Podcast Voices and Video

Net Communities acquires online audio and video production company Podcast Voices Limited

2011-05-06T08:08:43Z

Net Communities are pleased to announce the acquisition of Podcast Voices and Video, a production business specialising in the production of online audio and video. Podcast Voices was established in 2005 when the word Podcast had just been invented, since then its clients have included leading advertising agencies and brands such as Lonely Planet, Sunday Times Destinations Show, MPH / Top Gear Live and Imago Tech Media (UCExpo/IPExpo).

Podcast Voices Production Director and former shareholder Wayne Scott said: “We are very excited about becoming a part of the Net Communities family, we have years of experience in producing online audio and video for a range of great clients, this move now gives us the opportunity to extend our offering to include the marketing and promotion of the audio and video programmes we create for our clients. In addition we will now bring our skills in-house to enable the launch of sites like www.TechBuff.com, Net Communities new Photo and Video reviews site.”

Andy Evans Managing Director of Net Communities added “Wayne and his team are highly skilled in online audio and video production, we’ve used their services many times for bespoke projects created for clients like Sony Ericsson www.idealdayout.com and even for our own home page animated video. I’m over the moon that we can now deliver in-house audio and video productions when creating innovative marketing solutions for our clients.”

More on Podcast Voices and Video: www.podcastvoices.com

RAJAR data for podcasts this quarter

2010-02-23T22:49:29Z

RAJAR was released earlier this month, the survey that determines listening trends and habits for radio. RAJAR for the last couple of years have also included podcasts in their data and for this quarter there are no big headlines as such except for the fact that podcast usuage has remained steady.

So what does RAJAR tell us?

66 % of podcast users subscribe using iTunes,
23 % play files directly in their browser on their PC (thereby not subscribing or downloading at all)
80 % listen on their computer
61 % on a mobile player, suggesting that perhaps in fact they do both.

Rajar shows that even with podcasting you need to get your message across fast. Our experience is that this is the case for all but the most niche or fan based podcasts like our series for Top Gear Live where listeners appreciate the time to do interviews justice.

But most people seem to listen to podcasts for less than 30 minutes a week and only 60 percent of users listen to an entire podcast.

Material as we have always said should be free - thats the power of it - and RAJAR backs this up as thei research shows that only 12 percent of listeners were in favour of paying for podcasts and only 4.1 percent have ever done so.

Comedy is the most popular genre hence the popularity of our friends over at www.channelflip.com and through branded content their are many opportunities to grab podcasts in both audio and video by both hands and use them to their advantage for marketing your business and products.

The Times presents Destinations Holiday and Travel Show 2010

2010-02-23T23:01:53Z

We have released another series of telephone interviews with key speakers at this years Destinations Holiday and Travel Show with the The Times and Clarion Events.

Podcast guests include:

Kate Humble (BBC Springwatch and www.stuffyourrucksack.com) , John Simpson (BBC News), Julia Bradbury (BBC), David Shukman (BBC), Simon Reeve and many others on the way.

The speakers will all be appearing at the Destinations Show in the Meet The Experts Theatre and by releasing these preview podcasts Clarion Events and The Times are building interest and excitement around what is sure to be another great show.

What’s more this is Podcast Voices and Video’s fourth consecutive year producing these podcasts for The Times presents Destinations and we are quite proud of that!!

The podcasts can be found at www.destinations.podcastdownlaods.co.uk

The event runs at Earls Court between 4-7th February 2010 and 5-7th March at Birmingham’s NEC.

Full details at www.destinationsshow.com

A thought on podcasts and online video as lead generation tools

2009-10-15T21:58:53Z

Research over the past 5 years has shown for certain that online video and podcasts impact B2B purchase decisions. Buyers want to be re-assured that you understand their businesses and needs. B2B clients especially, appreciate working relationships so they want to know who the people are behind your company and by providing quality thought leading and educational content you can satisfy all these preferences by using online audio and video. You should find that a quality podcast or video series not only generates leads but furthermore nurture those leads for you so that when they are ready to bring you their business, they are the ones calling you!

Check out the new video at Net Communities (produced by yours truly naturally ) for an overview of who they are. Whether you produce your content with us or not, these guys can help you get the most out of your podcast or video as part of a lead generation campaign:

www.netcommunties.co.uk

They specialise in the tech sector and even if you are just interested in pre or post roll ads on exisiting content they can probably help you there as well!

Online audio and video educates potential consumers and clients on the benefits of your product or service, and for further information perhaps in the form of a further white paper, they can fill out a web-to-lead form. The video or podcast has educated them, given them tips or information that they find valuable for free and thus warmed them up to your message. By using standard lead generation tools such as forms and links, contact information is easily obtained and due to the fact that the user has found the podcast useful, interesting or relevant to them means that those leads that you do obtain are of a much higher quality.

