Trafcom News

A beginner’s guide to Google+

A curated list for newbies (Be sure to check the link at the end of this post for UPDATED content!)

The new social media platform Google+ is still in its infancy and will likely be tweaked quite a bit during the next few months. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been experimenting with Google+, adding people to Circles, reading content from others, and occasionally posting items. Because many of my communications colleagues are now beginning to test-drive Google+, I thought I would share some of the links I’ve been gathering.

How to get started with Google+
A great place to begin is this guide from Social Media Examiner.

A Google+ cheat sheet
Alltop offers this handy list of shortcuts for using Google+.

Understanding and evaluating Google+
Digging a little deeper, Christopher S. Penn explains that Google+ is an asymmetric and long-form social network, and asks: “Are you using it in a manner that makes the most of those characteristics?”

The Google+ 50
Early adopter Chris Brogan has written this list of 50 things to consider about Google+.

Does Google solve the privacy problem or make it worse
Mathew Ingram wonders about some of the privacy issues surrounding the new platform.

Google mania: Most pundits are missing the real point
B.L. Ochman weighs in with her opinion on the aspects of Google+ that are important to brands, publishers and agencies.

NOTE: I do have more links and will be adding new ones frequently. For my latest list of Google+ goodness, please check my Delicious list.

 

Want more content like this? Follow me on Twitter or Google+.

Do you want to improve your podcast?

Earlier today I presented a short teleseminar called “Take Your Podcast to the Next Level,” where we talked about how to improve the quality of a podcast, how to market a podcast, and more. It was geared toward those who are already producing podcasts for their employers or clients, or for their own businesses.

You can watch the preview video, which participants saw before attending the teleseminar, here:

And you can download the recording of the teleseminar here.

Bonus: The Podcaster's Checklist (PDF).

Does your podcast need a makeover?

After years of informally evaluating podcasts, I’ve formalized the process into a service in which I will:

• Ask you about your podcast – why you created it, who your audience is, and what you are hoping to achieve with your podcast.
• Listen to about 60 minutes of your podcast; this might be two or three episodes.
• Evaluate your podcast with a critical ear, including your content and structure, audio and vocal quality, editing, search engine optimization and more.
• Send you a written report with practical suggestions you can execute right now to improve your podcast.

Let me know if you want to take your podcast to the next level! Email me today.

 

Why storytelling matters in organizations

I've just posted episode 105 of the Trafcom News Podcast, a short discussion of storytelling within organizations, for both internal and external communications. Much of the podcast centres on storytelling at the IABC world conference.

To listen to the podcast, subscribe, or read the show notes, just click through to the Trafcom News Podcast page.

In future episodes, we'll get into the nitty-gritty of HOW to tell stories for maximum impact. Stay tuned!

Digital storytelling presentation now online

This is not a video of me doing my presentation (and you should be grateful for that!). Instead, here you'll hear the audio recording of my presentation, synchd with my slides, including the videos I showed during my Digital Storytelling presentation at the IABC world conference in San Diego in June.