Posts Tagged ‘ commitments ’

Designing Your Shows Content

Apr 3rd, 2008 | By Justin Kaiser | Category: Podcast Consulting

Do you have a vision for how your show will flow?

If you’re creating a show to highlight your own skills and services, you will probably want to keep the focus on you.

For other show ideas, you will add variety and expand your reach by inviting others to contribute content on an occassional or regular basis.

I didn’t start out that way, it actually developed slowly over time. When I realized that having a committed team of high quality experts means that there is about 15 minutes of ready to go content for every show - I made permanent arrangements.

Here’s a very valuable tip for the new show host: Don’t make any commitments when it comes to sharing your show time with anyone else.

Listen, this is your baby we’re talking about. It’s your show idea and you want to make sure that it carries the flavor you intended. The last thing you want is to end up feeling like you have to use someone’s bad or just plain boring content just because you have a hasty promise.

When someone approaches you with an idea for your show, stick to this reply: “My show is about (fill in the blank) and if you can show me how your idea connects with my target market, I would love to give it some consideration.”

Always, always turn the responsibility for making it fit back on the person who is asking. It’s not your job to make their ideas work for your show, it’s the other way around. If they can’t convince you that it’s a good fit - it doesn’t stand much of a chance of appealing to your precious listeners.

This goes for guests and possible expert contributers alike. Stand tough and make sure that every show is one that you will be proud of.

A last thought, don’t get bogged down in trying to craft the perfect format. You will likely find that you will want to change some things that you do in response to listener feedback, so the sooner that you can get your show on the air, the sooner that you’ll get this great feedback :)

Justin Kaiser
Creative Identity Group

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Promotions - Thanksgiving

Jan 14th, 2007 | By Justin Kaiser | Category: Broadcast Promotions

Ham It Up

Here’s a promotion that can be used prior to Thanksgiving or Christmas. Find a local grocery store or meat market that will donate turkeys (for Thanksgiving) or ham (for Christmas). Each day, give away one turkey or ham to a listener who gives the correct answer to a trivia question related to either Thanksgiving or Christmas. For each turkey or ham you give to a listener, donate one to a local food bank in the listener’s name.

Thanksgiving Feast

Just prior to Thanksgiving, send your jocks out to local schools during lunch to eat with the kids and sample their Thanksgiving meals. Then, select the school with the tastiest Thanksgiving feast and award them with lunch from a local pizza or hamburger restaurant.

Food Bank Contributions

Team up with a local grocery store during the holiday season to arrange a live broadcast from their location. Encourage listeners to come down and shop, and pick up some extra items to donate to the local food bank. Have containers for the food at your remote…give away station paraphernalia and put shoppers on the air to make the event fun for everyone.

Dinner On The Mayflower

Sponsor a “Thanksgiving on the Mayflower” dinner during the holiday season. Have listeners register for this contest at a local grocery store (you can even place the sign-ups with a food collection container encouraging donations, and give the contents to a local food bank). Announce the winner during morning drive the week before Thanksgiving…the grand prize is an elegant Thanksgiving dinner for their family or friends, served by candlelight, on a Mayflower moving van.

Holiday Visibility

The year-end holidays creates good cheer and positive feelings. Connect your station with that holiday spirit by being a visible part of your community’s holiday events. Co-sponsor tree lightings, arrivals of Santa and holiday fund raisers. It’s a great time to contact event organizers and offer to help out by publicizing and being part of their holiday fun! Warning: beware of clutter from November through the middle of December; limit on-air commitments and strive to get visibility at the events.

Home For The Holidays

As the year-end holidays near, get together with a travel agency or airline and put together a “Home For the Holidays” package. Fly a college student home or send a family to Grandma’s house for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. Have them write or fax your station, in 50 words or less, why they or a loved one should win the trip.

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