RemainComm

Sunday Morning with Skype

After quite some time, a recent business venture led me to dust off my Skype account. I actually got the account a long time back but really had little cause to use it. That and the built-in mic I use sounded like poop. In reality, I was intrigued by the whole VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) thing when I started down the “new media”. (If the yellow brick road had the munchkins, imagine what this road has. Yikes) 

Anyway, I have the need to speak with my partner on this venture regularly so we decided to use Skype for our regular chats and it was interesting to get up and running on this rather social media offering. So I’m thinking, “Phil, you’re sooo cutting edge.”

Then the family and I are at church when in the middle of the weekly announcements, our Pastor introduces one of the other Pastors “live” from India via Skype. We’ve all become accustom to those video phone interviews on CNN. Seeing an embedded reporter’s jerky and sometime out of sync updates is a fairly normal occurrence these days, but having your worship leader give you the scoop on a mission trip at three in the morning where he was took me by surprise. (OK, we went to church on Saturday night. The title just didn’t seem as snappy.) There it was…all main-stream and stuff.

I started thinking about all the uses for Skype beyond me talking to a colleague and getting reports from India. There are many: Have you got a conference with the suits coming up and you want to include others around the company? Skype it. Interview for your podcast or website? Skype it. Talking with Uncle Chutney in London and the phone card is tapped? You get the idea.

The Skype site can give you the complete skinny on the service. My point is that it’s one of the tools that can help you in your efforts to communicate. Remember, that to really get the most out of it, you and the person you’re talking with will need a high speed internet connection. Also, don’t skimp on a microphone or headset. We found that a Bluetooth headset and a wireless network is quite dicey…at best.

If you’re going to use Skype for a professional reason and the technical things aren’t in place. Don’t do it. Remember, know the audience and the level of technology they have access to.

Time to call Uncle Chutney….

You Speak. Who Hears? Who Listens?

As I spend more and more time peeling back the layers of communicating in the new millennium I’m always impressed at the amount of tools available to send a message or start a conversation. With so many gadgets and applications pouring out of the cloud it’s clear you need to investigate using some of them to reach your audience. Whoever that audience is, customers, friends, relatives, even pets can be reached in so many ways.

But, as exciting as it is to see all of these innovations develop, if you want to be truly effective in your communication, you can’t get swept up in the buzz of it all. Remember…remain calm.

The fact is that you need to have a clear understanding of who your audience is and what tools they use. If you try and reach them through a medium they don’t use…well…the point would be?

For example, my wife and I are spending more and more time texting each other throughout the day. It’s a great way for us to juggle the ever changing plans between our work, kids, and friends. It’s quick and unobtrusive. In fact, it has saved my butt more than a few times. See, I tend to space off phone messages and it’s easy for me to just text my bride as soon as I hang up the phone. The point is that we are starting to text so much I’ve thought about using Twitter or AIM or some other service. Then I realize my wife has no desire to use any of the tools. Because a) she doesn’t sit at a computer all day and b) her cell phone doesn’t have a data option. Yeah, I know all these services have a SMS option but the fact is…why bother if SMS works just fine?

And that’s the point; your audience has the same attitude. Unless it will profoundly improve their lives they’re just fine with where they are right now. Unless what you are trying to communicate is really revolutionary, you must reach them through the channels that exist and the ones they use. Don’t start the process of building a relationship with someone by introducing a new technology or changing their habits. They will better listen to your message in the environment they are comfortable in. 

Your path of least resistance is to find out what they use. Who are you trying to reach? How old are they? How interested in your message and how do they hear about it? Believe it or not, adoption of new things is a relatively slow process. In most cases slow enough to date your message if you try using the “next big thing”.   

That means…research...at what ever level you can. It’s better to spend the money and the time to get to look at the habits of your audience than spend the time and money whizzing in the wind.  Over the next weeks, as I continue to try and keep up, I’ll start tearing into many of these tools and we can find out some of the best and worst ways to reach your audience. Do remember, what may be ineffective today may be the “text messaging” for next week. Our goal is to use the right ones at the right time…now. 

