procedures. ResourcesIf you're interested in starting your own podcast, you're welcome to contact me for additional information by e-mail at dave@rivertown-inc.com or by phone at (651) 430-0353 x214. There are also a multitude of websites dedicated to helping podcasters get started. Here are a couple of my favorite resources: TalkShoe.com - TalkShoe provides a quick, easy, non-technical way to begin podcasting and has the added benefit of community features built right in. Record your podcast and upload it to their servers or record your podcast live and invite listeners to join in the conversation by participating in a conference call. TalkShoe also provides statistics and will even pay podcasters that meet certain requirements. Apple.com - Apple's iTunes Store has the largest directory of podcasts available online and iTunes itself is the most used software for subscribing to and downloading podcasts. Apple's website has several support documents that fill in the technical details of setting up a server for your podcast and a list of best practices to make sure your podcast stands out above the crowd. If you already have a podcast or have been inspired to start one, send me a link to your show. I'm interested in hearing how you begin a conversation with your audience. Digital Learning Forum The Digital Learning Forum meets monthly to exchange cutting edge information related to the development and implementation of interactive media for learning and communication. Meetings are open and free to attend. Next meeting:
Visit http://www.rivertown-inc.com/dlf/ for more information. About Rivertown Since 1991 Rivertown Communications, Inc. has been designing and developing custom e-learning systems and websites. Our clients range in size from small, single office organizations to global corporations. For more information on our services, click below: E-learning systems Custom design and development, including learning management systems Compass Plus™ Online survey tool to get the data you need Video production To integrate into e-learning or stream from the web Websites Learning sites - accessible and Section 508 compliant I-Card™ business-card CDs To deliver training or educational marketing messages If you are currently in the planning stages of a technology-based training or marketing program, call us. We would be glad to meet with you to explore how we might partner with you to help develop your program. Initial meetings are always without cost or obligation and we genuinely enjoy getting to know new people and organizations. Rivertown Communications - 651.430.0353 - Stillwater, Minnesota |
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