iaocblog http://www.iaocblog.org International Association of Online CommunicatorsTue, 07 Feb 2012 01:50:15 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1New Award Program for Best Mobile Apps and Best Mobile Websites http://www.iaocblog.org/2012/02/07/new-award-program-for-best-mobile-apps-and-best-mobile-websites/ http://www.iaocblog.org/2012/02/07/new-award-program-for-best-mobile-apps-and-best-mobile-websites/#commentsTue, 07 Feb 2012 01:50:15 +0000http://www.iaocblog.org/2012/02/07/new-award-program-for-best-mobile-apps-and-best-mobile-websites/The Web Marketing Association announces the Call For Entries for its first annual international MobileWebAward competition. This award program recognizes the individual and team achievements of Web professionals all over the world who create and maintain the best mobile Websites and the best mobile applications. The deadline for entry in the 2012 MobileWebAwards is March 30, 2012. The entry form and complete information can be found at www.mobile-webaward.org.

The MobileWebAwards will be judged on seven criteria seen as requirements for a success mobile website or mobile app. They include Creativity, Impact, Design, Content, Interactivity, Ease of use and Use of the medium. Each mobile website or mobile app entry is judged against other entries of the same format in its industry category and then against an overall standard of excellence.

The Web Marketing Association’s first annual MobileWebAwards are based upon the success of its long running international WebAward Competition for Website Development and the Internet Advertising Competition. All Web Marketing Association award programs recognize the people and organizations responsible for developing the most effective online marketing programs on the Internet today. Entrants benefit from assessment of their marketing efforts by a professional judging panel and the marketing opportunities presented by being recognized as an award-winning entry.

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Best Web Sites of 2011 To Be Named By Web Marketing Association http://www.iaocblog.org/2011/03/25/best-web-sites-of-2011-to-be-named-by-web-marketing-association/ http://www.iaocblog.org/2011/03/25/best-web-sites-of-2011-to-be-named-by-web-marketing-association/#commentsFri, 25 Mar 2011 02:00:00 +0000http://www.iaocblog.org/2011/03/25/best-web-sites-of-2011-to-be-named-by-web-marketing-association/The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce the call for entries for its 15th annual international WebAward competition. The WebAwards are the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site. It recognizes the individual and team achievements of Web professionals who create and maintain outstanding Web sites. The deadline for entry in the 2001 WebAwards is May 27, 2011. A complete list of past winners and this year’s entry form can be found at www.webaward.org.

Web sites are judged on seven criteria, including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copy writing and ease of use and receive a numeric score. Each WebAward entry is judged against other entries in its industry category and then against an overall standard of excellence. Entrants also benefit from receiving valuable feedback from the WebAwards professional judging panel on their Web site development efforts.

This year’s top awards will include:

A “Best of Industry” WebAward will be given in each of the 96 industry categories, including financial services, medical, small business, travel, advertising, transportation and government.

The competition’s highest honor, the 2011 WebAward “Best of Show,” will be given to the one site that the judges believe represents the pinnacle of outstanding achievement in Web development. Last year’s Best of Show winner was Hitchcock Fleming & Associates Inc. for its outstanding work on the “Glidden Website.” The site was also recognized as Best Manufacturing Website.

The Web Marketing Association will also recognize the interactive agency winning the most awards in the competition with the “Top Interactive Agency” WebAward. For the second year in a row, the Top Agency award was awarded to the Bay Area interactive agency Extractable taking home 27 WebAwards.

There is one significant change in this year's WebAwards. The much coveted Top Agency WebAward is given to the organization who wins the most total WebAwards in a single competition. However each year many agencies and some corporations win multiple awards and deserve additional recognition. This year, we will recognize each organization that wins 10 or more WebAwards with an Outstanding Interactive Developer trophy.

Check out our Web Marketing Association Facebook Page and be sure to like us as we will be providing hints and tips on how to improve your chances on winning a top award though out April and May.

The 2011 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: BGT Partners, PR Newswire, Burst Media, AllBusiness.com, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, Internet World UK, SES Conferences, Webmaster Radio, and Website Magazine. The Web Marketing Association thanks these companies for their commitment to the entire online marketing community.