The (Ringtone) Hits From Coast to Coast

You know I post about radio on Thursdays (trust me it’s still Thursday as I write.) and I have to share a great concept and program with you. 

I had lunch with Dave Ryan, the morning guy from KDWB in Minneapolis. Over the past few years Dave has been kind enough to drag himself away form his family and adoring fans and sit down to lunch with me. It’s always a great time.

This week, over Mexican food, Dave, with salsa breath, told me of his latest endeavor; The Ringtone Countdown. After a bit of bad humor like, “What, that’s like a five minute show? How long is the average ringtone?” and “I don’t think I could listen to an hour of Crazy Frog.” Dave gave me the scoop. 

Each week he and his producers put together the top ten full songs that are the basis for the most popular ring tones of the week. (Phew!) Put away the Casio keyboard and check out a sample here. 

The ten songs are compiled by Dave and staff by tracking ringtone purchases from many different sources and providers and not just Billboard’s chart. This eliminates the need to hear The Pink Panther theme every week. (For the love of…who keeps downloading this thing? Henry Mancini’s granddaughter?) In addition, Dave tells me they add plenty of entertainment news, “Top Picks”, interviews and extras to round out the show.   

Yeah, Dave's a friend and this may seem like a shameless plug but, This is a great idea! Hooray, content! Kudos to Dave and his distributor, Nineball Radio, for serving up something that is tapping into a young audience’s subculture. The show debuted on January 5^th and is currently airing in Minneapolis, on Dave’s home station KDWB, Orlando, Hartford, Davenport, and Palm Springs. They’re also about to debut in Tucson, Colorado Springs, and Duluth.

This thing is so new there isn’t a full on website yet but watch for it soon. I suggested they do a 5 minute podcast version. Hey Dave, how about a Dave Ryan ring tone? Okay, that might be scarier than Crazy Frog. 

Now here’s a peek at this week’s Top Ten…                                              
                   
                                    10  Apologize-OneRepublic                                
                                      9  Paralyzer-Finger Eleven
                                      8  Sensual Seduction-Snoop Dogg
                                      7  Sweetest Girl-Wyclef Jean
                                      6  Take You There-Sean Kingston
                                      5  No One-Alica Keyes
                                      4  Suffocate-J. Holiday
                                      3  Clumsy-Fergie
                                      2  With You-Chris Brown
                                      1  Low-Flo Rida 

…now Susie wants to dedicate the Super Mario Brothers theme to her boy friend who won't tear himself away from his XBox and get a job…well Susie, here’s your long distance dedication…Koji Kondo. (Sorry, I couldn't help it.)

 

ohwha tagee kiam

...OhWha TAGee KIAm...Oh What A Geek I Am. Who knew?  I joined the ranks of "Those that can not wait" today. Not content to sit and wait (what, a whole hour) for the video of the Steve Jobs keynote, affectionately known as Stevenote, at MacWorld today I fired up the computer to try and follow along.

Since the presentation isn't aired live I depended on the kindness of about a zillion sources of hurriedly written text by those inside the Moscone Center. You'll note just two of the screens that cluttered my desktop for the hour. I haven't included the other blog windows, my Twitter and e-mail. You'll also note that one of the screens is my AIM screen. Yep, to really peg the geek-meter, I was IM-ing with my friend Mark Swift as he joined a bunch of his IT pals for lunch and blog watch during the event...the next thing you know I'll be bidding for a "tricorder" on eBay.

I realized the last time I had this many screens open was when the I35 bridge collapsed. Interesting how I now gravitate to my computer desktop when I really want to follow something closely. I'm using this form of media so much...maybe it's not "new" anymore.

It’s Thursday, Must Be Radio: HD Opportunity Knocking…Who Will Answer?

