tell me what you think....

[themattandheathershow]

hi there,
my friend and i started podcasting in '06 and got really serious about it in october of last year.
we are now approaching our 50th episode and we really want it to be good. a "pull out all the stops" sort of deal...
some constructive criticism or "constructive compliments" (office quote) would be GREATLY appreciated.

hopefully we'll pick up a few listeners on the way!
thanks a lot,
matt

www.themattandheathershow.com

[evilproducer]

How about a link? Ma-a-a-a-by in your signature line?? :p

[themattandheathershow]

thats a good thing to include

[WyethDigital]

I'd like to see a more specific post. After 50 shows surely you must have some idea of what you need to do to hit the next level? Or some clue as to what your roadblocks are?

I'm sorry, but this just sounds like a shameless plug to listen to your show. If that's not the way it's intended, then I'm sorry for misreading your intentions -- but you really should reconsider how you've worded it. And if it is a shameless plug, the proper place for this would be the "New Show Announcements" (http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=248) forum.

Eric

[themattandheathershow]

thank you for your time


surely, i do know what we are going to do after 50 episodes
but
we still want listener opinions

[DailySplice]

Hi Matt and Heather,

If I were to give any "constructive complements" the would be as follows:

Nice "looking" website: I had a really hard time finding my way around so unfortunately the most I can say it was nice to look at. I couldn't find your RSS feed and once I clicked on an episode I got totally lost.

Your play button is beautifully hidden: I was almost ready to give up when I finally noticed the little quicktime progress bar that blends in quite attractively with your logo. Ya, once I found it I said "oh, duh, there it is..." but I guarantee a lot of people have tunnel vision just like me and they are far less determined.

You've got a wonderful repertoire of navigation schemes: especially since a lot of the navigation links didn't work, this got really confusing quickly. Best to pick a standard header or sidebar and stick with it so we don't have to learn your whole repertoire just to use the site.

Your url archecture is pleasantly oversimplified: yes, the naked domain is the most pleasant to look at, but without the subfolders I never knew where I was (and neither will search engines by the way). On top of that, if I dig one of your episodes, how will I ever link to it?

I'm a not usability expert, but I really think you could boost your subscribership quite a bit if people could actually find the content. Don't rely on iTunes for that, iTunes is terribly overrated for providing subscribers. Here's a suggested solution that would take less than a day:
back up all your podcasts
delete your site
install wordpress (http://wordpress.org/download/)
install the plugin called podpress (http://www.mightyseek.com/podpress/)
install a nice looking theme (http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/01/08/100-excellent-free-high-quality-wordpress-themes/)
repost your episodes using wordpressIf you're attached to your current theme:
take some screen shots before you delete it
go to elance (http://www.elance.com/p/landing/buyer.html)
hire an eastern European to recreate your theme for wordpress for $50-100And most importantly, submit your feed to DailySplice.com (http://dailysplice.com/podcasts/submit)! hahaha. And there's MY shameless plug.:D

[themattandheathershow]

i redesigned the website tonight
thanks for the tips

im using iweb and im a kinda limited in my web site building skills

[DailySplice]

Thanks =)

That's kind of why I recommend installing wordpress, because you don't need any design skills. It will handle everything for you, including your navigation... which still needs a bit of work. Or, if you don't intend on getting into serious monetization you could always head over to mevio (http://mevio.com/) or podbean (http://podbean.com/) or something. As is, you are not set up to get any love from search engines whatsoever, so you've really got nothing to loose by moving over to a service like one of the above mentioned. Goodluck!

[WyethDigital]

thank you for your time


surely, i do know what we are going to do after 50 episodes
but
we still want listener opinions

Riiiighhht.... But I think you missed the point. You should plug your show in another forum.

[Rasheed]

Riiiighhht.... But I think you missed the point. You should plug your show in another forum.
Tssk tssk, you plug your own shows every time you post on this forum, Eric ;)

[EndGamePR]

Tssk tssk, you plug your own shows every time you post on this forum, Eric ;)
I know you're joking, but you bring up a good point. There is more than one way to plug a show here. The first is to post something in the New Show Announcements forum. Another is to make a nice signature that includes a link to your show, and then respond to other threads. The podcaster who started this thread, for instance, surely should have useful advice for other people who visit this message board.

That's the problem with some people -- they expect to post here once or twice, not provide any service to other podcasters, and get all kinds of free advice. Give back to this community and you'll surely get all of the advice you want. And, if you DO contribute to the community then people will cut you some slack for posts like this one.

