There are countless brands and organizations that are making intelligent use of their social platforms. Companies are deploying Facebook, Twitter et al to build closer ties to their constituents, promote a new product or service or participate in a conversation in a manner that can help to humanize the brand.
However, for every piece of social media content that adds value to, say, a media relations campaign or events marketing effort, there is another piece of social content that is at best, inane and, at worst, reprehensible. The freewheeling (ephemeral) nature of social media also makes it problematic for people to retain information, much less consider a purchase.
Podcasting is a different pitch. Where social messaging/marketing tends can be scattered, podcasts are singular, with a beginning, middle and an end. Sure, people get stoked about online contests and brand messages that might ultimately save them a little bit of money. But such efforts have a scattershot approach.
In contrast, podcasts lend themselves to plot, personality and, depending on the level of storytelling, character development. They also dovetail perfectly with what we used to call appointment viewing.
Take the wildly popular Serial, a podcast exploring a murder mystery, which ranked number one on iTunes even before its November 2014 debut.
The passion for Serial reminds us of Steve Allen’s famous quote, “Radio is the theater of the mind; television is the theater of the mindless.”
Now comes word that Reddit has rolled out its own official podcast. The podcast is designed to tell the story behind the stories on its home page. That’s smart positioning on Reddit’s part, taking a backstory approach to its podcast strategy.
But whether it’s Reddit, your own website or a dedicated app, PR pros could boost their value—and better distinguish themselves from rivals—by developing a dedicated podcast series.
Here are few tips to consider for producing quality podcasts:
> Find good pipes in-house. Perhaps the most important aspect of developing a podcast is finding someone with a mellifluous voice. Do a deep dive to locate people (employees, partners) who are often complimented on the sound of their voice and can easily steer (but not command) a conversation.
> Don’t bore the audience. Consumers have an infinite number of choices for how to spend their time online. You have to take a thematic approach that’s designed to entertain, enlighten and inform. Don’t take the easy route by producing podcasts that take a prosaic look at products and services. Find the backstory for some of your biggest successes (or failures). Be candid, not corporate.
> Take it outside the four walls. Your podcasts need to be anchored to a specific subject matter, of course. But the beauty of radio and podcasts is to veer off course every now and again and, within reason, talk about most anything under the sun. This can go a long way toward personalizing the program. By opening up the conversation you might also stumble on an expression or idea that crystallizes your company and keeps listeners coming back.
> Make it immersive. If you’re willing to go to the time and expense of creating a podcast series, make sure it’s participatory for your audience. Have people call in to broaden the discussion. Invite some of your best customers or clients to appear on the show. Go “on location” to where your audience(s) may congregate. Make sure the community is vested in the podcast.
What would you add to the list?
Matthew Schwartz: @mpsjourno1