Are Podcasts Social Media? and More on Measuring Social Media
RD challenges some of the ideas I presented yesterday in 10 Social Media Strategies for the Fortune 1000 Corporations, cool, I love this discussion. This is a healthy conversation to have and I embrace it.
RD writes: I am not sure that “podcasts” are “social media” - seems like that they are a tool or tactic. For instance video on YouTube or photos on Flickr are the currency “shared” by which you may have a social interaction, the video or photos in and of themselves do not themselves constitute “social”.
1) Podcasts are in the realm of social media as have the traits of ‘amateurization’ (if there is such a thing) .’Normal’ people that were not able to have an audio voice before now are in the center of entire communities as they can share their knowledge now.
2) Podcasts are also native to the browser, I saw a report that indicates that 60% of podcasts are consumed at the browser and the other 40% on mobile MP3 devices. Often these podcast webpages have comments and people can rate and vote them up and down. iTunes allows for social voting as well.
3) Podcasts are starting to get more interactive, where several people will be involved in the creation from remote differences. Take a look at Waxxi which has elements of interactivity. Skypecasts are also in that realm. It’s even possible to create audio files using flash tools directly to the browser, no Ipod included.
(Update: Within minutes of this post, I was emailed by Brian the Senior VP of Talkshoe, an Interactive Podcast service. Check that out.)
RD Writes: On measurement, Engagement, Participation, and Attention - Jeremiah previously wrote “here’s what I want to know: What are people doing, what did they think, and what was the end result? Engagement can be used across all of those questions to help tell the story.”
You nailed the measurement conundrum. We don’t have the right tools or processes to figure this out. Just because someone is subscribed to a podcast doesn’t mean they’ve ever downloaded it, listened to it, and maybe they’ve listened to it multiple times in the car playing it to passengers. We just don’t know.
Traditional Web Analytics cannot be used by itself to measure Social Media, here’s why: Web Analytics is often used to measure the activity on ones own website, but clearly Web Marketing has shifted to many sites, blogs, podcasts and social sites.
RD, there are a coupled of ways we’re going to have to measure to ‘tell the story’. It will include
1) Traditional activity (Analytics and downloads),
2) What did people think (The Qualitative part we both are talking about)
3) What was the measurable change, (What did they do, what did others think, and the WOM effect)
I somehow suspect this conversation is far from being over. I embrace all points of view on this. Oh, and check out RD’s photos, he captures a very soft feel to some heavy emotions, reminds me of oil over canvas, pretty cool, I added him to my subscribed contacts via flickr.
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This made me think of two things…
1. How can podcasting be more interactive?
A thought I had issubscription from a cell phone, with the musical cell devices, zunes, etc coming out this could make download AND reply via SMS, phone call, email, etc a new form of interaction with podcasts as a social web vehicle
2. Survey/feedback technologies have not been updated in a while.
What new technologies are out there that can drive more interesting surveys or feedback? The ability to make feedback easier will certainly help with #2 as that is usually the biggest problem, are there any web 2.0/3.0 technologies to make this happen?
Media aren’t social, people are.
Dennis
This made me laugh outloud in public a restaurant in glee, heh. Great f-ning point.
Live Interactive Podcasting
TalkShoe enables the hosting of live interactive multi-person discussions, conversations, telephone conferences, informal talk shows, or live interactive podcasts. The service is FREE. We are targeting consumers. Hosts get paid. TalkShoe also pays any person or website referring traffic in the form of Host Referral Fees. Discussions are recorded for time-shifted listening (Podcasting) if your audience missed it.
In a few words TalkShoe is Interactive Talk, it’s people sharing passions – and for you guys who “get” podcasting – it is Live Interactive Podcasting!
Check it out at www.talkshoe.com — Have fun with it!
Brian (the TalkShoe Team)
Brian
Great job listening…good luck on your product!
Jeremiah, I’m serious!
Brian:
Interactive podcasting is a very interesting concept.
Suggestions:
1. How can I use Skype to call in while I don’t know what my skype numeric ID number is? Your system won’t allow me to dial in unless my skype match the PIN I created on my profile.
2. It is so difficult to surf through each category to find the one has something scheduled soon. Most of the podcasts has no Next Episode. Can you give ability to do sorting by Next Episode Date? and subcategory within Technology?
3. Anyway we can use the service without download anything?
Talkshoe Brian:
Questions:
1. It is clear that you can record and download the audio portion of recorded podcasting. How can someone watch the recorded Text Chat? You can record everything in video and download it?
2. This is very similar to Webinar. Do you charge any fee for Business Users? What are the advantages of “Interactive Podcasting” over “Webinar”?
3. Possible that I can host a pre-recorded audio session that can be repeated on regular basis as a scheduled sale presentation?
4. Can I show video within podcasting session?
5. How do I intergrate into web page or blog or even wiki?
6. Any screen shots that show Usage Reporting or page that list reporting metrics?
7. Any successful case how a conference use your service to moderator Q&A section?
Sorry. I may have to contact you offline. I identify Technology and Tools for our Marketing and Saleforce.
Jeremiah
Thanks for you kind words about my photography.
