Podcast FAQ

how to start and make money from a podcast

by Gisselle Powlowski Published 1 year ago Updated 1 year ago
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How to Start a Podcast (and Make Money) The Ultimate Guide to Starting a Podcast on the Side in 2022.

  • 1. Develop a Concept for Your Podcast. Creating a concept for your podcast is very similar to choosing a niche to blog about. Consider:
  • 2. Name Your Podcast.
  • 3. Get the Basic Equipment You Need to Start a Podcast.
  • 4. Choose Recording and Editing Software.
  • 5. Copyright and Trademarking Your Podcast.

How Do Podcasts Make Money?
  1. Sponsorships. Sponsorships are the most common way podcasters make money. ...
  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. ...
  4. Complementary products.

Full Answer

How many listeners does a podcast need to make money?

If your new episode gets, within 7 days of its release:

  • more than 26 downloads, you're in the top 50% of podcasts.
  • more than 72 downloads, you're in the top 25% of podcasts.
  • more than 231 downloads, you're in the top 10% of podcasts.
  • more than 539 downloads, you're in the top 5% of podcasts.
  • more than 3062 downloads, you're in the top 1% of podcasts.

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

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.

How much money do successful podcasts earn?

  • The Joe Rogan Experience makes about $800,000 per episode. ...
  • Chapo Trap House has 32,874 patrons, which equals $147,262 per month.
  • Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income has two podcasts. ...
  • Last Podcast On The Left has 11,290, which equal $53,958 per month.
  • Tiny Meat Gang has 10,638 patrons, which equals $51,199 per month.

More items...

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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.

Can you make good money with a podcast?

Sponsorships Popular podcasts will draw the attention of advertisers that will pay you to plug their products in ads that air during your show. (Sponsorships are one way people make money on TikTok, too.) Sponsors typically pay $18 to $25 for every thousand monthly downloads, also referred to as CPM.

Does Spotify pay you for podcasts?

Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts pay out for streams, but the payout tends to be very low. Podcast sponsorships are one way, but for new podcasts, the likelihood of finding a high-paying sponsorship is slim unless you're already a well-established figure.

Do podcasts on Spotify make money?

Commissions From Affiliate Marketing: Affiliate marketing is another primary avenue for earning money on Spotify podcasts. You quote a unique link in your podcast through which your listeners can purchase products. The seller pays you commissions on purchases customers make through your link.

How much do podcasters make per podcast?

Rates range from $18 to $50 CPM, though hugely popular podcasts can pull in a lot more. You can price your ads differently depending on where you place them within your episode. Pre-roll ads run at the beginning of the show, usually for about 15-30 seconds.

Do podcasters make money?

Do podcasts make money? Of course they do! Big names are getting large amounts of listeners and large amounts of ad revenue in return. According to AdvertiseCast, average 30-second CPM (cost per 1K listeners) rates are $18, while 60-second CPMs are $25.

How much do podcasters make a year?

Income from Popular Podcasts The Dave Ramsey Show has 13 million weekly listeners and earns nearly $10 million in annual income. Shepard Armchair Expert earns $9 million a year with almost 20 million monthly listeners. The Bill Simmons Podcast earns $7 million yearly income. Chapo Trap House makes $2 million each year.

How long does it take for a podcast to make money?

Relying on the experience of Marc Clair, a podcast host, and producer, it may take as long as 18 months before you start seeing results. That's if you produce a show weekly. In his words, things can be faster than stated if you have luck, a marketing budget, and irresistible content.

How much money did Joe Rogan make from his podcast?

According to Forbes, the stand-up comic earned $30 million from his show in 2019. But this wasn’t an overnight success story.

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.

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 many affiliate offers does Jenna have?

Jenna only shares five affiliate offers with her audience over the course of a year. They just happen to be products that she loves—that is the key to affiliate marketing. (Just make sure you disclose any affiliate links with your audience. For legal reasons and to make sure you’re building trust with your listeners!)

What do content creators worry about?

Many content creators worry about feeling sales-y or bugging their audience members. We’ve all been there. Don’t worry, if you focus on sharing incredible content with your people, you’ll naturally open the door to recommending your own products.

