LittleSmasher

Podcasting for law firms

2012-01-16T18:49:00.001Z

Having recently been asked to discuss the podcasting potential for a local law firm we've found that there's a definite market out there for it in the legal service... here's an example from our forward thinking Canadian cousins.

Podcasts: way for law firms, lawyers to develop ‘strong bonds’ with listeners

By Luigi Benetton

Can your practice produce promotional or educational radio and television segments? No? Well, if you can’t do broadcasting, try podcasting.

Podcasts are popular in Canada. Social networking and knowledge management consultant Connie Crosby cites a study commissioned for the CRTC in 2009 claims 19 per cent of English Canadians who used the Internet listened to podcasts, along with seven per cent of French Canadians.

Law has yet to seize this trend. “When starting law school, I noticed there were hardly any legal podcasts in Canada. And absolutely no podcasts by law students,” says Omar Ha-Redeye, currently articling in Toronto with Fireman Steinmetz. “So I decided to [start one].”

People who produce podcasts generally find they make great promotional tools. “Listening to podcasts tends to be more active than listening to the radio,” claims Crosby.
“When people routinely listen to podcasts, strong bonds develop between listeners and podcaster. You just can’t achieve the same connection with advertising.”

Who listens to legal podcasts? According to Popovic-Montag:
- Potential and existing clients
- Referring solicitors
- Students and lawyers looking to enter a niche
- Other social media enthusiasts

“We get 2,000 to 2,500 downloads a week for each of our two podcasts,” she claims.
find out what it’s like to listen to themselves speak, an experience that affords them the chance to improve as speakers.

Podcasting isn’t all about promotion. Lawyers Ha-Redeye considers a “virtual audio library” essential for litigators. “Much of what we engage in includes oral advocacy,” he explains. “Although the context is very different, clients can get a sense of a person’s presence and tone through sound files that they can carry anywhere.”

Podcasters also build relationships by inviting guests (clients, industry experts, referral sources and so on) to their podcasts, and accepting invitations to other podcasts.

All this podcasting can increase the value of a set of web assets. “My goal in starting the Law is Cool podcast was to add something new to the legal blogosphere, especially from the student slant,” says Ha-Redeye. “Podcasts were an important component in building the site up to be the largest law school site in Canada.”

While Hull & Hull’s podcasting start was deliberate, Ha-Redeye’s introduction to podcasting happened when classmates at Centennial College volunteered him to podcast with a guest social media expert.

“It was my first time trying anything like this,” he says.

Crosby started as a “Canadian correspondent” for the Check This Out! podcast hosted by Jim Milles of the University of Buffalo’s faculty of law.

“I started the Community Divas podcast in August 2008 (along with co-podcaster Eden Spodek) as a way to raise my profile, learn about podcasting technologies, and talk to some interesting people about topics that interest me,” she says.

Potential podcasters might want to develop an “editorial calendar,” a series of ideas that they can use to generate content. Fortunately, sources for ideas aren’t difficult to come by. They can include:
- Blogs (even one’s own)
- RSS feeds
- Other podcasts
- CLE (continuing legal education) programs
- Acquaintances and the activities they’re involved in
- Controversial issues in an industry
- Conference speakers
- Guests a podcaster wants to interview
- Suggestions from loyal listeners

“We’ve taken public speaking opportunities and turned them into podcasts,” says Ha-Redeye.

“After four and a half years, we’re amazed that there is always something new to talk about,” Popovic-Montag adds.

How long should a podcast be? “We have discovered that people will listen to something for about 10 to 15 minutes before they tune out,” Popovic-Montag says.
“Since we’ve [Ha-Redeye and Devin Johnston, who also worked on podcasts for the legal blog Law Is Cool] started articling we haven’t had any podcasts at all, because we simply don’t have the time to do it,” Ha-Redeye says.

The real expense in podcasting is time, both to master the technology and to produce individual episodes. The time factor caused Ha-Redeye and Crosby to drop out of podcasting (for now).
Hull & Hull has more people on the podcast team. After Popovic-Montag and her partner, Ian Hull, started podcasting in 2006, “our other partners eventually became interested and they and the lawyers of our firm started to alternate on Hull on Estates.”

She figures podcasting represents about 10 per cent of the firm’s marketing efforts.
Crosby recommends budding podcasters not face the technology setup and learning hump alone. “It is well worth the money to bring in an expert to help you rather than wasting time figuring out the technical side,” she says.

Read more at www.lawyersweekly.ca

A 'Live' Podcast? No such thing.

2011-07-13T18:13:00.001+01:00

There really is no such thing as a 'live podcast' no matter what people might offer. It's a marketing term trying to repackage a live stream. Internet Radio, if you like. Or an event that's been recorded 'live' and added to an already established Podcast feed.

But it's still not a live podcast, is it?

Firstly, a podcast is a podcast if it has an RSS feed that uses 'enclosures' to push the mp3 files to the listener. Too technical already? Maybe. That's OK.

Juice: a simple podcatcher
for your computer

I'll bluster on for just one more paragraph about RSS if you do't mind... a user subscribes to the RSS feed and downloads/catches the audio when it becomes available - using iTunes, Juice, your browser's feedreader or maybe Android's Google Listen for example.

So a user, 'a member of your audience', can use their computer or their mobile phone to 'catch' the audio as and when it becomes available - without you having to drag them to your webpage or 'mail list' them.

You provide the content and the listener can decide when to listen to it. Not the other way around. And it's designed, thanks to the RSS feed, so that listeners don't have to keep returning to a web page to check if there's a new episode available. That's the beauty of podcasting.

So, if it's you providing the podcast series, it's a chance to put your messages, the key points of your business or website maybe, into the ears of your target audience. The art of creating an effective podcast is therefore making it engaging and encouraging for the listener to then spin off back into the website past your front page. Or to push a telephone number to call, or an email address to message.

Yes, yes, I suppose video can also be 'podcasted'. It's sometimes referred to as 'vodcasting' but it's nowhere near as flexibly engaging as audio [and was never part of the original definition, so there *rasp*]. It still requires an RSS feed of course - the user needs to download the media and take it away with them without having to visit a webpage, don't forget. But I won't go into RSS feeds again.