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14th Annual WebAwards to Name Best Websites http://www.iaocblog.org/2010/05/03/14th-annual-webawards-to-name-best-websites/ http://www.iaocblog.org/2010/05/03/14th-annual-webawards-to-name-best-websites/#commentsMon, 03 May 2010 18:57:00 +0000http://www.iaocblog.org/2010/05/03/14th-annual-webawards-to-name-best-websites/www.webawards.org.]]>The Web Marketing Association is pleased to announce the call for entries for its 14th annual international WebAward competition. The WebAwards are the standards-defining competition that sets industry benchmarks based on the seven criteria of a successful Web site. It recognizes the individual and team achievements of Web professionals who create and maintain outstanding Web sites. The deadline for entry in the 2010 WebAwards is May 25, 2010. A complete list of past winners and this year’s entry form can be found at www.webawards.org.

Web sites are judged on seven criteria, including design, innovation, content, technology, interactivity, copy writing and ease of use and receive a numeric score. Each WebAward entry is judged against other entries in its industry category and then against an overall standard of excellence. Entrants also benefit from receiving valuable feedback from the WebAwards professional judging panel on their Web site development efforts.

This year’s top awards will include:

A Best of Industry WebAward will be given in each of the 96 industry categories, including financial services, medical, small business, travel, advertising, transportation and government.

• The competition’s highest honor, the 2010 WebAward “Best of Show,” will be given to the one site that the judges believe represents the pinnacle of outstanding achievement in Web development. Last year’s Best of Show winner was Organic, Inc. for its outstanding work on “Bank of America – Morris on Campus” web site at http://www.bankofamerica.com/oncampus, which also won Best Bank Website.

• The Web Marketing Association will also recognize the interactive agency winning the most awards in the competition with the “Top Interactive Agency” WebAward. The 2009 Top Agency award was Extractable (http://www.extractable.com/) taking home 25 WebAwards. This Bay Area interactive agency specializing in web strategy, web design, custom technology, was recognized with five Outstanding Website WebAwards and 20 Standard of Excellence WebAwards.

Judging for the 2010 WebAwards will take place in June through August and winners will be announced in September. Judges will consist of a select group of Internet professionals who have direct experience designing and managing Web sites,–including members of the media, interactive creative directors, site designers, content providers and webmasters – with an in-depth understanding of the current state-of-the-art in Web site development and technology. Past judges have included top executives from leading organizations such as A&E Television Networks, Agency.com, BGT Partners, Blattner Brunner, Bridge Worldwide, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Comedy Central, Disney, Euro RSCG, Ion Global, J. Walter Thompson, John Deere Company, New York Post Interactive, Organic, Inc., Refinery, R/GA, Saatchi & Saatchi, SAP, Starwood Hotels, Sun Microsystems, Warner Bros. Online, Xerox and Zugara.

The 2010 WebAwards are sponsored by the following leading organizations: BGT Partners, PR Newswire, Burst Media, AllBusiness.com, ExactTarget, ad:tech conferences, Internet World UK, Search Engine Strategies, Webmaster Radio, and Website Magazine. The Web Marketing Association thanks these companies for their commitment to the entire online marketing community.

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Internet Advertising Competiton Awards Call For Entries http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/11/17/internet-advertising-competiton-awards-call-for-entries/ http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/11/17/internet-advertising-competiton-awards-call-for-entries/#commentsTue, 17 Nov 2009 17:44:00 +0000http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/11/17/internet-advertising-competiton-awards-call-for-entries/The Web Marketing Association announces the launched of the 8th annual Internet Advertising Competition (IAC) Awards. The IAC Awards are the first and only industry-based advertising award competition dedicated exclusively to online advertising. The Competition Web site is located at www.iacaward.org.

Awards will be presented within each of the industry categories and advertising formats including:

Online ad (including banner, pop-up or interstitial)

Rich media online ad

Email message

Online newsletter

Website (including landing pages and microsites)

Integrated ad campaign

Ads the client did not choose

Two new categories have been added this year. Online video and Mobile applications will now also be eligible to compete in the IAC Awards.

Deadline: January 29, 2010

Winners announced: March, 2010

Presented by: Web Marketing Association

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Tweets for Your Twitter Toolbox http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/10/26/tweets-for-your-twitter-toolbox/ http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/10/26/tweets-for-your-twitter-toolbox/#commentsMon, 26 Oct 2009 21:03:40 +0000http://www.iaocblog.org/?p=763This is bird

By Don Dunnington

One of the best ways to discover tools for enhancing your Twitter experience is to watch for tweets from other users. Following are some recent suggestions I’ve found from recommendations by other Twitter users.

