Promoting Your Show – Co-op Radio

Promote Your Show

Fundraising & Promotions Coordinator

community@coopradio.org

Stay Connected with Your Listeners

How can you connect with people about your show?

Once you gain new listeners, you will want to do your best to retain them. It's important to stay connected with them so that they don't loose interest. The more listeners your show has, the better the chance of meeting your show's fundraising requirements.

The simplest way is to talk to people about your show. Tell your family, friends and colleagues that you have a show on Vancouver Co-op Radio!

Here are some other ways that you can stay connected with your listeners.

Ways to Stay Connected with Your Listeners:

The Co-op Radio Website

Your show will have its own page on the Co-op Radio website. Make sure to arrange a username and password with one of the station staff members and they will show you how to log in.

It's important to keep this information updated as this is where listeners go if they want to find out more information about you and your show.

You can add contact information, social media handles, photos, videos and event information on this page.

Create a Website for Your Show

This is not mandatory but you can create your own website for your show. Websites are a great branding tool. Depending on who you host your website through, you can totally customize the look and the content of your site. On paid hosting, you own your data and can manage the back ups yourself.

Check out the websites for AnimalVoices.org and Each For All.

For free website solutions check out wordpress.com, squarespace.com, and weebly.com.

However, websites require more work and knowledge to setup and maintain. Remember that your show will have it`s own page on the Co-op Radio website. If you purchase a domain name for your show, you can point it to your Co-op Radio page instead of creating your own website.

Most show websites are used primarily for podcasting which brings us to our next point......

Turn Your Show into a Podcast

The archive of your show is available for 3 months on Co-op Radio’s website, through streaming. The archives are cut in block of one hour, which may not work for your show. You can offer your listeners the option to subscribe to the RSS feed of your show and/or download it by hosting your shows on a podcast platform or on your website.

What is a Podcast?

A packaged version of your show that you make available online
Sometimes just interviews; sometimes the whole show
Can have an RSS feed to “push” content to users
You are responsible for copyright and other laws if you podcast – you become the broadcaster

When you host your show on a podcast platform or on your website, you become the broadcaster and are now responsible for the copyrights and payment of royalty fees if needed. So make sure you own the copyright for all your material. Contact SOCAN.ca for more information about music fees. They are relatively low for a non for profit show/website.

Speak to the Co-op Radio staff if you would like to talk about turning your show into a podcast.

Create an Email List

Some programmers choose to send group emails and newsletters to their listeners/followers. Newsletters are a good way to announce your next show or to share events that are happening in your community. It`s a great way to remind your listeners that your show is coming up and keeps them engaged between shows.

You could use a free email marketing campaign platform such as Mailchimp. Mailchimp is free (if you have under 2000 subscribers). For people to sign up, you will need to have an online form. You could add the form to your own website or if possible, arrange with the Co-op Radio staff to add a link to the sign up form to your page on the Co-op Radio website. You must have consent from the listener to add them to your newsletter list. Please familiarize yourself with Canada`s Anti-Spam Legislation by clicking here.

If you have a list, you can send out regular updates on your show, events that you are hosting or taking part in, and things that are happening within your community. You can also add a 'donate' button into the newsletter asking your audience to donate to the radio station.

Social Media

You will want to think about what social media platforms will reach your audience. Do they use Facebook to connect? Do they prefer to read through short snippets of information? Are they creative and love images and videos?

Use the below table to decide on which social media platforms will work best for your show then read keep scrolling on this page to find out more about social media.

The Basics of Social Media

What is Social Media?

Social media is online interaction and information sharing based on “many-to-many” communication. Social media tools are the various electronic websites, technologies, and applications that facilitate and enhance online interaction and information sharing.

Why use Social Media?

Social media is an effective way for your show to establish an online presence and connect with the community. Using free social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, your show can engage with your listeners and expand your network.

Keep informed on what’s happening in your show’s field by following organizations or people
Connect with important people in your field. Comment and share. People will notice and will be more open to interacting with you. It’s sometimes easier to contact someone on social media than it is using email or phone.
Build a following by using your social media to share relevant information – Become a curator
Announce events and contests
Encourage listeners to become members
Keep in touch with Co-op Radio – If the station can follow you on your social media, it will help promote your show and events.

Before your show:

Let people know about what’s coming up on your show
Ask for interview, personal stories, ideas…

During your show:

Encourage people to tune in live
Supplement information on the air: give links to additional info, share guests’ websites
Announce the next segment
Encourage your listeners to ask questions to your guests

After your show:

Supplement information on the air;
Encourage people to listen to the podcast
Ask for feedback

Tips for effective Social Media use

Establish protocols for the type of content you will post, how often to post, and who from your collective will do the posting. Frequently updated websites or blogs and posts with relevant content keeps your audience engaged online.
Prepare to moderate what other will post on your website or blog. Inappropriate comments containing profanity or spam are common, so ensure they are deleted immediately.

Common Terms :

Post: a new information or update you are posting on your social media
Hashtag: when a “#” is placed before a keyword or phrase (no spaces), it allows users to search other posts containing the same keyword or phrase.
Mention: any post or update that contains "@username" anywhere in its body. People mentioned will received a notification.

Tip: try to secure the same username for all your account. It makes it easier to find you.

Example: twitter.com/coopradio – facebook.com/coopradio – coopradio.org

The below video tutorials will help if you would like to set up Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram for your show.

Social Media Tutorials:

In this video, we go over the basics of Facebook. The video will outline the following:

How to set up a Facebook Page for your show.
How to add a post to your Facebook Page.
How to schedule a Facebook Post.
How to add an event to your Facebook Page.

Feel free to skip to the sections that you need to learn. You can also skip this section entirely if you don't plan to create a Facebook Page for your show or if you already have one and know how to use it.

Click here to download the Facebook tutorial handout.

In this video, we go over the basics of Twitter. The video will outline the following:

How to add a post to your Twitter.
How to retweet someone else's post.
Using hashtags to increase engagement.
How to schedule a Twitter Post.

Feel free to skip to the sections that you need to learn. You can also skip this section entirely if you don't plan to create a Twitter Profile for your show.

Click here to download the Twitter tutorial handout

In this video, we go over the basics of Instagram. The video will outline the following:

1. How to set up an Instagram Profile for your show.
2. How to add a post to your Instagram Feed.
3. Using hashtags to increase engagement.
4. How to make an Instagram Story.
5. How to go live on Instagram.

Feel free to skip to the sections that you need to learn. You can also skip this section entirely if you don't plan to create an Instagram Account for your show.

Click here to download the Instagram tutorial handout

Create a Listener Engagement Plan for Your Show

Feel free to download the below templates to create a listener engagement plan for your show. If you are with a collective then you should work with the other members to create a listener engagement plan.

Click here to download the community engagement plan template