Practically Social

Conversations about PR, social media and podcasting with Jeffrey Davis, APR and Charlie Birney

53. The Minterview 09/09/2021

53. The Minterview Minter Dial is one of the first remote interviews Charlie ever recorded and he is absolutely delighted to have an update on Minter’s work. In addition to a 16 year career at L’Oreal, Minter is an author of several books as well as an accomplished podcaster. His latest book, YOU LEAD, How Being Yourself Makes You A Better Leader, is Charlie's latest excuse to catch up with Minter and get to enjoy some of his magic. The book argues that business leaders deliver superior results when they are themselves and come across as genuine. Practically Social completely agrees! Join us! /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/20425892

52. Was I Hashtagging? 05/26/2021

52. Was I Hashtagging? Just like old times, Jeff, Charlie and Podville Media sound engineer Robb Spewak were back together in the Glover Park studio for episode 52! Charlie shares a dishwasher story and the guys talk about hashtag missteps and misperceptions. Charlie gives a shout-out to Brad Sherman and the relaunch of Launch Financial and Robb goes excessively nerdy during the Tip Before We Go segment covering musical motifs, melodies and the mystique of the radio jingle. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/19248911

51. That Podcast is On Time! 05/18/2021

51. That Podcast is On Time! After a conversation about the status of podcast listening trends and the steady increase in advertising dollars (“Podcast Advertising To Surpass $1B This Year,” according to a podcast revenue study conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers and shared by Jeff) the guys talked about new hires at Podcast Village, soon to be Podville Media. Charlie gave an update on the Bethesda podcast meetup group and Sound Engineer Robb Spewak offered another tip, this time resulting in the show’s first bleep! /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/19142318

50. The Riches are in the Niches 05/11/2021

50. The Riches are in the Niches Charlie provides an update on his special project, “Songs of His Times,” Jeff shares positive news about ad spending and one of the lessons in publishing: the profitability of specialization. A few Podville Media podcasts receive Communicator Awards and another episode of the JFK Assassination series by the American Diplomat is live. In our “A Tip Before We Go” segment, sound engineer Robb Spewak goes deep again, this time revealing the little things we do to make a podcast sound so great. Hint: silence the breath but maintain the rhythm. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/19052213

49. Guest Essay to Replace the Op-Ed 05/04/2021

49. Guest Essay to Replace the Op-Ed As an update to Episode 37 when the guys talked about the op-ed (opposite the editorial page), Jeff shares news from The New York Times that they will no longer use the term op-ed, and instead call it the “guest essay.” The NYT’s reasoning: in the internet space, can anything be opposite something? Charlie brings up user experience and customer experience and Robb blows us away with another podcast engineering tip, this one on how the mute button can really mess with the track. In the what’s new at Podville Media segment, the guys talked about a three-part series on the American Diplomat podcast covering Charles Thomas and the JFK Assassination. All this and more on your favorite PR and social media podcast! /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/18978947

48. Farewell to Maddy 04/28/2021

48. Farewell to Maddy The show opened on a down note, as Jeff and Charlie discussed news that Maddy (“here are the guys!”) Masiello will be leaving Podcast Village (soon to be Podville Media) for New York City. We wish her well and hope she doesn’t forget us. The guys continued their discussion about Room Rater and adding an audio rating system. They also shared frustrations with social media dashboards and boring automated posts (“Happy Arbor Day!”), many of which get zero engagement. Sound engineer Robb Spewak is back with another podcasting tip, this time on filling the silence during interviews. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/18888776

47. A Road Trip to Elon 04/20/2021

47. A Road Trip to Elon Jeff took a road trip to Elon University in North Carolina where his daughter Julia is a freshman. While walking around campus they checked out the Elon School of Communications, home of the Elon News Network and the ENN Radio podcast where student journalists extend stories that appear in their newspaper, The Pendulum. The guys talked about James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, and his tips for prioritizing what’s important. Charlie talks about Shoeman and sound engineer Robb Spewak reveals another podcast tip, this one on his “save as you go” technique. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/18780746

46. Rate My Audio 04/13/2021

46. Rate My Audio Charlie talks about the golf business and use of QR codes and other technology. Sound engineer Robb Spewak offers another audio tip, this time on over-modulation. Jeff brings up the popular Room Rater Twitter account, @ratemyskyperoom, which scores TV pundits’ pretty rooms and backdrops, and the guys suggest creating an audio version to rate sound quality. Practically Social listeners will now be treated to new music by Joel’s Beanie Beltran to close out each episode. The voice of Maddy Masiello still welcomes our listeners (“Here are the guys!”) with the Spinto Band. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/18638249