The mp3 file:
ubiquitously playable

And if the self-proclaimed social media gurus are to be believed then the average length of video watched via YouTube is around 2 minutes. Not really much time to push your point, inform or educate. And it's a bugger to get a format right for a whole range of mobile devices. And where are they going to watch it?

People do not watch their 'automatically downloaded' video whilst driving.

What do you mean why?

It's generally harder to watch video while moving about in the outside world overall, wouldn't you say? That's just asking for a raft of Darwin Award nominations.

So, yes, Audio is, by far, the superior medium for podcasting. With the mp3. An audio compression format that may have been superseded by other compression formats but never in ubiquity.

Every personal entertainment device can play an mp3 file.

When asking someone if they use podcasting I often get the response that they've moved on to video. Which almost invariably means that they have a YouTube clip embedded in a web page somewhere.

It's certainly not podcasting. And it's certainly not 'moving on'. If anything it's a step back. And it's understandable, too, that people should do this to themselves. It's a comfort zone thing. People limiting themselves to what they understand. And that's OK.

iTunes/iPhone have podcatching
capabilities built in to their software

As far as I'm concerned I'd rather that situation than one in which the internet is flooded with really badly written and produced podcasts. All those seminars you see advertised on how "You too can podcast" ...? Bit like telling you that you too can create your own promotional video. On your own. Using free software. Your own script and that HD Camera you got for Christmas.

Have you tried making your own video?

One that other people would watch? One that wouldn't embarrass you and your business? One that adds value to your website?

*Shiver*

Talk it over with a professional first. You'll feel really pleased you did when you get your first podcast series up and engaging your target audience in the interesting things about your business.

Event Podcasting: a great way of promoting & remembering your event. "It'll be like having our own radio station"

2011-07-06T22:39:00.001+01:00

This is another great way of using podcasting. And this example is being carried out by experienced podcasters who know how to make an engaging podcast for their target audience.

Amplify’d from www.prfire.co.uk

Fairport and FolkCast create Cropredy Festival podcast

The founding fathers of British folk-rock, Fairport Convention, have teamed up with the UK's top independent folk music podcast, FolkCast, to produce a special online event for this year's Fairport's Cropredy Festival.

A series of audio podcasts - sponsored by Wadworth brewery - will look at the annual festival's four-decade history through the eyes of the members of Fairport Convention, as well as previewing this summer's event with profiles of each of the bands and artists set to appear, including Seasick Steve, UB40 and The Coral.

Then, during the festival itself, there will be a daily podcast featuring interviews and items recorded “live” on the festival field.

Gareth Williams, Cropredy's Festival Director, said: "

It'll be like having our own radio station, broadcasting all round the world, and it'll be a must-listen for all Fairport and Cropredy fans

The podcasts - titled Fairport's Cropredy FolkCast sponsored by Wadworth - will be released weekly from June 13th, with daily shows during the festival, and will be available for free download from www.folkcast.co.uk via www.fairportconvention.com and through Apple iTunes.
Read more at www.prfire.co.uk

See this Amp at http://j.mp/n7k15A

Those crazy Swiss and their radio porn...

2011-06-10T11:46:00.002+01:00

Along with clocks, chocs, banking and illegally gained cash stashing, is this about to join the national stereotype landscape?

Amplify’d from www.news.com.au

Radio porn versus internet porn - Swiss get rocks off and roll to five hours of erotic beats

June 10, 2011

Radios - so hot right now ... in Switzerland. Picture: Jeff Darmanin

A RADIO porn show that aims to inspire Swiss couples to make love has been launched by a Zurich radio station.

Swiss newspaper 20 Minuten reported that couples in Zurich looking to put a spark back into their late night love-making can tune into the audio porn show and listen to "erotic music and sounds".

The show, described as "acoustic porn" by producer Oliver Scotoni, airs for five hours from midnight on radio frequency 104.1 or 88.2 megahertz, aims to be a "countermeasure to the internet porn culture".

The show will play soundtracks from 1970s porn movies - which according to Mr Scotoni have more "value" than the "cheap music" in modern porn - along with disco classics such as Love To Love You Baby by Donna Summer.

Mr Scotoni told the paper: "With me, there are no pictures, but only selected acoustics which inspire the audience.

"I hope that as many Zurich people as possible will make love, this would bring a nice energy to the city."
Read more at www.news.com.au

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/ixzm18

LinkedIn Recruiter Podcast

2011-05-27T14:16:00.005+01:00

"A Marvellously Nice Chap"

@LittleSmasher we are currently editing the raw audio from a recording session with Chris Brown, a LinkedIn account manager. A marvellously nice chap to interview he was too, with some interesting tips on how to optimise one's LinkedIn profile and the sorts of apps that are out there to help one keep, literally, linked in.

The trouble with this type of podcast is that one tends to get distracted by the quality information instead of focussing on the job at hand. Edit, edit, edit.

Still, it'll be good for the scripting process, I'm sure. That's later.

Vintage Books understands podcasting

2011-04-19T10:52:00.002+01:00

Vintage Books are using podcasting in a great way that supports and promotes their sales. Talking to their Authors and getting them to read passages from their books, or discussing issues raised in their books brings the listener closer to the company's products.

Whether the listener is a regular buyer of books or not, creating this engaging podcast and generating a regular following means that when it is time for purchasing decisions to be made it will be Vintage Books at the top of the list of considerations.

Well done Vintage.

Amplify’d from www.vintage-books.co.uk

The ‘Vintage Podcast’ is a monthly book programme with interviews, discussions and features on subjects ranging from literary fiction to graphic novels, cookery to crime fiction, history and travel to sport, biography and poetry. It comes from the publishers of Sebastian Faulks, Jo Nesbo, Nigella Lawson, Haruki Murakami, Ian McEwan, Joe Sacco, Anne Enright, Mark Haddon and many more.

