We've recently updated our website with some new features. You'll notice that it's looking a little sharper, but the main change is the new podcasting showcase and podcast samples page we have added.

Corporate podcasting showcase
To listen to "real" podcasts that we have produced for our clients, just follow the rotating podcast logos on the left hand side of the homepage. You may recognise the likes of OPEC, Zurich and if you're in the UK I'm sure that the Government's Business Link will also ring a bell. If you click on any of these logos you can now sift through a selection of podcasts of varying style and format to get a good idea what's possible with this modern and dynamic media.

We'd highly recommend tuning in to Scottish Life's Pensions Radio for 2 or 3 way pensions banter. If the episode in our showcase whet's your appetite, you can subscribe in iTunes - just search for "Pensions Radio" in the iTunes Music store or visit the Scottish Life's Beehive website for other subscription options such as iGoogle and a generic feed for Zencast etc.

The Living Britain podcast that we produced for Zurich discusses the changing face of Britain. The podcast is based upon research commissioned by Zurich. Each episode, three voice over artists were invited to record the male and female interview and the introduction. A clean, contemprary musical sting completed the podcast's authentic radio programme feel. Very interesting listen for anyone in the UK - and any Anglophiles too.

Podcast stings and compilations
The podcast samples page have been updated with some stings and voice over recordings that showcase some of our audio podcasting work in one place. Just scroll down and tune in using our online player to hear some of our work over the years. We produce our own stings using the latest software and real musical instruments. If you're interested to here some of our more adventurous work I could do worse than to point you to Pensions Radio again - if you're planning an ongoing podcast rather than a one-off series then a good sting and some artistic license can really enthuse your listeners!

Podcast Production has been busy over the last few months recording podcasts with specialist software solutions company Questionmark.

Questionmark provides technologies and services for online testing and assessment to wide range of educational institutions, corporations, government agencies and awarding bodies all over the world. Their blog includes tips on best practices, case studies and commentary. Podcasts on the blog offer insights from users of the Questionmark Perception assessment management system as well as learning industry thought leaders.

Each month, Podcast Production's recording engineer joins hosts Joan Phaup and Sarah Elkins from Questionmark to record an audio podcast. The global nature and diversity of Questionmark's business means that their guests can be dialing in via landlines or Internet telecommunications from all over the world. Once we have tapped in and recorded the podcast in the best audio quality possible, we edit any slips that may have occured and once everyone is happy with the content it is produced with its distinctive "sting" and published on the Questionmark blog.

In podcast 6 Sarah spoke to David Lewis about formative assesement. I'm sure to those such as myself that are new to the subject, this podcast could make a good introduction:

David Lewis of Glamorgan University has extensive experience with Questionmark Perception. I spoke with him recently about the large scale implementation he has been working on at Glamorgan, where they use Questionmark for formative assessment, summative assessment and module evaluation. David also spoke about the training programs that have been developed within the University, the collaboration with other higher education institutions in Wales, and provided some great advice for anyone working with online assessments

Tune in to this podcast with David Lewis

We're sure their podcast is up to the mark!

Pensions Radio, which Podcast Production produce for Scottish Life has been nominated for Hitachi's European Podcast Award. The podcast has developed its own unique blend of bare pensions facts with banter centered around the UK pensions industry.

Lords, ladies, ministers, journalists and pensions experts frequently join Chief pensions strategist Steve Bee and "man on the street" Stephen Ballard for live on-site recordings which are usually in London. It makes interesting listening, even for the pensions ignorant such as myself - so why not tune in? If you like it, vote too!

Hi all, Robin here with an update on podcast directories.

Podcast directories are a difficult one to nail down, but broadly speaking there are three types around that can help listeners find a podcast. Depending on the directory, there could be a host of additional functionality that the listener use if they choose and, of course, if they understand concept.

• Podcast directories accessed from within software eg. iTunes
  Load up your iTunes and look in Music store, not everything is paid for! Some websites provide one click subscription "chicklets" for iTunes. If you have iTunes installed, these will automatically open up your software and take you to the approriate page eg. BeeHive pension podcast.
  