OneForty calls itself “A Better Way to Discover Twitter Apps.” As of this writing it tracks 1898 apps that are supposed to make Twitter better. You can view apps by Most Popular, Essentials (described as “a collection of must-have apps to get the most out of Twitter”) and Categories such as analytics, blogging tools, networking and URL shorteners. The site is nicely organized and lists all the popular apps such as TweetDeck and Twhirl desktop clients and HootSuite and TweetFunnel for businesses managing multiple Twitter authors and accounts. It has a user rating system but that can be misleading if there are only one or two raters. Maybe it was just bad timing on my part, but on my last visit the first three apps I clicked on to go to the application’s website, I found their servers were not available or the link took me to the wrong page.

Blogger Rahul Jadhav of Cool Tricks N Tips recommends 16 sites to get free Twitter backgrounds. Also for do-it-yourselfers, take a look at How to Create Custom Twitter Backgrounds by Ben Parr on the Mashable Social Media website.

A number of Twitter users have tweeted this article in Mac World on How to Protect your Privacy on Facebook and Twitter. The article has the usual warnings about not posting pictures or comments you wouldn’t want your mother or a future employer to see 10 years from now.  Another warning of a potentially greater threat is the “tiny-URL attack,” where the URL shorteners so common to Twitter are used to take you to a malicious website.

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Real Time PR http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/09/09/real-time-pr/ http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/09/09/real-time-pr/#commentsWed, 09 Sep 2009 20:55:00 +0000http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/09/09/real-time-pr/By Sally Falkow

The Proactve Report

One of the biggest trends in 2009 is the shift to real-time content online, sometimes referred to as Now Media.

And when you say real-time web or the instant news cycle, most people think of Twitter.

“The Real-Time Web is much more than Twitter,” says Richard McManus of ReadWriteWeb in a series about the top 5 web trends in 2009. “It has changed the products and strategies of almost every major Internet company in 2009.”

Twitter has been a large part of it and Twitter search has changed the speed with which people gather information.

The old news cycle has been well and truly trampled in the rush to real-time information. There have been a few high profile news events that showed up in Twitter well before the mainstream media got their content out online – never mind in print.

The US Airways plane in the Hudson was a case in point. Janis Krums, who happened to be on the scene, took a picture just minutes after the event and posted it to Twitter. “There’s a plane in the Hudson,” tweeted Krum. “I’m on the ferry going to pick up the people. Crazy.”

“Social media tools like Twitter -– which allows users to tap out 140-character status updates — have changed how breaking news events are recorded and covered,” says the Wall St Journal.

“We’ll get used to the fact that we can now connect, publish and collaborate in real time from mobile devices anywhere in the world that there is signal. This awareness will become widespread and more interestingly, smart uses of its potential will continue to emerge. New things are coming. We don’t know the half of it yet,” writes Laura Fitton (Pistachio).

And the first comment on that blog post states: “I haven’t even watched the news yet… I got everything I needed from Twitter.”

Journalists and bloggers have seen the value of real-time news and content. You can find them on sites like Media on Twitter and Muckrack.com.

Media Relations is not what it used to be. People find their information and news in new places. And they find it fast. In the real-time web, delayed news and information just isn’t good enough.

Journalist and bloggers are watching the real-time news stream for stories and ‘citizen journalists’ on the scene at breaking news stories. Go over these lists of journalists and bloggers on Twitter and see if anyone on your list of media contacts is there.

It’s just one more reason to be in these real-time conversations and to watch what is being said about your company, your brand and the generic phrases that describe your industry. Add Twitter search to your Google searches. Keep an eye on the development of RSS Cloud so you can make your corporate news available in real-time too.

Today the media relations race goes to the swift.

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Why Aren't Philadelphia's Architects Taking Advantage of the Web? It's a Case Where Less is Definitely Not More. http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/06/03/why-arent-philadelphias-architects-taking-advantage-of-the-web-its-a-case-where-less-is-definitely-not-more/ http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/06/03/why-arent-philadelphias-architects-taking-advantage-of-the-web-its-a-case-where-less-is-definitely-not-more/#commentsThu, 04 Jun 2009 00:03:00 +0000http://www.iaocblog.com/2009/06/03/why-arent-philadelphias-architects-taking-advantage-of-the-web-its-a-case-where-less-is-definitely-not-more/By Amanda Gibney Weko

Many architects apply Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s famous axiom Less is More when they design buildings. Unfortunately, too many architects apply this same belief to their public relations efforts – particularly when it comes to the Web.