Vintage Podcast

Podcast 8
15/04/2011
Featuring: Martin Amis, David Lodge, Evie Wyld, Jane Shilling, Rebecca Asher, William Goldsmith and Annalena McAfee

listen to podcast

Podcast 7
17/03/2011
Featuring Jo Nesbo, Michael Longley, Maxine Hong Kingston, Evie Wyld, Kevin Barry, Leo Benedictus and Annalena McAfee

listen to podcast

Podcast 5
07/02/2011
Featuring Julian Barnes, Anthony Quinn, Susan Hill and Brighton Rock director Rowan Joffe

listen to podcast

Podcast 4
15/12/2010
Featuring Nigella Lawson, Richard Briers, Fatima Bhutto, Blake Morrison, Alison Weir, Danny Kelly and Milton Crawford

listen to podcast

Read more at www.vintage-books.co.uk

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/hqFdgR

Well done that man #Quakebook Pass it on

2011-04-15T11:37:00.002+01:00

Been cobbled together by the lovely brother of a lovely lady from Leicester. He lives in Japan and is 'Our Man in Abiko'. He managed to put this together within days of the event with the help of people from all over the world. Yoko Ono contributes. Nice one.

Register your interest for a hard copy. Or just buy the soft copy.

"The Quakebook - A Twitter-sourced charity book about how the Japanese Earthquake at 2:46 on March 11, 2011 affected us all"

http://www.quakebook.org/

2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake [Kindle Edition]

Product Description

In just over a week, a group of unpaid professional and citizen journalists who met on Twitter created a book to raise money for Japanese Red Cross earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. In addition to essays, artwork and photographs submitted by people around the world, including people who endured the disaster and journalists who covered it, 2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake contains a piece by Yoko Ono, and work created specifically for the book by authors William Gibson, Barry Eisler and Jake Adelstein.

“The primary goal,” says the book's editor, a British resident of Japan, “is to record the moment, and in doing so raise money for the Japanese Red Cross Society to help the thousands of homeless, hungry and cold survivors of the earthquake and tsunami. The biggest frustration for many of us was being unable to help these victims. I don’t have any medical skills, and I’m not a helicopter pilot, but I can edit. A few tweets pulled together nearly everything – all the participants, all the expertise – and in just over a week we had created a book including stories from an 80-year-old grandfather in Sendai, a couple in Canada waiting to hear if their relatives were okay, and a Japanese family who left their home, telling their young son they might never be able to return."

ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of the price you pay (net of VAT, sales and other taxes) goes to the Japanese Red Cross Society to aid the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars
100% of the price of this book goes to the Japan Red Cross Society!, 12 April 2011

By
Derek J. Johnston "windhoek" (Glasgow) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 2:46: Aftershocks: Stories from the Japan Earthquake (Kindle Edition)
First things first, 100% of the price of this book goes to the Japan Red Cross Society, so please buy it.

The book itself is comprised of lots (about 100) of short stories that focus on many different aspects of the earthquake and subsequent events. Some accounts focus on the role of the media and social networking, some on the earthquake and how it affected them or people they know and others still, on the people of Japan who have shown indefatigable resiliance and unity in the face of, what can only be described as, truly catastrophic events!

There are also various images and illustrations peppered throughout the book which capture moments and ideas appropriate to the book's content.

If you've seen footage of the tsunami and its devastation, you'll understand why there are few first-hand accounts of it included in the book. In fact, most stories are from people who experienced the earthquake from the relative safety of Tokyo or other modernised parts of Japan. There are also some international contributions from people concerned about the people of Japan - sometimes particular people.

At a press conference, the book's editor 'Our man in Abiko' said that if the book is ever revised to include additional content, those who purchased it beforehand won't have to pay again to access it. Instead, it will be available as an update to download and augment the original book.

This book has enhanced my sympathy and affection for Japan and her people, please buy it so she can blossom once again.
Read more at www.amazon.co.uk

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/eHI2aV

Podcasting's coming of age?

2011-03-23T19:21:00.002Z

Indeed, the hobbyists and enthusiasts who first enjoyed and created podcasts in 2004/2005, just for the mere sake of it, all seem to have disappeared.

Or at the very least, they have turned to other forms of internet social communication to expose their technological know-how alongside their personal vulnerabilities.

Whichever dark, damp corner of the internet that has absorbed them we, at LittleSmasher, hope they're able to download and enjoy the current crop of downloadable episodic audio in the knowledge that without their early compulsions to pursue poorly performed and pitiably produced podcasts none of the current quality might be here at all.

Chris Salmon, from the Guardian, suggests a few podcasts you might like try from this obvious legacy.

Amplify’d from www.guardian.co.uk

Click to download: podcast nostalgia

It's not quite over yet for a tried, tested and trusty format

Chris Salmon
guardian.co.uk,

Wednesday 16 March 2011 14.00 GMT
Article history

The buzz around podcasts has calmed considerably over the last couple of years, with social networks and mobile apps capturing the attention of labels and musicians keen to embrace the latest thing. Which is a pity, because subscribing to a good, free podcast remains a terrific way of receiving regular content directly to your computer or mobile.

Happily, there are still some great music-related podcasts which you can subscribe to, for free, via iTunes. One of the best is the Live Music podcast from Australian radio station Triple J. At least once a week, the station uploads live recordings from one of two regular strands. The first, Live at the Wireless, features around 20 minutes of highlights from a concert, recently including performances by the Rapture, Interpol and the National (all of which are well worth hearing). Meanwhile, the other strand, Like a Version, sees acts playing studio sessions that culminate with a cover version. The best features Plan B, who unleashes a cracking reworking of Kanye West's Runaway. Subscribe to forthcoming episodes and download any of the previous 24 from bit.ly/jjjpodcast.

London-based internet radio station RadioNowhere also has a variety of excellent podcasts available via iTunes, at bit.ly/rnpodcasts. Standouts include the weekly Filmic show, which offers an hour of music from soundtracks and scores, and the Christopher Laird Show, another weekly programme with songs from the best new, independent artists. Both shows play tracks in full, something that podcasts often haven't been allowed to do because of rights restrictions. But, given that each of Laird's shows features an interview with a guest artist – this week it was British Sea Power, last week it was the Joy Formidable – it would seem that the industry is offering tacit approval of RadioNowhere's full-songs approach.

With Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling driving a renewed interest in folk, Jon Boden chose a good time to launch his A Folk Song a Day podcast. In June last year, the violinist, singer and Bellowhead member, committed to podcasting a traditional folk song every day for an entire year via iTunes at bit.ly/jbpodcast. And that's exactly what he's done, with Tuesday's a cappella take on Billy Don't You Weep For Me leaving him just 100 days from completing the project.
Read more at www.guardian.co.uk

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/gDzrjI

Learning about the Makuleke People of Pafuri through the editing of another South African Podcast

2011-02-13T12:52:00.001Z

Kruger2Canyons.com have commissioned LittleSmasher to make another podcast for their website. It features the model of South African land restitution that is the Makuleke concession in the Kruger National Park, now benefiting the people from whom it was taken in 1969.

Interesting stuff.

Amplify’d from www.kruger2canyons.com

Interviews
Podcast 1
Podcast 2

K2C PODCAST #1 | Kruger's SINGITA LEBOMBO

"24 hours at a luxury safari lodge"

Kruger2Canyons.com spent a fabulous day exploring and documenting Singita's Private Reserve, deep inside (but still part of) the Kruger National Park on the border with Mozambique.
Read more at www.kruger2canyons.com

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/gob1LA

LittleSmasher was there first!

2011-01-12T16:25:00.001Z

After six years of podcasting professionally, LittleSmasher proclaims that the medium is still being 'discovered' by those who have an audience to reach.

Amplify’d from www.independent.co.uk

The podcast has a weekly audience of 35,000 and is an important marketing tool
for his live work. "It's nothing like a TV or radio show in terms of
the numbers of people listening but they have chosen to download it and it's
a more intimate experience. This is the thing most responsible for my
audience doubling in size on tour."

Being independently produced, As It Occurs to Me offers Herring artistic
licence. "It's so hard to get on radio and TV and the whole Sachsgate
thing has made it harder to do interesting and challenging stuff," he
says. "The nice thing about podcasts is that if people don't like them
they don't download them. There are no compliance issues."

One of the most successful exponents is Richard Herring, who produces two weekly podcasts

Podcasts: Why the future sounds funny

Podcasts are bringing stand-up comedy to new audiences. As the BBC gets in on the act, Frank Skinner and Richard Herring give Ian Burrell the lowdown on downloads
Read more at www.independent.co.uk

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/hDdnJt

Free Podcasts for Christmas

2010-12-16T10:46:00.001Z

...just in case you're interested.

Amplify’d from www.guardian.co.uk

Short stories podcasts: 12 tales for Christmas

Philip Pullman. Photograph: Eamonn McCabe

Saturday's an exciting day for us in the audio department. We're launching our new series of podcasts, but podcasts with a difference. We've invited some of the country's top authors to read us their favourite short story by another writer. So you'll hear Philip Pullman reading Chekhov, Rose Tremain reading Yiyun and William Boyd reading JG Ballard, and then discuss why they chose those particular stories.

We're running 12 of these from Saturday every day until Christmas. But it's been a project that we've been working on since the summer, when the Guardian's Review editor Lisa Allardice came up with the idea. She says: "We're familiar with audio books, but with writers choosing their favourite story they bring something of themselves to the reading.

Producer Tim Maby was surprised at how authors are now so used to reading aloud they even move the microphones to where it best suits them: "Anne Enright, for instance, likes to hug it." Tim says Rose Tremain commented that all writers like showing off, while Philip Pullman revealed he loves talking in to a mic.

these recordings really show why podcasting is so much better than radio: they will remain on our website and on iTunes and be a resource for people forever. You don't have to be sitting next to your wireless at a certain time to catch them.

Saturday 11 December: Philip Pullman reading The Beauties by Anton Chekhov

Sunday 12 December: William Boyd reading My Dream of Flying to Wake Island by JG Ballard

Monday 13 December: Anne Enright reading Fat by Raymond Carver

Tuesday 14 December: Colm Tóibín reading Music at Annahullion by Eugene McCabe

Wednesday 15 December: Margaret Drabble reading The Doll's House by Katherine Mansfield

Thursday 16 December: Jeanette Winterson reading The Night Driver by Italo Calvino

Friday 17 December: Rose Tremain reading Extra by Yiyun Li

Saturday 18 December: Julian Barnes reading Homage to Switzerland by Ernest Hemingway

Sunday 19 December: Tessa Hadley reading The Jungle by Elizabeth Bowen

Monday 20 December: Helen Dunmore reading My Oedipus Complex by Frank O'Connor

Tuesday 21 December: Ali Smith reading Conversation With My Father by Grace Paley

Wednesday 22 December: Helen Simpson reading The Kitchen Child by Angela Carter

Each podcast will be published at guardian.co.uk/books
Read more at www.guardian.co.uk

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/eFSm21

Lights, Solar, ACTION! Even the BBC recognise the influence of this in their History of the World in 100 Objects

2010-10-15T12:57:00.002+01:00

Lights For Learning have just returned from installation projects in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Official feedback from their previous trip has shown that in just ONE YEAR a particular school's pass rate increased by 540%.

Enrolment rates have increased by up to 20% due to the need for children and adults to tend land and take their wares to market during the daylight hours. It really feels like a different world.

Countries like the UK have developed away from this challenging way of life.

Quite literally and metaphorically, Lights For Learning are working toward a brighter future.

Download this if you want to hear from the people talking about the sorts of challenges they face and how LFL are helping...

http://j.mp/LFL-MilengeLights.

Visit http://www.LightsForLearning.org if you'd like to donate. All money goes directly to lighting installations.

Amplify’d from www.bbc.co.uk

Solar-powered lamp and charger

A History of the World in 100 objects

There are around five billion mobile phones in use around the world todayThis lamp is powered by the small solar panel connected to it. As well as providing light, power from this panel can be used to charge mobile phones. This object has been chosen to reflect the ingenuity, and the challenges we face in the twenty-first century. The kit uses a range of new materials and technologies, including silicon-chip technology, which can also be found in computers and mobile phones. Here it is used in the solar photovoltaic cell, which converts sunlight into electricity. Exposing this cell to eight hours of bright sunshine provides up to 100 hours of lamp light.

