Trafcom News Podcast

Welcome to the Trafcom News Podcast

You've come to the right place if you're interested in communicating better with employees, customers and prospects. In this audio podcast, you'll hear interviews and discussions about topics that are important to people in the business of communicating. It might be writing, speaking, marketing, social media or something interesting in the news.

Within this site, you can download each audio file directly by clicking on the link that says "download here" or you can listen with the Blubrry player on the right side of the screen. If you want to be sure to catch every edition of the Trafcom News Podcast, you can subscribe through iTunes or email using the links provided.

If you have questions about this podcast, feel free to comment.

And thanks for stopping by!

Trafcom News Podcast 76: Are you data driven? An interview with Katie Paine

Katie Paine, the Queen of PR Measurement, was in Toronto recently for a Third Tuesday meetup and the Roundtable on Social Media Measurement. I was fortunate to get a quick interview with Katie, in which she touched on the value of measurement and how it's often misunderstood in the business world.

Please listen to this 18-minute podcast and let me know what you think! You can download the show right here or subscribe through iTunes. You can also listen by clicking on the player on the right part of the screen.

Here are the show notes:
Comment line: 212-624-0209

00:01 Intro and welcome; about Katie Paine of KD Paine and Partners
02:10 The difference between monitoring and measuring
04:05 Katie's advice to companies: Stop doing stupid things
04:55 PR and social media have to stand up and be counted
05:50 Students asked Katie why they're not studying measurement in school
08:44 Silos within organizations can be an obstacle
11:09 Problem with jumping in with no data; ROI is difficult to measure when the I is free
12:48 Webinars are effective and measurable
15:39 End of interview
16:00 Some ideas for future editions of Trafcom News: Podcasting in the Real World
16:40 Comment from David Wolf
For more information on the Roundtable on Social Media Measurement, read Joe Thornley's ProPr blog. The other speakers at Third Tuesday Toronto in May were Marshall Sponder of the Web Analytics Association and Marcel Lebrun of Radian6.
17:20 Where to send comments: email to Donna AT Trafcom DOT com, call the comment line at 212-624-0209 or post a message to the Trafcom News Podcast blog.
Look for the Trafcom News Podcast on Blubrry.com.
Theme music is "Beneath Your Surface" by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from the Podsafe Music Network.

Trafcom News Podcast 75: Pick your podcast style and format

What should your podcast be? Commentary, one-on-one interview, or script and clip? How to choose? Listen to this interview with Victoria Fenner, a talented radio and podcast producer, to get ideas.

Victoria and I sometimes collaborate on podcast production, particularly for my conference podcasting business, PodcastYourConference.com. Check out Victoria's Web site and blog.

Please listen to this 27-minute podcast and let me know what you think! You can download the show right here or  subscribe through iTunes. You can also listen on the Trafcom News blog by clicking on the player on the upper right part of the screen.


Comment line: 212-624-0209

Here are the show notes:

00:01 Intro and welcome; about Victoria Fenner
02:15 Interview begins; what kinds of formats are we talking about?
03:00 Importance of editing; how you conduct the interview affects how much work the edit will be
05:00 Start with a definitive statement
06:45 An example of an extreme approach of making the interview subject stick to your plan
07:37 Stage your question to get what you want
08:15 Commentaries vs. ramblecasts
10:28 Example of smart guy/lousy podcast (delivered like a lecture); voiceover is not as easy as you think!
11:30 Conversation is not a performance; best interviews need little editing
12:00 Creative approaches to script/clip, wild sounds, and conference podcasting
14:50 Be careful adding wild sound
16:00 How to decide on your format
18:00 Importance of technical quality
18:48 Comment from Corey Taratuta
19:45 Comment from Jay Berkowitz
20:40 Comment from Sam Deeks
22:39 Comment from George Motoc
23:07 Comment from Bob LeDrew
25:11 Comment from Mike Buckley
26:44 Where to send comments: email to Donna AT Trafcom DOT com, call the comment line at 212-624-0209 or post a message to the Trafcom News Podcast blog
Look for the Trafcom News Podcast on Blubrry.com.
Theme music is "Beneath Your Surface" by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from the Podsafe Music Network.

