This post was a comment from the wonderful evilpants. Many commenters thought it should be promoted to its own post, and we always listen to the very constructive feedback offered by our readers.
By: evilpants
Good grief, I just read the page on their site directed at new advertisers:
Advertise on TWiT.tv
TWiT has been an ad-supported network for almost ten years and we have helped hundreds of companies grow their brands and increase their customer base by educating our audience about their products and services through ads on TWiT.tv. Our advertisers are a mix of start-ups, established brands, and those that we helped become established brands.
TWiT reaches a highly-engaged, tech-savvy audience as one of the world’s largest Internet broadcasters of live and on demand technology shows. In 2012 we established our own sales team because we wanted to work directly with our advertisers on super-serving our audience. Our sales team currently has 65% of sales in-house and is led by our CEO Lisa Laporte who heavily vets potential advertisers before allowing them on our network. Our in-house sales team has an in depth knowledge of our shows, direct access to our hosts, and works closely with our advertisers to create the best ads for our audience.
We are always interested in new advertisers who have products and services that will directly benefit our audience. If you are interested in advertising on the TWiT network then email advertising@twit.tv
There really is no one at TWIT who has any idea how to write marketing copy, and no one who knows how to address marketing people.
Even this sentence’s construction is sloppy and lazy:
Our advertisers are a mix of start-ups, established brands, and those that we helped become established brands.
Just look at that. They have three types of advertisers: 1) start-ups, 2) established brands, and…. um, 3) established brands. That’s a really stupid way of writing. If you know how to write English, and if you’re aiming to show that you understand what you’re saying, you’d say something like “Our advertisers are a mix of start-ups and established brands. Many of those have become established brands thanks to their partnership with TWIT.”
It’s only a small point, but I guess I’m saying, these people can’t even get a basic piece of marketing spiel right. It’s not just that sentence, it’s the whole thing. It’s written by someone who thinks they know how to write, but clearly doesn’t.
And the fact that once again they felt the need to say “our sales team… is led by our CEO Lisa Laporte” pretty much tells you who wrote the page.
Finally, they make a point of saying that Lisa Laporte “heavily vets” potential advertisers. For what? Ethical reasons? Equality reasons? Diversity reasons? They don’t bother saying. It ends up sounding like TWIT is a smarmy spoiled child. If they’re bothered to explain what the purpose of the vetting is, it would make it a positive thing – but the fact that they don’t, makes it a really negative thing.
What advertiser would want to be put through a “heavy vetting” process? Oh please, please let us advertise with you 🙁
TYFYC evilpants.
Nice find. Yes, CeHo only has a “peanut gallery” understanding of everything. It is not surprising that, when editing her own material, it sounds like it came from a Jr. High School student instead of “one of the top CEO’s in the Bay Area”.
Amen Fistbump.
Ken Sintek» Quote comment
65% of our sales are in-house is also a pathetic self-congratulatory line.
Begging for advertisers shows you the trip to the up-fronts or wtf that thing was, was a fail.
Shearing» Quote comment
It just means that they don’t have to pay a commission or discount.
Charles Chadwick» Quote comment
This is a copy paste from comment on last post about this:
“Good comment. I would also note that “direct access to our hosts” is why TWiT is shameful. Every journalistic operation tries to create a thick wall between advertising and content whereas TWiT flaunts the relationship between sales and hosts.
Native advertising to a new level.”
Shearing» Quote comment
Oh, it’s not unethical really. Just like the advertising you find mixed into the content on so many media outlets, I am just sharing the same storytelling tools with the advertisers.
By the way, good catch. I meant to say “heavy petting”.
Lisa’s Cunt» Quote comment
LOL.
I missed that. Thanks for re-posting. TYFYC.
This has me rollin’.
Ken Sintek» Quote comment
And what the F is this? They are partners with amazon wtf click the link to actual site
Our Partners
Aha – Listen to 40,000+ Internet music services, radio stations, news, and entertainment for free.
Amazon – The world’s largest online retailer.
audioBoom – The best spoken-word audio in the world.
BitGravity – Video delivery and management on the world’s largest Tier 1 network.