How is this technology changing lives?

There are currently 1.6 billion people across the world without access to an electrical grid. In these areas, objects such as this allow people to study, work and socialise outside daylight hours, vastly improving the quality of many lives. Additionally, households using solar energy rather than kerosene lamps are able to avoid the risk of fire and the damage to health that kerosene can cause. Once purchased, this kit costs very little to run, making it a very efficient option for many people living in the world's poorest countries.

There are around five billion mobile phones in use around the world today

Read more at www.bbc.co.uk

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/cEV9tE

Africa bound once more

2010-08-23T14:29:00.000+01:00

LittleSmasher is gearing up for yet another podcast expedition into the deepest depths of Africa.

Yes, we'll be going to places without electricity in order to install solar powered lighting systems into schools for a client called LightsForLearning.org.

LittleSmasher will be there to witness it and to produce podcasts for this charity to use and distribute to donors and potential donors in order to evince the work that is being done out in the field.

"It's like having our own journalist documenting how people's money is spent and the unbelievable difference in makes on many people's lives out there" said a spokesperson.

LittleSmasher will be accompanying LightsForLearning to Zimbabwe and Zambia. To listen to previous work for this client please feel free to download and listen to these episodes:

Milenge Lights [Zambia]
The Welcome Home School [Philippines]

Worth every penny... 67p/month per household for the website and only a couple of quid a month for radio #bargain

2010-07-27T14:22:00.002+01:00

I never knew how the licence fee was split up... but, thanks to some aimless time-waste surfing before lunch, I do now.

Amplify’d from www.bbc.co.uk

The licence fee

The annual cost of a colour TV licence is £145.50 (as from 1 April 2010). A black and white TV licence is £49.
How the licence fee was spent in 2009/2010

Between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010 the cost was £142.50 – the equivalent of £11.88 per month or just under 40p per day.

The BBC used its income from the licence fee to pay for its TV, radio and online services, plus other costs, as shown below.
TV
£7.85 per month per household

Radio
£2.01 per month per household

Online
£0.67 per month per household

Other costs
£1.35 per month per household

About the licence fee
Everyone in the UK who watches or records TV as it is broadcast needs to be covered by a TV licence. This includes TV on computers, mobile phones, DVD/video recorders and other devices.

The Government sets the level of the licence fee. The most recent funding settlement was in January 2007, when the licence fee was agreed for a six-year period, as shown below. The fee has to be approved each year by Parliament. The licence fee for 2012 will be fixed as part of the next funding settlement and the expected maximum is given below.
Date from Colour licence Black and white licence
1 April 2007 £135.50 £45.50
1 April 2008 £139.50 £47
1 April 2009 £142.50 £48
1 April 2010 £145.50 £49
1 April 2011 £148.50 £50
1 April 2012 £151.50 maximum £51 maximum
Read more at www.bbc.co.uk

See this Amp at http://bit.ly/9qvl6S

Smartphones increasing podcasting opportunities?

2010-07-22T09:59:00.002+01:00

It seems more and more people are getting smartphones, and more and more of those people are downloading podcasts to those phones allowing them to listen to those podcasts wherever and whenever they choose.

http://LittleSmasher.com encode their podcasts to optimise smartphone 'downloadability'.

from www.allmediascotland.com

Radio listening via a 'smartphone' is becoming ever more popular, according to figures released today by the organisation that monitors radio listening behaviour in the UK.

Says RAJAR, some 20 per cent of smartphone owners - or 1.4 million people - have downloaded an application that enable them to listen to a radio service via their smartphone. The survey also reveals relatively high levels of people aged 15 and over listening to radio via the internet and also downloading a podcast: 31 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively.

Among the main findings of the survey:

* 71 per cent of those 'listen again' listeners (and they listen again to an average two programmes per week) say the service has no impact on the amount of live radio they listen to.

* 15 per cent of the adult 15+ population have downloaded a podcast. Almost half (47 per cent) of podcast users claim to listen to podcasts at least once a week but only 25 per cent of users find the time to listen to all the podcasts they download.

* The typical podcast user subscribes to just under five podcasts, and spends about an hour per week listening to them. As in previous surveys, comedy and music remain the two favourite genres.

* 77 per cent of podcast users listen to podcasts at home, and 45 per cent listen in the car or on public transport.

* Podcasting appears to have a positive effect on radio listening, with 36 per cent of respondents saying that they now listen to radio programmes to which they did not listen previously, up from 32 per in November last year.

* 20 per cent of smartphone owners have downloaded a radio app and, of those, over half (53 per cent) use their radio apps at least once a week.

Survey Reveals Increased 'Smartphone' Radio Listening

July 14 2010 11:57 Read more at www.allmediascotland.com

Milenge Lights

2010-06-10T11:31:00.001+01:00

Download here

Featuring interviews with Bethwell Masumbuko and Mrs HS Kalenge, the Head Teachers of Milenge High & Milenge Basic Schools respectively. They talk to us about the impact the lights will have on their pupils and teachers.

11 year old Ludia tells us about what she wants to be when she grows up while 15 year old Emmanuel helps string the lights across a classroom.

Teachers Nuyemba Royd and Kayombo Justine share with us how they think the lights will benefit the school.

And we hear from the Lights For Learning volunteers Nick Dye, Jan Power, Cathy Russell and Vanessa Sherwood about their experience installing the lights.

LittleSmasher Delves into the World of Social Work

2010-05-07T16:29:00.000+01:00

Another LittleSmasher podcast, this time for an audience who have been given an offer of a place on the Social Work course at Brunel. We hear lecturer, Dr Jean Clarke talk about the course and we hear from first year students Moeed Malik, Tsungai Tawanda and Nicky Blake who also tell us what they think of their experience on the course so far.

