For many years, radio was a one way conversation. As a teenager, I remember hanging on every word from Brother Bill Gable at CKLW and John Records Landecker at WLS. They talked and I listened. There was no interaction and they had no idea who I was.
Now… fast forward technology 30 years. There is no excuse for radio to still be a one way conversation. Oh, certainly we talk to listeners and use them for phone calls. But seriously, how many of you are really creating a conversation with your listeners and connecting on a one on one level?
A media study by Bivings Group of newspapers in 2008 showed that 58 percent had some form of user-generated content on their websites. That includes user-generated photos, homegrown video and actual op-ed or articles. And 75% of newspapers encourage dialogue among readers via comments about stories. This is how newspaper will survive. Online content and user conversations.
Add into the mix Facebook, Twitter and other social networking sites and you have millions of people all publishing their own content. So how are you interacting with your listeners? Are you becoming part of the conversation or just sitting on the sidelines? If you want them to talk about you… you have to become part of the conversation.
In a search of about 50 radio websites, I found very little in the way of listener generated content. A few stations had photos sent by listeners but most websites are little more than a billboard of station events and contest information…. with some banner ads for clients thrown in. It is all one way… station to listener. And almost no conversation or interactivity between station and listener to be found.
To make yourself contagious… to have the connections that really stick, think of all of your resources and how you can make them more interactive. About 35% of adults are currently on Facebook or another social network and it is growing faster every day. So they understand communication and they like the connection. Blogging is also an easy way to create a two way interaction that allows a sharing of ideas and experiences. Encourage your listeners to send photos, videos and offer them a way to talk back to you. Make the connection with you contagious! It only requires a little effort and almost no money and you will be pleasantly surprised at the marketing benefits!
Contagious Connections is a marketing system created by
MStique Marketing to help clients make their marketing contagious and more effective in a time of
tight marketing resources. Get the most for your marketing dollar by becoming Contagious. To find out more about Contagious Connections, visit
MStique online at
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