Trafcom News Podcast

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 #65: Stop! Do you really need those slides?

These days I've been immersed in a project with a client, helping them to change their boring PowerPoint deck into a compelling presentation. In this 14-minute podcast, with a little help from some experts, I share some tips for making your next presentation memorable.

Please listen and let me know what you think! You can  download the show right here or subscribe through iTunes.

Here are the show notes:

Comment line: 206-338-4200

00:01 Intro and welcome
01:00 Is your PowerPoint presentation getting your message across?
02:10 Example of a current project, where the "deck" does not appear to be the best way to communicate
02:40 Typical problems include too much small type on too many slides; ugly visuals; details that should probably be put into collateral material; confusing diagrams
03:05 What if your presentation bores people or doesn't differentiate you?
04:30 Always ask: "Do we really NEED a PowerPoint presentation deck?"
05:00 Think about the best presenters you've seen lately. Here's my list: Mitch Joel, Shel Holtz, Tod Maffin, Darren Barefoot
05:30 The best presenters tell a story
06:10 Common pitfall of using PowerPoint slides as a crutch
06:50 If the whole presentation is not on the slides, the presenter has to rehearse more and work a little harder
07:14 The Apple product, Keynote '08, is a beautiful tool for creating presentations

Some resources for you
07:30 Presentation Zen is a blog that offers many useful tips, advice and examples, such as: keep it simple, surprise people; use natural speech and concrete examples; give meaning to statistics; make people feel something.
09:15 Also check out Great Presentations Mean Business blog
09:27 Beyond Bullets by Cliff Atkinson

09:43 Recap: ditch the small type; get rid of bullet points wherever possible; think BENEFITS; tell a story; don't use your slides as a crutch; try interesting visuals
10:10 Where to send comments: email to Donna AT trafcom DOT com, call the comment line at 206-338-4200 or post a message to the Trafcom News Podcast blog
10:30 Promo from Gary Schlee for Talk is Cheap, November 15, Centennial College, Toronto
11:55 If you like this podcast, please subscribe through iTunes; tell your friends
12:15 Look for the Trafcom News Podcast on Blubrry.com
12:40 Comment from Andrea Vascellari  
Theme music is "Beneath Your Surface" by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet from the Podsafe Music Network

Show #63: An interview with Ian Hull, lawyer, blogger, podcaster

If you're a professional in a niche area, or if you're a businessperson considering blogging or podcasting, listen to this interview with Ian Hull of Hull & Hull LLP, a recognized leader in  estates and trusts. Their lawyers have written two of Canada's leading texts on estates law, and have acted in some of the country's largest and most complex estates cases. This legal leadership continues as Hull & Hull push the  boundaries of legal knowledge with blogs and podcasts.

Please listen and let me know what you think! You can download the show right here or subscribe through iTunes.  Today's show runs 19 minutes.

Here are the show notes:
Comment line: 206-338-4200

00:01 Intro and welcome
01:50 Interview with Ian Hull of Hull & Hull begins
02:00 Ian explains the firm's niche area of estate law
02:45 How they started blogging and podcasting; advice from Terry Fallis of Thornley Fallis and the Inside PR podcast 
03:30 Giving out information for free; people come back for advice; audience is general public and other lawyers
04:20 Podcast has opened firm to new level of exposure; people know Hull & Hull through social media
04:55 Feedback from clients and lawyers; cannot give out legal advice
05:50 Growth in business since blog and podcast began
06:33 Clients know you before they come through the door thanks to social media
06:50 Increases trust
07:33 "Be the client"; personal rapport; easier to develop relationships
08:04 How they produce the podcast; outsource the production
09:40 Focus on content; keep it short
11:00 More than 100 shows so far
11:40 Increased visibility in the press; higher ranking in Google
13:00 Advice to professionals in a niche area: roll up your sleeves and do it; easier than you think; remember that you know your content; stand out from the pack and present your knowledge
15:00 Thanks to Ian; wrap up: do research; determine whether blog or podcast fit your communications strategy; outsource where needed; keep at it, even when you're busy
15:50 Third Tuesday Toronto begins October 15 with a talk by Darren Barefoot
16:58 Comment from Tina Hansen
Where to send comments: email to  donna AT trafcom.com, call the comment line at 206-338-4200 or post a message to the Trafcom News Podcast blog.
Be sure to check out the Trafalgar Communications site for links to podcasts about podcasting; also PodcastYourConference.com for information about conference podcasting.

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 #51: Producing a powerful podcast promo

In this 13-minute podcast, I play some podcast promos for you and share tips on creating an effective promo for your own show.

You can download the show right here or subscribe through iTunes.