Architects have long been resistant to PR. The pompous conviction that architecture as art should speak for itself was grounded in the American Institute of Architects’ ban on self-promotion in its 1909 charter. Never mind the fact that the ban was removed in the 1960s, architects took another two decades to even dabble in promotional efforts. In Laura Iloniemi’s 2004 book, Is It All About Image?, the author recounts how many firms refused even to be interviewed on the subject of publicity.

But let’s step backward to the advent of the Internet. The late 1990s saw many architects embracing the new medium for showcasing projects with online portfolios of their work. It was great progress. Here were architects proactively embracing a communication effort.

The problem is that a decade later too many firms haven’t looked past the idea of online portfolios. It’s a one-way PR model that does little to engage audiences who view the sites.

Why does this matter?

First, clients aren’t always awed by pretty pictures. In this era of social networking, instant messaging, everyone’s-a-critic blogging, and customer feedback ratings, clients crave – and architects need to learn how to deliver – information that creates a dialogue.

Don’t show me a detail of a composite-wood rainscreen wall panel. It just looks like the corner of a building. Tell me that the rainscreen offers a moisture barrier to prevent allergens, is an environmentally-friendly recycled product, and saves money because it can be fabricated off-site and installed quickly. In short, architects need to learn how to tell their clients why good design matters.

Today, even the AIA is saying things like, “The better an architect or architecture firm is at marketing, and the more strategically-focused, the more likely the sole practitioner or firm will be to work on truly interesting, profitable projects.” When even the AIA is talking about strategic marketing, firms better listen.

Listen up, Philly

Turns out it’s not always sunny for Philly’s architecture community. In 2009, in a down economy, with architecture firms hemorrhaging staff – and those same staffers starting new firms every day – marketing and PR efforts matter more than ever. Firms need to differentiate themselves to key audiences. And the Web is a perfect place to start.

My research looked at where Philadelphia’s architects figure into the Web presence equation. I reviewed each of the 292 member firms of the AIA Philadelphia Chapter by looking at their public Web sites. For each firm that had one, the site was evaluated for the following components: blogs, feedback forms, options to sign up for company newsletters, client testimonials, client login/FTP components, and external links. I wanted to see if any local design firms were pushing the envelope with visitor-centric content or innovative features.

When I was surprised to find that of the 292 member firms, 72 didn’t even have a Web site, I took the research a step further. I searched each firm name on the professional networking site, LinkedIn. I was curious if the people at those Web site-less firms were online.

Results at a Glance

221 of 292 firms have a Web site.
If you don’t have a Web site, 76 percent of your competitors do. Potential clients and teammates looking online will find them first.

Of the 221 firms with a Web site, 95 (43 percent) include one or more interactive components.

7 sites have blogs.Only 3 percent of local firms use blogs to describe their work or their practice. Architectural PR experts recommend Web site content that strikes a balance between academic, technical language and simpler, layperson language. While architectural media and other designers may respond best to formal project narratives written in an academic tone, blogs offer the opportunity for casual text to which client or employee audiences may respond.

49 sites have viewer feedback forms.
Only 22 percent of firms offer Web visitor feedback forms. Forms give visitors unwilling or unable to make a phone call (think of the 2:00 am Web surfer) a direct opportunity to contact you at their convenience.

14 sites have subscriber sign-ups for print or e-newsletters.
Only 6 percent of firms use their Web site in tandem with newsletter or e-marketing efforts by letting people subscribe online. Developing ongoing communication with online visitors could lead to the next client relationship.

10 sites have client testimonials.
Less than 5 percent of firms tell their success stories with client testimonials. Testimonials are a great way to sing a firm’s praises without drafting self-serving text. Testimonials also play an important role in the government selection process for public-sector work (certain government forms require project performance details, and testimonials are preferred; the government agency rating system also relies on testimonials to gauge firms’ performance). Collecting positive feedback after every project can be used both on and off the Web for marketing benefit.

(9.50%) 21 sites have client login / FTP components.
Only 9.5 percent of firms display a client login area. This shows other visitors that a firm’s clients matter, and that the design process is integrated with technology usable by all members of a project team.

