Yesterday, a bizarre factor occurred. A submit that I wrote on LinkedIn about Meta pulling the plug on Fb Podcasts was picked up by LinkedIn Information. The end result was a complete bunch of feedback.
Look, I get there’s a bizarre dynamic on LinkedIn. Folks need to voice their opinions and showcase their skilled data. And possibly that’s not all that totally different than anyplace else.
I’m guessing that many or many of the feedback I used to be getting had been from individuals who don’t usually observe me and weren’t notably knowledgeable on what the Fb Podcasting function was within the first place. And it confirmed.
However, it definitely felt like there have been themes of feedback I used to be getting, they usually far outnumbered people who appeared to replicate a data of what this function truly was.
And in truth, that shouldn’t be that large of a shock. Fb Podcasts had been a restricted take a look at within the US. Most individuals in all probability by no means noticed or used the function. Why would the standard individual — and even marketer — know the way it labored?
So, I wished to deal with the first themes of feedback I used to be getting. My hope is to assist make clear what this truly means in every case.
Meta is Screwing Over Small Companies!
Meta examined out Fb Podcasts for 10 months. We are able to assume that the adoption, engagement, or each had been underwhelming. Consequently, Meta is refocusing sources elsewhere.
Does Meta have a fame for favoring large companies and massive spenders? Certain! Are you able to say that a few lengthy listing of firms that make a complete lot of cash? Completely! To ensure that Meta to be worthwhile, they deal with the place they will earn cash. SMBs could completely be deprioritized consequently.
However… Whereas that could be true, is that this proof of that? I don’t see it.
Meta examined a product that doubtless would have been used principally by entrepreneurs and SMBs. Certainly, it might have been leveraged by large media as nicely. I simply can’t think about many companies had been counting on Fb Podcasts at this stage.
I used to be dissatisfied to see this go away. Was I screwed over? No method. And I’d be stunned if there are any or many examples of SMBs who relied so closely on this product that they’re now going to undergo.
Fb Podcasting by no means gained traction. In the event you managed to realize traction with it, you undoubtedly have already got an enormous viewers elsewhere.
The place Are You Going to Go Now, Jon?
I acquired a number of questions like this. Folks questioning the place I’m going to go now. Or asking why I “selected” Fb Podcasts over one thing like Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
This implies a primary misunderstanding of how the function labored. Nobody (so far as I do know) was producing distinctive podcast content material for Fb. You merely linked your present’s RSS feed to your web page in order that if you revealed a brand new episode by your host, it might publish to Fb.
However, it might publish elsewhere as nicely. I don’t perceive how or why you’d go to the difficulty of establishing podcast internet hosting solely to have that feed go to Fb. You’d undoubtedly additionally ship it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and the handfuls and dozens of different locations, too (some you have to deliberately arrange, some you don’t).
Fb was merely one of many locations my podcast went to when it was revealed. There isn’t a alternative since I’m already publishing in all places else I can.
Certainly, if you happen to weren’t doing that, you must. However, that’s much less about Fb screwing you over and extra about you ensuring your podcast is about as much as get the best doable attain.
Rented Land!
Oooooh boy. This one goes to require a complete weblog submit. However let me get it began right here.
A bunch of individuals used this information as proof of why you don’t construct a home (your online business) on rented land. As a result of it may be pulled out from beneath you.
Actually, I really feel that this expression must be retired. Certain, nobody ought to ever construct a enterprise that depends 100% on Fb. If all the things you probably did was on Fb and also you by no means despatched folks to one thing you personal, you’re a idiot. And if that’s what folks imply by the “rented land” expression, nice. However that has nothing to do with what’s taking place right here.
In case you have a podcast, guess what? You want rented land to search out listeners! You possibly can definitely simply publish it and have it in your web site (I do this!). However, if you happen to truly need to attain folks, you’ll additionally need to ship it to the handfuls and dozens of “rented land” that you simply don’t personal.
Companies want rented land. We have to leverage it to interact with and discover our potential prospects. These potential prospects need to hang around on rented land (like Fb, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok). They don’t need to hand around in our personal houses.
As soon as once more, the “rented land” feedback definitely had some reality to them, however they made no sense on this context. For a podcast to thrive, you have to leverage rented land! In the event you don’t, you’re straight-up complacent.
CENSORSHIP!
Okay, this one wasn’t a typical theme, however I noticed it and it made me need to shut off all gadgets for the day.
The declare was that Meta making the choice to close down Fb Podcasts was proof of censorship and opposed freedom of speech.
I hope that I don’t want to clarify why it is a bunch of nonsense. Meta could make enterprise selections and switch off options as a result of they is probably not worthwhile with out it being thought of censorship.
Ugh. We simply appear so wired to instantly soar to all these excessive statements, it’s scary typically.
Your Flip
Okay, now that I’ve supplied a counter to all of those statements, hearth away. What are your ideas on Meta shutting down Fb Podcasts?
Let me know within the feedback under!