45. Vaccinated But Nowhere to Go 04/07/2021

45. Vaccinated But Nowhere to Go We go deep with podcasting audio tips in this episode, thanks to sound engineer Robb Spewak. The guys talk about LinkedIn cold calls and how more podcast hosts are on the receiving end of off-target PR pitches. The recently vaccinated Jeff talks about a webinar he attended by The Daily Record on diversity, equity and inclusion and Charlie draws a link between crisis communications planning and “walking the talk” when it comes to corporate DE&I. A big welcome to new music at the end of the show by Joel’s Beanie Beltran. Check it out on Spotify! /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/18638231

44. Celebrating Creativity 03/31/2021

44. Celebrating Creativity The guys talk about Clubhouse -- again -- and the magic of creativity. Jeff recalls how at one of his first agency jobs, Richardson, Myers & Donofrio in Baltimore, they named the conference rooms “Theatre A” and “Theatre B” to help employees understand what those rooms were all about, especially during client meetings and pitches. Podville Media is in the process of naming studios, so ideas are welcomed. Charlie introduces Beanie Beltran at the top of the episode. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/18556481

43. The Infinite Dial 2021 03/23/2021

43. The Infinite Dial 2021 Jeff tuned in to The Infinite Dial 2021 report prior to recording the show and shares what he learned to get Charlie’s reaction. Since 1998, it’s the longest-running survey of digital media consumer behavior in America. A few take-aways: TikTok is gaining ground, surpassing Twitter among some demographics. More people listen to podcasts in groups than you might think. And 57 percent of Americans have listened to a podcast. That’s 162 million people. That and more, including a special mention of the recent passing of Dutch engineer Lou Ottens. He led the team at Philips that changed the audio world in 1963 by introducing a small, portable way to play and record: the cassette. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/18397808

42. Jeopardy and Twitch 03/16/2021

42. Jeopardy and Twitch Covering the gamut, from Jeopardy to Twitch, the guys talk about Podville Media’s first-ever Twitch production for Broccoli City. The new entertainment and culture show, "As The World Spins," is hosted by Brittany Alexandra and Jeff shares the story of tuning in to that inaugural episode from his living room where family members were watching Jeopardy. Unimpressed, they asked him to leave the room or at least use his ear buds. All this and more on the anniversary of the microphone, invented in 1877 by German-American Inventor Emile Berliner. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/18346691

41. Using Clubhouse for Podcasts 03/09/2021

41. Using Clubhouse for Podcasts Jeff talks about one of the podcasts he listens to, 2Bobs - with David C. Baker and Blair Enns, and how they simulcasted an episode on Clubhouse. The guys talked about this approach in episodes 29 and 34. Podville Media is getting ready to produce a Twitch for an unnamed client. A big move as this will gain in popularity, Charlie says. Jeff somehow makes it through an awkward ending to the show. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/18255737

40. TikTok Pasta 03/02/2021

40. TikTok Pasta Jeff’s daughter Isabel goes to Eddie’s to purchase the ingredients for the now-viral TikTok Pasta and catches the eye of the cheese counter worker and even the cashier who both know what she’ll be making! Charlie talks about another use of QR codes, this time guiding him through the assembly of his new NordicTrack. Podcast Village, soon to be Podville Media, is helping a client create content for Twitch and the guys discuss ways to find podcasts. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/18160457

39. Starting a PR Campaign? Start with Social 02/23/2021

39. Starting a PR Campaign? Start with Social Jeff talked about an article in Esquire, written by Columbus PR pro Michelle Garrett, who makes the point that “when a journalist gets intrigued about a business, one of the first things they may do is check it out on social media.” Whatever they find - or don’t find - on social media has an impact on what is (or is not) written. Charlie gives a shout out to designer Erin Sweeney again, this time for the new show logo. The guys also talk about what’s new at Podville Media, including more work with client Lincoln Project, including their new podcast, “This is Politicology” with Ron Steslow. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/18062516

38. The Black Press: Trusted and Relevant 02/16/2021

38. The Black Press: Trusted and Relevant In the aftermath of last summer’s racial unrest and the recent election results in Georgia, understanding the African American news audience is more crucial than ever. The Black Press, which has been a key news and information outlet in America for nearly 200 years, is once again being rediscovered as an essential partner for professional communicators. Jeff attended a PRSA Maryland webinar on the topic and shares what he heard from panelists Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, CEO/Publisher, AFRO American Newspapers; Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Association, the trade association for 230 of America’s Black-owned media companies; and Joy Bramble, publisher of the Baltimore Times. The panelists agreed on a call to action for the PR and advertising industry: contact the Black press to discuss your clients’ needs and work together on a program to move the needle so there is true equality and a win-win for all. Become aware of their history and role in the community. Subscribe to and read the newspapers and make them part of your media plans. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17905457