"The podcast message was not only very interesting to hear but also very motivating and encouraging." - Brunel Social Work Candidate

"It's great to hear the our podcast is making a positive impact. Well done all!" - S.R-R, Brunel Social Work Marketer

"As others have said this is great stuff. This is the way to go. We are good. We need things like this to make sure people know." - Professor P.B.

:LittleSmasher moves into the World of the Postgraduate

2010-04-03T09:01:00.001+01:00

LittleSmasher goes all Postgraduate on us as the podcasting company was commissioned to produce two episodes for the Graduate School at Brunel University.

Episode 1
Episode 2

Find out more about postgraduate life at Brunel from current Master’s and research students.

Hear about the career support services on offer, and find out about how the Graduate School can help you to make the most out of your postgraduate experience.

Dr Steve Mullins talks to us about the financial issues you might face and we learn about the scholarships and funding that are available.

Voices:

Dr Kate Hone, Director of the Graduate School;
Dr Steve Mullins, Assistant Registrar for Graduate Studies;
Jane Standley, Director of the Placement and Careers;
Rebecca Main, Job Shop Manager;
Nkechi Izuchukwu, Brunel International Scholar; and
Gaia Di Castro, Isambard Research Scholar.

Another LittleSmasher release: An Award Winning Inventor at Brunel

2010-04-01T09:45:00.000+01:00

Click here to download.

LittleSmasher hears how Business Management with Marketing student Trisha Motah's week has been going and talks to final year Product Design Engineering student Tanya Budd who is already an award-winning inventor developing her potential at Brunel. Hear how Tanya has made Seafaring safer with the HypoHoist [http://hypohoist.co.uk].

Schools and Colleges Liaison Amanda Hall also pays the podcast a visit to tell us what students coming to Brunel might expect from the University.

You can visit Brunel University now by navigating to the Virtual Open Day via the website or by visiting http://brunel.ac.uk/VirtualOpenDay

Lights for Learning at Rotary International

2010-03-21T14:01:00.008Z

LittleSmasher talks to Lights For Learning's Roger Mugridge at the Rotary International Conference held in Torquay.

We find out why the charity is manning its stand at the Riviera International Conference Centre and what they hope to achieve.

Hear here.

Podcasting in the Philippines

2010-02-15T09:01:00.006Z

LittleSmasher visited Bacolod City on the island of Occidental Negros in the Philippines to shadow a charity called Lights For Learning. Lights For Learning joined forces with the national movement of Gawad Kalinga in helping villages provide facilities for education.

The resulting podcasts now sit on the Lights For Learning website and are downloaded by donors and potential donors, bringing them a little closer to the actual work which their money funds.

The first episode can be found here.

Another LittleSmasher release: Business at Brunel

2010-01-25T09:01:00.000Z

This podcast episode takes it's regular look at Student Life at Brunel University with Final Year Business Student Busola Sanusi.

We talk to Award-winning graduate, Adam Sumar, and we hear what Brunel's Director of External Affairs has to say about an exciting new building to house the Brunel Business School: Andrew Kershaw will be talking to us about the Eastern Gateway.

And for this series of podcasts, Brunel University are trying to push their Virtual Open Day via the podcasts. Indeed listeners are informed that they can visit Brunel University now by navigating to the Virtual Open Day via the website or by visiting http://brunel.ac.uk/VirtualOpenDay

Brunel University Podcast

2009-12-16T18:29:00.003Z

Yet another podcast from LittleSmasher.com. This time, not only did LittleSmasher record on campus for the client but also travelled into London to interview a busy alumnus who told us his thoughts on how LittleSmasher's client's offering had been contributing to his success...

[LittleSmasher also maintains the Brunel University's Twitter feed and Facebook page]

Brunel Courses in the Arts and Media

First Year Film and Television student Kristy Myrie talks us through her week while ex-BBC man and Journalism Lecturer Keith Somerville discusses the BA in journalism. We also visit Brunel graduate and business owner, Paul Croft in his Covent Garden Offices in the centre of London to ask him how he thought Brunel influenced his success.

You can visit Brunel University now by navigating to the Virtual Open Day via the website or by visiting http://brunel.ac.uk/VirtualOpenDay

Presented by: Adam Larking of LittleSmasher.com

Paul Croft appears courtesy of Mediatonic.co.uk

Postal Address for Enquiries:
Course Enquiries Office
Marketing
Brunel University
Uxbridge
UB8 3PH

Telephone Number for Enquiries:
01895 265599

Virtual Open Day
http://brunel.ac.uk/VirtualOpenDay

Email:
podcast@brunel.ac.uk

Recession Amplified

2009-10-07T13:04:00.009+01:00

The under-use of Podcasting and other online marketing tools has been highlighted by Online Communications Specialist, Amplify who commissioned a study of Small- to Medium- sized Business owners this July. In an article that can be found at Amplify's blog, the study...

"...found that most [businesses] are not harnessing the power of new cost effective web tools for locating and engaging with customers, partners and prospects. This is despite the maturity of these technologies and the clear need for more proactive communications amid tougher market conditions."

The article, written by Amplify's director of contact management Dave Holt, is entitled "SMBs fail to harness new online technologies to stay ahead in the downturn" and it discusses the use of social networking sites, like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter, to help businesses foster their client relationships.

While it isn't specifically about podcasting, it relates to the online marketing tool-set within which podcasting sits.

Marketers Missing Out

2009-09-10T09:01:00.002+01:00

The International Advertising Bureau, the trade association for digital marketing, has just published a survey on their website that suggests that B2B marketers are missing out on brand-building opportunities, including the use of podcasting as a marketing tool.

"Whilst some respondents stated they had used social media tactics such as blogging, podcasting and their own online community, it’s clearly on the agenda in B2B marketing. Some 60% of respondents stated that they are either currently using, or are looking to incorporate social media into their digital marketing strategies."

Click here to read more.

Can Podcasting Save The World?

2009-08-05T10:48:00.003+01:00

Not really, no. But in view of the hyped up warnings about the global pandemic that is Swine Flu, one newspaper [Norwich Evening News] seems to think that the University of East Anglia has emergency plans to utilise the medium of podcasting in helping curb campus infection rates...

