Content Distribution
One of the biggest philosophical problems that KONA had was that it was stuck on the idea of being a just a radio station. No effort or resources were devoted to developing new content or alternate forms of distribution. When I started in 2012, the station had just a simple web page, had no social media presence, and was neither streaming nor podcasting.
One of my biggest projects was revamping the website. At the time it was just a simple page designed from a template for music stations. I added local news sections, RSS feeds from ABC News and the Associated Press, and redesigned the site to look more like that of a newspaper.
Social media was also lacking. I added Facebook and Instagram accounts, and greatly expanded our use of Twitter. Widgets for each platform were incorporated on the front page of the site. All stories that were written for air were required to be put on the site. A link to each story was also tweeted and shared on Facebook. Each member of the staff had Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram added to their phones and was given access to the station's accounts to create and promote content from the field.
Podcasting and streaming also became top priorities. Podcasting of nearly all of the station's original content was added, and feeds were created for everything from local newscasts to off-air interviews. Streaming of the station was eventually added. After contracts were secured for syndicated content and the satellite and automation systems programmed to block national spots, the station went live on the web in July of 2013.
These changes brought KONA's modernized content to a new audience and expanded the listening base. By providing alternatives to just having an AM radio, our audience was able to get content on demand, listen to the station live from anywhere with Internet access, and interact with us on a more personal level. This, in turn, built up our listening audience and increased the station's ratings.
One of the biggest philosophical problems that KONA had was that it was stuck on the idea of being a just a radio station. No effort or resources were devoted to developing new content or alternate forms of distribution. When I started in 2012, the station had just a simple web page, had no social media presence, and was neither streaming nor podcasting.
One of my biggest projects was revamping the website. At the time it was just a simple page designed from a template for music stations. I added local news sections, RSS feeds from ABC News and the Associated Press, and redesigned the site to look more like that of a newspaper.
Social media was also lacking. I added Facebook and Instagram accounts, and greatly expanded our use of Twitter. Widgets for each platform were incorporated on the front page of the site. All stories that were written for air were required to be put on the site. A link to each story was also tweeted and shared on Facebook. Each member of the staff had Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram added to their phones and was given access to the station's accounts to create and promote content from the field.
Podcasting and streaming also became top priorities. Podcasting of nearly all of the station's original content was added, and feeds were created for everything from local newscasts to off-air interviews. Streaming of the station was eventually added. After contracts were secured for syndicated content and the satellite and automation systems programmed to block national spots, the station went live on the web in July of 2013.
These changes brought KONA's modernized content to a new audience and expanded the listening base. By providing alternatives to just having an AM radio, our audience was able to get content on demand, listen to the station live from anywhere with Internet access, and interact with us on a more personal level. This, in turn, built up our listening audience and increased the station's ratings.