Podcasts:

from nothing to something beautiful

Martha Roberts, The National Trust

We’ll cover:

1) Podcasting background: what, why and how

2) National Trust case study

3) How it could work for you

4) Take home tips

Back to basics: What and why?

A regular audio product, available online that you can

subscribe to

Why bother?-You can offer and say more

-- Reach new audiences-- Develop loyalty (Engagement!)

-- Change perceptions, use a different voice-- Make the most of what you’ve got

-- staff, stories etc.And because it’s really fun!

So what’s the catch?

-Time-- Resources-- Regular commitment

The National Trust way...A monthly, magazine style podcast on wildlife

and countryside issues.

3 sections:news

person profile

butterfly man

Why I was allowed to go play in the woods...

I’d done it beforeRight time, right placeMinimal costExcellent contentPerception shifting potential

So this is what I did...

website

9

The alternative dawn chorus

Surfing Robyn

11

The butterfly man

Getting it out there

What are you already doing?

What are your key comms channels with members or the general public?

Channels we used:

The National Trust MagazineE-newslettersEmail tagsTwitterWebsite

Hello? Is anybody out there?!You need some measure of success, especially to justify to your bossTracking packages are the best wayListener feedback is gold-dust - ask a question or run a competition

But be careful...

Success for the NT?

Yes:Telegraph Top 10 places to listen to outdoor sounds

Sunday Times Critics: choice for downloads

Internal perception shift

Loyal audience

No:Listener base smaller than it should have been

Changing tackShift from monthly magazine style podcast to news

-related supporting audio-extra content for public

- supporting quotes for journalists- material for local radio

- publicity for specific properties or regionspodcast potential?

Over to you...

Would this work in your organisation?

What stories or people do you have at your finger tips?

What are the biggest barriers?

Take home tips1) Be realistic and set out the time officially - is it

sustainable?

2) Have a clear plan of your format and possible content before plunging in

3) Set your own measure of success

4) Get the support of your web team or helpful colleagues

5) Plan your marketing strategy - how will you publicise it?

6) Get very familiar with your equipment and editing program

7) Seek feedback and listen to it

8) Don’t go home until you’ve got what you want

9) Practice your interview technique and try new things

10) Enjoy and have fun with it!

Take home tips