[themattandheathershow]

hey, im brand new here -
i asked for advice from fellow podcasters expecting to get helpful tips on how to improve. instead i got accused of plugging my show.



why would i want to stick around and contribute to a forum that treats new people this way?

thank you to the few that actually read the first post and gave me insightful tips on how to improve. everyone else just seems to be wasting time on the net. if i wanted to plug my show i would go to those appropriate areas to do so... you'll notice that i still haven't... because i was looking for advice here.

so all of this time has been wasted. instead of talking about the podcast i'm stuck here defending a plug i didn't make.

PEACE

[EndGamePR]

You might have helped yourself slightly if you hadn't included the line in the initial post that said maybe you'd pick up a few listeners along the way. Whether the thread was intended to plug your show or not, it sounded like it. If every podcaster who wanted to plug their show did so in this forum, it would be rendered useless to those who actually need help about some specific thing or want to discuss a specific issue.

[Rasheed]

Never forget that podcasting is all about honesty and being upfront about everything. This is because the only reason people listen to your podcast is because they see you as a sort of authority. Once you start to slide and go the way of broadcast media, you will p off a lot of listeners.

You should maintain this behavior of professionalism everywhere you post as a podcaster. Your reputation is everything.

First think, then post. We are just trying to ingrain that into new podcasters.

[themattandheathershow]

I'm heading back over to the forum about why this place died.

[DailySplice]

Maybe it would help if there was a forum for Podcast Reviews? Maybe there is, but if so it's not really clear. I'm new here as well (at least as DailySplice) and I made a similar plea for help a while ago. I must admit, I wasn't sure if it was the right place to post when I did, but I didn't see anywhere else to do it...

He makes a point that if you come here as a new podcaster it can be intimidating... especially since a lot of these people are highschoolers just getting into it. I have an interest in seeing this place and podcasting in general grow, as does everyone who posts here I bet. It's sad to see new podcasters get bullied out of the community and perhaps out of podcasting just as they are working up the nerve to say hello to the bigger boys.

In this case, I don't think anyone intended on slamming this guy for plugging his show and in fact he did get a lot of helpful comments, but it also needs to be remembered that these fresh faces are very easy to scared off... and nobody wants to scare people off... do they? hahaha

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

[WyethDigital]

Tssk tssk, you plug your own shows every time you post on this forum, Eric ;)

Tsk, tsk, Rasheed. There's a difference between something in my signature line and posting a topic on this board that says "Hey, watch me show and tell me what you think. That's all. Nothing else of value or interest. Just give me what I want from you."

Eric

[themattandheathershow]

when i said that maybe i wanted to pick up a few listeners on the way - i was simply being friendly and attempting to reach out. some understood that and i thank them.

the best part about the internet is that it provides the freedom to click on anything else.

lets just agree to talk about something else in another thread because this is neither a criticism of a podcast or constructive.

Eric, i'm sorry if it seemed like i was plugging my show. but i don't think its the end of the world or a reason to argue. at this point i wish i had never posted the original thread in the first place.

[WyethDigital]

Eric, i'm sorry if it seemed like i was plugging my show. but i don't think its the end of the world or a reason to argue. at this point i wish i had never posted the original thread in the first place.

I didn't intend an argument either, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to give my opinion. I have no problem with promoting your show, either. in fact I whole-heartedly encourage it... in the right place. Sorry if I offended you, but I do get tired of seeing these kinds of posts scattered around the different boards when there is a specific place made to post them.

Maybe it seems silly for me to consider it rude, since you didn't intend any harm, but do please take a look at it from another angle. This is supposed to be a community of podcasters and podcast enthusiasts able to share knowledge, opinions, etc. But instead it has become a dumping ground for one-off posters who only see it as a chance to get a quick bump in numbers, and who don't take the time to introduce themselves, look at the short list of community rules, or even to read the forum titles. I'm not saying that's how you specifically see it, but a lot of people do. And as they post their plugs everywhere but where they belong, they push real topics down the list.

I take you at your word that you want to participate elsewhere, and in other discussions, so I'm more than willing to let bygones be bygones.

Peace,
Eric

[WyethDigital]

I'm heading back over to the forum about why this place died.

Actually, there are other reasons this place died...

One was backlash to a pedophile podcaster and a neo-nazi podcaster.

Another was iTunes. With the popularity of their directory, it became less useful to post here for those folks simply looking to gain an audience.

Another is Twitter - or so I'm told. Never got into it.