"Contingency plans to slow the spread of the virus, or to cope if the illness cripples staffing levels, include postponing freshers' week, podcasting lectures and quarantining infected students in their halls of residence."

Now, we here at LittleSmasher have been to the odd University or two in our time and we've concluded that without lectures to attend there'd, surely, be more scope for other more interesting interactions for the students to enjoy.

No?

An excellent use of podcasting though, for university lectures of course. Excellent.

All New 'Results Day' Episode now available

2009-08-05T09:09:00.002+01:00

LittleSmasher Podcasting services was asked by Brunel University to update an earlier episode of the long running podcast series 'Brunel University Podcast' in time for the target audience, the incoming students, to prepare for their first weeks at University.

The original episode, launched in August 2007, required re-editing and re-recording of the presenter clips. Much of the date-specific content was removed the new interview with Head of Admissions, Sue Gemmill, was added. A new aspect to University Admissions this year, along with Clearing, is what's known as 'Adjustment'. This enables students who achieved better pre-University qualifications to apply for different University's/courses.

Sue Gemmill explains the important points of this new development while also covering Clearing and Enrolment.

This podcast is a must for any new student entering Brunel University this summer.

Results Day, Clearing, Adjustment, Enrolment and the Start of Term

Hear about what you should be doing on Results Day and what you might be expecting during Freshers Week. We talk to the lady in charge of Admissions, Sue Gemmill and we also advise on what you should be bringing with you when you arrive for the start of term at Brunel.

We talk to Eoin Lally about his Clearing experience and ex-SU President Jatin Patel. We also hear from Katy Jenkins and Adam Sumar Tarmohamed. We're Out And About around the Student Union and we talk to Sam Smith on the SU Reception.

Download this episode [right mouse-click and Save Link/Target As]

Another LittleSmasher release: A Week in Life 3

2009-07-31T09:17:00.006+01:00

Little Smasher releases the third of the Student Life podcasts for Brunel University. In this episode we meet Jade Bennett, Melanie Musonda and Ludivine Bell for their take on one of their last weeks of the term with exams, deadlines and end of term partying to do!

Download this episode [right mouse-click and Save Link/Target As]

Brunel University 13th July 2009

2009-07-13T17:30:00.004+01:00

Another day of recording at Brunel University. Three students recorded on a 'Week in the Life', focussing on their respective end of terms. Also recorded Brunel's Admissions Officer who is gearing up for another feverish summer of Confirmation, Clearing and Adjustment.

Adjustment? Yes, Adjustment. Sue Gemmill explains all.

Brunel are also embracing the Twitter phenomenon. http://twitter.com/BrunelPodcast is up and running and raring to go thanks to LittleSmasher's complementary Social Networking services.

'A Week in the Life 3' Episode to be released soon. Sue Gemmill's interview will appear in the new 'Results Day, Clearing and the Start of Term' episode.

ip-config, 7th July 2009

2009-07-07T12:30:00.003+01:00

New client ip-config had their first recording session today with Managing Director Stephen Moore using all the management speak he could muster. LittleSmasher gradually got him to speak more intimately on the subject of his business and what ip-config actually do.

You Tube Upload

2009-06-24T01:23:00.003+01:00

This is an attempt to utilise YouTube in promoting a podcasting example by LittleSmasher.com

Days Out: the podcast potential

2009-06-15T09:01:00.000+01:00

It's simple really.

Where do most folk begin their search when they want to find something to do with the family on weekends or bank holidays?

It's the internet. Certainly with office workers looking for a day trip to balance out their hard working week.

There will be a museum, a castle, a fun park, a cathedral, a gallery, the centre of an attractive local town. And why don't these attractions utilise podcasting, or offer an mp3 download, on their sites to inform and attract visitors and potential visitors?

Some of these tourist attractions are no strangers to offering audio guides on site but don't offer them to be downloaded and put on your mp3 player before you arrive.

The National Trust's website for Fountains Abbey delivers precisely this solution for their visitors.

While this saves the visitor having to queue [and pay for] for an audio guide at the venue, does this make good listening for a visitor on the way to the attraction? Possibly not as it is concentrating on the actual functionality of an audio guide.

So maybe something that skims the most interesting bits from the audio guide into a pre-trip taster of what's to come including highlights of what else is in the area, possibly providing sponsorship opportunities for local businesses or other attractions. Including sound bites from previous visitors and staff.

These top level podcasts could be redistributed via the websites of local hotels and B&Bs - very much like the tourism leaflets that you can already find in the foyers of these guest houses.

Article for HE Marketing News Letter

2009-06-02T20:23:00.005+01:00

A LittleSmasher article for a marketing newsletter issued by MJD Consultancy, aimed at Higher Education institutions...

iPods, mp3 phones, computers, memory sticks… Your audience is ready to listen. Shouldn’t you be talking to them?

Effective podcasting is all about matching audience with content - and HE institutes touting for the new cohort provide the perfect pairing of these podcasting principals.

Brunel University engaged LittleSmasher.com to produce the first ever official UK university podcast, now in its third highly successful series. The show proudly boasts a rolling community of hundreds of Facebook fans from all over the world and thousands of downloads and website hits each month.

From the peaceful bench in the memorial garden to the extensive sporting facilities; from Chemical Astrology to Classical Literature - why should potential students, whether overseas, mature, or home, want to commit their immediate future to you anyway? Tell them in a series of engaging radio style mini-programmes. They’ll share them with friends. It’s one-on-one marketing, directly into their ears.

WyseFool

2009-05-30T18:44:00.002+01:00

Met up with WyseFool.com today. Based in Childrey, near Wantage in Oxfordshire, the man behind the web design company, James, wants to be able to offer to his clients the ability to podcast.

He's already incorporated sound to subtly start playing on one of his clients' websites but needs to actually start thinking in terms of short podcasts to tell visitors about his clients.

Earl Okin training

2009-05-28T23:55:00.002+01:00

Over to Ladbroke Grove on the tube this afternoon to sit down with Mr Okin and show him how to upload the podcasts he's now recording himself. Including how to properly use his blogspot account.