By targeting your content effectively you can communicate much more intensely with particular niches that you may wish to focus on. Podcasts and online videos are a magnet for attention and let’s face it, most of us would rather watch a video than read a web page!

Additional web traffic is brought in by posting the program transcripts with your audio or video and this is something we can help you do either at the scripting stage of a motion graphics promotional video for instance or in post - production by our team of transcribers who can notate all interviews into a useful written article. The keywords within this transcription of course help you build extra web traffic, the podcast or video informs and engages and then a web-to-lead form can get you contact information fo follow-ups.

If you have a lot of messages, products or services you want to promote and communicate then why not spread over a series of podcasts by syndicating your program. Syndication via RSS to iTunes and similar podcast directories can again generate further traffic and ultimately leads.
Podcast syndication makes it easier to consume the content away from the work place because the content is not only instantly portable (iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV) but also allows you to keep those leads updated with new content. If you put a new podcast out, they receive that new episode direct to their portable device or laptop the moment it is released. The key to ensuring your podcast is subscribed to is to create content that gives the listener value. Offer advice, freebies, inside information, hints and tips. Give away a little and you will gain a lot more through audience engagement with your brand. It is an opportunity to be the authority voice and resource within your particular niche or sector.

iTunes 9 - new update from Apple

2009-09-21T11:51:11Z

Apple launched its latest update to iTunes recently with its most dramatic make-over for a long time it features a redesigned iTunes store and more advanced applications for the iPod and iPhone which makes accessing and syncing podcasts, web applications and iPhone apps even easier!

Find out more about the new features on the official page and get an under the skin review from the guys at Techradar.com.

If you are STILL unsure about what the world of iTunes and podcasting has to offer, firstly where have you been?! and secondly you can download it here.

Online Video for Successful Lead Generation

2009-09-21T11:21:59Z

Online video has reportedly increased lead generations on property websites by a massive 30%. See the article here.

This of course is of no surprise to us, not least because we have experienced similar increases working with our clients such as Top Gear Live who reported 30% response rates for ticket sales on their email marketing as soon as they added the podcast to their campaigns.

Proof if ever it were needed that the use of online media both audio and video can vastly increase lead generation and ultimately conversions to sales for ANY industry or campaign - not just property!

Informing visitors to a site via the medium of video about your services or products really is the best way to inspire your potential audience about what it is you have to offer them. You can demonstrate new releases, explain simple processes, services or how to use your site through animations, screencasts and face to camera interviews.

Why not offer tutorials on how to get the best out of your site or product, hints and tips? Its a sure fire way of helping not only your existing customers but also showing potential customers what they are missing out on! You can also direct visitors and viewers to promotions, competitions or offer help in filling out forms for instance.
Lift response and increase conversions to sales simply by adding video to your website!

Podcast Voices and Video produces the MPH featuring Top Gear Live Podcast again for 2009

2009-09-21T11:37:49Z

We are very excited about the continuation of the MPH Show featuring Top Gear Live podcasts for 2009. This year see’s a change to the format with more prizes and interviews than ever!

Subscribe via iTunes for free now for Elo’s Guide to Bling, Pre-Show exclusives, Interviews with the worlds best prestige and performance supercar manufacturers and all the latest supercar news and reviews. Win prizes by registering online and guessing the star car! We will also be speaking to Top Gear theatre producer Rowland French and presenters Richard Hammond and James May.

Official Press Release:

MPH featuring Top Gear Live launches 2009 podcast series to engage fans and push ticket sales in run up to annual motor show

The annual Prestige & Performance Motor show, ‘MPH featuring Top Gear Live’ is launching another eight-part audio podcast series to give fans a teaser of show content and push ticket sales.
The campaign, which will run from August to November, follows hugely successful results from similar podcast series’ in previous years.

Podcast Production Company Podcast Voices and Video has produced the series and will release a new episode every two weeks in the run up to the show, which starts on 5th November at Earls Court in London. Content includes supercar news, competitions and interviews with stunt drivers and exhibitors from the show.
We are continuing to develop the podcast series again this year to engage with show fans and continue to receive an incredible response,” said Charlotte Aldiss, Show Director at Clarion Events, MPH featuring Top Gear Lives’ organiser. “Our podcasts are content-rich and entertaining rather than trying to directly sell tickets. One email we sent out prior to the show with a podcast link last year received a 30% response rate – all those who responded bought tickets. The podcast series is fundamental to our campaign in the run up to the MPH featuring Top Gear Live show.”
Last year the podcast series was featured as ‘Editors Pick’ on iTunes and will be downloadable again this year free of charge via the iTunes store and the MPH show site (www.mphshow.co.uk). In addition, subscribers from previous years will also receive fortnightly emails featuring the latest podcast in the series.
“We’re pleased that the shows demonstrate true return on investment, demonstrating an upturn in ticket sales with each new podcast release – I’m sure this new show will attract tens of thousands of listeners once again,” said Andy Evans, Founder of Podcast Voices and Video. “When the show moves from London to Birmingham’s NEC, we will be producing a one-off podcast featuring live recorded content from Earls Court to give listeners a taste of what’s coming.”

