MediaJoltz

It is Wed. and time for a weekly shout out to someone very cool!

The past few weeks I have gotten to know Thom Allen a little better.  He is an awesome dude with many talents.  He is into NASCAR and Galactica as well as anything technology.  He and I have had some awesome ideas and plans we are meeting to work on.  If you EVER have anything you want some honest positive feedback on, he is the man to ask.

So I’ve really been thinking a lot about podcasting and new media so that I can appropriately translate the excitement and passion to you. Some people get scared with the idea of going online because they feel it is some unknown. The idea behind the world of the online is that it is just another medium-like television, radio or print. It is another way to get your message out there. And just like there are lots of different forms of pritn ie the magazine, the newspaper the newsletter, there are lots of different ways to use online-blogging, podcasting, social networks.
And just like you need all your traditional marketing in place to work with each other, the best way to have success in the online world is to utilize everything out there. It doesn’t mean you have to be DOING everything. I am a member of over 15 different communities online. I only ACTIVELY participate in around 5ish. But I am out there in everything that way I can be found.

I’ve begun reading the very short and very excellent book called “Age of Conversation” by Gavin Heaton and Drew McLellan. In this book they have 100 experts write one page on the topic of conversations. In the book Roger Anderson writes about the message and uses an example I’d like to spin off of the way he presented it.

Have you heard of the telephone game where someone starts with a phrase and then that person whispers it in someone else’s ear and so on. Usually at the end of the game that final phrase is no where near the original. Roger applies this to the listening vs. hearing concept-where it takes effort to actually listen to what is being said. I would like to apply this game a little differently to new media. Through blogging and podcasting and being in these social networks, you are there WITH your audience. They are getting the message directly from you-without you having to sit down and meet with everyone of them. The passion and the message is being directed clearly just as you want it to be.

So you can use new media to get the exact same message out without taking up tons of time. AND unlike a print, television or radio ad-you can actually see who is listening or seeing your message.

Today we are going to start thinking about podcasting. The reason why I say start “thinking” is because there is a lot to decide before you podcast in order to make sure your shows are as tight and seamless as possible for your success.
I have been reading a book called Podcast Solutions by Michael Geoghegan and Dan Klass.

Here are some questions that the authors pose about podcasting to help you begin formulating the proper podcast that you’ll enjoy producing:

Who are you and why should we listen?
You want to talk on a topic that people can connect too. More than no commercials or the quality of the podcast, people say the number one thing they like about the podcasts they listen to is that they can connect with them.

Be straight up with who you are, the intentions of the podcast-don’t try to sell anything on your podcast episode after episode.

While its easy enough to listen to podcasts, it does take some effort-and they are listening to YOU not someone else, so give them some honest information-get to the meat of the matter on your podcast.

What is your podcast about?
You need to decided exactly what your podcast is about. The more niche the better. What are you trying to accomplish with your podcast and make sure each episode stays on that track.
When your listeners download or subscribe to your podcast, its because the liked what they heard in the first few episodes. They expect each episode to be new and fresh but familiar to the previous shows…
Narrowcasting-or making programs that only appeal to a very tight group of people is something that is talked about today. If your show is too general people might subscribe, but are they really loyal. If you have a show on unicycling, you are going to reach a small percentage of the audience, but the impact and appeal of the show to that group is immeasurable

How consistent do you want to be?
When your listeners subscribe, its almost like entering into an agreement-they will download your podcast on a regular basis, in belief that you will be podcasting on a regular basis.
Set a consistent time and stick with it. Inconsistency is one of the points that can kill a podcast listener loyalty quickly. But also keep in mind the law of diminishing returns…everyday might be way too much. I know some that are once a week, others are once every two weeks

How long should your show be?
I like to listen to shows that are 10-20 min long while Cammon listens to some that are an hour and a half… you know the audience you are trying to reach better than I, what are they like, are they busy or do they sit at the computer for long lengths of time able to listen to an hour or so?

