Since joining the Association for Downloadable Media staff…ok…since becoming the ADM staff in January, we’ve focused on some very key projects. I wanted to take an opportunity to update both members and potential members, of their progress.

These projects directly reflect the focus of two main initiative of the ADM in the last six months: Provide value to our membership and build awareness.

Clearly, any member organization must provide value to those who, through their membership, show belief in the mission and provide funding to advance that mission. It’s our goal to provide real tools and resources to help those who produce and distribute downloadable content to monetize that content.

To that end, I’m happy to say that we’re just weeks away from launching an ADM Member Directory. This directory is designed to be a point of direct access for advertisers and media buyers to the offerings of our membership. ADM members will be able to post information about their shows, the audience they reach, and the various types and amount of inventory they offer, as well as the all important contact information that will allow buyers and advertisers to reach these providers.

As far as I know, no directory currently exists that allows those with marketing and advertising money to spend  such easy access to a wide range of outlets and the audience they provide in such a fast growing medium. ADM Committee members Dave Hamilton and Matt Snodgrass are currently tweaking the current beta version of the Directory, so look for information on the member release soon.

Another exciting project that’s in the works is a comprehensive research study that will, as project manager Jeff Karnes describes it, “explore consumers’ attitudes towards advertising within podcasting to provide media buyers and marketers with information about those attitudes, as well as insights into the best advertising opportunities.” Simply put, we’ll be providing data that will not only show who uses downloadable media, but how they use it, what they want from it, what they expect from it, and the best way advertisers can use it to their advantage. Make no mistake, we aren’t out to prove to the world that podcasting reaches millions of people and is growing…we already know that. We’re going to show advertisers how best to reach their audience and that modifying their ad budget to include more downloadable media will help them become more successful.

The ADM, in conjunction with Tom Webster and Edison Research, is currently crafting and vetting all aspects of the project and working toward a presentation date of sometime in September. Look for more info as we field this unprecedented study.

As I noted earlier it’s vital to let the industries we serve and represent know about the mission and purpose of the Association for Downloadable Media as well as tactics and tools we use to accomplish them. So we will continue to improve our ongoing communication to the industry and it’s constituency. In fact, the upgrade of this site, increasing our Twitter presence, and other social media initiatives are all steps toward raising our profile. We’ll continue to reach out and inform not only the content providers but, through our Advertising Council and other outlets,  those ad buyers and agencies that offer us that monetization we seek to build for downloadable media.

So, as you can see, for a member funded, volunteer based,  non-profit group, we’re quite busy…and I would be remiss if I didn’t take this chance to say thanks for the support of our current members. And members…please  make sure your membership is current so you don’t miss out on reaping the rewards of this hard work.

I’d also like to invite you, if you aren’t a member to join us! I’m confident that we’ll provide you with the tools and support to get your downloadable business noticed and, on the way, I hope more profitable.