Andy Evans continued: “This production successfully demonstrates that podcasting is a valuable addition to the marketing mix - it really does create audience, engagement, sales and also offers businesses like Clarion Events the opportunity to have the production funded by sponsorship revenues and to generate tickets sales.”

The MPH featuring Top Gear Live show will run from 5th to 8th November at Earls Court, then 12 to 15th November at Birmingham’s NEC. Over 100,000 visitors are expected to attend.

EIAA’s Ad Barometer 09 confirms TV & Radio losing out to Online Media Sponsorship

2009-09-21T11:00:23Z

EIAA’s Ad Barometer Report for 2009 has, (as we predicted) confirmed that Traditional TV & Radio are continually losing out to Online Media sponsorship and advertising. This is most notable within online video with the growing popularity of pre-roll and post-roll advertising.

Increasingly however marketing departments in the major brands are beginning to realise the power of branded content and an ideal example is David Mitchells Soapbox. Consistently in the top ten on iTunes and sponsored and exclusively created by Bulldog Men’s Grooming this has been a hugely succesful way of getting your branded message out there.

Its clear that the economic downturn has been a factor in the change to online media, because of course we all know that performance led targeting gives you better return on investment!

Read and download the EIAA AD Baromerter report HERE.

New Media Expo merges with BlogWorld creating BlogWorldNewMediaExpo in 2009

2008-12-15T15:44:54Z

The two biggest new media conferences, Blog World Expo and New Media Expo have this week announced that they are to merge into one annual event to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Centre between the 15 - 17th October 2009.

Friends of Podcast Voices and Video the Podcast Brothers, Tim and Emile Bourquin began the then named Podcast Expo, in 2005. Held at a convention centre near Ontario Airport California the event attracted worldwide attendees from all walks of New Media life. The event changed annually to follow the constantly evolving landscape of New Media. In 2006 it was the Podcast and Portable Media Expo then the Podcast and New Media Expo in 2007. In 2008 it moved controversially to Las Vegas entitled more simply as the New Media Expo.

It’s shows founders known as the ‘Podcast Brothers’ were also responsible for the most popular ‘Podcasters Podcast’ offering in depth insights into the world of new media and podcasting for content producers and businesses alike and we have been supporters here at Podcast Voices and Video from the very beginning.

Blog World Expo’s founder, Rick Calvert, and New Media Expo founder, Tim Bourquin, are long time acquaintances and fellow trade show organizers. On his blog, Bourquin says he is “handing over the reins” of the New Media Expo to Calvert’s team, in order to take that conference “to the next level.” Bourquin calls the combined show “a great move for both attendees and exhibitors.” Calvert, in turn, says the event “will truly be the comprehensive, industry-wide event that Tim and I had both searched for.”

Bourquin’s recent ponderings on his blog revealed his thoughts as to whether the trade show business was worth staying in. Rick Calvert’s Blog World Expo debuted in Autumn 2007 and although not as long established as the New Media Expo has nevertheless been a great success.

Tim Bourquin, speaking about the hand over said “Taking the New Media Expo to the next stage is something I know Rick and his team at BlogWorld can do well. Handing over the reigns of the New Media Expo to the passionate and capable team at BlogWorld is going to allow me even more time to develop several podcasting sites I’ve been working on for a while.”

In our opinion, combining these two future looking events is bound to further increase the horizons of professional podcasters and bloggers in the future and Podcast Voices and Video will be there to make sure our clients are kept in the loop about the latest developments in online media from around the world.

New Offices, New Website!

2008-11-25T19:28:47Z

We have had a bit of a revamp here at Podcast Voices and Video and have moved to some nice new offices in Farringdon, London. For our full new address pop across to the contact page on the website.

Speaking of which, we thought it was only proper that with our nice new offices we had a nice new website as well. We hope you find it easy to grab the information you need, we have re-worked our samples pages to allow you to look at previous productions that are more closely related to your companies content. From the homepage you can access our featured podcast and show reel. The services page is the place to go if you would like to see what we can do for you as well as an explanation of the typical process we go through to produce podcasts for our clients.

We have resumed our regular blog to help you keep as on the pulse with the world of online audio and video as we are. You can subscribe to this via RSS or email by clicking the appropriate link at the top of the page.

Over the coming months we will also be constantly adding to our resources page which we hope will supply you with all you need to know if you are considering podcasts or any kind of online multimedia for your website. If you don’t find what you need of course we are always more than happy to help get your ideas off the ground, no matter how ambitious they may be!