I didn't post this to marketing because I actually wanted it read. However, if the imms see fit, feel free to move it.

As much as I hate everyone, I'd like to see CF do better. Awhile ago, I came up with an idea to do a podcast using the stories of CF. This turned out to be a dud because my time has been squeezed down a lot lately.

However, I'd like to make a 30-60 second podcast promo for CF that I can pass around to different podcast buddies and they can include it in their show. It has the potential to reach thousands (if not tens of thousands) of listeners. I could use some help though. Ideas, suggestions, comments, and especially actual help would be great. You can post it to this thread or private message me.

Anyone feel free to edit and tweak, but here's what I came up with - it's a short audio drama in the Empire:

Dread Lord: You summoned us, my Emperor?

Emperor: Yes. Dread Lord, High Priest, Warmaster, step closer to my throne. I wish to get a better look at you.

High Priest: (whispering) Do you think he knows?

Warmaster: (whispering) Quiet! He'll sense something is wrong if you don't present strength and confidence.

Emperor: Ah! I can see you better. Now then, tell me why I have summoned you.

High Priest: (whispering) Gods! He knows!

Dread Lord: (whispering) Shut up! He knows nothing! <to emperor> My lord, we live to serve only you and the Empire. Do you wish us to take the army and go conquer our enemies?

Emperor: No, that is not why I've summoned you. Perhaps the High Priest will be more... forthcoming.

High Priest: (falling to his knees and groveling) My liege! I... I'm so sorry! T-they made me do it! They -

(his words are cut off by a blade unsheathing, slicing through flesh, and gurgling)

Shadow Lord: Hello, boys.

(weapons being drawn, sounds of grumbling from the Warmaster and Dread Lord)

Emperor: (chuckling to himself) That is why I chose a skilled assassin to be my Shadow Lord. Perhaps if you had intended to overthrow me, you shouldn't have all selfishly voted for yourselves. Your plan is thwarted and you are banished, forever anathema to the Empire... if you can make it out of the Imperial Lands alive. (more sinister chuckling)

Warmaster: We have no chance here. Run!

Dread Lord: Agreed.

(sounds of running, a large door opening, and then gasping)

Imperial Army: (sounds of marching) (shouted in unison) My life! My heart! My soul! For the Empire! (battlecry, then metal clanging)

(orchestral crescendo and silence)

Multiple Voices: (overlapping one another) Death, honor, betrayal, war, magic, intrigue, treasure, love, hate, immortality.

Narrator: Be the author of your own destiny. Play online for free. Carrion Fields. www.carrionfields.com

nt

will you record the spot yourself, or will the "DJ" be reading it?
Is it 30 or 60 seconds?
How many times will it run in that hour?

We, as a CF community, would be recording the spot. More info below.

I would say the spot needs to be closer to 30 seconds, but could easily be as much as a full minute and be acceptable.

"Running" in an hour is irrelevant in podcasting. The spot would be inserted into the podcast by the podcaster at wherever they would want it. It then is heard as part of the podcast whenever someone downloads it. The podcast community as a whole is pretty altruistic, though I've never really heard of a MUD advertisement before. If someone like, say, Scott Sigler allowed the spot to run at the end of his podcast, he has (I think) somewhere around 70,000+ downloads of every one of his episodes. Smaller, but well-established, podcasts have somewhere around 1,000-10,000 downloads per episode. Self-publishing new media is where it's at because it's extremely inexpensive and running this spot would be free.

Here's a bare bones plan and what I need from others.

May do several spots, sort of audio-drama-like - thinking about making it humorous:

- A "Join the Empire!" promo
- A fight on Eastern Road
- A night at the Inn
- A group against a lich or a dragon

I want to emphasize the pk and RP atmosphere together, where to find resources to help newbies, and that MUDding can be as awesome as WoW, if not moreso.

I'd need someone to write or help me write these. Several people willing to lend their voices. Someone willing to help edit.

But if I could add my advice as someone with a degree in marketing, and someone working in the industry right now... take it for what it's worth.



>I would say the spot needs to be closer to 30 seconds, but
>could easily be as much as a full minute and be acceptable.