CacheFly – Pay-As-You-Go CDN Plan: Now pay only for what you use with offer code TWIT. Limited-Time Offer. New Customers only.
iHeartRadio – Millions of songs. Thousands of Stations. One Free App.
iTunes – Stream and download podcasts from your favorite subscriptions.
Kaliki – Access your favorite audio news and information content on-demand, anytime.
NewTek – Transforming the way people create network-style television content and share it with the
SoundCloud – Upload, record, promote and share your originally-created sounds.
SpaFax – Content on the go.
Stitcher – Discover the best of 40,000+ podcasts and talk radio shows on demand.
TuneIn – Listen to over 100,000 real radio stations and more than four million podcasts.
Ustream – Put the power of pro broadcasting to work for your brand.
Shearing» Quote comment
Top CeHo in Peataluma.
loquacious» Quote comment
But the real question is, does anyone (potential advertisers) actually read that stuff? Seems purely fluff for a website to me.
Esch» Quote comment
Amazon is probably mentioned because of twitch.tv which allows TWIT to broadcast on for some reason even though TWIT has no gamming shows or content at all.
Soupslurper» Quote comment
Yeah, as a fan and viewer of Twitch.tv, this point has been bothering me. TWiT streaming there seems to be a waste of bandwidth and a violation of Twitch.tv’s content requirements.
TWiT does not do anything to fit into Twitch.tv’s Game, Music, or Creative categories. TWiT offers none of that.
It’s tempting to report the channel for those reasons. Twitch.tv is usually pretty strict about broadcasters staying in those categories.
Tomzer1» Quote comment
Since 2007-2008 or so TWiT’s live streaming partners were Ustream, BitGravity, and justin.tv. Justin.tv renamed their gaming section Twitch.tv in 2011(?), then they renamed the whole company Twitch.tv. TWiT streaming via Twitch is just a legacy thing from the justin.tv days.
Fred» Quote comment
Twitch works with Chromecast.
Lazy Mexican» Quote comment
Check out the NewTek line under partners….share it with the what?
Moonchild» Quote comment
OOOO!!!! Let’s play a game! Let’s find the grammar mistakes in the copy and see how long it takes for TWIT to correct them.
Moonchild» Quote comment
If you have nothing to post, take random comments and make them an article
Jorge» Quote comment
Jorge, I think its a good legit comment that deserves to be posted. Let’s encourage TD to post these kind of articles instead of the ones that make fun of someone’s hair or eyebrows.
Let’s all make TD a better place.
Moonchild» Quote comment
Just look at that. They have three types of advertisers: 1) start-ups, 2) established brands, and…. um, 3) established brands. That’s a really stupid way of writing. If you know how to write English, and if you’re aiming to show that you understand what you’re saying, you’d say something like “Our advertisers are a mix of start-ups and established brands. Many of those have become established brands thanks to their partnership with TWIT.” This not a small point evilpants, it’s critical. English is the only class I ever got B’s in and I can see it.
loquacious» Quote comment
Mix of who cares?? In retrospect every advertiser everywhere in the whole world is a mix of young and old. So what?
“Our advertisers are a-holes looking to sell something. We do not really know who the fuck they are, anyway?” Would be more honest.
Headless Drupal» Quote comment
Would be a bit more honest to say that TWiT advertisers have been lifted/curated from conservative radio advertisers and CES sponsors.
Suckas!
NativeInExile» Quote comment
Every podcast under the sun uses the same goddamn advertisers, including TWIT. What does this sales team do exactly, besides play Yahtzee, refill Leo’s NatureBox ™ trough and change the soaking tub water?
The Patrick Klepto» Quote comment
Good comment.
Lisa is winging it. She’s trying everything from tee-shirts to no talent staff. Nothing is working. Leo sees it but does not have the balls to take the business back.
Leo is just a washed up old badly dressed clown.
Harkonnen Mentat» Quote comment
I got tired just reading that sanctimonious 4th grade level copy. I’d give it a D+ only because Liser knows how to spell TWiT.
How about, something clean and simple instead:
TWiT is an advertiser supported, tech focused video / audio podcast network. We average 7million downloads a week globally 2/3 of which are US listeners. Our listeners are loyal and engaged, and actively support our sponsors.
TWiT’s show hosts do live reads during the podcasts using copy tailored by the buyer. Live reads help ensure TWiT listeners actually experience your pitch and can’t simply press “skip ad” as they can on some other outlets.
