Posted 4/23/08 - Kellex
As I was driving into to work this morning listening to Colin Cowherd (That’s right, I actually like him even though I blog.) when I realized these goofball radio hosts are exactly like bloggers. I know there has been beef after beef between radio personalities and bloggers but that isn’t surprising to me at all. When you categorize them as a “blogger” it is just like another blogger flaming up another blogger. This happens all the time, but when a syndicated radio host does it, then all hell breaks loose and the blog world binds together to form this ridiculous blogsexual anti-radio host war. Other than being on a major live radio network, the similarities are limitless.
What about content? Radio hosts are all market driven and touch on the specific hot topics for the day that they feel their listeners will tune in to just like we do people! Depending on the niche, they attempt to be the first to break news and give you tips and insight into relevant topics each day. They also ask for responses via email or phone to add to their content but also to show other listeners that participation is encouraged. Don’t we all do that every day? Don’t bloggers continually ask for comments, Diggs, e-mails, and RSS subscriptions? Our reader participation is no different than the participation a radio host asks for accept it’s via telephone.
What about interviews? Many radio shows thrive on the big time athlete interview. Their listeners all love to hear from the star athlete, coach or commentator on their feelings towards a topic or another. Are blogs any different? Not at all! Bloggers are obsessed with interviewing people! Bloggers are also looking to get the biggest name they can whether it be a star athlete or the biggest hot shot blogger in their niche. And what is the overall goal with an interview? To drive a ton of traffic of course! Radio shows are looking for the same thing when they interview a guest. If they can pull in a few thousands more listeners during a Tony Romo interview, then they have just boosted their ratings and probably made everyone some more cash.
What about advertisements? Each day I hear Colin or Jim Rome spamming off their own commercials for GoToMyPC.com, GoToMeeting.com, Clearly Lasik, Salonpas, Stamps.com, and Homedics Shiatsu Massager. (Those were just off the top of my head.) Not only do they run their own ads, they also say, “Sign up by clicking the orange ‘Try it Free’ button using to get a free trial!” Don’t bloggers do this as well? I’m pretty sure you could click on over to John Chow dot Com and find 3-4 posts within his first two pages that are related to an affiliate which he will get a commission from. He will even use special promotional codes with companies like Kontera to get users to sign up for their service.
What about the lifestyle? Bloggers have the freedom to basically work wherever they want which is one of the greatest bonuses to doing this. Radio hosts are no different I would argue. Every other month you hear of radio hosts broadcasting from different locations for the Super Bowl, Final Four or even just for a big college football game. Dan Patrick left ESPN last year and now works out of his own home in a radio studio he had built. When he’s not there, he’s traveling around the country to different studios while promoting the new show he has.
Hopefully that just boosted everyone’s ego for a minute! You can officially call yourself a radio host! Ok, maybe not but the next time some radio host argues with you or throws a fit and calls bloggers “losers who sit in their parent’s basement,” you can throw a ton of ammo back at their mug.
Any other similarities you can think of?
