An introductory guide to audio and video blogging by creative content communications company Inner Ear, this overview was requested by The Social Chemist as part of the Blog Off! event during Social Media Week Glasgow. This presentation includes tips and techniques for how to plan, record, edit and promote your own audio and video blogs and podcasts.

1. Audio and Video Blogging
An overview by Inner Ear

2. Inner Ear
• Creative content communications
‣ Digital media production (create content)
‣ Social media engagement (communicate content)
‣ Training and consultancy

3. Inner Ear
• Produce audio, video, text (blog) and image content
• Setup, manage and advise on publication and distribution
of blogs, podcasts, videos and live streams
• Seed content through social media
• Consult on campaign planning, strategy,
operations and tactics

4. Inner Ear
• Extensive content management experience
‣ Radio Magnetic (www.radiomagnetic.com)
‣ Began online broadcast in March 2001
‣ UK’s longest running independent internet radio station
‣ Credibility with music and media
‣ “Shop window” proof of concept

5. Audio or Video
• Choose the right format for you
‣ Audio is portable
‣ Video is immediate
• What does your audience want?
• What resources do you have?

6. Plan the Series
• Finite or ongoing?
• How many episodes?
• Themed or open?
• What’s the “story arc”?

7. Plan the Episodes
• How long is each one?
• What’s the format?
‣ e.g. Drama, comedy, documentary, interview...
• Assemble your content
• Open with a strong statement or engaging clip
• Draft script ideas

8. Record the Content
• Setup your studio or choose your locations
• Assemble your equipment (borrow, buy or hire)
• Low cost hardware options include:
‣ Audio: ZOOM H1
‣ Video: Kodak Playtouch HD Video Camera

9. Recording Considerations
• Audio
‣ Be aware of background noise
‣ Use a windshield for outdoor recordings
‣ Get as loud a level as possible without distortion
‣ Always use headphones to monitor

10. Recording Considerations
• Video
‣ Make sure there’s enough light
‣ Use external microphones wherever possible
‣ Film a variety of angles to use when editing
‣ Be consistent in terms of where the the subject
is looking, i.e. at the camera or interviewer

11. File Management
• Backup all of your raw files
• Adopt a consistent file management policy
• Be strict about version control
• Make sure you have plenty of storage space

12. Editing Considerations
• Review all your recorded content
• Choose the bits you want to use
• Use time codes (mm:ss) to indicate clips
• Plan the episode
• Edit down as much as possible

13. Editing Software
• Audio
‣ http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
‣ http://www.aviary.com/tools/audio-editor
• Video
‣ http://www.youtube.com/editor
‣ http://jaycut.com/

14. Content Management
Consider the three core elements of web 2.0:
RSS (really simple syndication: feeds, streams, etc.)
Embeddable media (video and audio players, etc.)
Tags (user defined, non-hierarchical taxonomy system)

15. Content Management
• Properly label each episode
• Be consistent across the series
• Write an engaging title and description
• Use a combination of generic, specific and branded
tags

16. Choose Your Platforms
Mixcloud Soundcloud Audioboo
YouTube Vimeo Flickr

17. Publish the Podcast
Use online tools to create and manage your RSS feed
before submitting it to podcast directories, like iTunes
RapidFeeds Feedburner iTunes

18. Distribute and Promote
• Submit the podcast feed to as many directories as possible including:
‣ http://www.podcastalley.com/add_a_podcast.php
‣ http://podnova.com
‣ http://www.podcast411.com
‣ http://www.podcastblaster.com/directory/add-podcast
‣ http://www.podcastdirectory.com/add
‣ http://www.podcast.tv/submit-your-podcast.html
‣ http://www.podcast.com/submit.php
‣ http://www.podblaze.com/directory_submit.php
‣ http://www.podbean.com

19. Reference and resources
• http://www.delicious.com/innerear
• http://www.slideshare.net/innerear
• http://www.issuu.com/innerear
• http://www.vimeo.com/innereartv
• http://www.facebook.com/innerearuk
• LinkedIn: Creative Content Communications
• Twitter: @innerearuk

20. Contact
• Inner Ear Ltd.
• 16 Argyle Court, 1103 Argyle Street, G3 8ND
• 0141 226 8808
• www.innerear.co.uk
‣ dougal@innerear.co.uk
‣ anny@innerear.co.uk
‣ andy@innerear.co.uk