Please contact our sales team at +1 xxx xxx xxxx for more information.
Sheesh, was that so difficult?
Ex-Fan» Quote comment
“Heavy vetting” = Delivering large amounts of sample product free, as tribute to Soup et. Ho… How many free snacks/glasses/mattresses/shaving supplies does anybody need? How often would Leo “gift” sponsored products to other hosts/guests if he actually had to pay for them?
Philibuster» Quote comment
I think he’s full of shit when he says thinks like this to his hosts:
“yeah, it’s so great! I’ll send you one, you’ll love it!”
They probably go “yeah, I’ve heard that one before…”
Ffhhg» Quote comment
I’ve noticed many TWiT employees own the Ring Doorbell.
I wonder if they are forced to buy the products they advertise? I wouldn’t want a video doorbell but even if I did, I’m pretty sure Ring isn’t the best.
Does he force these people to buy the advertisers’ products?
Jimmy Jam» Quote comment
Now this is what I call team reporting. Nice job, EvilPants!
HelloWorld» Quote comment
So that’s why my money is gone
Leo from pork» Quote comment
It’s so amazing that companies believe advertising on the TWiT network give them a ROI. The numbers are clearly inflated and the fact is the majority of the listeners are long time hooked fans of the old late 90’s early 2000’s tv show. These people only listen because it gives them comfort that those days of old continue on like ghosts reliving the same day over and over for eternity. Advertising to these zombies is pointless. I’m shocked I tell you…shocked there’s money being paid here.
Eric Allgreen» Quote comment
It’s just speculative advertising money. Audible seems to advertise with any turd with a microphone, and it’s just down the food chain from there.
The Patrick Klepto» Quote comment
Any advertiser who spends money with TWIT should know who the TWIT audience is. Most are not interested no non tech products like Mattresses and Blue apron meals.
Soupslurper» Quote comment
You’re saying that these advertisers don’t know what kind of audience TWiT is? Seems unlikely. And since they’ve re-upped their schedule, it must be working, much to TD’s amazement.
StevieD» Quote comment
Spot on. I think you’re talking about me!
Ex-Fan» Quote comment
It’s all BUUUUULLLLLLSHIIIIIITTTTT!!!!!
JungleBunnyJim» Quote comment
Hey guys thanks for doing this. I’ve been ill with flu (the “hit by a truck” kind, not the ‘Leo claims to have had flu once and now calls it “my good friend The Flu”‘ kind), so I’ve been out of it. It’s been cool to see people get stuck into this nonsense.
No one minds a business doing what it has to do to attract more money – marketing bullshit has infected everything. It’s just… FFS, do it right – it only takes a few minutes, maybe a few drafts, and possibly the advice of people who know what they’re doing. And boy, a business like Leo’s should be surrounded by people like that. It should have generated so much goodwill by now, it should have a true community of experts helping it.
evilpants» Quote comment
Give the hosts free product so they can give honest reviews. I’ll admit that if you gave these products (free) to me, Casper mattress, nature box, ring doorbell, almost all of it, I would like them too.
Who wouldn’t recommend Blue Apron if it was free. Most of the hosts don’t realize recommending something you genuinely like because it’s free, to you, is lower them just recommending something you never used.
$Leo outsmarts his hosts and cons them and his audience$
Richard» Quote comment
How about all that free crap that Leo passed on. You never hear about them, thank goodness.
StevieD» Quote comment
Hollah for a dollah, CeHo will put your company’s execs through a heavy petting process.
kernel^klink» Quote comment
With come-ons like that, one wonders how they even score the low-life loan-shark-of-the-week sponsors they still have.
Speaking of which, podcast advertising must be one positively toxic place to be, and if anyone was really trying to “vet” advertisers in an effort to give respectable brands a safe place to put speculative budgets, those craptastic money-suckers would never make it past the doorstep.
Unless of course putting all sorts of high-caloric crap into the fat man (and his feel-good even fatter loon) is your one and only reason to operate at all.
As for the companies “that we helped become established brands,” would that include the gadget pedler that the other day was bought for 20-odd cents on the dollar? Great shining example you set there!
NormansThirdNipple» Quote comment