PodShow Sucks …Less?
…or more? Chris Penn of the Financial Aid Podcast wrote a very interesting essay on the new PodShow Suckless campaign.
Example: Suck Less. This may have been funny in a conference room somewhere, but hearing Suck anything in front of shows like Lifespring, which has a dedicated, super-family friend focus, or in front of Managing the Gray, a business show that has executives (like myself) listening, is just inappropriate. Asking your producers, “Hey, what do you think of this new campaign?” before you start putting it in front of their shows is not only a good idea, it’s also professional courtesy.
I couldn’t agree more. I wrote in the comments that regarding the branding of ‘Suckless,’ I agree with [Chris'] comments that in a conference room [Suckless] may have sounded cute and funny. In application, however, ‘Suckless’ as a marketing campaign, frankly, sucks. The phrase ‘help us suck less’ implies that even if one gets involved, provides information, etc, at the end of the campaign PodShow may ’suck less,’ but it will still suck. That is NOT how a company wants the users to think of it’s services. Additionally, I don’t want something that says ‘help us suckless’ in front of the show I work very, very hard to produce.
Here are some twitter comments from other PodShow podcasters:
Mike Yusi: Is anyone else on Podshow getting emails complaining about the new openings?
P. W. Fenton: Better question: Is anyone not?
P_Dub: Some podcasters have avoided putting out podcasts until the one minute “suck less” goes away.
Mike Yusi: P Dub: I actually got someone that said they weren’t going to listen to any more of my shows until they change it.
C. C. Chapman: @UCRadio - I have already lost some listeners due to it.
Rob Usdin: Podshow needs to use the radio model - have 5-10 different spots ready to go at the get-go - rotate them. Less listener fatigue.
Rob Usdin: @P_Dub: See my comment to noebie re: having multiple spots ready at one time. Want me to listen? Make it so I have a reason to.
Ranslow: I listen to a lot of podcasts from Podshow. The new intro is annoying after awhile. How about some variation on the theme.
Matthew Ebel: Hey PodShow… the 60-second Suck Less crap is making me stop listening to your podcasts. CC and R&RG are all that remain on my iPod
Britney Mason: Wondering if i listen to too many, PodShow Podcasts…They can suckless by coming up withnew plug for Suckless, tired of hearing it already
Britney Mason: I do luv My PodShow friends, but not sure what knowing how much I make per year has to do with suckingless…
Britney Mason: PodShow should put together a podcast like bluberry does.. let people know whats going on..be open!
Britney Mason: Okay then not to turn this into a PodShow pick on session..where does the $25 mill VC go? equipment?
Not that I think PodShow is bad people. Everyone I’ve met and spoken with at the company has been very pleasant to deal with, and very sincere. It’s a classic case of ‘wants’ exceeding ‘capabilities.’
Your thoughts?
Technorati Tags: Podshow, suckless, marketing, Chris Penn, Financial Aid Podcast
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I am a podcast listener and have been for the last two years. For the last two years, I have been waiting for podshow to do something amazing in the podcast space, and been VERY disappointed. So the first time the “suck less” spot played I checked it out, thinking that I could help make things better. Instead I found a e-poll survey.
I once signed up to take an e-poll survey and regretted it because they spam you and share your user data on other sites that make deals with e-poll.
Having watched Podshow operate for the last few years I am guessing they care less about your opinion and more about the users they will get from the e-poll system.
So, what was I going to say in my survey?
Want to suck less?
1. Make a site that people can use. It looks pretty but it feels like it was designed by two flashy guys that have no idea (or care) what the user wants. This brings up a question I have had for a while… who at podshow is leading the design? Is it Adam and Ron Bloom? If so, maybe it’s time to hire someone that knows, or at least listens to what users want. What you have now is a bloated social network that tries to be everything for everyone. Here’s a newsflash: there are social networks that are much better then you will ever be. How about a focus on podcasts and work within social networks?
2. Listen to your users. We know what we want. Don’t think you know better about what we want.
3. Support your networks. I loved Podcast alley and the idea of the music network when they were started. But what has happened to them? I don’t see many updates of either (hell, you can still rip off music from the music network - how do they expect to sell music? And how are they getting labels to buy into the broken system?)
4. Someone tell Ron Bloom he is a aging owner of a tech company and he may want to act like it. I saw a google video of him giving a speech. News flash Mr. Bloom… you are like 50 years old and own a tech company, time to stop your lame “I am so cool” act. You are not in hollywood, you can take off the cbgb’s t-shirt and the ripped jeans and act your age. IT’S NOT COOL, it is sad.
I would not bring up number four except for the fact that I think this is one of the issues of podshow, they are delusional. They believe they are SO cool that they can do what they want and know what a 18 year old listener wants. This effects the product and how they treat their customers, and it makes fans like me stop listening (watching).
Here is what is truly sad… I am using a comment on a blog to tell podshow what is wrong with the system because I don’t feel like anyone is listening at podshow.