“HD Radio’s Prospects May Improve”-Wall Street Journal
“Hands-On: Radio for the deaf”-PC Magazine

With CES in full swing, the radio trade press is buzzing that HD radio is one of the shows “stars.” Of course, we have to chalk a lot up to the HD Radio Alliance and its PR efforts. But the fact is there are some headlines…this time relatively positive ones.

“Checking Up on HD Radio”-Washington Post
“Ford to Make HD Digital Radio Available Across Nearly All Product Lines”-Motortrend
“HD Radio rolls out iTunes tagging”-Engadget

Readers of RemainComm know that I’m not a big believer in HD. Not that more reasons to turn on the radio is a bad thing. My problem has always been how radio chooses to prioritize its issues and then doing a poor job of committing to them.

The fact is that right now, right this very minute; there are actual headlines about HD. Who will jump on this opportunity to tell the consumer…finally…what they can get on HD? Not what it is, not who’s behind it, and not just on the radio in free spots. After two years of hearing the commercials for HD in my own city (Minneapolis/St. Paul) I have yet to hear what I can actually find if I were even tempted to purchase an HD radio. Oh, I can hear all sorts of pitches that I need HD radio and even some explanation, though not much, about what it is. But no one is telling me that there is a blues channel, a comedy channel, a jazz channel, etc. (I only know that because I was at CBS when we launched our HD channels.)

The only headline above that actually addresses content is the one about Radio for the deaf. Let’s be clear; this is a great use of the digital technology to make radio accessible to all. But, I’d hate to think that radio companies around the country are budgeting additional dollars to their engineering departments to install and maintain new transmitters only to put something on that can’t be heard.

Yep, getting the technology out there is important. Getting content that is compelling enough to get someone to invest in that technology is vital.

What do you know? Content is once again the most important thing about radio.

“Poll Dancing” Revisited

With most of the “blogosphere” abuzz about CES I thought I’d post about anything but…

The holidays kept me from following up on this but I do want to share results of the first ever RemainComm reader poll. I asked the very basic of questions as it pertains to this blog. “When you can’t talk to someone face to face, what device do you use most to communicate with them?” Here’s how it broke out:

    Phone (land line)........................12.5%

    Cell phone (voice)….....................37.5%

    E-mail.....................................25%

    Text.......................................12.5%

    Mail........................................zilch.

    Web Applications (Twitter, etc.).......12.5%
 
No real surprises I guess. Between text and cell it looks as though you are a mobile bunch. In addition, if you’re in the “old world” communication business you may want to rethink that gig as the next “Wichita Lineman” or pent up loner at the post office. 

Okay, so our ‘far from scientific” poll points out that Cliff can spend more time on the bar stool at Cheers. Might this also present an opportunity the next time you want to get someone’s attention? Next time you fire off an e-mail to make a pitch or submit a resume; consider sending a letter as well. Imagine the delight of someone who sees an actual letter in their dwindling pile of direct mail ads and bills that is their daily delivery. You never know, you might be the only one who does it. 

There’s a new poll posted so…have at it!

It’s Thursday, Must Be Radio: Avoiding the “Jockless” Itch

So as I trekked across the middle of the country on what I call the “Midwest Swing” (MN, IA, MO, KS, NE) for the holidays, we passed through Omaha. I had been alerted by my friend and former mid-day announcer, Shari Stone, that the Adult Contemporary station we had signed on some 5 years back, Literock 101.9, KLTQ, had just changed format. Back then the station debuted big, dispatching the long-time market leading AC to its own format change a few years later. Lite (as it had become known) had suffered ratings declines in recent years due to many reasons, not the least of which was a lack of commitment to marketing.

When I tuned in 101.9 on this trip to listen to the new station, 101-9, the Big “O”, I can tell you I couldn’t help feeling a bit sad. I had built Literock, my first AC, from the ground up and had a chance to work with some great people doing it. What has replaced it is another “hybrid” Rock/AC (think Ben, Jack, etc.) with a pop rock lean…ho-hum.

