Podcast Rating & Review Etiquette

The Nicole Holland Show

Since I launched the Business Building Rockstars Show just under 3-years ago, I’ve been really proud that I’d never gotten less than a 5-star rating, and only positive reviews. Well, that changed over the weekend! And it got me thinking that most people probably just don’t understand how reviews are received by podcasters, so that is what my message today is all about. Let me tell you what happens when a podcaster sees and new 5-star rating and review posted on their iTunes account. First, they’ll probably take a quicker, deeper breath in than the one just before, then with widened eyes and a smile on their face they’ll lean in to read the review like a child ready to rip open that big gift from Santa on Christmas morning. They read the review and nod ever so slightly with a smile, relaxing back in the comforting confirmation that what they’re doing actually means something to people, that they’re making a difference in their own small way in the world. Of course every once in a while there’s the review that truly touches our heart and makes us get up and dance, or write like a maniac about it sharing all of the lessons, or even just pick up our mics and talk about it. It probably seems like no big deal to the person writing it, but to the person receiving it… well it can be life-giving. Now let’s talk about what happens when we receive 4-star reviews. You’d probably expect that getting a 4-star review is really good so we might want to pat ourselves on the back, secure in the knowingness that people think we’re “good”, not great but still good. If that’s what you think, you’d be wrong. Try and recall this scenario… Think back to when you were in high-school and right around the time when grades really mattered. They determined if you’d get to go to college or university and who would have to pay for it. Everyone was picking their top choices, hoping their top choices picked them to. There may have been classes or times that you really needed to get an A so you studied as hard as you could, did extra credit, even gave up the TV, video games, and fun times with friends for the cause. And you got to the point where you were so confident and knew your material front and back, up and down, because you’d put in the sweat equity and you were crushing it... just to be handed a B for your grade? At that point you weren’t thinking “Well, I still did good”. NO!! You immediately asked yourself “What did I do wrong”, or “Why is it that no matter how hard I try what I do is never good enough?”, or maybe even “Why doesn’t the teacher like me?” Or maybe you reacted more like, “Ah screw him. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”, or “She’s an idiot -- how did she even get to be a teacher, I’m going to complain.” Right? We don’t want to see 4-stars when we’re striving for 5, just like kids don’t want to get a B when they’re working for an A. 4-stars isn't “good”, it’s not good enough and it feels bad. I won’t bother talking specifically about anything less than a 4-star review because frankly, why would you listen to something that’s not your cup of tea? I find it so bizarre when people leave poor ratings and then take the time out of their lives to leave scathing reviews for podcasts. Seriously guy, if you hate it so much please stop listening! Simply remove your earbuds, press stop, put down your player, and walk away. There is absolutely nothing you can share that will be appreciated or even considered when you’re coming from a place of anger or hostility, so for the love of everything holy -- please do not torture yourself by listening to something you don’t like in order to properly cite all of the problems and things you believe to be wrong in your review. I promise you there are so many better ways to spend your time.