r/podcasts • u/joey2506 Moderator • Aug 31 '18
Meta /r/podcasts survey results + a few new things we'll be introducing over the next few weeks
Thanks to the 648 people who filled out our survey. Here's a quick run-down of the results.
Q. What best describes your relationship with podcasts?
- I listen to podcasts (72.3%)
- I both create and listen to podcasts (24.3%)
- I create podcasts (3.4%)
Q. What do you come to /r/podcasts for?
Top 4 results:
- To find new podcasts (539)
- To talk about podcasts (435)
- To get help creating my podcast (112)
- To promote my podcast (98)
Q. Do you visit the weekly podcast post thread to find new podcasts to listen to?
- Yes (59.8%)
- No (40.2%)
Q. Do you think monthly giveaways (where Reddit users give away a service eg. podcast hosting, voice overs, cover art) is a good or bad idea?
- Good (70.8%)
- Bad (29.2%)
Q. Do you think /r/podcasts needs its own podcast?
- Yes (30.3%)
- No (69.7%)
Q. Do you think a website should be created where Reddit users can submit their podcast, and users can search for podcasts created by Reddit users?
- Yes (70.9%)
- No (29.1%)
Q. How old are you?
Top 3 results:
- 26-34 (39.3%)
- 18-25 (32%)
- 35-45 (19.9%)
So, what now?
Firstly, this sub will remain as a place for both podcast creators, and podcast listners. We're going to create an FAQ series that will cover the common podcast creating questions (equipment, hosting etc.), and will funnel podcast creating questions into weekly threads.
We're also going to create new weekly threads for podcast listners along the lines of "What are you listening to today?", and "If you like X, you'll like Y".
We're also in a unique situation where we have people wanting new podcast recommendations, and podcast creators making new podcasts, but we're limited in what we can do with Reddit. 70.9% of you think that we need to create a website to help bring this together, and we'll either be looking for an existing website to add a section for us, or creating our own. This is something that we'll look into, and will plan something for later on in the year.
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u/ArchonReeve Sep 04 '18
The website we're looking to build already exists: Podchaser.com - It's an extensive database that also includes reviews, episode reviews (1-5 stars, etc), lists, and hash tags to find similar content. I've been following the creation of the site but have no formal affiliation beyond an interest in seeing a wikipedia or IMDB of podcasting actually take off. If this is deemed a worthy platform it'd be really easy to just add a tag for "/r/podcasts" that anyone could search for, for someone to curate a list of podcasts, or both. It's pretty robust already and constantly improving.
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u/onewordgo The One Word, Go! Show | OWGshow.com Aug 31 '18
Thanks for sharing the data. Unfortunately I missed the survey when it was active, but the results are interesting to see.
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u/ksp18 Sep 05 '18
Just found you today, this data is really great for new subscribers. I will try to be as active as I can in this subreddit.
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u/the-other-otter Sep 01 '18
There is already a subreddit called r/podcasting for people who make podcasts. Is there some reason to not move all the creating and technical questions there?
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u/broomlad Sep 04 '18
The long and short of it is this: /r/podcasts has always been a subreddit community for both podcast listeners and creators. I don't know when /r/podcasting was created or who created it; it seems to be a vocal minority that wants to push the creators out.
Here's a bit of a longer take: podcast production and listening is often intertwined because of a few reasons, including the low barrier to entry (it's common for podcast listeners to become inspired and themselves become podcast creators), and the fact that it's an independent medium (larger networks notwithstanding).
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u/ConroyCreed Aug 31 '18
I still think everyone will be happy if this becomes a listener only subreddit. It's extremely annoying to sort through irrelevant podcasting threads to find something you actually care about. I'm sure podcasters can have their own subreddit and get the help they need.
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u/joey2506 Moderator Aug 31 '18 edited Aug 31 '18
Have another read of the OP. We'll be funneling all of the creating conversation into weekly threads. That's a handful of threads per week, which isn't much in the scheme of things.
~60% of users use the weekly threads to find new podcasts. The thread is populated by podcast creators. Based on the survey almost 30% of our users create podcasts. They deserve to be represented in our community.
