Creating a Radio Show
Step one: Talk but know when to stop
Step two: Make friends with media people that make you look & sound really good
Step three: Repeat one & two as necessary
Developing a radio show is no different than developing any other business plan. The nerve wracking part is not that things shift and change….that happens in all business. The nerve wracking part is that your every word and reaction to those shifts and changes are listened to by thousands of people. This is what throws a stutter or two into the mix. Radio is not for everyone. Radio requires a personality with quick wit, sharp intellect, with a sprinkle of humour and good taste. In other words, don’t ‘wing it’. Be prepared. Know your intention and discuss that intention with the production team. After all the intention of the production team is to have you sound your best and drive listeners to learn more about you through your website and social media platforms.
It’s About Business is a new radio show hitting Vancouver in August. The intention is to provide disucussion about business but the discussion about business is by business owners. Experts in their fields, our contributors use It’s About business as a platform to educate the listening audience about their industry and how it serves clients & customers. What sets them apart from their competitors and why people would want to use them? Its kinda like The View but a little more serious. No, a lot more serious.
It’s About Business will provide valuable information, interesting dialogue and an approachability to business that simply isn’t avaialable on radio in Vancouver. Stay tuned…..
To learn more about how to get involved with the show just shoot me a line at shannon@allianceindustries.ca.
Content is King
Ever read that professional bio and wonder if someones mother wrote it? Or that mission statement that should just have SNORE! as the water mark? Writing content is not the easiest of tasks. I will go so far as to say that it is something that should not be attempted by some even though it is subjective. Whether writing for clients, colleagues, or just for plain old fun here are a few standards I follow:
1) Less is usually more. Rephrase: less is more.
2) Removing emotion is a good idea – unless it is in reference to animals or babies then there is more wiggle room. (that usually only applies to non-profit groups though)
3) Don’t write when you’re angry….that just never works! Go for a run or punch a heavy bag first.
4) Do NOT fake it until you feel it. There is always somebody smarter, faster, and bigger. It will catch up with you.
5) Do NOT use a professional format, or perceived professional format as opportunity to criticize your competition. Bad, bad form.
6) If you’re going to quote or provide statistical information be a giver. Give credit where it is due.
For example: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…” excerpt from ‘Oh The Places You’ll Go!’ by Dr. Seuss
7) Grammar and spelling. Yes, people notice.
8) It is really annoying when links don’t work. It may be hard to avoid because not all of us are tech-y type people but whenever possible make your links actually take the reader somewhere.
9) When you’ve worked on the same piece for too long and all you see are zero’s and one’s, you have two choices: walk away and come back when you’ve cleared your mind OR if you must publish/forward/submit due to deadlines have someone that cares about you proof read it first. By ‘cares about you’ I mean they will be honest and tell you when it is bad.
10) Not everyone will like what you write. My suggestion: get over it.
…and I’m Feelin Good…
For those that know me I’m a fan of music. All music. It motivates me, calms me, inspires me. I do a ‘self-check’ often to ensure my attitude is where it should be and from that I’m usually reminded of a lyric. In the song FEELIN’ GOOD there is a passage that goes: “It’s a new dawn, It’s a new day, It’s a new life for me….and I’m feelin good…” LOVE THAT!
Heading into 2011 is an exciting time. Its presenting opportunities that I never saw coming as well as the ability to focus on previous goals. 2010 wrapped up stronger than ever with coordinating ThinkChristmas. As a director at ThinkReferrals Business Network (TRBN) I threw myself at the chance to coordinate such a great initiative. The experience came with a lot of issues but the return was amazing. The members of TRBN were champions! By joining forces we managed to sponsor 15 families across the lower mainland and provide them with a Christmas they may not have had otherwise. Through this exercise I learned a ton! About myself, about an organization, and truly made lifelong friends. As much was given through ThinkChristmas, I was given so much more in return and met truly amazing people.
It is my 2011 mission to continue this initiative with a much more focused outlook. ThinkChristmas will be an all year tradition at TRBN. We will be raising funds and awareness to ensure that the 2011 ThinkChristmas will be an even greater success. In order to do that I’m starting with a focus on me. Yup, all about me. Gotta get in shape, clear the clutter, and any other cliche that fits. I’m starting it with ThinkFitness (www.facebook.com/ThinkFitness). The only way I will be able to accomplish all I am taking on in 2011/2012 is to be in the best possible shape physically and mentally. So this is my declaration! I will maintain a healthy mind, and a healthy body because it will allow me to give back so much more! My message: Through hope, faith and hard work we will accomplish anything we put our minds to. It is a new dawn, a new day, a new life for me….and I’m feelin’ good!
Meet ‘Herm’
Well the day has come to introduce our site and Herm, the monkey. Not sure if the monkey is a ‘her’ or a ‘him’ so we figured the name was appropriate.
Although the site is new the business is not. Alliance is still all about helping business owners grow their business. We still do it for the same reason: we love the success story! But how we do it is unique to the needs of each client.
To sum it up: We have conversations with business owners about their marketing and sales. Identify what works and what does not. Implement procedures and increase exposure resulting in an increase in sales.
You do what you love, and we make sure people learn about it.
There are many things happening at Alliance so stay tuned or join our mailing list to get updates. Thanks for visiting and hope to hear from you soon!
