That didn't take long- first Podcast Infomercial
Todd Cochrane is the brain behind the Geek News Central blog, a nice site with tech news of the day. He has been producing a Podcast two or three times a week and it is pretty good. Todd also recently became a paid blogger in the controversial Marqui ad campaign that pays bloggers to write about their software. Todd has been aboveboard about his involvement in this program and he always makes it very clear when one of his articles is a "paid" one about Marqui.
This is old news and I'm only mentioning it now to provide a little background so this news item will make sense. This evening I received a notice from Todd that a special edition of his Podcast was now available for download. This special Podcast is an interview with Stephen King (no, not that one), the CEO of Marqui, where they both talk about Marqui and the Marqui software. If I am not mistaken this just might be the first Podcast infomercial. Todd is always ahead of the curve. You can find the special Podcast at this link. (35 mins.)
I've listened to Todd's podcast for the past few weeks and you're right on: he is completely up front about being paid to blog from Marqui. I give him credit for still speaking his mind and not being constrained by Marqui...class act by an honest podcaster.
KCT
Posted by: Kevin C. Tofel | January 04, 2005 at 08:43 PM
Yeah, but to be a real infomercial, shouldn't there be an audience that complains until the price is lowered and the presenter throws in a 6 piece steak knife set and a miracle chamois?
Posted by: richard | January 04, 2005 at 08:59 PM
I haven't listened to it yet- you mean there's no Ginzu knives?
Posted by: jk | January 04, 2005 at 09:05 PM
Nice spin did not even cross my mind that you guys would label it a Infomercial :) in all honesty I tried to ask sincere questions. (Put them together in about 15 minutes Sunday evening) If I had thought of that spin I would have had some fun with Stephen. But if you listen to what he has to say their are some gems in their for bloggers mid way through the interview. I should have went after the small business angle a little more. But I think they are starting to realize they are missing a huge customer base with the way their product is currently priced.
Posted by: Todd Cochrane | January 04, 2005 at 09:10 PM
Todd, you knew people were going to have fun with it, didn't you? :) As for the Marqui pricing, they have to pay you bloggers somehow. :)
Posted by: jk | January 04, 2005 at 09:37 PM
I'm sure it was recorded on somebody's yacht. I'm embarrassed to say I had to look up "podcasting" on the wikipedia, and further embarrassed to say I'd never heard of the wikipedia until I installed Firefox on my little tablet. Someday I hope to reach the 21st century. It would be like reaching the second childhood of adulthood somehow.
Posted by: Steve | January 05, 2005 at 06:29 AM