He had a gig that evening in Kennington and invited me to come and watch.

I did.

He was brilliant. As always. The audience seemed to really appreciate him.

Another Earl Okin Gramophone Show

2009-05-07T11:05:00.000+01:00

Earl Okin has produced another of his Gramophone Shows using his own recording abilities for the second time.

LittleSmasher began by producing two interview based shows for Earl and has come up with a plan to make Earl become self-sufficient in podcasting. LittleSmasher is now controlling the uploading of the mp3 files, the rss feed generation and the administration of his blog, earlokin.blogspot.com.

A third 'Gramophone Show' is ready to be released and will be available in June. LittleSmasher is advising on timings and potential 'podfade' issues.

Earl is improving the sound quality of his presenter links with every show and has demonstrated that even with basic equipment you can get a regular show up and running and accessible to your audience.

Networking

2009-05-06T15:31:00.005+01:00

Dave Holt of dthomas.co.uk/amplify met with LittleSmasher today to talk about podcasting's place in Customer Relationship Management.

Dave can provide expert advice on how to use multiple social networking platforms to run alongside newsletter style mailouts.

dthomas.co.uk/amplify is part of Dunstan Thomas 'developing ebusiness'.

New Customer: ip-config.com

2009-05-05T15:23:00.000+01:00

Met with Stephen Moore and Philip Poyner of ip-config.com and their marketing advisor, Minty Colquhoun from minty-marketing.com

These gentlemen have started up this business consultancy that provides the expertise to grow your business through to a possible exit strategy.

The company have put in place the podcasting part of their offering with LittleSmasher.com and will be utilising LittleSmasher in the production of their own series beginning in June.

Enterprise 09

2009-04-23T17:20:00.002+01:00

Attended 'Enterprise '09' organised by Business Link.

It's clear that podcasting is becoming more prominent in people's thoughts regarding marketing campaigns. However, there seems to be a gap between wanting it and knowing how to get it or even how to use it.

It was nice to think that LittleSmasher bridges that gap.

Brunel University 28th/29th July 2008

2008-07-30T19:00:00.003+01:00

Completed recording yesterday at Brunel.

Interviewees:
George Mogg, Curator of the Gallery
Jacqui MacKintosh, Arts Centre
Colin Riley, Music
Bill Leahy, Head of Arts
David Plans, Sound
Charlotte Russell, Psychology
Mary Richards, Drama
Sally Scagell, Administrator

Also met with Naser Talukdar and Judith Standley from the Placements and Careers Centre regarding RSS feeds. Left Business Card with Judith. They want to deliver pdfs and docs and mp3s to subscribers.

This can be done using different formatted enclosures.

Brunel: Episode 7 - Sports Sciences and Education

2007-12-19T01:19:00.000Z

Regular Marketing contact off sick and with interviewees cancelling all over the place this episode is struggling to be made.

No SU representative, no Education student, no Education facilities.

Did get to meet Idowu, ranked 18th in the UK at the 200m sprint.

Training for Portsmouth School Teacher

2007-12-05T01:27:00.000Z

Went into the school to check through equipment. Need admin rights to install free software. Task continues.

Lights for Learning: Pre-trip Interview

2007-10-26T01:31:00.000+01:00

Interviewed Roger Mugridge about the forthcoming Lights For Learning trip to the Philippines

Brunel University Podcast, Episode 6: New Format

2007-10-20T07:55:00.000+01:00

New format, concentration on Faculties... this one is on Engineering and Design and Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics.

Ray Kirby took me through the Aviation Department's flight simulator while Stephen Cockett took me through the Media Design's recording studio and 3d visual studio.

Also spoke to Amanda Franklin and Ross Dudley - Ross who took me on a little tour of his Industrial Design department and facilities.

Keisha Crooks showed me around Uxbridge. I also went to the local library to see if I could find anything interesting on Uxbridge. It was a bit of a struggle.

Oxford University

2007-09-24T20:44:00.000+01:00

Podcast Training meeting with Oxford University. Possible commissioning of training from LittleSmasher.com.

Brighton University Meeting

2007-09-20T00:55:00.000+01:00

Meeting with Robbie and Hugh at Brighton. Inaugural lectures. Marketing podcasts for specific faculties, Hugh uses an edirol, new faculty marketeers joining in six weeks.

We'll see.

Brunel University Podcast Episode 5: Results Day, Clearing and Preparation for the start of term

2007-08-09T17:15:00.000+01:00

This was rescheduled due to a podcasting stint in South Africa and the fact that no interviewees had been set up for the two days I was on campus.

So it was recorded on the 30th and 31st July. Interviewed Eoin Lally [about Clearing] and the SU President, Jatin Patel for the SU stuff and Freshers Week information. Sam Smith at the SU Reception was an unexpected interviewee but performed well.

Today it went live. Issues still with who deals with the rss feed as it is a bit technical for Amanda but not in Andrew's area of responsibility. I have offered to carry out the uploading of mp3 and rss files.

South Africa Job

2007-07-16T16:00:00.000+01:00

Off to South Africa to do some audio recording for Kruger2Canyons.com. Short notice gig. 2 weeks.

2007-07-03T11:20:00.000+01:00

Episode 78

Brunel University Podcast Episode 4

2007-05-11T18:10:00.000+01:00

Now it's up and ready for download. This one is about Accommodation. Again, more voices make it so much more interesting to listen to. I had a look around Dawn James' room in the Gordon Hall of Residence and paid a visit to the Library. I also heard from someone who lived at home during her studies.

Episode 4

Epsiode 4 for Brunel University

2007-04-22T20:06:00.000+01:00

Received the details of what this episode is to be about last week but only able to go over them today. It's going to be mainly on the subject of Accommodation. My suggestions of differing voices and the Out And About On Campus items seem to be permanent fixtures now which is good. Hopefully we'll be able to do something on the library facilities this time too.

Episode 3 for Brunel University

2007-04-02T16:55:00.000+01:00

Finalizing the uploading of the 3rd Brunel University Podcast. Is live and on the website now but awaiting feedburner to reflect the changes.