Start strong and finish big-no one has to be perfect, but make sure you jump out of the gate with energy and enthusiasm. A floundering presenter has the luxury of being able to bring the audience back, but a podcaster loses his audience for good with a click of a button. Make them feel like they are in good hands right from the beginning. Lead with your strength. Make sure the opening of the show reflects the tone and pace of the rest of the show. Choose an appropriate theme song…Relax and have fun with it, don’t be nervous!

I was thinking about the recent post by Chris Brogan on Human Social Networks and this thought about my birthday came into my mind. Really, my birthday this year was completely different than ANY OTHER birthday EVER. Here is why:My mother moved this summer out to Utah. She did it in the middle of July. My birthday is July 16th. It was on a Monday this past year. Want to know what I was doing on Monday?

Well I got up around 7am and had a bowl of cereal, but out of the portable cartons cereal comes in when all the dishes are packed away. Then I packed. I hauled 10X cans full of sugar, flour and beans from the basement-my mom’s food storage was coming with her. I took all the sheets from the linen closet and wrapped all the fine glasses and plates from the hutch. I helped dismantle beds and furniture.

I worked with the rest of the family until about 7pm that night getting everything ready for the moving truck that was coming the next day. Up the stairs down the stairs, we packed a 3 story house basically in one day.

But you know, it was one of the best birthday’s ever. I have never received so many happy birthday wishes in all of my previous birthdays than I did this past year. All through the day my phone buzzed with an alert that another friend has wished me a good day-and that made all the difference.

The reason for this is because I have a Facebook account. I use this account to keep in touch socially with those who are important to me. You’ll fined close friends from highschool and college on there. I’m connected to family around the nation. I have business friends whom I want to get to know on a personal basis that I’m connected to. And Facebook has this wonderful tool that posts your friend’s upcoming birthdays for that week.

Happy Birthday to Jeff Pulver on Wed!!!

Now, some may argue that none of the people who sent me a note would have even remembered my birthday so it doesn’t really count. My argument for that is, if you’re someone who isn’t good a remembering dates, like myself, then why not use technology to help you solidify relationships. I was important enough for those people to invite me to be their friend. I was important enough for them to see that it was my birthday and DO something about it. None of them HAD to send me a note.

So, while my birthday consisted of backbreaking work, throughout the day I was reminded again and again that I mattered to someone. Thats what social networking is all about. The technology is just the means to find more people to connect with, the human relationship is the end goal.

Thanks to everyone who wished me a Happy Birthday, it meant more to me than you probably thought!

I need to have some fun with technology and blogging and my husband and I thought of a fun way to invite our friends and family to join us for the games of our favorite team, the Brigham Young University Cougars!

So we headed over to Blogger  to create a website for the Randle Stadium where everyone has a front row seat.  This blog is an excellent example of using pictures and video in a blogger account if you’d like to see a real life evolving example.

So do you have a party coming up?  Are you a sports fan?  How about an event someone across the country can’t come to?  Use some video and a blog to share with others.  Create a little fun and introduce your family and friends to a little technology in their everyday life!

Hey guys! There are some fun things happening at Mediajoltz and later in this month they will be revealed. One of the projects I am working on is a consulting package. Here is what it looks like:

For $65 USD a month with a minimum 3 month contract I am offering:-One 10 min podcast (although 2-4 a month is recommended)
-2 hour phone/Instant Messenger/Email consultation
-Weekly Tip about New Media
-Instant friend link into all the communities I already belong including: access to over 2 million on Linkedin, Facebook, etc
-Reminder notifications for Blog, Podcasts Updates
-8 proofs of your blog/podcast

What do you think, sound interesting? I’ve already got a few who are interested in this deal and its been lots of fun! My purpose is a 3 month contract and if you want to work more with me after that its another 3 months. I will work for you up to a year, but my purpose is to get you on your feet and running an online presence for yourself within 6 months.

This is just a part of a big picture that could mean tons of fun things happening. In the meantime, continue to work on your blogs and build your relationships. While you are writing your posts, don’t forget to comment on someone else’s blog….

Here is a video on how to add elements like video and pictures to your post on your Blogger account. This will help to make your posts a little more exciting and break up the monotony of plain text.