Advertising?
Added 2021-07-27 02:04:31 +0000 UTCWe got approached by a company that wants to advertise on the show. Matt and I are semi-ambivalent to the concept beyond being unwilling to promote anything that is too random or we do not agree with/approve of. In this case it's a news aggregator app which seems fine.
We are considering to accept with the intention being that if we can increase the podcast income a bit we can invest in an editor and potentially someone to manage the social media accounts/extract clips for YouTube, etc. (we have no presence on any platform except Twitter).
But we wanted to ask YOU lot how you feel about this?
Obviously if we did it we would release all the main episodes on the bonus feed without ads, so an ad free version would still be available. We would however have to deal with the inevitable accusations that we are simply interested in profiting of the culture war. Which would be annoying...
So what do you guys think? We aren't talking tonnes of money but enough that it would make a difference. Longer responses in the comments appreciated too!
Comments
Personally detest ads and meticulously fast forward ahead. Agree with Rob Frank above re ad free version behind Patreon paywall.
cv lCalm
2022-01-14 15:14:24 +0000 UTCIf patrons can have an ad free version I say go for it.
Rob Franks
2021-07-31 09:17:58 +0000 UTCI think it's fine but just don't go nuts, keep the ad free Patreon option, and enjoy the extra dosh! And like many also said, don't break the rhythm of the show by putting anything in the middle! With the right ads this could actually become pretty fun. :-D
Suzan Lemont
2021-07-28 16:35:42 +0000 UTCLMAO!
Suzan Lemont
2021-07-28 16:30:06 +0000 UTCPlease get sponsored by the tushy bidet attachment people, their ads are a highlight of Blocked and Reported, and in your accents it would be hilarious. You could have a Patreon Level where people get to hear twice as many tushy bidet attachment ads. Ambivalent, but it would be great if you can keep the ad-free version cheap i.e. about $2 per month. $5 per month would of course be great value if you were the only game in town, but way too many people are asking for $5 and it adds up pretty quick.
John Graham
2021-07-28 01:34:14 +0000 UTCIf it’s worth it, go for it so long as all episodes will go to Patreon w/o ads. I don’t want to hear them which is why there’s a skip ahead button.
Tom McCool
2021-07-27 14:15:05 +0000 UTCSure! Hop on the band wagon. Everyone else is doing it.
nazar dzoba
2021-07-27 13:57:55 +0000 UTCYou should read the ads in a way that a guru might like Eric or Sears.
Kyle D
2021-07-27 13:36:24 +0000 UTCI totally understand that the rent must be paid and that time is money in this crazy mixed up world. We always have the option of forwarding through it.
DavidtheG
2021-07-27 13:24:34 +0000 UTCFeel like you deserve to capitalise on it given the effort you put in, and I trust your judgement on which ads/where to put them etc so it doesn’t take away from the conversation. Go for it!
Kevin O'Rourke
2021-07-27 12:54:21 +0000 UTCI think it's perfectly fair to have ads on the free version, ideally one spot per episode. There should be an ad-free feed for patreons though. The thing I won't condone and would actively be against would be ads for people already paying a la cable TV. I.e. I think there should always be a way to pay for ad-free versions.
James Pulver
2021-07-27 12:13:07 +0000 UTCMakes total sense, but it does depend on the advertiser. If it's a product us listeners may actually like, it's a win-win!
Becca Thomas
2021-07-27 09:42:33 +0000 UTCI love the comments!
Joan Mazza
2021-07-27 08:31:13 +0000 UTCDosis facit venenum.
mobitobi
2021-07-27 07:51:25 +0000 UTCAs a subscriber, I'd prefer an ad-free patreon version but I realise that might be even more hassle for you guys. Do what you need to do to keep the show on the road.
Andy Hunt
2021-07-27 07:26:28 +0000 UTCWith the amount of work you guys put it to doing the podcast, why not? Just please put the ads at the beginning or end and not in the middle!
