Blog Relations

The BBC Trust – which nowadays is the governing body of the state-sponsored broadcaster – has given the go-ahead for the BBC to offer more TV and radio programmes as downloads.

It’s not great news for those of us independents struggling to get established in the download business. However, I am glad that they are showing some restraint as regards audio books, as there might be unfair, state-sponsored competition with an established commercial market – not that that usually stops the Beeb doing what it wants. Overall I don’t think this is positive for audio or video podcasts. We might be faced with a deluge of lavishly funded, heavily marketed material pushing us out.

The danger for the BBC, though, is that when a show gets downloaded it is disassociated from the network, and the audience starts to get loyal to the show and its stars, without holding any affection for the broadcaster. This is a continuation of what’s been happening since the ‘golden age of telly’ back in the ’70s, when people still called the BBC ‘aunty’. In these multi-station days of the zapper, few of us know or care what channel we are watching.

A really interesting interview about what social media means for marketing with Guy Kawasaki on Podtech. He mentions a panel of teenagers who hardly ever see a TV ad, don’t use email much, but do send 1,400 texts a month. They still read magazines though, and buy products they read about in print online.

He reveals that he should work first on his book, then on his blog, then on his email – but he answers email first, then works on his blog, then works on his blook. (I recognise this – I find email addictive). He wants to write a book called “How to Change the World” (the new name of his blog). He says there’s a difference between “changing the world” and doing something BIG. It’s not just for megalomaniacs who want to build billion dollar companies – but it could be for a campaigning blogger. I think I’m going to read it – if he ever finishes his emails! By the way, he reveals that he makes $4000 a year in advertising from his blog – but it also brings people to him who want marketing advice, and he often takes 0.5% or 1% in options. He says, half jokingly, that it’s the new model for blogging. You build such credibility that people want to give you equity for advice.

Storynory – where we normally do children’s stories – has an interview which might interest a wider audience. It’s with Charlie Higson – who appears on TV as the used car salesman Swiss Toni – and who is also an accomplished thriller writer. He was chosen by the estate of James Bond creator Ian Fleming to write the Young Bond series of novels about the formative years of the secret agent. They are based in the 1930s, when Bond was a lad at Eton.

The title of his latest novel, Double or Die, was chosen by an interent poll over at the Young Bond site. There are also some excellent unofficial Bond sites that have been important in growing the popularity of the Young Bond series. In general, it’s pretty clear that the publishers of Children’s books, such as Puffin, are fairly clued up about the Internet. I think they are ahead of publishers for adult books, some of whom still regard the internet as a threat to their intellectual property. In fact, much of the marketing and public relations for children’s books takes place online these days – hence Storynory’s good relations with authors for young people.

We’ve also been working on a pilot of a new podcast, and have generally been keeping ourselves busy during the first week of the New Year..

I must admit that I’m quite swayed by the book reviews on Amazon, so I was a little shocked to see this job posted on the Freelance Work Exchange.

Write Online Book Reviews

Must have an amazon.com account and know how to write english well.

Seems like not very good money too!