Did you get Trafcom News 74?

There was a problem with the feed a few days ago, so if you are a FeedBlitz subscriber, you may not have received the latest Trafcom News. You can download it directly on the Trafcom News Podcast page or listen to the player on that page.

iTunes subscribers were not affected!

Trafcom News 74: The secrets of show notes

If you're a podcaster, or thinking of becoming one, please consider the role of show notes as a marketing tool and a service to your audience. As you'll learn by listening to this 22-minute podcast, Google hates you if you're a podcaster who doesn't take the time to write  show notes. In this podcast, you'll hear advice from experienced podcasters: Nicole Simon, Christopher S. Penn, Dave Jones, Wayne MacPhail and Aaron Strout.

Please tune in and let me know what you think! You can download the MP3 file right here or subscribe through iTunes. You can also listen on the Trafcom News blog by clicking on the player on the upper right part of the screen.

Comment line: 212-624-0209

Here are the show notes:

00:01 Intro and welcome
00:45 Definition of show notes: text that accompanies a podcast
01:15 Good reasons to take the time: listeners love them, and so does Google
01:27 Podcasters love to complain about the time it takes to write show notes [I am kvetching right now; can you hear me?]
01:40 Some podcasters produce a bare-bones outline; others do show notes with time codes [like these] and still others go for a full-blown transcript
02:01 Guests today: Nicole Simon, Christopher S. Penn, Dave Jones, Wayne MacPhail, Aaron Strout
02:33 Nicole Simon, who produces Useful Sounds, Bloxpert and Cruel to be Kind, talks about the general value of show notes: link out to get others interested in your podcast; provide navigation to listeners.
03:55 The more knowledge-intensive your podcast, the greater the value of your text
05:00 And what about non-native-language listeners?
05:18 Outsourcing your show note production
06:18 Wayne MacPhail of W8NC and the Rabble Podcast Network explains why the Talk for Memories podcast he produced for the Alzheimer's Society of Ontario, uses transcripts; knowing your audience demographic; being aware of high-speed Internet access
08:29 Wayne used a company in India to do the transcripts
08:56 Wayne doesn't do transcripts for every podcast he creates; here's his general view on show notes; time codes will become increasingly important as we move towards modular content for podcasts
10:21 Dave Jones, a VP at Hill and Knowlton, produces Inside PR and Shill, two very different podcasts
10:52 General goal of show notes is to help listeners navigate through podcast; provide links; tone of show affects tone of notes
11:25 Dave and co-host Doug Walker take a more light-hearted approach with their Shill show notes; they're part of the entertainment
12:28 Aaron Strout, VP of New Media at Mzinga and community manager and podcaster at We Are Smarter, shares his process for producing shown notes
13:39 How including interviewee names (such as Guy Kawasaki, Shel Israel, Tim O'Reilly and Mike Arrington) increases traffic
14:44 Christopher S. Penn of the Financial Aid Podcast and Marketing Over Coffee (co-hosted with John Wall) quotes Julien Smith on why Google "hates you" if you're a podcaster without show notes because it can only scan text; use important key words
15:54 Chris talks about his approach to show notes at the Financial Aid Podcast; use of key words; cross-promotion across different media; how he deploys show notes; use of the lyrics tab; show notes are metadata; must write show notes with both Google and humans in mind
18:38 Chris shares his secret for having his show notes picked up as a legitimate item in the Google News feed
19:17 My own take on show notes; can be  a pain; I write an outline and flesh it out as I listen to my podcast after mixing; listeners like the show notes because they can skim, go back, blog easily about the content; and I like the Google juice
20:58 Where to send comments: email to Donna AT Trafcom DOT com, call the comment line at 212-624-0209 or post a message to the Trafcom News Podcast blog
Look for the Trafcom News Podcast on Blubrry.com.
Theme music is "Beneath Your Surface" by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from the Podsafe Music Network.

Trafcom News 73: How to give good audio

Have you been invited as a guest on a podcast or radio show? Listen to these tips for giving good audio so that you’ll be asked back. At the same time, you’ll be making the most of the investment of your own time.