36 sites have external links.
Only 16 percent of firms capitalize on external links. Linking to professional organizations (i.e. AIA, USGBC), consultants, vendors, client organizations, nonprofits, architectural media, or general-interest sites improves search-engine rankings, provides a value-added resource for site visitors, and displays more about your firm’s level of commitment and service.

Of the firms with external links:
15 (42 percent) have links to project teammates and/or consultants
18 (50 percent) have links to professional organizations
21 (58 percent) have other types of links (i.e. favorite sites)

204 of 292 firms have a LinkedIn presence.
Nearly 70 percent of AIA Philadelphia member firms are involved with LinkedIn, representing more than 4,547 individual entries. LinkedIn is arguably the fastest-growing online network of professionals. In addition to developing personal contacts, LinkedIn offers the opportunity to draw attention to a firm’s (or its staff members’) specialized knowledge through the Q&A feature, online forums, and group membership. Plus, it’s free and easy to use.

Surprisingly, 23 of 72 firms without Web sites have a LinkedIn presence (32 percent). This presence represents more than 54 individual entries.

Be Proactive

My research is meant to support the need for enhanced Web site content. Having a site in the first place seems like a moot point – it is a business imperative in 2009. After reading the results, be proactive. Architects don’t have to take my word for it. Nearly half of your colleagues have sites that provide some kind of enhanced content; ask them about the feasibility of incorporating new features and how the features impact their business. Your business could depend upon it.

Amanda Gibney Weko is a writer and communication consultant for the design community. Educated as an architect, she balances an understanding of the design process with marketing and public relations savvy. She is the author or co-author of five books and contributes regularly to the AIA journal Context and other trade magazines. Contact her at amanda.weko@verizon.net.

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Podcasting 101: A Student's Step-By-Step Guide http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/06/03/podcasting-101-a-students-step-by-step-guide-2/ http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/06/03/podcasting-101-a-students-step-by-step-guide-2/#commentsWed, 03 Jun 2009 01:01:00 +0000http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/06/03/podcasting-101-a-students-step-by-step-guide-2/Step 1: Choosing what you want to do a podcast on

Perhaps the most basic and tricky element to creating a podcast is choosing what exactly you want to do a podcast on. There are millions of podcasts available for general consumption with every possible idea being covered, but what suits you? A podcast could be as simple as a random day in your life or as complex as an explanation of quantum physics. You could choose to do a podcast on an interest, such as sports, or some type of entertainment, such as movies, TV or music. With podcasting there are no limitations only choices. For example, one could also do a podcast for a written piece by transcribing and editing the article for audio. Here is an example: http://www.rowan.edu/today/news/index/FS/106

 

image

 

Step 2: Choosing where to display your podcast

Next, you must choose where your podcast will appear. Your podcast, of course, is not confined to only one site and could be distributed in many places, such as websites, blogs, social media sites, etc. Try and place your podcast somewhere it will get the most attention from the audience you are intending to reach. For instance, place a sports podcast on a sports blog or, taking the site above from step 1 as an example, place the podcast above the written article to give readers a choice. For example, you could also place all your podcasts on a particular page like Rowan University did with its podcasts.

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Step 3: Choosing when to do your podcast

Try and make your podcast “of the moment.” Meaning, don’t wait a week to podcast about a story that was only relevant a week ago. Also, don’t post a podcast of an article after it has been written and delivered. Unless the story was riveting, most readers won’t come back to check for the podcast of an article they’ve already read. Make sure your podcast is accessible at a time when people are looking for different opinions on a matter via audio. For example, here is Rowan Radio’s podcast page for its weekly news show called “The Rowan Report.” The page is updated almost weekly with a podcast of the show.

 

image

 

Step 4: Choosing an open and a close for your podcast

Many podcasts use an open and a close to differentiate it from others and create familiarity with returning listeners. For example, the “Rowan On The Go-Casts” all use the same open and closes to first identify what’s to come and then to push listeners where to go for more after the podcast finishes.

 

Step 5: Choosing which sound effects to use in your podcast

Different sounds attract a listener’s attention and keep them involved in the podcast you are delivering. Try starting off your podcast with a sound effect to engulf your audience in the world you are trying to create. This may make them respond more positively to your podcast by passing it along to others, commenting, or returning for more. For example a podcast about person shocking the auto world would likely include a car starting at the beginning.

image

 

Step 6: Choosing a variety of voices for your podcast

Again, different sounds attract a listener’s attention and keep them involved in the podcast you are delivering. Try to keep your podcast ladled with multiple voices other than your own. This allows you to jar your audience’s attention every so often in case they are beginning to drift off and think of other things.  