Charlotte Goodall
2021-07-27 06:17:34 +0000 UTCTotally…
Christopher Kavanagh
2021-07-27 05:28:06 +0000 UTCNah, we don’t want it to be like Rogan. Short and sweet, ideally only once.
Christopher Kavanagh
2021-07-27 05:27:26 +0000 UTCGo for it. But please vet who you get at least a bit so it's not stupid shit.
Cesare, But Def Not A Borgia
2021-07-27 05:26:23 +0000 UTCI’d hope for it running just like once or twice an episode, some podcasts have multiple commercial breaks, which is annoying. Something with a muscle master would be great tho…
Daniel Reed Miller
2021-07-27 05:24:01 +0000 UTCI really hope it’s an ad for brain pills.
Shawn
2021-07-27 04:50:44 +0000 UTCI am not a big fan of ads but it is your podcast and it is obviously a lot of work. Do as you see fit.
Tim Tripp
2021-07-27 04:41:36 +0000 UTCYou absence of a demand for a genderless erection enhancer - is noted.
Couch
2021-07-27 04:41:06 +0000 UTCOn its face I see no conflict as long as the overhead managing the sponsor relationship remains minimal. Even if you turn down this sponsor you would still have to think through the process of scaling up. From your description (adding an editor and social media manager) it sounds as if you are doing so. As Nick noted, Matt does have a smoother reading voice but on the other side of that coin Chris’ voice is harder to ignore. Which is better suited for the Guru audience? I’d go with Chris.
luckycat
2021-07-27 04:11:48 +0000 UTCCan do the model of no ads with patreon subscription and RSS. Should get paid for your time and efforts in one way or another!
Timothy Nguyen
2021-07-27 03:37:36 +0000 UTCYes and, Merch ideas: - vitamins - supplements - vitamin supplements - survival go-bags - aura readers - blue light blockers - unlimited access to our '12 Rules for Strife' ebook - Life coaching sessions - unlimited access to our '12 More Rules for Strife: we made so much money off the last one that we came up with more rules' ebook - tote bags
Samuel Grant
2021-07-27 03:33:51 +0000 UTCI still don’t even though Matt has explained it multiple times.
Christopher Kavanagh
2021-07-27 03:22:34 +0000 UTCOh, absolutely do it! Make that bread and invest in an editor for YouTube clips, for sure. YouTube very much needs guru-debunking content.
Rebecca Christiansen
2021-07-27 02:48:49 +0000 UTCDefinitely advertise. Just keep it in the beginning.
Timur Dunaev
2021-07-27 02:45:45 +0000 UTCGo for it! By the way, I just listened to The Strenuous Life podcast. I'm not at all convinced Chris knows who Cassandra is.
Thomas McKenzie
2021-07-27 02:33:14 +0000 UTCI say get paid! Then again, maybe I'm just a victim of the Gated Institutional Narrative and I've been programmed to think that way. Maybe I should go listen to a few Portal episodes before I cast my vote...
Lawrence Nagel
2021-07-27 02:30:41 +0000 UTCIts not hard to hit a button a few times if the ads gets tedious if gets you paid. Really enjoying the show!
bron stoll-engelsen
2021-07-27 02:25:27 +0000 UTClol! Good idea!
Christopher Kavanagh
2021-07-27 02:17:43 +0000 UTCMake sure you bargain for a bit more compensation to guarantee Matt reads the ad and not Chris. That has to be worth something.
Nick Brouwer
2021-07-27 02:17:01 +0000 UTCYeah that's not going to happen. There is no Faustian bargain here. We retain complete editorial control.
Christopher Kavanagh
2021-07-27 02:16:47 +0000 UTCThere’s only one real issue with advertising - and that’s if it compromised editorial independence. Most of the time, where advertising does that - the content providers self-censor; and not even consciously so. Anyway, you probably know this.
Couch
2021-07-27 02:14:51 +0000 UTCDo it!
Trenton Knauer
2021-07-27 02:13:21 +0000 UTCGet yourselves paid for the great work you do!
Agnieszka Z
2021-07-27 02:12:09 +0000 UTC
