David Field’s on Twitter.
No kidding, and it’s a great thing to see one of radio’s finest CEOs sending out interesting tweets about his company, his personal observations, and what catches his eye and moves him. You can check out his musings at @DavidFieldETM. He’s setting a great example for his fellow broadcast CEOs.
I’m telling you this because Twitter continues to grow, evolve, and become a go-to source for the sharing of information. For many people, all they knew about Twitter was that NBA stars and Ashton Kutcher were amassing millions of fans and tweeting about what they ate for breakfast.
For those of us who utilize it for more serious pursuits, Twitter is a wonderful source of ideas and connections with people you respect and admire. Last week, David retweeted an Entrepreneur article about turning your office into a theater in order to build brands and customers. The original source of the tweet was an old friend, strategist Greg Verdino, and it’s the root of the idea behind this post.
In the article, author Lambeth Hochwald points to businesses that could benefit from showing off their workplaces: auto mechanics, furniture makers, artists/craftspeople, and wineries are all mentioned.
Talk about transparency. The article is loaded with quotes from business owners who swear by the practice of letting customers see how “the sausage” is being made. They agree it leads to recommendations, higher sales, and a stronger sense of connectivity. Plus, employees take more pride in their work when they know that consumers are watching them at work.
Hochwald’s article should get you thinking because one of the workplaces not in the article is radio. There is no better example of turning your business into a theater than the feeling listeners get when they visit a station, especially where the studio is front and center.
Yet sadly, so many stations have buried their “theaters” in the back of the building, as far away from visitors as possible. As someone who has set foot in hundreds and hundreds of radio stations over the years, I can tell you that when you walk into a facility where the studio is on display, it takes your breath away. Sadly, others feel about as vibrant and exciting as insurance companies.
I had a very positive experience early in the year while visiting KTAR Radio in Phoenix for a meeting with a group of Bonneville broadcasters. The view of the station newsroom and studio hits you the moment you walk through the front door – and it’s spectacular.
Nothing communicates the excitement of our business better than the thrill and energy of watching radio being made right before your very eyes. Whether it was watching Imus on MSNBC, a studio cam for a great morning show sequence, or just standing outside the glass looking in, listeners get pumped about radio when they get watch it happening live.
There’s nothing exciting about seeing an algorithm or a jukebox. There is something intangibly cool about seeing the inside of a living, breathing radio station. Don’t hide what makes you interesting – show it off for the world to see.
Lori Lewis recommends that a great shot of your studio – that backstage vibe – makes a great Facebook “Timeline” photo for many stations. That’s because it’s what the audience really wants to see and feel about your brand.
Send me pictures of your great views, and stations from today or from the past that have turned their studios into theaters.
That’s showbiz.
Jacobs Media has consistently walked the walk in the digital space, providing insights and guidance through its well-read national Techsurveys.
In 2008, jacapps was launched - a mobile apps company that has designed and built more than 1,300 apps for both the Apple and Android platforms. In 2013, the DASH Conference was created - a mashup of radio and automotive, designed to foster better understanding of the "connected car" and its impact.
Along with providing the creative and intellectual direction for the company, Fred consults many of Jacobs Media's commercial and public radio clients, in addition to media brands looking to thrive in the rapidly changing tech environment.
Fred was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2018.
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