37. Opposite the Editorial Page 02/09/2021

37. Opposite the Editorial Page Yes, that’s what op-ed stands for! Jeff shared the latest thinking on op-eds, thanks to a National Press Club webinar he attended featuring op-ed experts Sam Ryan and Robby Schrum of Keybridge Communications. Takeaways included “don’t yell” and “don’t be boring.” Listen for more! Also, Charlie did the show from Studio M2 on M Street and gave a shout out to podcaster Anne Pasmanick whose Power Station turns 150! (episodes). One of the very first clients we had when Podcast Village restarted in Glover Park was the amazing Anne Pasmanick. She saw past our literal sawdust and had an amazing vision for a show that would talk about community needs and so much more. And now she has hosted over 150 episodes of this unique and important show. Charlie often talks about Power Station to his friends and wished all high school and college seniors would be asked to listen to any three episodes. It will change your perspective forever. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17877695

36. Intense Social and Engagement Discussion with Brittany 02/02/2021

36. Intense Social and Engagement Discussion with Brittany Jeff and Charlie welcomed a special guest, someone who we hope becomes a regular, Brittany Alexandra! Brittany knows social, so we really got into the latest and hit on topics such as Clubhouse, how to reinvent yourself on social media, the power of Instagram and its algorithm and best ways to promote podcasts. Also discussed with on-air host and executive producer Brittany: Fox 5 DC’s Angie Goff and Broccoli City and how it’s mobilizing and educating urban millennials through social impact campaigns and major events. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17730905

35. Behind the Scenes at Practically Social 01/26/2021

35. Behind the Scenes at Practically Social This is a special episode where Jeff and Charlie pull back the curtains and reveal some of the inner workings of your favorite podcast. Thanks to everyone who has helped take us to where we are today, from our first intro announcer, Nichelle, and the creator of our logo, Erin Sweeney. The voice intro you hear now is none other than Maddy Masiello and our sound engineers have included Rob Ford and Robb Spewak. That theme music? It’s from The Spinto Band, and Charlie tells a story about the band. As always, thanks for listening to Practically Social. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17695112

34. Diving into Clubhouse and Twitch 01/20/2021

34. Diving into Clubhouse and Twitch Jeff has been spending more time with Clubhouse, still in private beta, and judging from the conversations and early adopters there, it has a lot of potential. Charlie explores Twitter Analytics and the guys talk about the lure of vanity metrics and what really matters. Finally, Jeff’s son, Trevor, introduced him to Twitch, opening Jeff’s eyes to a new world and a new way of reaching a huge and younger demographic. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17621054

33. The F Episode 01/12/2021

33. The F Episode Topics include Foursquare’s confusing brand announcement; the FIR (For Immediate Release) podcast with Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson; Fred Diamond of the Sales Game Changers podcast; and, Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot, who Jeff and Charlie interviewed during the early days of Practically Social and is now a candidate for Governor of Maryland. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17518355

32. Edison Research’s 10 for ‘20 01/05/2021

32. Edison Research’s 10 for ‘20 Jeff attended the virtual Share of Ear announcement by Edison Research and the guys talked about some of the findings, including stats on Latinx listeners, podcast listenership vs. percentage who use of Twitter, the impact of smart speakers and more. Pre-pandemic, podcast use typically started at 7:15 a.m., and now listeners begin around 8:30 a.m. Sound engineer Robb Spewak does an excellent job running the boards for this episode. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17432042

31. The Super Listeners 2020 Report 12/29/2020

31. The Super Listeners 2020 Report A new report on podcast “super listeners” is out. Jeff and Charlie attended the webinar on the results by Edison Research, Ad Results Media and PodcastOne and shared what they heard, much of it not surprising as podcasting continues with slow but steady advances and is now considered mainstream. Super listeners average 10.5 hours per week (up from 9.8 hours last year) and pay more attention to podcast ads when they are read by the host. The guys also talk about the “unreachables,” who prefer on-demand and device-driven content (such as podcasts). /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17357543

30. Employee Generated Content 12/22/2020

30. Employee Generated Content Jeff visits the M Street studio and is impressed! The guys talk about Clubhouse, Voice Tweets and Twitter’s latest addition that is already stressing out social media managers, Fleets. Charlie delivers the show’s first hardware review, sharing his experience with Zoom for Home’s DTEN ME product. Based on a tip from listener Danita Terry with the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, Jeff shares the news about how companies like Sephora and Dunkin are finding positive employee TikToks and sharing the content for authentic behind the scenes stories. Consider this the next step after the now-famous Ocean Spray TikTok video the guys discussed during Episode 22. Charlie calls it EGC, for employee generated content, the sister to UGC (user generated content). /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17295413