Eric

[WyethDigital]

Maybe it would help if there was a forum for Podcast Reviews? Maybe there is, but if so it's not really clear. I'm new here as well (at least as DailySplice) and I made a similar plea for help a while ago. I must admit, I wasn't sure if it was the right place to post when I did, but I didn't see anywhere else to do it...
You got help because you offered some specifics. Or maybe just sounded extra desperate. In any case, it didn't come across as a plug.

He makes a point that if you come here as a new podcaster it can be intimidating... especially since a lot of these people are highschoolers just getting into it. I have an interest in seeing this place and podcasting in general grow, as does everyone who posts here I bet. It's sad to see new podcasters get bullied out of the community and perhaps out of podcasting just as they are working up the nerve to say hello to the bigger boys. (emphasis mine - E)

I take exception to this. Very, very strongly! You're new here, too, so I'll cut you some slack, but you are way off base! Way! What you call "bullying," I call frustration. Go back and read my post about why I think these kinds of threads are rude to the people who come on here, then maybe we can discuss it some more.

By the way, if you think I'm bad, or a bully, there were much worse that used to call this place home. You should consider yourself lucky that the worse you see around here are regulars telling people to post to the correct forum. And I'm not being sarcastic, either. There used to be a dude around here who would simply tell you to F**k off. Literally. And that would be one of his civil posts. Just a little perspective on that.

The point is, if you're going to do anything on the internet, you'd be well advised to grow your skin a little thicker.


Eric

[Rasheed]

The point is, if you're going to do anything on the internet, you'd be well advised to grow your skin a little thicker.

I agree. Go and read the comments on YouTube. If you do, you'll see we're a rather tame bunch here. No swearing, no putting newbies under the ground, no invitation to sexual acts, none of that.

I've started to disable all sharing options (commenting, ratings, embedding, etc.) of the videos I post on that site, and discuss it outside YouTube, on forums where I find like minded people. The comment were becoming just too gruesome, even for me.

[DailySplice]

Don't get me wrong, I've got respect for the rather large numbers under your Avatars, and I've got nothing but love for Ms. Madeline and others. Furthermore I appreciate your advice and opinions and take them to heart. All I'm saying is the regulars in here should be welcoming new people with open arms. Afterall, we all are obviously passionate about podcasting and want to see it grow right? And it's needless to say this forum could use a little more activity.

PCA and YouTube are not the same animal. YouTube is full of 12-16yo kids with ADD and no concept of anything outside their own world within a 16 hour time frame. The word to use, in my opinion, is not "tame" -- it's "mature." Of course I agree, the atmosphere in here is a lot more mature than YouTube, but its still a bit intimidating for the bright eyed kid who wants to get involved. In my opinion, it shouldn't be. Then again that's just my opinion and I do realize the stats under my avatar have a long way to go before my opinion counts for anything.

I will note though that you all don't need to "cut me any slack." I've been through the gauntlet in a number of different contexts and my skin is as thick as it needs to be. :)

[WyethDigital]

Then again that's just my opinion and I do realize the stats under my avatar have a long way to go before my opinion counts for anything.

I will note though that you all don't need to "cut me any slack." I've been through the gauntlet in a number of different contexts and my skin is as thick as it needs to be. :)
Let me just make this clear: I don't care how many posts you have under your belt. That has nothing to do with you as a person, a podcaster, or a contributor. You could have 5 or 5,000, and if you're contributing, I could care less. Forums are kind of like a podcast, IMO, in that content is the king. Posts that are empty of everything except a show plug are just as bad as a podcaster calling another's voicemail line just to plug their show. It's boring, and it replaces good content.

Yes, it would be the warm and fuzzy thing to ignore all the misplaced posts or spam, but this is essentially a forum without a moderator, and unless the users police it themselves it will end up worse off than it is now. There are simple, clear community rules in a dedicated thread, and it's not out of the range of common courtesy (or common sense) to expect people to read them -- or risk having them recited by someone else when they've been blown off.

Eric

[WyethDigital]

I agree. Go and read the comments on YouTube. If you do, you'll see we're a rather tame bunch here. No swearing, no putting newbies under the ground, no invitation to sexual acts, none of that.

I've started to disable all sharing options (commenting, ratings, embedding, etc.) of the videos I post on that site, and discuss it outside YouTube, on forums where I find like minded people. The comment were becoming just too gruesome, even for me.

Believe me, I've seen them all (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sf9CE3Ki7zE) :)

Eric