  
• Podcast directories on the web eg. Podcast Alley, Podcast Pickle, Podcast.net
  These podcast directories help listeners find new podcasts using their usual web browser (IE,Firefox,Safari). Many offer "one click" subscription buttons to allow listeners to subscribe to podcasts using iTunes, PodNova, Bloglines. Podcasts are classified by their subject, sometimes using the predefined iTunes categories but mostly their own classfication to help browsers tune in to podcasts of interest to them. For example, Look under "business" and "investing" in most podcast directories and you will find the BeeHive Pension podcast.
  eg. Podcast Alley.
  
  Other directories such as Odeo and Blubrry use the more powerful "tagging" mechanism to help listeners find podcasts with keyword links.
  
  
• Podcast subscription portals eg. PodNova, Bloglines
  Create an account and log into these portals to manage subscriptions to podcasts, play them with embedded payers and find new podcast to subscribe to. Being an online account, you can sign in on any computer with a modern web browser and tune in eg. Click BeeHive Pension podcast to try subscribing with Bloglines.
  

In addition to these, the all of the big names such as Google, Yahoo and AOL, Live (Microsoft) have various forms of podcast support. Google, in particular have added podcasting support to their RSS reader, Google Reader. Google Reader is a good way for business and office-bound listeners to tune in to podcasts because is provides an embedded player and organisational tools for "tagging" episodes.

Many online Blog and RSS readers also provide podcast support too, and those that don't already are starting to catch on. One worthy of note is Bloglines, which we also put under online podcast organisation tools in out classification above. Why? Because they adapted well to the test - audio shift, after all podcasting started off as "audioblogging".

Finally, there is virtually no limit to what they developers, podcasters and bloggers on the net are up to. It is possible to create your own podcast feed by compiling epidodes from other podcasters together. I'll leave this to you to discover for yourselves.

We thought our latest press release, "Businesses don’t understand Podcasting" could be of interest to blog visitors and subscribers.

New media production agency, Podcast Production Ltd, is helping business take advantage of this new and exciting communication channel throughout Europe. The Company was formed by a group of media, marketing and technical specialists in order to make the dynamic and engaging media of Podcasts accessible both to the corporate business community and its customers.

Sales and Marketing Director, Stephen Ballard commented,

“Corporate customers are now recognising Podcasting as a unique marketing channel that will give them a fast track connection to the iPod generation. Giving users the flexibility to listen to information on the move has undoubtedly been the key driver in making Podcasting such an effective new communication channel. As a marketing professional I would recommend that customers embrace this technology to provide competitive advantage.”

A Podcast is a series of multimedia “episodes” much like the chapters of a book, delivered via an audio or video file to which a listener can subscribe and receive regular updates. Having subscribed using free and easily accessible software, listeners automatically receive the episodes as they are published. All this happens within affecting the users email account so SPAM is not an issue. Each Podcast episode can be automatically downloaded to an mp3 player such as an iPod, mobile phone or simply played back on a PC.

Communications Director, Robin Wolstenholme has discovered a knowledge gap within business,

“When we talk to new customers about Podcasting, they think a Podcast is just an mp3 download. For me, the real power of Podcasting lies in the subscription mechanism, building up a listener base.”

Another misconception that Podcast Production has encountered is a lack of imagination when embarking on a corporate Podcast. Rob Granville who heads up the production department at Podcast Production elaborated,

“We have found that formal interviews, chaired discussions and short market reports adapt well to Podcasting, but the possibilities extend to many other areas of application. For example, a customer newsletter delivered by Podcast is more engaging and dynamic than a paper equivalent. It is also more accessible and environmentally friendly than a paper delivery for a socially responsible business or organisation”

Ballard summarised,

“Podcasting is not a replacement for existing communication channels, but a powerful ally in the struggle for voice in today’s fast paced business world. ”

Podcast Production on PRWeb