PAN Communications prSPEAK

Every industry conducts their own events. Some are local, regional, national and even international. However, there are too many industry events to count and an individual cannot attend them all. So, what can be done to allow those who cannot attend an event to hear what was spoken about? What about the use of the podcast?

 A podcast is a collection of audio (sometimes video) segments that can be listened to over the Internet or downloaded and listened to while on the go. This tool turns out to be a great medium for sharing previously recorded material with others.

 Earlier this summer I used this technique for a client event.

 DiCicco, Gulman & Company held a roundtable with professional service veterans in the architecture and engineering industry to discuss how to manage a business in an uncertain economy. The event had a wonderful turn out, but we realized that the material discussed would definitely be of interest to others in the industry, so the roundtable was recorded and turned into a podcast series to be shared with others following the event.

 Creating a podcast series out of a previously recorded event is a way of sharing knowledge with others. Not only will the information be accessible to those who were unable to attend, but it also has the potential to attract others in the industry, and it can help position you or your company as a thought leader.

 The podcast is a social media tool that continues to be underutilized. However, with an understanding of how podcasts work and how they can be used to share a message, a podcast can be powerful public relations tool.  

As new media continues to alter the way brands offer products and interact with consumers, the ways in which individuals utilize the information also continually changes.  Given that this evolution will only augment over time, the value that clients are seeing in non-traditional media opportunities (i.e. podcasts, video interviews, blogs) continues to grow. These outlets are more interactive in nature and allow bloggers, readers, and individuals/companies mentioned in a post to respond and communicate in real time via commenting. 

As PR practitioners it is important to acknowledge this evolution as well as develop a strategy that leverages a mix of both traditional and new media programs. Creating opportunities that allow clients to interact and share information with potential customers, key stakeholders, and interested parties should be the cornerstone of a successful PR program. 

With that in mind, I began to think of ways we could utilize the wealth of information that Mirror Image Internet’s (a PAN client) Director of Marketing Martin Hayward posses regarding mobile video delivery – and why it is quickly becoming the core of many mobile marketing strategies.  

Knowing that StreamingMedia.com is the premier online destination for industry news, information, and services related to the streaming media industry, and that we have a great working relationship with its Editors, I thought I’d propose the idea of producing a podcast with Martin and a Mirror Image partner, Wowza Media Systems.  Contributing Editor Tim Sigli, who has taken over the podcasting helm along with Jose Castillo, confirmed his interest, and we were discussing recording logistics before I knew it.  

Soon after, Martin, Dave Stubenvoll for Wowza Media Systems, Tim, and I were recording the contents of a compelling podcast via phone.  Throughout the podcast, Tim explored the benefits of a single codec, H.264, for mobile delivery from two perspectives: a single media server (Wowza, represented by Dave) and a content delivery network (Mirror Image, represented by Martin). 

The podcast has since been published and now lives alongside hundreds of hours of audio/video content on the Streaming Media site.  Listen to the podcast – and others – here, and let us know what you think!