 

Step 7: Choosing where to record your podcast

With so many different technological advancements many people can afford to buy their own microphones and recording software. Attachments can be as simple as a microphone attachment for your iPod and free editing software can be downloaded on the internet or bought for a relatively cheap price. Another smart investment, which would make your podcast sound more professional, would be to purchase recording studio time after you have written your podcast. Problems, for those using external mics on phones, exist because room noise can cause too much interference and loose an audience’s attention.

image

 

Step 8: Choosing a program to edit your podcast

I would suggest programs such as Adobe Audition or Cool Edit to edit your podcast, but prices for these programs range greatly and may not be purchasable for all. Free programs can be garnered online for those unable to use the above programs. Also, there are professional editing studios which could edit your podcasts for you, but the expense would be so great that it would be more economic to just purchase a program to edit yourself. Here is an example of the Adobe Audition editing suite.

image 

 

Step 9: Choosing where to promote your podcast’s location

After completing your podcast, do not assume that your audience will know that you have podcasted. You must make it known where your podcast is to gain attention from both old and new audiences. Do this by posting on social media sites, such as blogs, message boards, or Facebook.

 image

 

Step 10: Choosing a possible follow up podcast

Once an audience enjoys your podcast they will want more—sometimes choosing to follow your podcast as one of their favorites on iTunes. Track the views that your podcast is receiving, if they are substantial and you feel there is an audience for what you are podcasting about then plan follow up podcasts and tell your audience about when they will be available via social media sites.

image

 

Attached to this post on podcasting are mp3 examples of opens and closes for podcasts, sound effects used in podcasts, and a podcast of this article for those to busy to read.

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Podcasting 101: A Student's Step-By-Step Guide http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/06/03/podcasting-101-a-students-step-by-step-guide/ http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/06/03/podcasting-101-a-students-step-by-step-guide/#commentsWed, 03 Jun 2009 05:01:00 +0000http://www.iaocblog.com/2009/06/03/podcasting-101-a-students-step-by-step-guide/Step 1: Choosing what you want to do a podcast on

Perhaps the most basic and tricky element to creating a podcast is choosing what exactly you want to do a podcast on. There are millions of podcasts available for general consumption with every possible idea being covered, but what suits you? A podcast could be as simple as a random day in your life or as complex as an explanation of quantum physics. You could choose to do a podcast on an interest, such as sports, or some type of entertainment, such as movies, TV or music. With podcasting there are no limitations only choices. For example, one could also do a podcast for a written piece by transcribing and editing the article for audio. Here is an example: http://www.rowan.edu/today/news/index/FS/106

Step 2: Choosing where to display your podcast

Next, you must choose where your podcast will appear. Your podcast, of course, is not confined to only one site and could be distributed in many places, such as websites, blogs, social media sites, etc. Try and place your podcast somewhere it will get the most attention from the audience you are intending to reach. For instance, place a sports podcast on a sports blog or, taking the site above from step 1 as an example, place the podcast above the written article to give readers a choice. For example, you could also place all your podcasts on a particular page like Rowan University did with its podcasts.

Step 3: Choosing when to do your podcast

Try and make your podcast “of the moment.” Meaning, don’t wait a week to podcast about a story that was only relevant a week ago. Also, don’t post a podcast of an article after it has been written and delivered. Unless the story was riveting, most readers won’t come back to check for the podcast of an article they’ve already read. Make sure your podcast is accessible at a time when people are looking for different opinions on a matter via audio. For example, here is Rowan Radio’s podcast page for its weekly news show called “The Rowan Report.” The page is updated almost weekly with a podcast of the show.

Step 4: Choosing an open and a close for your podcast

Many podcasts use an open and a close to differentiate it from others and create familiarity with returning listeners. For example, the “Rowan On The Go-Casts” all use the same open and closes to first identify what’s to come and then to push listeners where to go for more after the podcast finishes.

Step 5: Choosing which sound effects to use in your podcast

Different sounds attract a listener’s attention and keep them involved in the podcast you are delivering. Try starting off your podcast with a sound effect to engulf your audience in the world you are trying to create. This may make them respond more positively to your podcast by passing it along to others, commenting, or returning for more. For example a podcast about person shocking the auto world would likely include a car starting at the beginning.