Please tune in to this 14-minute podcast and let me know what you think! You can download the MP3 file right here or  subscribe through iTunes. You can also listen on the Trafcom News blog by clicking on the player on the upper right part of the screen.

Here are the show notes:
Comment line: 212-624-0209

00:01 Intro and welcome
01:30 Prepare, but don’t expect precise questions in advance; jot down notes but don’t read them!
03:00 Keep facts and figures at your fingertips
03:40 Know your key messages
05:00 Use metaphors; tell a story
05:45 Slow down
06:05 Keep it short; don’t pontificate; think of sound bites
06:30 Example of Paull Young on FOX News talking about social media
07:00 The whole time you’re talking, think of your audience
07:25 Quick recap: prepare, jot down notes, have facts and figures ready, know your key messages, use metaphors, slow down, remember your audience
08:01 Comment from Joe Thornley of Thornley Fallis
10:48 Comment from Chris, Amateur Traveler
11:08 Comment from Steve Sergeant
11:33 Comment from Elisabeth (Podcastmama) at Podcastingnews
12:21 Comment from George Motoc
12:56 Comment from Podcastmatters 
13:36 Where to send comments: email to Donna AT Trafcom DOT com, call the comment line at 212-624-0209 or post a message to the Trafcom News Podcast blog

Look for the Trafcom News Podcast on Blubrry.com. Theme music is "Beneath Your Surface" by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from the Podsafe Music Network

Show# 72: Big Ideas, Small Budget

If you work for a charity or other nonprofit, you’ll be especially interested in today’s show, which is based on a conference call where a group of us talked about communications ideas for nonprofits. The discussion ranges from  finding skilled yet inexpensive voice talent, recruiting volunteers, communicating with donors and the public,  and the reluctance of some colleagues to adopt new technology.

To keep the discussion going, I’ve created a wiki to accompany this podcast. If you work in the nonprofit sector and you want to share ideas or resources, please contribute to the wiki (email me for the password). Of course if you were a participant in the conference call, I really hope you’ll add your thoughts to the wiki. A big thank-you to the participants:

Kevin Daoust
Christie Goodman
Tina Hansen -- tinah AT peak DOT org
Karen Majerly
Scott Sherrin -- scott.sherrin AT maar DOT org
Tom Russell
Corey Taratuta
Joan Vinall-Cox

Please listen and let me know what you think! You can  download the show right here or  subscribe through iTunes. You can also listen on the Trafcom News blog by clicking on the player on the upper right part of the screen.

Comment line: 212-624-0209

Other resources cited (see the wiki for more information)
Beth's Blog: How NonProfits Can Use Social Media 
Hobson & Holtz interview with Connie Reece
Christopher Penn blog post on nonprofit strategies for recession
Podcamp Toronto Media Archive for Wayne MacPhail’s presentation on the Alzheimer’s Society of Ontario
General info on social media on the Social Media Training Wiki

Look for the Trafcom News Podcast on Blubrry.com. Theme music is "Beneath Your Surface" by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from the Podsafe Music Network.

Show #71: Five ways to kill your podcast

I get questions, many questions. And from these questions come some thoughts about the top five ways you can kill your podcast. (Maybe I’m watching too much CSI?)

You don’t want to ruin your podcast, right? So listen to this 9-minute episode, which serves up five easy pieces of podcasting advice you can use.

Please listen and let me know what you think! You can  download the show  here, or  subscribe through iTunes. You can also listen on the Trafcom News blog by clicking on the player on the upper right part of the screen.

