Podcast FAQ

how do you make money on a podcast

by Tessie Spinka Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
image

  1. Sponsorships. Sponsorships are the most common way podcasters make money. This is when the podcast promotes the sponsor during the show.
  2. Direct support including premium content. Direct support is when you simply ask your fans to send you money to support your show. ...
  3. Affiliate sales. Affiliate sales are similar to sponsorships, but instead of getting paid by the download, you get paid based on what you sell for another company.
  4. Complementary products. The fourth common way to monetize a podcast is to sell complementary products. This might include merchandise, courses, consulting services, books, or access to live events.

Sponsorships are the most common way podcasters make money. This is when the podcast promotes the sponsor during the show. You probably hear your favorite shows plug their advertisers a few times in every episode. How much you earn from a sponsor depends on the number of downloads your episodes earn.

How can you monetize your podcast?

Ways to Monetize a Podcast

  1. Traditional Advertising and Sponsorships. This is by far the easiest method of monetizing a podcast because it requires minimal effort on your part.
  2. Join an advertising network. If you feel daunted by the idea of finding your own sponsor for your podcast, then you might prefer the idea of enlisting the services ...
  3. Sell Subscriptions To Your Podcast. ...

More items...

How to make more money from your channel or podcast?

Course Summary

  • 38 in-depth lessons
  • 36 video tutorials
  • 2 text guides
  • 2 action-prompting tasks
  • 47.35 minutes of video tutorials

How to monetize your podcast?

How to Monetize a podcast

  • CPM. Here’s the good news. According to the Internet Advertising Bureau, the podcasting industry experienced a 19% increase in advertising revenue in 2020.
  • Affiliates. You’ve got to start somewhere. The advice that I’ve heard most often is to start with affiliate marketing.
  • Ask. It always pays to ask. ...

Can you really make money podcasting?

Yet, despite what many claim, it's absolutely possible to make money with a podcast. Plenty of show-runners are making a living doing that, right now. Others are happy to bring in enough to cover their hosting costs, or pay for a takeaway every few weeks.

image

How much money can you make from a podcast?

As an estimate, if your podcast has about 10,000 downloads per episode, you can expect to make between $500 – $900 per episode in affiliate sales.

How many views do you need to make money on a podcast?

You usually need a larger audience of at least 5K or 10K listeners per month to work with them. One of the largest ad networks is Midroll, another popular network is Authentic, and many of the podcast hosting companies have their own networks as well.

Can you make a living off a podcast?

So is it even possible for new podcasts to make money? The answer is yes. By setting up a few automated revenue streams, new podcasters can accrue passive income that grows alongside their audience, giving them time back to focus on podcasting.

Does Spotify pay you for podcasts?

The short answer is: No. Spotify does not pay for podcasts, but fret not! We have good news for you: There are many ways to monetize a Spotify podcast. You can make money on your podcasts through sponsorships, affiliate programs, ads, coaching, and more.

Why use podcast audience?

You can use your podcast audience to get those initial sales and reviews that will help your book stand out too .

Why do podcasters create their own online courses?

Many popular podcasters create their own online courses to teach similar content to what they talk about on their podcast.

Why do podcasts need email lists?

It helps to have an email list so you can let your audience know about your course both on your podcast and through email.

How much does the Bowery Boys podcast make?

Here are a couple of examples: The Bowery Boys is a podcast about the history of New York City and makes over $3,800/month through Patreon. The Last Podcast On The Left makes over $57,000/month just through Patreon. They also sell shirts and do regular live shows in different cities.

What plugin to use for podcast?

Using a plugin like Lasso is highly recommended. This allows you to create short links that redirect to your special tracking link (among a bunch of other useful features). This makes it easy to say a short, memorable URL on your podcast.

Can you ask for donations for a podcast?

You can ask for donations to help support you and your podcast. More entertainment-focused podcasts would be a good fit to monetize in this way. A common platform for accepting donations is Patreon. They make it really easy to offer additional content or bonuses depending on the amount of money people support you with.

Can you create an affiliate ad?

You could create your own “ad” spot to promote an affiliate offer if you don’t have the audience size for traditional sponsorships. Or you can naturally include a mention of a product or service as you deliver your regular content.

How to sell podcast ads?

There’s a lot of nuance to this, but you can sell ads on your podcast in three main ways: 1 Direct to brand: If you represent a podcast that meets a brand’s audience and demographic thresholds, you can sell ads on your show via preroll, midroll, or postroll advertisements directly to the brand based on a cost determined by both parties, which is usually represented on a CPM (cost per 1,000 downloads) model. These ads are usually product endorsements, direct response, and host-read. 2 Through an agency: Podcast advertising agencies operate either as an intermediary or broker for the brand, or as a marketplace. For example, agencies like Veritone One , Ad Results, or Havas Edge represent clients like LinkedIn , Noemie, and Embark. These agencies will vet the podcast and associated talent, and will plan a large, cohesive campaign on behalf of their clients. They have a very particular and specific way of purchasing ads, and usually plan quarterly. There are also podcast marketplaces such as Advertisecast that allow podcasters to list their shows and inventory for brands to browse and select. 3 Programmatic: One of the fastest growing segments in the podcast advertising marketplace is programmatic advertising, which you may recognize as non host-read ads that appear in podcasts. Brands will usually purchase programmatic space using audience demographics as opposed to selecting specific shows and genres. Some of the players in this field include Megaphone’s Targeted Marketplace , Art19, and Acast.