Step 6: Choosing a variety of voices for your podcast

Again, different sounds attract a listener’s attention and keep them involved in the podcast you are delivering. Try to keep your podcast ladled with multiple voices other than your own. This allows you to jar your audience’s attention every so often in case they are beginning to drift off and think of other things.

Step 7: Choosing where to record your podcast

With so many different technological advancements many people can afford to buy their own microphones and recording software. Attachments can be as simple as a microphone attachment for your iPod and free editing software can be downloaded on the internet or bought for a relatively cheap price. Another smart investment, which would make your podcast sound more professional, would be to purchase recording studio time after you have written your podcast. Problems, for those using external mics on phones, exist because room noise can cause too much interference and loose an audience’s attention.


Step 8: Choosing a program to edit your podcast

I would suggest programs such as Adobe Audition or Cool Edit to edit your podcast, but prices for these programs range greatly and may not be purchasable for all. Free programs can be garnered online for those unable to use the above programs. Also, there are professional editing studios which could edit your podcasts for you, but the expense would be so great that it would be more economic to just purchase a program to edit yourself. Here is an example of the Adobe Audition editing suite.


Step 9: Choosing where to promote your podcast’s location

After completing your podcast, do not assume that your audience will know that you have podcasted. You must make it known where your podcast is to gain attention from both old and new audiences. Do this by posting on social media sites, such as blogs, message boards, or Facebook.


Step 10: Choosing a possible follow up podcast

Once an audience enjoys your podcast they will want more—sometimes choosing to follow your podcast as one of their favorites on iTunes. Track the views that your podcast is receiving, if they are substantial and you feel there is an audience for what you are podcasting about then plan follow up podcasts and tell your audience about when they will be available via social media sites.


Attached to this post on podcasting are mp3 examples of opens and closes for podcasts, sound effects used in podcasts, and a podcast of this article for those to busy to read.

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Mapping a Screen Name http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/05/12/mapping-a-screen-name/ http://www.iaocblog.org/2009/05/12/mapping-a-screen-name/#commentsTue, 12 May 2009 09:07:01 +0000http://www.iaocblog.com/2009/05/12/mapping-a-screen-name/A Heart of Stars: Mapping a Screen Name is a collection of various mappings that represent my internet persona. These mappings both revealed and excluded information about me as “aheartofstars.” In a sense, “aheartofstars” became a character deviation of me. I decided to use these mappings to dissect the character of “aheartofstars” and to represent the growth of this character; thus, I have used the metaphor of a “road trip” to describe the journey of “aheartofstars” throughout various network of practices.

Beginning the Journey
In this section, I have documented the various uses of my online moniker “aheartofstars.” I have included screenshots of the name in use on the sites various Web 2.0 application. These screenshots act as evidence of my participation in one large network of practice—the internet.

Taking the Highway
Throughout the semester I have been actively participating in the Twitter community. It has become a major information ecology in my life. By using Tweetstats.com, I was able to collect graphs that illustrate my participation in the Twittersphere.

Unfolding the Map
During the spring 2009 semester, I blogged about various Information Architecture topics on the IAOC website. In order to illustrate the frequency of certain words in my blog, I used the tag cloud application Wordle to create a tag cloud of my accumulated blogs. In addition, I created a Wordle of my Tweetstats.com tags.

Stopping for Directions
This section contains a sketched memory map and a remediation of the sketched map into a Google MyMaps. It is demonstrative of how an author unintentionally omits details when mapping portions of their lives; thus, it argues that “aheartofstars” is an inaccurate portrayal of me.

Enjoying the Landscape
In this section, I introduced my color palette and font. These mappings portray the character of “aheartofstars.” They are like trees and flowers during a country drive. They are essentially the landscape of “aheartofstars.”

Taking in the Scenery
The community of “aheartofstars” is represented in this section. A Nexus Facebook mapping of “aheartofstars” friend connections is provided. In addition, a LastGraph mapping of the listening history of “aheartofstars” Last.fm is presented. Finally, a TwitFriends.com mapping illustrates the Twitter connections of “aheartofstars.” They are the beautiful depictions, scenery, of my screen name.

Heading Home
The screen name “aheartofstars” leaves more questions about who I am as a person rather than answers.

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