Getting back to the podcasts … I am a big fan of
the creative potential of audio and video online. I have been producing content for some time now
and the increased interest in this type of
programming, the success of iTunes, YouTube,
and Myspace as destinations for the distrubition
of content is very exciting. There really hasn’t
been this much focus on the distributed nature of
these products since the Victoria’s Secret
runway show toppled Broadcast.com’s servers.
Is this online raido, online televison, webcast,
netcast, webinar, on-line confernece or podcast?
Podcast seems like a generic name - like Xerox
is for copying. Most producers, amateurs or not,
should want a media that is inclusive or as I call it “all band”. By “all band” I mean something that is able to reach the greatest number of user
settings as possible. So for all producers
defining the program/product and the distribution
channel requires some thought.
It is hard to get a simple definition of what any
two people agree a podcast is. It seems as long
as they can call it a podcast they are happy, their boss is happy, the client is happy. When I
discuss these programs at work, I try to focus on
the right distribution channel for the job at hand.
The media portion will always be produced with
the highest quality possible regardless of the
distribution channel that it requires.
So my drill down would be something like this:
Audio (MP3) or Video MPEG
If video, is Flash movie required as well.
MP3 or MPEG to play in browser on local page
MP3 or MPEG for downlaod
Include as enclosure in RSS feed
Include in external feeds to iTunes, Yahoo!
If video is uplaod required for YouTube or other
You can use these in a number of social
mediums - embedded in a blog, used in a closed
fence webinar like Adobe Breeze or virtual tade
show platform, add a live chat or forum. So the
context - the social aspects of the audience
interraction surround the program which in turn
acts as a conversation starter.
Your point about ‘amateurization’ is interesting in light of something else that I think about alot
which is photography. A few months back a
colleague of mine was making the argument that
blog software was revoltionary like Gutenberg’s
press. I countered that blog software was more
like the introduction of the Brownie camera,
where a complicated technical process was
reduced to a push of the button. This in turn
created an opportunity to create masterpieces
without having to be a master. The cultural
change of push button photography transformed
the way that we “saw” and introduced the era of
the image.
I think much of what we see as social media is the intersection of “push button production/results”, broad audience access and always on feedback loop.
[…] Dennis McDonald an IT consultant left a pearl of wisdom in my comments on social media that “Media aren’t social, people are.” […]
Bess, et.al.:
1. How can I use Skype to call in while I don’t know what my skype numeric ID number is? Your system won’t allow me to dial in unless my skype match the PIN I created on my profile.
A. You can use Skype via Skype Out to call (724) 444-7444. Your TalkShoe PIN can be any 10-digit number.
2. It is so difficult to surf through each category to find the one has something scheduled soon. Most of the podcasts has no Next Episode. Can you give ability to do sorting by Next Episode Date? and subcategory within Technology?
A. You CAN view upcoming Episodes by clicking on any “listing” page (category page, Talk/Live, Listen/Browse, Search, etc.) and then in the top left corner; locate the Browse window; click on Upcoming link. We are looking to enhance Upcoming listings in other ways.
3. Anyway we can use the service without download anything?
A. You can Listen to any recording OR Listen (via Streaming) to any LIVE talkcast without becoming a TalkShoe member OR downloading any software. You can also join in and Talk or Listen via any phone (landline, cell, or VoIP phone such as Skype, SJPhone, Gizmo, Vonage, etc.) by just signing up for a free TalkShoe account and then calling in. (No need to download any software.)
1b. It is clear that you can record and download the audio portion of recorded podcasting. How can someone watch the recorded Text Chat? You can record everything in video and download it?
A. TalkShoe records the audio and TalkShoe records the text-chat. We currently make the audio available for everyone to download. We do have on our Product Road Map the ability to make the recorded text-chat available. Note you can record anything for your personal use.
2b. This is very similar to Webinar. Do you charge any fee for Business Users? What are the advantages of “Interactive Podcasting” over “Webinar”?
A. Free to Host. Free to Participate. Free to Listen. So long as business users use our free service, there is no fee. We do have Business Packages available for ad-free versions, corporate-branded pages, etc. See http://www.talkshoe.com/se/business/ for more information.
3b. Possible that I can host a pre-recorded audio session that can be repeated on regular basis as a scheduled sale presentation?
A. Yes
4. Can I show video within podcasting session?
A. If you mean the TalkShoe Live! software client; no. You can certainly use other tools in conjunction with TalkShoe Live! for video.
5. How do I intergrate into web page or blog or even wiki?
A. We have TalkShoe branded (graphic) link or you can use RSS.
6. Any screen shots that show Usage Reporting or page that list reporting metrics?
A. Yes. These are on a Host basis, and private to each Host.
7. Any successful case how a conference use your service to moderator Q&A section?
A. We have several conferences using TalkShoe; Unlisted (private) and some planning for Public use in Q1, 2007.
Any further questions, feel free to check out the TalkShoe Forum or contact me: brian {} talkshoe {} com
Brian,
Great response. Fast responses translate to good opportunities. I’ll contact your company offline. Your company will be excited to hear my invitation and plan.