The Downfall of Podcasting
I remember when I first learned about Podcasting. It was via blog entries in Chris Pirillo's blog and Leo Laporte's blog. Both class act internet enthusiasts and both had a hand in making podcasting what it is today. However podcasting has become more of a business venture than the fun audio sharing that it was when it started out. There are a handful of people that have alienated the idea of podcasting. The idea that anyone can share audio not just the big time internet junkies. Take, for example, Kevin Rose, the one time tech television star that downgraded his career to online multimedia. He does two podcasts, which there is nothing wrong with, but it's the way that he presents himself and hounds users to subscribe. There is nothing wrong with promotion. If you are just starting out promotion is a great way to get the word out, and maybe become the next big thing. But then there are people and organizations that over promote. Over promoting is when you are already popular and have a good following and then you keep plugging away and hounding users to watch or listen even more. A perfect example of this is Kevin Rose. Of his two podcasts, both are in the top 15 (This week in Tech, 4, Diggnation, 12). That's great for him, but lets look at a post in his blog that was just a few days ago (while both were still in the top 15). "Help out diggnation and subscribe today:
If you use iTunes:
- Subscribe to the audio feed
- Subscribe to the video feed
Odeo:
- Subscribe to the odeo audio feed
iPodderX or other podcasting clients:
- Raw RSS feed" "Help out diggnation". Help Out! He's the number 12 podcast on iTunes and that's just not good enough. This is what I like to call greed. Greed to be better than everyone else, while not letting the little guy who's just starting out get some promotion. If Kevin Rose wants to help out podcasting and not be a selfish person, he should probably promote on of his favorite podcasts, if he even ventures out of his own. Maybe he should get out there and listen to some more, some that aren't well know, that aren't in the top 15, that are maybe in the 100's. He may realize that there are some good podcasts that aren't overly popular. Then promote them on his site. He's got a good following he could get some people listening. Think of it as donating to the poor. You could just sit there in your mansion and suck up money while asking your maid to get you more hot tea. Or you could donate some money and feel good about yourself. If you were to look in the archives of Kevin Rose's Blog you'd realize that never once has he promoted someone else's new feature or podcast, unless it was one of his "friends". All I hope is that someday Kevin Rose will realize that he's not the only human being on this planet; it wouldn't hurt the help the little guy. Some reading this article, may be wondering why I'm only focusing on Kevin Rose. The main reason is that he has a huge outlet of power, which he can thank TechTV for, and he uses it to only promote himself. While on the other hand, Leo Laporte and Chris Pirillo tend to steer away from their online careers and give a little insight on their lives, and isn't that what blogging is for? While Leo and Chris may not promote the small guy, you won't see them promoting themselves. By just glancing at Leo and Chris's blog you can see very seldom self promotion. Now compare them side by side with Kevin Rose's blog. His is all self promotion, nothing looking into the life of Kevin Rose, nothing that helps the little guy, all self promotion so he can be number one at everything. While I have the chance I'll finish off my rant on Kevin Rose by pointing on one simple thing. On the podcast "Diggnation", which I'm not subscribed to and dislike, they take the first three minutes to discuss beer. I hope they realize that the majority, or if not the majority a large chunk, of their audience is under the legal drinking age. I do not believe that a podcast like this is the time or place for discussing alcohol. Jacob Bodnar is a senior writer and webmaster of http://www.p2btech.com. We writes technology and sports articles. This article originally premiered on p2btech.com in August.
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