Last week, I mentioned to EAT on Twitter that I thought their EAT TV was potentially a great idea, but that I found it a bit boring. And they replied asking what I found boring and welcoming suggestions..
If you haven't seen it, EAT TV is very professionally put together and Lucia Coward is a pretty face to have fronting it. But, without meaning to be too controversial, the biggest problem I have with EAT is the number of adverts and the impact that has on the editorial.
And I think that applies across their website, email newsletters and the new TV channel.
Of course they need to make money - just look at what's happened to SQM, Estate Agency Times and Estate Agency News. Indeed, our competitors in the GMG stable are welcome to their free plug in the screen shot above! :o)
However, EAT have gone past the point where content is king and made advertising the main focus - just look at their home page which has 20 separate banner ads!
For me they've fogotten the golden rule. It should about engaging the reader and customer - driven by you and what you want, not me.
What Rightmove says about the state of the market this month is dull. I'd rather see them focus on events, success stories, interviews, appeals, quirky stories, challenging topics which affect businesses and other stories I can't read in any national newspaper.
Who's with me?
And although I've criticised the speed of their servers in the past, it seems to have improved recently?
I don't agree with you about the agency sector I'm afraid. There are cowboys in every industry, but most of the businesses that we deal with are owner run and care a great deal about their service.
Martin
Given you are handling agents IT, you are often talking direct with the owners themselves- of course they care as individuals, but lets not pretend that agency is full of high-class individuals or it wouldn't have gained such a 'sterling' reputation. If there are 'cowboys in every industry' why is the opinion of doctors, solicitors and accountants any better than that of agents? Lack of education, regulation, ethics etc. is a starter for 10. No barrier to entering the sector is your follow-up for a further 5 points! :)
I think we'll have to agree to disagree - especially about the couple of articles of mine that were published in SQM! :o)
Martin
regarding the blond, on the TV. I would TOTALLY have to agree, I bet Nat recruited her for something, erm not sure yet what tho. presentation is BORING. even marsh and parsons looks more appealing. maybe has a moving backdrop. You might suggest they check out Halstead.com in New York for some of their video presentations. NOW they are interesting, innovative, fresh and appealing. Back to EAT, i dont mind the ad's wish i could filter the emails tho i get sent, as MOST dont appeal. since i dont have a shop front.
Martin