As usual, at the end of RadioDays Europe, six conference presenters were recruited to give 30 ideas in 45 minutes.
Here are their key takeawayys:
Thomas Korponay-Pfeifer, PD of Radio 88.6
Five commandments for PDs
- Remember the station’s core values and keep them holy. Make sure everyone is on the same page about brand positioning.
- Thou shalt have faith in your people, trust your talent, give them creative space and let them do their job.
- Thou shalt not be afraid of failure. Make it ok to fail so they can learn.
- Honour thy owners and CEOs… but keep them away from your team.
- Thou shalt dare to dream big, look for Whys, not Why Nots
Carolina Jamet, CBC Radio Canada
- Create your own audio platform and control your distribution – it will help you build and leverage your brand
- Break up your radio shows into segments and provide them in different formats on different platforms
- Enhance discoverability – update your home page regularly, 4 times per day, 7 days per week. With a dynamic platform people spend more time with you
- Audio books – create an enriched audio book platform
- Drive audience engagement – for example co-listening to kids audio books with parents
Kenny Southaby, ReelWorld
- Be comfortable with change, it’s always there, station sounds cannot stay the same
- Upcycle audio creatively. Use the emotional connection people have with sound to convey a brand message
- Seek inspiration where your audience is.
- Outdo streaming services – add value to our content and station sound that streamers do not do
- Be concise
Julia Schutz, Antenne NRW (a new station just 202 days on air)
- Take calculated risks – some people are so afraid of losing that they never try to win
- Look after your rising stars, not only the cash cows
- Find a purpose, so you know what you are fighting for
- Be proud but never satisfied
- You need the right people in your corner – a mentor, a financial controller, a lawyer
Andrew Davis, ABC Australia Digital and Engagement Editor
Podcast tips to engage and keep an audience
- Episode headlines and descriptions motivate listeners to try a new podcast. More than recommendations, hosts, brands or artwork
- Lead with something interesting, the first line and a half will be displayed on the main page. Great headlines work, especially those that provoke emotion or curiosity
- Style and tone of episode description and headline should match the style of the audio
- Use the one shot rule – one call to action, not a shopping list
- Ask listeners to rate or review your podcast
Alan Haydn Jones, Head of BBC Radio 1
- Keep renewing your presenters if your station is a youth station
- Cast the net wide when looking for new talent
- Recruit a diverse range of presenters
- You are not your audience, make radio that they want
- Presenter development never ends
Next year’s Radio Days Europe will be held in Prague., 26-28 March 2023.
And later this year, RadioDays Asia will team up with the ABU and will be held in Kuala Lumpur on 6 & 7 September. The ABU’s RadioAsia conference this year will also partner with RadioDays and will be held in the same venue in KL on 5 September, with an additional half day training conference on Sunday 4 September.
This story first appeared on RadioInfo.asia