What is podcast advertising?

Through an agency: Podcast advertising agencies operate either as an intermediary or broker for the brand, or as a marketplace. For example, agencies like Veritone One , Ad Results, or Havas Edge represent clients like LinkedIn , Noemie, and Embark. These agencies will vet the podcast and associated talent, and will plan a large, cohesive campaign on behalf of their clients. They have a very particular and specific way of purchasing ads, and usually plan quarterly. There are also podcast marketplaces such as Advertisecast that allow podcasters to list their shows and inventory for brands to browse and select.

Is there a subscription for podcasts?

Subscriptions: Podcast subscriptions have sprung up in a few different forms in recent years, but are by no means new. It’s a simple enough concept – if you put your podcast behind a paywall, you’re typically transitioning from a free, ad-supported podcast to a subscription based service.

How much money can a podcast make?

According to Forbes, the stand-up comic earned $30 million from his show in 2019.

How much did podcast ads cost in 2018?

Ever listened to a show that took a quick break to run an ad? There’s a good reason. According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau, marketers spent $479 million on podcast ads in 2018.

How long will it take me to monetize my show?

The answer is… it depends. Before you can start making money from your podcast, you need to get in front of the right listeners first.

Why are podcast listeners loyal?

Listeners are loyal. A lot of people play episodes while they’re driving somewhere, as they cook dinner at home, or when they hit the gym for a workout. In other words, podcast listeners are inviting you into their personal space. This builds instant rapport.

How many modules are there in podcast production school?

For those of you who are ready to skip the learning curve, we’ve got you covered! Our self-paced course, Podcast Production School, will walk you through the entire podcasting process with 6 comprehensive modules, plug-and-play templates, and in-depth tutorials.

Why do advertisers like to air spots on podcasts?

Sponsors and advertisers love to air spots on podcasts because they usually have highly engaged audiences. More than half of podcast audiences listen to a full episode of a show—and 41% of listeners will play through most of an episode. This means the majority of listeners will actually listen to an ad!

Why is affiliate marketing important for podcasts?

Affiliate marketing is a smart place to start for new podcasters because you don’t have to pitch anyone or set up deals with a sponsor. You just have to sign up with a company who runs a program.

1. Affiliate marketing

Affiliate marketing is a performance-based form of marketing where a business offers rewards to affiliates who are able to successfully bring customers to them. Affiliate marketing is a great way for any creator to monetize their content.

2. Sell custom merchandise to fans

Give your fans the opportunity to show their support for your podcast by selling custom merchandise like t-shirts, stickers, posters, mugs, tote bags, journals, and more.

3. Offer tiered memberships through Patreon

Patreon is a very popular platform for monetizing podcasts because it allows fans (called “patrons”) to offer support in regular monthly payments. Creators can sort subscription options into different “tiers,” with each tier receiving different benefits.

4. Host live podcasts and collect tips

Hosting a live in-person event can be a great way to make extra money as a podcaster, but finding gigs is tricky for new podcasts. Live venues may allow you to perform, but unless your podcast is big enough to bring a lot of business, they’re less likely to pay you to perform.

5. Write and self-publish a book for your fans

Like authors, podcast hosts are typically viewed as being a voice of authority on a particular subject, making the transition from podcast host to writer almost seamless. Perhaps that’s why so many popular podcasts have been spun off into books written by their creators.

6. Join a podcast advertising network

A podcast advertising network is a platform that connects brands and podcasts that have a shared target audience, acting as liaisons for brands looking to advertise to podcast listeners.

Podcasts make money when they have multiple income streams

The most profitable independent podcasts use multiple revenue streams to create a steady flow of income as they focus their attention on growing their audience.

What to do if you haven't started a podcast?

If you have not started a podcast yet, choose a topic that has the potential of attracting a large listener base. You can do a quick search in an iTunes library to see if there is a demand for a topic you would choose for your podcast. If there is a demand for that niche, aim to create the best possible content for it.

What does "sponsored by" mean on podcasts?

These sponsors are advertisers that have paid to be mentioned on the show.

How much does Joe Rogan make?

Joe Rogan hosts an entertaining podcast that discusses trending topics and interviews public figures of interest. He is estimated to make about $30,000 per episode. With about 5 episodes per week produced, his estimated monthly podcast income is $600,000.

What is the most commonly sold affiliate product?

The amount of money you could earn depends on the product. The most commonly sold affiliate products are Amazon products.

Is podcasting equipment expensive?

If there are few search results, there isn’t much demand – so you have little chance of growing to a point of earning an impressive income. Podcasting equipment can be costly. Not everyone has the ability to invest into podcasting equipment.

How long does it take to monetize a podcast?

Around three months is typically what we recommend before monetizing or looking for podcast sponsorships.

What is the best thing about podcasts?

