I'm flipping through the latest issue of Podcast User Mag, and on page 49 there is an article from Patrick Melton of NLO called exactly "Your Podcast Probably Sucks".

It actually contained some good advice, if you ignore the slight slam about the positive community of the Pickle.

I'll never ever understand why being supportive is a bad thing, but oh well. Still a decent read.

http://www.podcastusermagazine.com/files/p...mag-issue19.pdf
(Page 49)

Also has featured Kevin Cummings of Short Cummings audio in "Inside the Podcaster's Studio"- good for you Kevin!

~Dani

Thanks for the kind words, Dani. (And it was a great issue!)

I read the article and since I'm not seeing a steady growth in listeners and what we talk about is mundane, my podcast must suck. So I guess it's time to retool the show or quit. He did indeed make some very interesting points to consider.

He did, indeed, make some good points. I'm not sure I agree about the growth, though.

After a year of podcasting, I've stabilized around 300-350 listeners per week on the new episodes and steady growth in my back catalog.

I'd like more listeners, certainly, but so long as those I have keep listening I feel like I must be connecting with an audience.

In truth, I've never been a huge fan of the "you gotta grow" mentality <climbing on soapbox>that is so pervasive in the U.S. Businesses don't seem to be content to serve customers successfully and consistently. Communities want to get "bigger and better". We place (as a culture) too much stock in acquisition.<climbing back down>

Nobody sees growth in the summer, remember. It happened last year, and it happened the year before that, and (at least on my shows) it's happening this year too.

Wait until all them kids are back in school before you throw your show out the window.

Patrick Melton is a dick. You need to look at his philosophy through those lenses. And remember that, because it's important. If a mod wants to spank me for my opinion, go right ahead. I've dealt with and locked horns enough with him to have formed this opinion legitimately and honestly. Anyone that can say they know him otherwise, feel free to do so.

Yes, Patrick can be smart, but he's also insecure and threatend by competition. He's also got some bizarre problem with people that do this for the love of creating. So if you find something useful or provocative in hgis opinions, then take those lessons and run with them, and if something doesn't sit right with you, or makes second guess everything you've been doing, well, then consider the source...

Eric

Yeah, it kind of struck me like saying to a guitarist that if they're not playing bigger and bigger venues and getting bigger and bigger recording contracts, then they're wasting their time. If you want to make a living at it, sure. If you're doing it because you enjoy it, then it really doesn't matter if you're playing for arenas or for yourself and maybe a couple of kind strangers. And it's the same with your podcasting audience.

I like this analogy, as I have for years been voted the best guitarist at my address, but my star has never risen outside of my residence. But hey, in my house, I am #1! he he.

The best statement that I can make on this topic is this, do your show for your reasons. Melton has no clue to why a person other than himself is motivated to do what they do.

Melton made some good points, if your goals in podcasting happen to be near to his. But still, there is a difference. Most people that I know in the podcasting world are doing this because we enjoy the hell out of it, even those that are trying to make this something other than a hobby.

In other words, even those trying to make some money, or to become extremely popular and famous, would still do this just because it is fun. Many have faded and quit when podcasting stopped being fun for them.

I have a feeling that if Melton's audience were to evaporate, he would quit fast. I happen to agree with Eric and his opinions on Melton.

The trend that I see in podcasting that irritates me more than most is the rule set that some are trying to lay on podcasting. The day that the "pirate" aspect of podcasting goes away, I feel that a lot of the fun will be gone. Do your show, how you want, and screw the opinions of others.

I do it because I love it. And because doing a tech podcast with my wife gives me geek cred. And because I've been able to interview some of my personal heroes for my show, like JoCo, the Dr. Floyd guys, and Jason Snell from MacWorld. And because I've met some really cool fellow podcasters.

Yeah, my show likely sucks, and tips are useful, but I'm still learning and improving. And our numbers are growing, albeit slowly.

I enjoyed the free plug

hacky comic just trying to be all against the grain. He knows what he's doing, causing a stir, thats how he gets the kids listening.

maxim (or stuff) did this article basically few months ago except they included video blogs and such as well.

comic copying material, nothing new.


besides we've been preaching it since day 1

I agree with manyof his points - Just wanted to add that it's not an either or thing.

To me it's a balance from your passion to what your audience wants...
You got to have both or either you will give up or you will never havve an audience...
honestly though even the strangest podcast can get a loyal following ---

so go more for teh paddion side - as for making money that is merely a mtter of valueing your self.

Eric Wolf
http://www.ericwolf.org
http://www.storytellingwithchildren.com

The good advice he gives has been known and commented on over and over and outside of being consistent in show posting, there is no good advice.

Even that bit of advice doesn’t apply to everyone or every show. People tune in or listen if they like the podcast. If the podcast is a bit late due to time spent on production or say life getting in the way of what is primarily a hobby for most then I dare say most listeners will understand and not be a self-righteous blatherskite about it.

And speaking of good advice, why would I take podcasting advice from a person who violates what is considered good website etiquette and design? Having a looping video add where the audio cannot be turned off is simply ignorant and bad form.

What if I was listening to podcast when I hit your site and now have competing audio on my system?

I hope he can make a living at podcasting. I really don’t see him being able to make one giving out sound advice.

So, how many here are going to simply stop podcasting since their numbers aren’t going up all the time?

And as it has been stated before, many here podcast due to our passion for it. Pardon me if my indulgence in a hobby upsets some critic.

Reading the article, it just sounds like an ego rant. Sure the guy gets a lot of listeners, but that has a lot to do with starting a podcast when there wasn't a lot of competition and a new podcast had a much easier time of getting on the top 10 list. And if people are using top 10 or top 100 lists to find new podcasts, those that are already on top will automatically get more listeners because they're easier to find. But aside from iTunes, I don't think this plays as big a part as it use to. As well, people download back episodes, so having a large catalogue helps build a large number of downloads. Time is a big factor in helping a podcast to become successful.

And the type of podcast you have will also play a major factor in the size of audience you'll attract. Comedy is a popular category and it's easy to get a large audience doing a comedy podcast. Poetry is always a hard sell, especially in print. Music would seem to be moderately popular but everyone has their own tastes so it comes down to the type of music you play. And the same is true for talk. Football is likely to get more listeners than tiddly-winks. If you talk about Harry Potter or Paris Hilton (Name Dropping) you'll get more listners than if you talk about your Aunt May.

I also disagree with his point about erratic schedules. Most podcast listeners are use to such schedules. I have found a weekly release tends to work best for building an audience. Any less than that and people forget about your podcast while any more than that can be too busy for many to keep downloading (unless you're podcast is only a few minutes long). People are use to the same schedules as TV and do tend to prefer that, but they also tend to forget to check so a day or two off won't make much difference.

Hey we all do it for the love of creativity and fun ,for what ever reason it may be on his part I don't care all I know that I'm having fun and learning new things on the way,we all have are formats that we do, I'm still learning stuff too, Is he afraid of other Podcast shows ? don't Know but all show are not the same, Just like our personalities are not the same. we all are doing it for the love of creativity! self-expression!
and to have plain FUN! I new to Podcasting but at one time you all were new too , trying to get formats ,content and etc.No one expects to become an overnight hit.Remember how you were and how long it took to make head way when you first started Podcasting ?Peace!

Seems harsh to tell everyone that there podcast probably sucks. Wouldn't you say?