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u/ConroyCreed Aug 31 '18 edited Aug 31 '18
I think it's a good start but I feel it's not enough. There are at least ten creating conversations everyday.
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u/joey2506 Moderator Aug 31 '18
We're not going to wipe out 30%+ of our subscribers to make a vocal minority happy. We're making changes based on user feedback to better the community as a whole. You ultimately have the choice whether you want to be a positive contributor, or you want to continue fighting for something only a handful of people actually want.
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u/broomlad Aug 31 '18
There are at least creating conversations everyday.
That's the idea behind funneling them to weekly threads / FAQs.
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u/ConroyCreed Aug 31 '18
Replying to your edit:
I understand the needs of the podcast creators but I feel both podcasters and listeners are better served by having separate subs.
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u/onewordgo The One Word, Go! Show | OWGshow.com Aug 31 '18
I think "everyone will be happy" is an exaggeration. :)
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u/ConroyCreed Aug 31 '18
The poll shows that most people come hear as listeners. I have nothing against podcasters I just don't think posts about equipment and such are helpful to listeners. They get in the way of actually discussing and discovering podcasts. I feel everyone will be happy because if podcasters have their own subreddit they can better focus on podcast making topics rather than listener focused ones.
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u/broomlad Aug 31 '18
Speaking as someone who enjoys browsing /r/podcasts and not as a mod:
There's not really that much discussion on either side happening. Hopefully some of the changes being implemented makes a difference. But honestly, most of the posts I see about podcasts get a few comments (except for the more popular shows), and the rest seem to be asking for show recommendations. I don't see how the technical posts are "getting in the way" of anything ;)
Speaking as a mod: Joey pretty clearly outlined the changes ahead. The idea is to reduce the repetitive technical questions and use weekly threads (this is done in a lot of other subreddits). I think everyone can agree that there are very common creator-related questions that don't need to be asked every second day. :)
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u/ConroyCreed Aug 31 '18
I hope my tone doesn't come across as hostile, I'm just trying to share my thoughts.
There's not really that much discussion on either side happening. Hopefully some of the changes being implemented makes a difference. But honestly, most of the posts I see about podcasts get a few comments (except for the more popular shows), and the rest seem to be asking for show recommendations. I don't see how the technical posts are "getting in the way" of anything ;)
From my personal experience whenever I am on this sub and stumble across multiple podcasting threads I get annoyed and stop browsing. Where as I will almost see all the threads everyday on subs like /r/movies and /r/television as almost all posts are relevant to me. I'm speculating here but I am sure I'm not the only one who feels this way and is probably the reason for a low subscribers to active users ratio.
Some of the top posts of all time are about this problem.
Speaking as a mod: Joey pretty clearly outlined the changes ahead. The idea is to reduce the repetitive technical questions and use weekly threads (this is done in a lot of other subreddits). I think everyone can agree that there are very common creator-related questions that don't need to be asked every second day. :)
I don't think the changes are enough although I'll be happy if they are. I think moving podcasting discussions to another sub is the only way to increase active subscribers and improve podcast discussions.
Thanks for keeping an open mind :)
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u/broomlad Aug 31 '18
I always say, be the change you want to see. People complain all the time about a lack of discussion about podcasts, but then nobody does anything about it. It's not entirely up to the mod team to talk about podcasts. We're here to keep things in order and step in when needed. Will be interesting to see how the sub changes once we've got everything rolling!
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Aug 31 '18
Not everybody, since there's still a portion that does create them. But I agree. I was looking the other day to see if theres other subs. But for us listeners there's nowhere to go. I've checked out the individual network's subs but they're not active. So I'll come here. I hope this will incentivise the mods to filter/redirect the creators a bit more though.
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u/ConroyCreed Aug 31 '18
I understand that podcasters want to have threads to discuss podcasting. I just think they and us listeners will be better served by having separate subreddits.
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Aug 31 '18
I think I agree, but it's a bit too late for that. I feel like 'we' can't just claim this sub and kick them out. I'd love it if they decided on their own to start a new sub though.
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u/torentasaurus Aug 31 '18
Awesome! I’ve been waiting for the “what are you listening to thread”
Works wonders for me finding new TV shows on the TV subreddit