Whether this station will be successful is not the issue here. What is the issue and what really grinds my gears, chaps my hide, (insert cliché here), is that it is running “jockless”. This is the tactic that  many “new” formats use to, as us programmers like to say, “establish a music position.” Play nothing but music for months (in this case, I’ve been told 3-6 of ‘em) then…maybe…add personalities. Of course, it’s also a hell of lot cheaper to not pay personalities.

Okay, gang it’s time to stop this. The days of building a lasting radio station on the foundation of being a jukebox are, or should, be behind us. In the case of the Big “O”, or hybrids like it, which is playing music that can be found in many places on the dial in Omaha, there is no music position. (Please, for the love of God, don’t use the word “variety”.)

For years everyone from PD’s, and consultants to owners, VP’s and researchers have been saying that compelling content and local appeal is what will keep radio relevant. It’s time to listen. Further, if you want to reach anyone under the age of 30 for longer than a month, non-stop music is not nearly compelling enough, period. 

If the plan is to introduce “jocks” after that 3-6 months, good luck. You’ve just spent the last 90 to 180 days building the expectation in the audience, one I contest is continually shrinking, that you are all music. Imagine how thrilled they will be when all of sudden there are people talking…no matter how much. 

It’s time to start launching new formats (emphasis on new) with a full staff intact. The benefits far outweigh the negatives. Just think; right out of the gate, real people to be fans of the station, talk about the great music, entertain, meet and talk to the audience. Yep, living breathing humans to build relationships with the audience, and serve the clients (and earn their money). Most importantly, real personalities will build the audience’s expectations that the station is relevant and will be part of their lives for years to come…right from the start! It will cost a few shekels more but will pay off in the long run. 

Oh yeah, radio should think in terms of the “long run” more.

New Media, New Year Resolutions

This year, I will…

  …do everything I can to make the adoption of “new media” as easy for everyone as possible. We “early adopters” can’t forget that most folks are still digesting the internet as a whole, much less all it has to offer. There is so much more going on than Google, iTunes, and text messaging.

  …remember there is a difference between sending a message and conversing. Spend more time talking face to face or on the phone with people. Text, e-mail, etc. are great for quick thoughts but can never replace the emotion of a great conversation. 

  …work to improve the quality and the content in my writing. I write more now than I have in years and I want my blog posts to be more than articles. I want them to inform, inspire, and entertain all at the same time. (Okay, this one is going to take a lot of work.)

  …work to improve the quality of the audio online. I was listening to my son’s iPod the other day and realized that we’ve taught people to settle for audio quality that is, to put it politely, not so great. When we adopted the CD we sacrificed some depth to our audio, just as we did when we started using audio tape. Now that we are using the internet as our main source of music we have sacrificed even more or that sound quality. I heard a record the other day and I was blown away by the sound I had been missing. If you have some vinyl around you should do the same. (If you have no idea what a record is, please seek one out…maybe your attic?) I had become use to the sound of an mp3, probably downloaded a terrible bit rate. I will do whatever I can to hear more of what the musicians and performers worked so hard to put into their recordings.

  …work to improve the quality of video online. The same challenge faces us with what we see online. With the advent of HDTV the bar has been raised even higher. What I see on my Smartphone should look just as good as what I see on cable.

  …convince advertisers that the “new media” audience is of incredibly high quality and is worth more than a traditional media user. There are already scores of studies  highlighting the incredibly high recall rates for online advertising (even higher with a mix of media), we need to get the advertisers to respect that and think beyond “cost per thousand.” 

…enjoy more time outside the ether so that I can bring more reality into it. Pull myself out of the screen, away from the keyboard, and off the cell phone. I need to go outside and take a walk whenever I can. In fact, there’s a new layer of snow and a crisp morning waiting for me right now…  

Happy New Year!

This post can also be found on the Association of Downloadable Media site.