The comparative study looks at social media trends through three “waves”:

• Wave 1 - September 2006
• Wave 2 - June 2007
• Wave 3 - March 2008

Research highlights:

• Social media is a global phenomenon happening in all markets regardless of wider economic, social and cultural development.
• Asian markets (not including Japan) are leading in terms of participation, creating more content than any other region
• All social media platforms have grown significantly over the three Waves: Video Clips are the quickest growing platform, up from 31% penetration in Wave 1 to 83% in Wave 3
• 57% have joined a Social Network, making it the number one platform for creating and sharing content: 55% of users have uploaded photos, 22% of users have uploaded videos
• The widget economy – 23% of social network users have installed an application – 18% of bloggers have installed applications in their blog templates
• Blogs are a mainstream media world-wide and a collective rival to traditional media (184m bloggers world-wide, China has the largest blogging community in the world with 42m bloggers) – 73% have read a blog, 45% have started a blog
• Social media has strong impacts over brand’s reputation – 34% post opinions about products and brands on their blog – 36% think more positively about companies that have blogs

The report offers additional details on Internet media use:

Video Sharing:

• Brazil leads on 68%, Asian countries dominate (not including Japan)
• Significant variation in involvement (Hungary 16% < Brazil 68%).
• High frequency of involvement: 20% are uploading every day

Watching video clips:

• Growth is universal across all countries (31% to 82% global reach seen in all markets)
• Lowest difference between markets of any social media platform (Range 63% – 99%)
• Very high frequency medium: 71% weekly reach

Downloading podcasts

• Growth massive between Waves 2 and 3 (from 21% to 49% world-wide).
• China is the world’s biggest podcast market (74% use, with an estimated 45m users)
• Actively involved medium: 18% listen and download everyday

Methodology:

Universal McCann Wave 3 survey was conducted on 17,000 internet users in 29 countries and was completed in March 2008.

Source: Universal McCann (pdf)

via Podcasting News

Brian Greene and Sinéad Murnane from doop in Dublin, have been making a great success of Talking Voices Ireland. Both join the board of Directors.

Michael Franklin, formerly of TalkSPORT and The Wireless Group joins the board as Financial Director and corporate strategist.

One of the best-known podcasters in the world, Ewan Spence, the man behind the BAFTA-nominated Edinburgh Fringe podcast, presenter of TPN Rock podcast and radio station Leith FM joins Talking Voices. Ewan gives us a UK focus on conference coverage, a sector which has been thriving for us in Ireland.

Janet Parkinson who did so much hard work in establishing Talking Voices has stepped down as Managing Director but remains a stakeholder in the business.

Senior Producer Mark Hunter earlier this year was made an offer he could not refuse - running a Scotland-based company, Podcast Matters, where he takes on the role of MD, and we wish him good luck in his new venture.

And finally, we’re pleased to announce that the company is now operating from fully specified studio premises in Denmark Street, London.

The studio runs a Myriad radio playout system, and has ISDN, internet streaming, audio and video post-production, and very nice views of London’s West End.

This photo of the Talking Voices man on the beach was sent via Kosso, the CTO of Podcast.com

With plenty of chances to ask questions and the opportunity to discuss social media in depth with experienced producers and active business users, these seminars are a priceless addition to your fund of knowledge, offering you insight and a putting an expert team at your disposal for an afternoon.

Talking Voices Social Media seminars are half-day events held for small groups, designed for the corporations, institutions, and enterprises, dealing with the popular social media phenomenon, with an emphasis on podcasting and its practical application.

We give detailed background information for the curious to grow their understanding of RSS-driven Web 2.0 mechanisms, as well as in-depth analysis for would-be practitioners. We give advice on production, with demonstrations and practical hands-on experience; we look at establishing editorial policy, communications, feedback loops, and community building; and we deal with the technical, legal and commercial knowledge you need to run a podcast successfully, including how to tell whether your podcast IS successful.

Sessions cost from £295 per person per 4 hours for early birds, £345 standard rate and contain no more than 25 people per session to ensure the benefit to attendees.

Our next seminar is planned for Central London in late July and we have 15 spaces left.

Email us to be notified of our next seminar in your area.

TESTIMONIALS

“Just to say how much I enjoyed my intro to podcasting yesterday. It was great to hear about what’s hot and how it all happens. I know how much work goes into setting up a seminar like that – so thanks for pulling it off with such flair. Great line up of speakers and lots of inspiration.” - Louise Dalziel, Matchless Content

“Thanks again for hosting the seminar yesterday - events like this are really useful to raise awareness and get people thinking about the potential for social media.” - Andy Hyde, Consultant.

Whether it’s used for entertainment, business or as a social media tool new uses for podcasting seem to emerge constantly - it’s in a constant state of flux.

Over the next few weeks we’re going to explore the development of podcasting: from the geeks broadcasting to the world from their bedrooms, to the incredible international community of podcasters which has sprung up, through to the broadcasting industries who took the concept and promoted podcasting to the outside world and on to businesses which now realise the opportunities of using it to connect with staff internally and clients externally.

Our Talking Voices podcast will shortly be focussing on this too - subscribe and listen in!

Brian’s a truly creative, innovative and highly skilled podcaster producing podcasts on both a personal and professional level. He has already built a portfolio of clients in Ireland so we’ll no doubt be seeing and hearing more from him on this blog from now on. Here’s a speech he made recently at IT@CORK.

Great to have you on board, Brian!

All members of our team are used to working internationally, so it makes sense that we tie in with our network of contacts. It is a fundamental part of our overall strategy that we are, from the outset, a leading podcast production company with a global reach.