Sponsoring a WeaveCast Episode
WeaveCast is a new phenomena in the weaving community: an hour-long talk radio show devoted to hand weaving. Each month, it is delivered free via the Internet, and is downloaded by weavers, knitters, and fiber enthusiasts all over the world.
Every episode we interview a prominent weaver about their work and inspiration, share the latest weaving news, describe the construction details of a textile in “swatch of the day,” and tell an amusing or touching tale on “a weaving life.”
Our listenership has grown steadily over the past year-and-a-half: through podcast search engines, the iTunes music store, articles in Handwoven and SS&D, collaborations with knitting podcastors, and most flattering of all, word-of-mouth.
Talk radio is a wonderful medium to promote handweaving; weaving is more than threads and draw-downs, it is people. In today's busy world, people are turning to audiobooks and podcasts for entertainment while they commute, exercise, or pursue craft hobbies. Radio is an intimate medium, drawing the listener in and engaging them emotionally in a way you don't get from a print magazine.
The Internet is an exciting new frontier for crafters. It's helped knitting become a phenomenon. My goal with WeaveCast is to capture the interest of Internet crafters and get them excited about weaving.
WeaveCast, being a podcast, appeals to the younger “iPod” generation, and we have many listeners in their teens and early twenties.
Through collaborations with various knitting podcasts (Cast-On, Christa Knits, etc.) WeaveCast has developed a growing audience among the throngs of knitters on the Internet. Many of my listener comments are from knitters and beginning weavers.
WeaveCast is unique in that it brings two very different audiences together. On one hand, long-time weavers are being drawn into the world of podcasts by a show tailored to their interests. On the other hand, fiber-podcast enthusiasts who do not yet weave are finding the show and becoming enthused about weaving for the first time.
At the end of Spring 2007, each episode has been downloaded an average of 3500 times, and our audience continues to grow. It's worth noting that as new listeners find the show, they go back and download all the proceeding episodes, so the audience for a given show continues to grow over time.
Benefits of sponsoring a WeaveCast episode:
Each episode has a single sponsorship slot. In exchange for the sponsorship fees, the sponsor receives:
It’s worth noting that these benefits are persistent, and remain part of the episode and show notes for as long as the episode is available in the archives, with no further fees incurred. Since it is my goal to keep all WeaveCast episodes available indefinitely, purchasing a sponsorship is an investment that provides continuing value over time.
2008 Sponsorship Rates: $125 per episode
Sponsorships are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is an episode in the upcoming production schedule that you would like to sponsor, please contact me by phone or email to reserve your slot, or if you have any questions about sponsorship.
Every episode we interview a prominent weaver about their work and inspiration, share the latest weaving news, describe the construction details of a textile in “swatch of the day,” and tell an amusing or touching tale on “a weaving life.”
Our listenership has grown steadily over the past year-and-a-half: through podcast search engines, the iTunes music store, articles in Handwoven and SS&D, collaborations with knitting podcastors, and most flattering of all, word-of-mouth.
Talk radio is a wonderful medium to promote handweaving; weaving is more than threads and draw-downs, it is people. In today's busy world, people are turning to audiobooks and podcasts for entertainment while they commute, exercise, or pursue craft hobbies. Radio is an intimate medium, drawing the listener in and engaging them emotionally in a way you don't get from a print magazine.
The Internet is an exciting new frontier for crafters. It's helped knitting become a phenomenon. My goal with WeaveCast is to capture the interest of Internet crafters and get them excited about weaving.
Who Listens to WeaveCast?
WeaveCast has listeners on six continents. Our audience is concentrated in English-speaking regions. Our three biggest concentrations of listeners are respectively: the U.S., Europe, and Canada.WeaveCast, being a podcast, appeals to the younger “iPod” generation, and we have many listeners in their teens and early twenties.
Through collaborations with various knitting podcasts (Cast-On, Christa Knits, etc.) WeaveCast has developed a growing audience among the throngs of knitters on the Internet. Many of my listener comments are from knitters and beginning weavers.
WeaveCast is unique in that it brings two very different audiences together. On one hand, long-time weavers are being drawn into the world of podcasts by a show tailored to their interests. On the other hand, fiber-podcast enthusiasts who do not yet weave are finding the show and becoming enthused about weaving for the first time.
At the end of Spring 2007, each episode has been downloaded an average of 3500 times, and our audience continues to grow. It's worth noting that as new listeners find the show, they go back and download all the proceeding episodes, so the audience for a given show continues to grow over time.
Benefits of sponsoring a WeaveCast episode:
- Targeted audience of weaving and fiber enthusiasts Podcasts are the 'go everywhere' medium. Using MP3 players, listeners enjoy podcasts while commuting (the average U.S. commute in urban areas is 47 minutes), gardening, or pursing crafts. Radio evokes an emotional connection not found in print, and sound is stored more effectively in memory.Persistent. Unlike traditional radio ads that are broadcast and then gone, WeaveCast episodes are archived online indefinitely. Cost-effective, sponsorship rates are very reasonableEmploying radio and print ads in tandem has been shown to increase a campaign's effectiveness two-fold. (source: RadioAdvertising.co.nz.)Good publicity. WeaveCast has a loyal and growing community of listeners who support the show through donations and would welcome your company’s support. Reach. Unlike traditional weaving publications, WeaveCast appeals to knitters and younger 'iPod' fiber enthusiasts, encouraging the next generation of weavers.
About Sponsorship
WeaveCast is run on the National Public Radio income model. Funding comes through listener donations, grants, and sponsorships by weaving-related businesses.Each episode has a single sponsorship slot. In exchange for the sponsorship fees, the sponsor receives:
- An identification and tagline at the beginning and end of the episode. (Eg: 'This episode brought to you by Mud-River Angoras, producer of luxury 100% angora yarns and weaving kits.')
- A small image of the sponsor’s logo posted on the episode's show-notes blog with link back to the sponsor’s Web site.
- It's my tradition to welcome new sponsors by talking a bit about their products and company in general. This is a public acknowledgement of the sponsor’s support for the show and an introduction of the sponsor to the WeaveCast audience. This can run anywhere from thirty seconds to two minutes.
It’s worth noting that these benefits are persistent, and remain part of the episode and show notes for as long as the episode is available in the archives, with no further fees incurred. Since it is my goal to keep all WeaveCast episodes available indefinitely, purchasing a sponsorship is an investment that provides continuing value over time.
2008 Sponsorship Rates: $125 per episode
To Schedule a Sponsorship
Sponsorship payments need to be made before the first of the month in which the sponsored show is to air. (ie: To sponsor the August episode of WeaveCast, you need to have payment to WeaveCast by August 1st.)Sponsorships are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is an episode in the upcoming production schedule that you would like to sponsor, please contact me by phone or email to reserve your slot, or if you have any questions about sponsorship.