WIKIS, BLOGS & PODCASTS

THE NEW WAVE IN BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS

What is a Wiki

An online site where you can store and view information

Where staff are able to continually add and amend material

It becomes an up-to-date self-editing site

Who has access?All employees may have access

Or you may restrict access to one small project team

A client or even the public could be given access

You decide

Greater communication and collaboration

Staff can have online meetings and brainstorming sessions

Colleagues from regional locations don’t need to travel to remain in the loop

Overseas staff have twenty-four hour access to the site

How much will it cost?

Can be set up for free using an open-source code

Or you may wish to purchase a licensed version

Fears and concerns

Q: Will it be a distraction to my workers?A: Decreases emails and cuts meeting time

Q: Will management lose control? A: Usefulness overrides these fears

Q: Is it just a fad?A: Wikis have withstood the test of time

Feedback provided by companies using wikis has shown:

Wikis save time and effort which was previously used for storing and

collating information

A wiki increases efficiency and productivity

Young employees take to this technology like ducks to water

More senior members of staff howevermay need a little extra convincing

What is a blog?

It is an online journal

Workers can use this space to share their achievements and ideas

A blog is added to in chronological order thus becoming a webdiary

Why should your staff blog?

To share experiences and skills

Motivate and influence other employees

Share and store resources

Blogs can also provide employees with a valuable social and entertainment forum

One drawback is that blogs have become so popular that some staff simply can’t get

enough…

What is a Podcast?

Podcasts are used to record and convey information in an audio format (MP3)

They are good for: office memos, broadcasts, lectures, instructions,

client briefings

Is it expensive?

You don’t need expensive equipment to record a podcast

A computer’s built-in microphone works perfectly well

What are the benefits?

Staff can listen to a podcast on their work computers

Or transfer the file to a personal iPod, leaving them free to listen to the

information at their leisure

Even during their leisure time (ie. at the gym or while commuting)

Save time - save money

Rather than sending staff to a seminar, resulting in production downtime, you can

provide them with a recorded podcast

This results in a more cost effective way of transferring information

With a podcast, as opposed to a one-off broadcast or lecture, you can reach a

much larger, ongoing audience

Even when on vacation staff will have access to podcasts

Conclusion

• Wikis enable your staff to store, share and amend information

• Blogs enable the chronological stacking and sharing of information

• Podcasts provide staff with information in portable audio form

Keep your business on the crest of this new wave of

communication technology