This is just one data point, but the model that is most likely to get me to subscribe is Andrew Sullivan’s with every podcast being paywalled with a free preview. I don’t think anything quite gets you reaching for your wallet like a good conversation (with an interesting guest) being abruptly cut off half way through. Smoke ‘em if you got em almost got me with that model too (and would have had they not offered a 7 day free trial, which I think is a mistake by them).
I appreciated this post. I’ve been looking to start a podcast myself on college football. I’ve been holding back for many reasons but mainly I guess is I’m a nobody. I love CFB and can discuss it at length with the anyone. I absorb information from many different outlets and watch tons of games. I’m not picking winners and losers for betting purposes I just seriously love the game and traditions especially the SEC. I’m not a kid either per se and many guys my age are already established on TV or talk radio. I also never played college football so there’s no hook there. I just think I can talk about intelligently. I have a few friends who have told me to try it. My wife also thinks I should too. I have plenty of time to dedicate to it but I don’t want it to be my entire life but I feel it would be fun and I’m not even looking to be Pat Macafee or anything like that but I’d like to get some kind of following to make it worthwhile. I’m hoping to have it up for the next season. Any suggestions would be so helpful and appreciated. Don’t know if this is the correct way to go about asking this but you seem to be someone I could learn from. Thank you. Jamey
My only real suggestion is to start doing it. So much of the process is just trial and error. I've known quite a few people who never got around to doing a podcast because they were being too precious about launching it.
When I was a teenager, I remember categorizing many lead singles I’d hear on the radio as good but ultimately overly commercial marketing ploys and thinking that the real valuable and interesting songs were buried in the album--so I bought the album (I’ve always wondered what impression songs like What’s Beef or...Bleed had on people who bought Life After Death because they thought Hypnotize was catchy...)
Then Napster/streaming happened and all music quickly felt like it was cheap and disposable.
P.S. I have never decided to make one purchase based on an ad on a podcast. Not one. Not a YouTube Ad. Nothing - although I’m sure there is an algorithm controlling it in other ways. I pay - much like a prior commenter - for the long form articles and for the stuff other people don’t cover.
I feel like I remember you writing or saying somewhere that was your original strategy with podcasts (alternating between free and paid)? Not sure if it was here or elsewhere. Obviously, now mostly paid, and FWIW, got me to finally subscribe ;)
Honestly, I pay for your long-form writing. The podcasts to me are a bonus.
“If you are good at something never do it for free.” Joker - 2008
This is just one data point, but the model that is most likely to get me to subscribe is Andrew Sullivan’s with every podcast being paywalled with a free preview. I don’t think anything quite gets you reaching for your wallet like a good conversation (with an interesting guest) being abruptly cut off half way through. Smoke ‘em if you got em almost got me with that model too (and would have had they not offered a 7 day free trial, which I think is a mistake by them).
I appreciated this post. I’ve been looking to start a podcast myself on college football. I’ve been holding back for many reasons but mainly I guess is I’m a nobody. I love CFB and can discuss it at length with the anyone. I absorb information from many different outlets and watch tons of games. I’m not picking winners and losers for betting purposes I just seriously love the game and traditions especially the SEC. I’m not a kid either per se and many guys my age are already established on TV or talk radio. I also never played college football so there’s no hook there. I just think I can talk about intelligently. I have a few friends who have told me to try it. My wife also thinks I should too. I have plenty of time to dedicate to it but I don’t want it to be my entire life but I feel it would be fun and I’m not even looking to be Pat Macafee or anything like that but I’d like to get some kind of following to make it worthwhile. I’m hoping to have it up for the next season. Any suggestions would be so helpful and appreciated. Don’t know if this is the correct way to go about asking this but you seem to be someone I could learn from. Thank you. Jamey
My only real suggestion is to start doing it. So much of the process is just trial and error. I've known quite a few people who never got around to doing a podcast because they were being too precious about launching it.
When I was a teenager, I remember categorizing many lead singles I’d hear on the radio as good but ultimately overly commercial marketing ploys and thinking that the real valuable and interesting songs were buried in the album--so I bought the album (I’ve always wondered what impression songs like What’s Beef or...Bleed had on people who bought Life After Death because they thought Hypnotize was catchy...)
Then Napster/streaming happened and all music quickly felt like it was cheap and disposable.
Feels a bit like intermittent reinforcement to me, the greatest of all the reinforcements. Worked on me!
Feels like half and half is the right balance
P.S. I have never decided to make one purchase based on an ad on a podcast. Not one. Not a YouTube Ad. Nothing - although I’m sure there is an algorithm controlling it in other ways. I pay - much like a prior commenter - for the long form articles and for the stuff other people don’t cover.
I feel like I remember you writing or saying somewhere that was your original strategy with podcasts (alternating between free and paid)? Not sure if it was here or elsewhere. Obviously, now mostly paid, and FWIW, got me to finally subscribe ;)