Here are the show notes:
Comment line: 212-624-0209

00:01 Intro and welcome
00:50 Thanks to all who participated in Big Ideas, Small Budget conference call last week; this show is coming soon
01:25 Five ways to kill your podcast
01:45 1. Focus on technology
02:25 2. Don’t bother learning to use a microphone; refer to Apple Podcast Recipe for tips
03:30 3. Don’t consider your listeners’ needs; the Levelator
04:50 4. Email the MP3 file to everyone you know
05:50 5. Forget about shownotes
07:00 Recap: focus on content, not tech; learn to use your mic; think of your listeners’ needs; figure out the best way to distribute your podcast; make time for shownotes
07:40 See you at Podcamp Toronto February 23-24 at Ryerson University
07:55 My next free Webinar: Podcasting 101 for Communicators and Marketers, February 21, 2 p.m. Eastern. It's free but you need to register. Send an email to Donna AT Trafcom DOT Com
08:28 Where to send comments: email to Donna AT Trafcom DOT com, call the comment line at 212-624-0209 or post a message to the Trafcom News Podcast blog

Look for the Trafcom News Podcast on Blubrry.com. Theme music is "Beneath Your Surface" by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from the Podsafe Music Network

Show #70: Taming the email beast

Can you remember when you first started using email?  You were probably delighted to receive a message. Buts soon enough, you felt overwhelmed by the sheer volume of mail. Short of clearing out your inbox and starting from scratch (which is admittedly a very tempting but short-term fix), is there a solution to this dilemma?

In this 11-minute podcast, I describe a few tactics for taking back control of your email. I hope you’ll share your own best practices too.

Please listen and let me know what you think! You can download the show right here or subscribe  for free through iTunes.  You can also listen on the Trafcom News Podcast  blog by clicking on the player on the upper right part of the screen.

Here are the show notes:
Comment line: 212-624-0209

00:01 Intro and welcome
00:55 The business person’s lament: “Too much email too often!”
02:18 Tip #1: Turn off the notification
03:00 Tip #2: Use filters
04:20 Tip #3: Don’t create unrealistic expectations
05:00 Tip #4: Pick up the phone
05:28 In The Four-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss explains his extreme productivity tips, including not answering email, using autoresponders and relying on virtual assistants. Let me know if you’ve tried this.
06:29 Tip #5: Discourage CCs
07:25 Recap
07:55 Many of these tips apply equally to our use of the phone; you don’t have to answer it!
08:45 Big Ideas, Small Budget conference call February 15, 12 noon Eastern. Dial 1-605-772-3285, then key in the access code 877696#. Remember the pound key (number sign) at the end.
09:40 Podcamp Toronto February 23-24 at Ryerson University
10:00 My next free Webinar: Podcasting 101 for Communicators and Marketers, February 21, 2 p.m. Eastern. It’s free but you need to register. Send an email to Donna AT Trafcom DOT Com
10:36 Where to send comments: email to Donna AT Trafcom DOT com, call the comment line at 212-624-0209 or post a message to the Trafcom News Podcast blog

Look for the Trafcom News Podcast on Blubrry.com. Main theme music is "Beneath Your Surface" by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from the Podsafe Music Network.

Show #69: Third Tuesday Toronto - ChickAdvisor.com

Welcome to the inaugural podcast for Third Tuesday Toronto, a social media meetup. This audio was recorded at the meeting on January 23, 2008 and features a short interview with Ali deBold, co-founder of ChickAdvisor.com as well as announcements about Podcamp Toronto and PRin Canada. It's only 10 minutes, so listen, eh?

Please let me know what you think! You can download the show right here or click on the player on the right side of the Web page or <a href=">subscribe through iTunes

Here are the show notes:

NEW comment line: 212-624-0209

00:01 Intro and welcome
00:45 All about Third Tuesday; founded and led by Joe Thornley of Thornley Fallis; sponsored by CNW Group
01:55 About ChickAdvisor.com, a social shopping site started by Alex and Ali deBold; Ali and Alex spoke at Third Tuesday in a Q&A facilitated by emcee Eden Spodek of Bargainista
03:00 Interview with Ali deBold; how and why they started ChickAdvisor.com; the deal with Slice
07:00 Interview with Dave Fleet of Fleet Street PR and Toronto Runner about Podcamp Toronto; check out the Podcamp Toronto wiki and blog
08:45 Interview with Dave Forde of Profectio Marketing about PRinCanada
09:43 Where to send comments: email to Donna AT Trafcom DOT com, call the comment line at 212-624-0209or post a message to the Trafcom News Podcast blog
Look for the Trafcom News Podcast on Blubrry.com. Theme music is "Beneath Your Surface" by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from the Podsafe Music Network