Freedomain Radio

So, I have  a question for you folks, who are interested in helping out this conversation:

If you were presented with a request for your contact info on a Freedomain web page (say, the front page, or one of the subject pages), what would best entice you to provide it? Short of giving away free books and tee shirts, or on the other end, trying to 'repackage' the free videos and podcasts as some sort of offer, what could Stef put on a web page as a potential lure, to get you to provide your email address?

Some ideas already bantered about: 

• A DVD of Stef's videos
• Access to the categorization facility built into that database of his
• Somehow, private video feeds 

Can anyone think of anything else?

Thanks!

Greg

 

I think a promise of limited emails is important.

Maybe put the person's name in a draw for the complete FDR library or wardrobe?

I agree on the first point. We'd definitely have to make that explicit.

I like the raffle idea... What do you mean by wardrobe?

 

The FDR clothes - like a t-shirt and sweatshirt.

Greg Gauthier:

So, I have  a question for you folks, who are interested in helping out this conversation:

If you were presented with a request for your contact info on a Freedomain web page (say, the front page, or one of the subject pages), what would best entice you to provide it? Short of giving away free books and tee shirts, or on the other end, trying to 'repackage' the free videos and podcasts as some sort of offer, what could Stef put on a web page as a potential lure, to get you to provide your email address?

Some ideas already bantered about: 

• A DVD of Stef's videos
• Access to the categorization facility built into that database of his
• Somehow, private video feeds 

Can anyone think of anything else?

Thanks!

Greg

 

Would this be like, an entry into a contest or something? I'd say free book, the God of Atheists or any given book.

I like the raffle idea.

Also, this may seem a bit silly, but maybe some 'study notes' to some of the more important/complicated/long podcasts.
It would be nice to have a written down copy of some of the notes in 192 instead of having to hear about those damn grocerys again

Just an idea

*EDIT: just out of curiosity, why would you want our contact info on the website?

free stuff always seems to get people. no matter what it is...DVD of Stef's videos, or even a raffle for a book or shirt....that's what would sell me.
 

aussieanarchist:

I like the raffle idea.

Also, this may seem a bit silly, but maybe some 'study notes' to some of the more important/complicated/long podcasts.
It would be nice to have a written down copy of some of the notes in 192 instead of having to hear about those damn grocerys again

Just an idea

*EDIT: just out of curiosity, why would you want our contact info on the website?

It's not you, we are trying to figure out a good way to get people to give us their e-mail addresses... 

Sweetners are nice and all, but I think the answer is, just give them a good reason.

Well, Jake, in theory, that's right in front of them when they get to the site. Right?

 

Not really. You don't need an email address to hoover up the content of the site. The email address involves the next step. Can you express the proposition regarding the email more clearly?

E.g.

Give me your email address because...

Because if you don't, eventually this site goes away.

Seriously, we need people to stay active and involved in the conversation. The only way to do that, with some folks, is to remind them occassionally, with going's on at Freedomain - for example: new podcasts, new videos, and higher level offerings like the book club. At least, that's sort of how I see it.

Without a "heartbeat" of some kind, the interest wanes. If the interest wanes, the whole project is sort of at risk.

Do you agree?
 

 

I agree Greg. I think it could also help lower the bounce rate quite a bit too. In my opinion, the key is to get people to first listen to a few podcasts; then the product sells itself. But I think many people may just come to the site, take a look, and for a number of reasons just click away and never actually take the first step of downloading the 1st few shows. Getting people to give over their email in exchange for something tangible, in my opinion, is a great way to "tie" some people in. It's a little extra push to get them interested. After that, they're either hooked or they'll be on their way.

I would have taken access to the podcasts past 183, the ability to view forum posts older than 15 days, the ability to read posts on certain interesting forum categories.  Anyone who wants to do either of the first two is likely to be pretty interested in what we have to say.

For all of these, you can allow only registered forum members to see the information and make receiving the e-mail a setting that's on by default.

Greg Gauthier:

Because if you don't, eventually this site goes away.

Seriously, we need people to stay active and involved in the conversation. The only way to do that, with some folks, is to remind them occassionally, with going's on at Freedomain - for example: new podcasts, new videos, and higher level offerings like the book club. At least, that's sort of how I see it.

Without a "heartbeat" of some kind, the interest wanes. If the interest wanes, the whole project is sort of at risk.

Do you agree?

I hear you Greg, and of course, you know that you don't need to ask me that question. What you are doing now is really a kind of entrepreneurship. If you prefer, I can just offer you solutions, but I think it would be more useful to help you think through for yourself how you are approaching this. I realise that you weren't asking for coaching though and if you are finding it annoying (which I sense a little) then it obviously isn't going to help. Its totally up to you.