30 second spots focus on different things than 60 second spots. MOST radio and tv adds run in 30 seconds, but the ones that run in 60 are used a little differently. Obviously the more time is better... it might even be worth doing a 30 minute podcast that is documentary/infomercial style. In fact... that's a really good idea... maybe even in conjunction with shorter spots that are running on your buddies shows. Like instead of the 30 second commercial making you go to the website, it makes you download a 5-30 minute CF podcast. Interesting thought... a lot of work.

>"Running" in an hour is irrelevant in podcasting.

No it's not. If someone downloads an X number of minutes podcast, how many times will they hear the spot in those minutes? It's about repetition spurring action or sticking in sub conscious memory.

The spot
>would be inserted into the podcast by the podcaster at
>wherever they would want it. It then is heard as part of the
>podcast whenever someone downloads it. The podcast community
>as a whole is pretty altruistic, though I've never really
>heard of a MUD advertisement before. If someone like, say,
>Scott Sigler allowed the spot to run at the end of his
>podcast, he has (I think) somewhere around 70,000+ downloads
>of every one of his episodes. Smaller, but well-established,
>podcasts have somewhere around 1,000-10,000 downloads per
>episode. Self-publishing new media is where it's at because
>it's extremely inexpensive and running this spot would be
>free.

Yup, it's a really good idea.


>
>Here's a bare bones plan and what I need from others.
>
>May do several spots, sort of audio-drama-like - thinking
>about making it humorous:
>
>- A "Join the Empire!" promo
>- A fight on Eastern Road
>- A night at the Inn
>- A group against a lich or a dragon
>
>I want to emphasize the pk and RP atmosphere together, where
>to find resources to help newbies, and that MUDding can be as
>awesome as WoW, if not moreso.
>
>I'd need someone to write or help me write these. Several
>people willing to lend their voices. Someone willing to help
>edit.

I think the PvP in both RP and PK is always the things we talk about pushing, with kind of a "retro gaming" kind of feel. Lots of things offer PVPRPPK, but it's the retro aspect that gives CF it's edge.

However when your dealing with media like this "neat and entertaining" only works when you can get in front of people A LOT. (examples: the travelocity gnome, the geico gecho etc.) It's not as cool or fun, but it's significantly more effective to make easy to remember and understand statements that create a direct response*.
The common formula for this kind of thing would be: Headline, Body, Offer, Call to Action. So the spot would sound something like:

HEADLINE

Remember how much fun choose your own adventure books were?
or
We know you don't want to admit you played D&D in Highschool!
or whatever...

BODY (paraphrasing)

Carrion Fields is an online player vs. player multi user dungeon. You PK and RP and it's fun.

OFFER

CF is run by a team of volunteers and is 100% free to play. All you need is an internet connection and telnet.

CALL TO ACTION

If you are among the first 25 to start playing you get a free whooziwhatsit. Go to www.carrionfields.com to find out more.

Throughout you are repeating "carrion fields dot com" over and over. I don't have time to get creative right now, but you get the idea.

ALL THAT SAID the better way to do it is actually to have the podcaster tell the audience about it... because they are interested in what the podcaster is saying, so if the podcaster is saying play CF they are much more likely to look into it.



* you can forum search for my posts about direct response advertising vs. brand building

Helping structure the promo would be great.

Ideally, I'd love to have a round-table discussion podcast about CF, but getting a group of people (4 or more) together at the right time can be difficult.

I'll post more later, but I wanted to thank you for the input you've given.

This really doesn't have to be a "me" thing or a "my show" thing. Anyone willing to help take the reins, I'm all for it. Imm input would be great too.

that marketing is good. Please market CF. They agree that it is important, they wish someone on staff would do it, but no one is interested. So you are on your own with whatever it is you want to do.

I will look.

Depends on who I can get to agree to run a podcast promo. I was thinking it would be possible to run on the Metamor City Podcast. His feedburner says 1467 listeners, but the downloads of the show are waaaaaay higher than that. http://www.metamorcity.com/

Its possible to get Scott Sigler to run the promo, but I don't know how likely. He's pretty accessible, but Crown Publishers may prevent him from running other ads. If he said yes, it'd be out the kindness of his heart. http://www.scottsigler.com/

There are probably 20 podcasts or so I'd send the promo to, if not more. These two are the most popular examples.