Here are the show notes:
00:01 Intro and welcome
01:10 Promo from CC Chapman at Managing the Gray
01:50 Parody-type promo from John Wall at The M Show
03:20 Promo from Lee Hopkins of Better Communications Results
04:10 Promo from Terry Fallis and Dave Jones of Inside PR customized to be played on For Immediate Release: The Hobson and Holtz Report
07:35 Promo for Terry Fallis’s Best Laid Plans podcast of his novel
09:32 Tips: keep it short; script your promo and polish it; use your podcast music; include your URL
10:20 Send your promo to your podcasting networks and colleagues
11:28 Where to send comments: email to trafcom AT gmail.com, call the comment line at 206-338-4200 or post a message to the Trafcom News Podcast blog
12:12 Comment from Bryan Person of the NewComm Road Podcast
12:37 Podcamp Toronto is this weekend, February 24-25

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 #50: Should you be podcasting your conference?

This 14-minute podcast explains why it’s a good idea to podcast your conference proceedings, and shares tips for getting it right.

You can download the show right here or subscribe through iTunes.

Here are the show notes:
00:01 Intro and welcome
00:55 Trafcom News Podcast returns to a bi-weekly schedule
01:14 Next time: more on podcast promotion
01:25 Why podcasting your conference can be an effective way to communicate your message
01:45 Pre-conference podcasts can generate buzz
02:29 Podcasts during the conference are an added value for attendees and may draw people who have not attended before
03:15 Post-conference reviews can be used to promote your next conference
03:54 Tip: Add an intro and outro or call to action
05:00 Tip: Edit for brevity; eliminate most ums, ahs an other verbal tics
05:42 Tip: Make a feed available; you can restrict the feed if you wish by adding a password; thanks to Dan York for explaining this; visit Dan’s Disruptive Conversations blog and his Blue Box podcast
07:03 Bonus: your employees may want to listen to the podcasts too
07:43 Shoutout from Paull Young of the Young PR blog and Forward Podcast
08:57 Comment from Cameron Weckerley of the Road Show Podcast
10:15 Comment from Ricardo Sá Reston of the Miscelânea Vanguardiosa Podcast
10:55 Consider producing a Feedburner podcast to promote your show
11:33 Comment from Corey Taratuta of The Irish Fireside Podcast
13:24 Come to Podcamp Toronto February 24-25
Where to send comments: email to trafcom AT gmail.com, call the comment line at 206-338-4200 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

:::UPDATE: For more information about podcasting your conference, please visit PodcastYourConference.com.

Show #40: Making finance exciting through podcasts: An interview with Michael Seaton of Scotiabank

Are you curious to know how one of North America’s leading financial institutions became involved in podcasting, and what they expect to gain from it? Then listen to this interview with Michael Seaton, director of Digital Marketing at Scotiabank in Toronto.

Michael is no stranger to social media. He writes a blog called The Client Side, contributes to other marketing blogs, and is a regular voice on Joseph Jaffe’s Across the Sound podcast.

In this 15-minute podcast, you’ll hear Michael talk about how the idea for the Money Clip podcast came about, how it’s produced, and plans for the future. By the way, I met Michael at the Third Tuesday Toronto meetup last month, where I also chatted with Shel Israel, who will be my guest on the Trafcom News Podcast next week.

You can download the show right here or subscribe through iTunes.

Here are the show notes:
00:01 Intro and welcome
00:50 Introducing Michel Seaton, director of Digital Marketing at Scotiabank
02:15 How the Money Clip came about; modeled on The Vault, an e-newsletter from Scotiabank offering neutral advice
03:45 Worked with Twist Image to produce the podcast; recorded in a studio
04:50 Topics to be covered: mutual funds (in three parts), home ownership, economics of everyday life
07:25 Will rely on experts within the bank and outside resources
08:25 Sometimes content is left on the cutting room floor when the e-newsletter is produced; the podcast is a natural outlet for that information
08:50 How the Money Clip will be promoted
09:37 In the future, the Money Clip will be packaged with other content; Michael can’t talk about this yet!
10:41 Scotiabank is Canada’s most international bank; listeners may be around the world; multilingual podcasts in the future?
11:03 The podcast was not a hard sell within the bank
12:10 As for internal podcasts at Scotiabank, Michael hopes to educate employee communications people regarding the benefits of podcasting
13:22 My peek behind the curtain at For Immediate Release: The Hobson and Holtz Report as co-host for show #177 last week
14:20 I need your help; please contact me if you are involved in employee podcasting
14:33 Where to send comments: email to trafcom AT gmail.com, call the NEW comment line at 206-338-4200 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