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mandy.thatcher@melcrum.comNovember 14th, 2007
Dear Source Reader
The five golden rules of podcasting
In Melcrum’s new Special Report on How to get started with podcasting in your organization, author Lee Hopkins makes a strong case for why podcasts can be a valuable addition to the mix of internal comms channels. A primary reason for their attraction, he says, is the fact that they can be created simply and cheaply, with no need for in-depth technical knowledge or expensive equipment.
In the report he shares his five golden rules for those keen to get started with podcasting.
- Understand the media. You do this by downloading and listening to lots of podcasts from all different genres – comedy, other business podcasts, music, chat, special interests and so on. Listen to the podcasts, see what you like in each one and what you don’t like, find out if there are some key elements that just work for you and you believe you can incorporate into your own podcast. Take lots of notes.
- Create a script. Or at least a set of bullet points for yourself or the presenter, so that you/they don’t wander too far off the track when the microphone is on.
- Use a template. By that I mean decide what your format will be (lighthearted articles read by the one person, a two or three person chat, special-interest focused recordings, etc.) and what standard items there will be in each podcast edition (for example, the same intro/outro music, the same way of introducing the podcast edition, the “layout” of the podcast – e.g. intro theme, welcome, item 1, item 2, comments, closing theme).
- Edit and polish. You can always do a number of “takes” when recording, then edit out the ums, ahs, fumbles and mispronunciations later. You can also edit out over-long pauses to liven up an otherwise slow and boring interviewee. Don’t go overboard on your edits – you want to keep a natural feeling to your podcast and keep it from sounding too overproduced and slick – but equally don’t ruin great content by not wielding the editing mouse firmly but fairly.
- Publish it. Create a publishing schedule for each edition so that listeners will come to unconsciously expect your podcast to appear in their MP3 player or on their computer. And tell the world about your new podcast. Splash it all over your intranet. If it’s for the “outside world” to hear then make sure every person in the company who has any interactions with customers, clients or people outside the company lets them know about the new podcast and how they can easily download and listen to it.
Enjoy the rest of this week's issue and see you next week.
Mandy Thatcher
Editor
mandy.thatcher@melcrum.com
Melcrum November Budget Buster
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resources for communicators:
Measuring the impact of new media tools?
Alex Manchester, Melcrum's Social Media Newsletter, November 12, 2007
When looking at the implementation of social media, two of the biggest questions among business communicators are, “Where do I find all the software?” and, “How much is it going to cost?".
The real cost of killing print
Angela Sinickas, Melcrum's Measurement Newsletter, November 5, 2007
If your finance department is putting pressure on you to convert a printed publication to online only, they're probably focusing on an easy-to-capture number on their spreadsheets – the cost of printing in your budget. They mistakenly believe eliminating that item from your budget will help your organization's bottom line. Which is more important for leaders – what we say, or what we do?
Extending the intranet beyond the office at British Airways and Boots
Alex Manchester, Melcrum's Knowledge Management Newsletter, November 2,
2007
Sam Marshall, director of intranet and KM consultancy ClearBox, explores the options for reaching those employees who don’t have regular access to computers, or who don’t regularly use a computer at all.
Survey of CEOs reveals need for leaders rather than bosses
Internal Comms Hub, November 13, 2007
The Orange Leadership Snapshot survey looks at the key characteristics of CEOs in the top 50 FTSE Companies in 1997 and 2007. Commissioned by telecoms organization, Orange, the survey, conducted in September 2007, analyzed the DNA of CEOs, to see which characteristics are consistent with success and what has changed over the last 10 years.
Communicators consult The Hub Canada for help
Internal Comms Hub, November 12, 2007
Having launched the Hub North America region in 2006, Melcrum has now introduced the Hub Canada to coincide with its CommsCanada employee engagement conference in Toronto this week.
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