The best thing about podcasts is their ease of consumption. Podcasts are perfect for people who are always on the go and those who don’t have time to watch TV.

Why do podcasters create online courses?

Many podcasters create their online courses to teach their podcast audience something new.

Why is podcasting important?

Podcasting can bring you tons of benefits. For instance, it can help you find your voice, establish a community and so much more.

Why are podcasts good?

Podcasts are a great way to make passive income, achieve financial freedom and help other people improve their lives.

What is the most important thing to do when you become a podcaster?

When you become a podcaster, one of the most important things to do is find sponsors. It can be challenging and time-consuming, but it’s definitely worth doing because it makes up most of your podcast income.

What is the second thing to consider when making money?

The second thing we need to consider is your audience size. The bigger the number, the more money you’ll make.

How do podcasters make money?

1. Sponsorships. Sponsorships are the most common way podcasters make money. This is when the podcast promotes the sponsor during the show. You probably hear your favorite shows plug their advertisers a few times in every episode. How much you earn from a sponsor depends on the number of downloads your episodes earn.

How much money do podcasters make?

So how much money can podcasters make? To be frank, most make $0. In fact, many podcasts have negativecash flow because they spend money buying equipment and paying hosting fees before they earn a single dollar.

Why do podcasts have negative cash flow?

In fact, many podcasts have negative cash flow because they spend money buying equipment and paying hosting fees before they earn a single dollar. Creative work like podcasting doesn’t make any money until people choose to watch you. It takes time for listeners to decide you have value.

How much do podcast sponsors make?

Sponsors pay on a cost per mille basis (mille is Latin for “thousand”). Rates range from $18 to $50 CPM, though hugely popular podcasts can pull in a lot more.

How to get your audience to support you?

A great way to get your audience to support you is to compensate them with premium content. You could charge them for early access to episodes, bonus episodes, downloadable resources, live chats, or access to newsletters and Facebook groups .

Does audible have an affiliate link?

Audible gives you a special affiliate link to promote. When someone uses your link, you get credit for the sale and earn $15. If you monetize with affiliate sales, make sure the company gives you a simple link that’s easy for you to say and your listeners to understand. Good affiliate URL: www.sponsor.com/your-name.

image

Affiliate Marketing

Sponsors & Advertising

  • Advertising and sponsorships are probably the first things you think of when looking for ways to make money from podcasting. There are several different podcast ad networks that can connect you with advertisers. They do all the work of finding advertisers, negotiating rates, getting the script, and more. You usually need a larger audience of at lea...
See more on podcastinsights.com

Courses

  • Many popular podcasters create their own online courses to teach similar content to what they talk about on their podcast. Online coursesare a great way to teach something in an easy-to-follow way where someone can get a specific result once they’ve completed it. It helps to have an email list so you can let your audience know about your course both on your podcast and throug…
See more on podcastinsights.com

Services

  • You can offer services that tie in with the content on your podcast. I used to analyze and critique online ads on a podcast and the service I offered was Google AdWords and Facebook Ads management. By showing that I knew what I was an expert on the topic, people knew that they would get expert-level ad management. This made it much easier to get clients without having t…
See more on podcastinsights.com

Coaching & Consulting

  • Coaching & Consulting is somewhat similar to offering a service, but you usually don’t do the work for them. Instead, you help or guide them on how to improve. Common industries that have a lot of consultants and coaches are fitness, diet, business, and teaching, but I’m sure there are consultants in every industry.
See more on podcastinsights.com

Crowdfunding & Donations

  • You can ask for donations to help support you and your podcast. More entertainment-focused podcasts would be a good fit to monetize in this way. A common platform for accepting donations is Patreon. They make it really easy to offer additional content or bonuses depending on the amount of money people support you with. They even give you the ability to have a separ…
See more on podcastinsights.com

Premium Content

  • Premium content can really be anything you want, but some of the common ways podcasters offer premium content are with: 1. Additional interviews 2. Behind-the-scenes content 3. Ad-free RSS feed 4. Early-access RSS feed 5. Q&A with the hosts Have fun coming up unique ways to deliver additional value to your community for a few dollars per month. The Daily Wireis a podca…
See more on podcastinsights.com

Events

  • Hosting events is not only a great way to make money, but bring together your best fans and bring them even more value. One example I heard of from Pat Flynn was the Walker Stalkerconference. It was started by a podcast that talked about The Walking Dead TV show. They do events all over the world and even get the actors involved. That sounds awesome! Another example from Sam …
See more on podcastinsights.com

Physical Products

  • Physical products are things like t-shirts, mugs, and other swag. The Generation Why Podcast offers a ton of different products, plus premium content, and a very active Patreon page. You can use a site like Teespringto make sure you get enough sales before they get printed – that way you don’t get stuck with a bunch of products.
See more on podcastinsights.com

Books

  • Leveraging a popular podcast into book sales is another excellent way to make money and increase your authority. You can use your podcast audience to get those initial sales and reviews that will help your book stand out too. Two examples that I’m familiar with (and have purchased) are: 1. Pat Flynn wrote the WSJ bestseller Will It Fly? 2. Chris Ducker recently came out with Ris…
See more on podcastinsights.com

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9