So many people responded to last week’s example of a Unique Listening Proposition that I’ve decided to share another quick one today.
This was among many generated by the air staff of Results Radio when we did an informal version of my Defining Your U.L.P. exercise at the end of a two-day visit in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Instead of ending his listener phone calls with, “What’s your favorite radio station?” (a predictable cliche), one jock decided to try ending each call with, “What’s your favorite condiment?”
Immediately my brain spins out sequels:
“What’s your favorite crustacean?”
“What’s your favorite geometric shape?”
“What’s your favorite personal grooming product?”
Now I ask you: What other question could you end your phoners with that would be more fun, more original, and less pathetic than “What’s your favorite radio station”?
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Why do you need a question at the end of your phoner? Surely the phoner should end on a crascendo of interest/entertainment/information? Most calls have an obvious “out” points… that’s when you should bail, without having to sound fake (“what’s your favourite radio station?”), contrived (“what’s your favourite geometric shape?”) or just irrelevant (“what’s your favourite crustacean?”).
Oops – apologies for spelling crescendo incorrectly… it’s been a long day!
er….whats wrong with ending a call naturally by thanking the caller or telling them it was good talking to them or thanking them for calling in?! if you were on the phone to a friend would you ‘just bail’ after they’d told you a great story or ask them their favourite type of cheese randomly?
I agree. I meant “bail” as in round the conversation off naturally, rather than drag it on any longer.
is there anything more corny and insincere sounding than “what’s your favorite radio station?” good lord. are we still in the big boss jock days? no wonder radio is struggling to maintain relevance..as corny as this sounds , you have to talk to people like THEY talk to people..canyou hear it now? “Hey Bob, who’s your favorite neighbor?”
Or for that matter, “Who’s your favorite mother?”
All of these are good points, but in defense of the condiment question, etc., it does play off the fact that most stations DO use the cliche questions to end calls. When the jock starts the question, the listener is expecting one thing, but when he ends it by NOT asking what is expected, both the caller and the listener are surprised and engaged. I would probably even say to myself, “Hmmm. How would I answer that?”
Will that win me as a lifetime listener? No. But it will keep me tuned in just a bit longer.
I love that, it’s goofy and genious. Not all calls have to end the same, with a question. You never really know what can happen, I leave it open for anything. Some PD’s actually make you do it. Ive had one that did. 🙁