29. Clubhouse App and Parler 12/15/2020

29. Clubhouse App and Parler Jeff and Charlie talk about two new social media platforms, Clubhouse and Parler. One seems promising, the other is alarming. Charlie previews ideas for a new Practically Social series, where thought leaders will share what our next normal might look like. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17203250

28. The PR Firm RFP Process and Are We Ready for Three-Minute TikToks? 12/08/2020

28. The PR Firm RFP Process and Are We Ready for Three-Minute TikToks? How long is too long when it comes to social media? Jeff and Charlie talk about news that TikTok might triple the length of its videos and whether its users can devote that much time before they swipe up. Jeff shares a summary of a National Press Club webinar by and Steve Drake of RFP Associates, where they covered PR firm blended hourly rates and that many PR firms could be missing out on a lot of opportunities by skipping the RFP process. Companies need to look at the process the same way HR would approach hiring multiple people. Get to know the team that will work on your account, not the fancy presentation and flashy pitch team! Charlie talks about the upcoming release of the second annual Super Listeners study from Podcast One, Ad Results Media, and . Thanks, again, to Robb Spewak for producing this episode, plus his bonus tagline idea: “Practically Social: It’s Like a Tweet with Two Characters!” /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17102837

27. Our First Hardware Review and are QR Codes Back? 12/01/2020

27. Our First Hardware Review and are QR Codes Back? Charlie offers another product review, this time the Zoom Q2n, “the fast and easy way to create HD videos with high-impact audio.” The guys talk about QR codes and Charlie comes close to revealing an upcoming QR code promotion for the show. A big day at Podville Media as Marni from Curry Printing delivered the first batch of some great looking swag. Special thanks to Robb Spewak for producing this episode! /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/17016899

26. Thanksgiving at the County Jail 11/24/2020

26. Thanksgiving at the County Jail Boeing’s lead 737 MAX crisis spokesman Gordon Johndroe, vice president of global media relations and public affairs, spoke during a PRSA webinar and Jeff shared some of the take-aways, including Gordon’s #1 crisis communications tip: keep calm, get the facts and then proceed with a combination of accuracy and speed. Gordon plays a central role in Boeing’s response to the historic 737 MAX airplane crisis, so he brings real experience to this topic. As the company’s media relations leader, he regularly engages with the CEO, legal, finance, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the company’s Washington, D.C. office, government regulators and journalists to shape narratives that resonate with key audiences worldwide. This episode wasn’t all crashes and crises. Charlie gave another update on the new M Street studio and Jeff shared a Thanksgiving story he wrote about having dinner (as a guest) at the Delaware County (Ohio) Jail during his first newspaper job at the Delaware Gazette. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/16944839

25. Podcasts as a Simpler Way to Connect 11/17/2020

25. Podcasts as a Simpler Way to Connect The 2021 Social Media Trends Report by HubSpot and Talkwalker is out, and while it includes multiple TikTok mentions, two predictions stood out for Jeff. The report says to expect to see a rise in newsletters and podcasts – a return to “old-school marketing” – as brands shift to a simpler way of engaging consumers. Jeff and Charlie talk about the report’s reference to podcasting and this takeaway: “Even if creating your own podcast may not be suitable, it’s become such a broad market—there will be one out there suitable for a brand relationship. Interviews and sponsorships give you an opportunity to connect your company to a pre-nurtured, defined audience.” It’s true, podcast audiences listen closely to “their” shows. Earbuds provide an intimate connection, and the more niche your podcast is, the more you should value the presence of each listener. During the cool tools segment, the guys talk about SparkToro, promoted as a way to “instantly discover what your audience reads, watches, listens-to, and follows.” Thanks to Josh Greene of The Mather Group for that bit of knowledge, shared during his SEO, wikipedia and digital agency’s 5-year-anniversary webinar series. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/16850510

24. Creating Human Connections in a Virtual World 11/10/2020

24. Creating Human Connections in a Virtual World Jeff headed a panel discussion at the on trends in content marketing and it boils down to this: the best content delivers the human side of your brand. No one wants to be sold to. Instead, show authenticity, foster connection and share your purpose. Thanks to co-presenters Kipp Monroe, VE and Executive Creative Director from WHITE64 and WHITE64 Studios; Imani Samuels, director of loyalty marketing and digital strategy at AARP, and Aynat Ravin, head of M Live, Marriott’s Real-Time Marketing Command Center. /episode/index/show/practicallysocial/id/16762280

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