Bigger Pockets podcast ads

[Kalen Jordan]

Bit of an odd rant, but does anyone else find it a bit odd that the BP podcast has ads? Since BP is a paid product, you would think they would either have no ads at all or only advertise the BP community.

Ads always dilute the message of a podcast host a little bit, depending on how well-curated they are.

The fundrise ad for example - Brandon says "this is the future of real estate investing" in his own voice. Does he really believe that? (Doubt it...that's generally not the kind of thing they are encouraging people to do in their actual content) So is he just saying that because they're paid to say it? Dilutes their credibility.

[Kalen Jordan]

1. I don’t think the ads need to subsidize the product itself. The pricing is already at a premium.

I very much doubt anyone at BP needs the money - that’s the other thing that’s a bit confusing about this.

2. Definitely happy for BP to make money as well - but generally speaking product companies are more effectively monetized through their product vs. through advertising.

3. Yes I can see why sponsors like the opportunity :)

Agreed the ads aren’t badly placed - they’re well done. I just wonder how much trust I should be placing in them. For example, on the Tim Ferriss podcast he heavily vets products and you can trust that if you buy something that is advertised it’s something that Tim personally vouches for. I think that’s a good standard for a podcast to have for ads, especially when they can afford to have that standard.

If Brandon is saying “fundrise is the future of real estate investing” not because he believes it but just because they’re paying him to say it, that’s diluting his credibility. 

And for what? He doesn’t need the money clearly.

Or if there's an ad for a turnkey operator who isn't really among the best turnkey operators - is that really a net win for BP/the community to have the ad up?