CustomScoop's PR PodJots

Welcome to another edition of CustomScoop’s PR PodJots, our weekly rundown of the best the PR and marketing podosphere has to offer. My favorite podcasters were all busy bees this week, with hardly any failing to post a new podcast. In that case, let's not waste any time, eh?

Across the Sound #92 – End of an Era?

Joe Jaffe mentions in this week’s Across the Sound that it just may be the last Across the Sound. He refuses to elaborate, and asks the audience to send in their guesses as to what could be going on with ATS.

Among many other topics, Joe discusses a new client at crayon, Firebrand, a site that hopes to be the “MTV of advertising.” I’ve seen much discussion on Firebrand throughout the blogosphere in the last week or two, and it’s definitely an interesting concept. Joe points out that every year, some of the most popular television programs are the “World’s Funniest Commercials” specials, which highlight exceptional advertising. He gives a few other examples of advertising that is its own content, noting the rapidly spreading Dove Campaign for Real Beauty videos that have been circulating on blogs and YouTube. Joe points out that advertising “in context” stands a better chance of success than the seemingly random assortment of annoying ads on regular TV.

There is an opportunity for building a real business model around advertising in an entirely new way—after all, haven’t “time shifters” made things very hair for television advertisers in the era of TiVO and DVRS? It’s an interesting concept that I will definitely be following.

Inside PR #79 – PR and Podcasting

Terry and David begin this week with a discussion of Podcast and New Media Expo, which took place this week in Ontario, CA. Their main topic this week, however, is about the role of podcasting in public relations.

Terry points out that clients interested in podcasting need to understand their broader needs, as well as their audience, before they can get into podcasting as a part of their public relations strategy. He underlines that podcasting is merely a tactic of a larger plan, and can’t stand on its own as the sole tool in the social media arsenal. Terry also points out that “if you build it, they will not come.” You need to promote your podcast, you can’t just record them and put them out there and expect audiences to join you en masse. Dave argues that podcasts are an easier tool to “sell” to clients than blogs, because they aren’t required to be updated daily and the control of the message is a bit more secure.

Terry’s point about promotion is important to remember, I think, for every social media tool you use. Blogs with low stats aren’t just going to magically get popular, engaging with the community and getting the word out about your activities is a necessary part of the process.

PRobecast #33 – Relationship Building Blogs Blocks

Doug Haslam, Tim Allik and Rob Capra, as well as discussing DEMO and other trade shows taking place recently (as well as “trade show wars,” and whether it’s wise to hold shows with similar audiences at the same time), talk about building solid relationships.

Doug turns the conversation to how microblogging platform Twitter affects relationship building on the social web. Doug points out that for a corporate interest to build effective Twitter relationships, they need to be well rounded. Don’t simply Tweet about your product or company, but show a little personality. Send links to jokes or comics, or funny YouTube videos. Putting a personality behind the avatar will go further towards community building than just following 1,000 people in your target audience and throwing information at them. Rob points out that to only push your agenda causes a person to appear one-dimensional, which is no way to be influential.

Around the PR Podcast Horn (in alphabetical order):

For Immediate Releast #280 and 281 – In the Monday edition of FIR this week, Shel and Neville touch on corporate podcast engagement, as General Motors launched sponsored the Manic Mommies podcast. On the Thursday FIR, they discussed the CIPR social media workshop and the Ragan masterclass, as well as a report from Dan York at the Podcasting and New Media Expo in California.

Forward Podcast #32 – PR blogger and professor Bill Sledzik joins the podcast this week, talking with Luke Armour about PR academia. He gives advice to young PR practitioners entering the work force, on how social media will affect their future jobs…if assuming they can get one!

Marketing Martini #27 – Bill Sweetman extols the virtue of Google News alerts, a fun and effective feature for easy, free monitoring of both the social web and mainstream news sources. He gives a rundown of the features of the alerts and recommends them for anything from brand management to competitive intelligence.

Marketing Over Coffee – Among their usual bevy of topics over coffees this week, Chris Penn and John Wall discuss the value of LinkedIn, which they argue is actually better than a resume; as well as the underrated value of web-based email, “the Art of Persuasion,” a segment with Chris Brogan and much, much more.

On the Record – Eric Schwartzman interviews successful business consultant Dov Seidman, author of the new book “How,” about “connecting with customers on a deeper level.” Seidman discusses the need for a change in corporate culture will lead to successful business models, and the benefits of connecting with the customer.

Trafcom News – Donna Papacosta interviews lawyer, blogger and podcaster Ian Hull this week. Ian discusses everything from how he got into podcasting to how it has changed the exposure his law firm receives, pointing out that because of his social media activities potential clients are already familiar with the firm before they meet with him for the first time.

Six Pixels of Separation #71 – Inspired this week by Avinash Kaushik's The Three Greatest Survey Questions Ever, Mitch Joel offers six questions to ask about web analytics. What are you looking to track? What will you do with this information? Who are your visitors? What is the purpose of your visit to our Website today? Were you able to complete your task today? If you were not able to complete your task today, why not?