GM posted a new podcast to the GM FastLane Blog yesterday - and hits the right spot with content, production and presentation that validates the concept of this rapidly-emerging medium as a business communication tool.
In the style of talk radio - the show is described as 'FastLane Radio' - the 12-minute podcast is a telephone interview/conversation between host Deb Ochs and Clay Dean, GM's Director of Design for Small and Mid-Size Vehicles, about the development of the new Pontiac Solstice car including discussion on its features, why it might appeal to people and how the car will further develop in future.
With a music intro, here's how the show starts:
You're about to merge into the GM fast lane and head straight behind the scenes of some of the latest happenings at the world's largest auto company. FastLane Radio will bring you conversations with the personalities at GM that you can't get anywhere else. And now, here's your host, Deb Ochs...
and ends, with music outro:
...We'd like to hear your comments and suggestions for FastLane Radio. Please email us at podcasts (at) gmblogs (dot) com.
Last month, Shel and I interviewed Michael Wiley, GM's Director New Media, GM Communications (transcript / podcast). We discussed Michael's plans for podcasting following their experiment in mid February. He told us:
[...] We're working on a weekly programme, still finalizing the concept, you can expect it to be much more like a radio programme, probably a 15-minute weekly programme.
This is the first fruit from that concept. If Michael's plans are complete, it looks like we can expect the next show sometime next week.
GM's definitely in the fast lane with podcasting as a marketing communication tool. Congratulations, Michael, great job!
I enjoyed this one, too, Neville, but I had one problem. The URL of the RSS feed was unique. I subscribed to the Fastlane Radio podcast after the first two shows. When I read your post this morning, I opened iTunes to listen -- and it wasn't there. Thinking it was a technical problem, I went to my podcatcher list of downloaded podcasts -- and it wasn't there. Only when I went to the Fastlane blog did I see that the podcast feed had been given the unique URL. None of those who subscribed the first time around would receive this podcast unless they made a visit to the blog to find that it was available (or if they subscribed to the Fastlane RSS feed and read it). Just a note for podcasters -- use the same URL for every installment of your podcast. It's what your subscribers expect.
Posted by: Shel Holtz | 22 March 2005 at 15:26
That's a good point, Shel. I hadn't put the earlier experiment feed in my podcatcher (FeedDemon), just added this one today. And you're right - it's specific to this particular podcast. So good avice to GM and other podcasters.
Posted by: Neville Hobson | 22 March 2005 at 16:02
Just listened to the podcast and whilst the GM guy has a lot of passion, I think the female presenter is obviously reading a script. It was too much like a scripted conversation...and I wasn't so sure about what exclusive gossip I was getting that I couldn't find elsewhere. Got to draw us all in a bit more....share the passion, especially when it comes to cars.
Posted by: Jonathan Marks | 23 March 2005 at 21:42