Do you have to sell on the show?

You don’t have to sell directly on the show . If you’re a service provider, you can offer a free 15-minute consultation where people can book a call with you. Just make sure to set up a special link so that you can track who comes in from your show!

Do Podcasters Make Money Podcasting?

Yes! Many podcasters make a full-time living from their podcasts. So you're in good company thinking about how to start a podcast and make money.

How Do I Launch a Podcast?

Launching a podcast is relatively easy. You'll need some basic tools and equipment, but overall it's an affordable endeavor. We'll walk you through each step of the process in this guide.

What Is a Podcast?

In short, podcasts are audio files that can be streamed or downloaded by listeners on their computer or mobile device. They're like radio shows but listeners have more control over what they listen to.

What Kinds of Podcasts Are There?

There are a ton – the possibilities are endless! So when considering how to start a podcast and make money, know that your options are limitless.

Step 1: Get a Concept

The first step in starting a podcast is coming up with an idea for the show. This can be anything from discussing current events or sharing personal stories, to teaching people about a specific topic.

Step 2: Name Your Podcast

Once you've picked an idea for your podcast and decided how often it'll be released, it's time to give the concept a name.

Step 3: Get the Basic Tools Needed to Start Podcasting

Now that you have a concept and a podcast name, it's time to get the basic tools needed to start podcasting.

How to Start a Podcast (and Make Money) in 13 Easy Steps

Disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links and at no additional cost to you, I’ll earn a commission. Know that I only recommend products and services I’ve personally used and stand behind.

The History of Podcasting

Before we get into how to start a podcast, let’s take a step back and talk about how podcasting got its start.

1. Develop a Concept for Your Podcast

Creating a concept for your podcast is very similar to choosing a niche to blog about. Consider:

2. Name Your Podcast

Naming a blog or podcast is no small task. It may not be the most important part of starting a podcast, but it does hold some real weight.

3. Get the Basic Equipment You Need to Start a Podcast

You’ve got a concept, a name, and you know why you want to start a podcast. Now it’s time to determine what basic equipment you’ll need to start your podcast.

4. Choose Recording and Editing Software

Recording and editing your audio is an essential part of launching a podcast.

5. Copyright and Trademarking Your Podcast

Copyrighting your podcast may not be the first thing on your mind when you haven’t even recorded your first track, but it’s something to be aware of as you launch and grow your podcast.

What is the Daily Wire?

The Daily Wire is a podcast and news site that offers the video version of the podcast, live episodes, a tumbler, and other bonuses when you purchase an annual subscription. No matter what you think about the content they offer, this is a great example of premium content. Events.

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 is the largest ad network?

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. Another option that can work well if you have a smaller or more niche audience is to reach out directly to companies that would be a great fit for your audience.

What is coaching and 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.

What is affiliate marketing?

Affiliate marketing or performance marketing is where you get a commission when you refer people to other companies. You will typically earn money when someone makes a purchase. Affiliate marketing works best when you promote products or services that you use or are familiar with, so you can authentically promote them.

Who is Ross Winn?

Ross Winn is the founder of Podcast Insights, the industry-leading podcast education site. He has helped thousands of people start and grow a podcast and loves to test out new gear and software.

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.

Why is podcasting important?

Podcasting is an excellent option if you create a product or service targeted to your podcast listeners. For example, if you have a bookkeeping service, you can have a podcast on bookkeeping secrets for small business owners. You can use the show to share tips, but also, share your expertise and services.

How long should a podcast be?

Most podcast experts agree that 20-45 minutes is an ideal show length. Some podcasters post daily, while most posts weekly. However, you can post monthly if that’s what it takes to produce a solid show full of value for your audience.

What to do before recording a show?

Before you record your first real show, have a test run to learn how to use your equipment and software, and fix your glitches. For example, make sure your recorder is actually recording your Skype call. You don’t want to interview someone only to discover the call wasn’t recorded.

How much time do you need to advertise a show?

You’ll need to have developed a show with a good number of listeners before you can offer to advertise, but once you do, you can sell 20 to 30 seconds of time for other offers. You can also have these ads on your website with the episode of the show.

Is podcasting a business?

Podcasting is a fun and affordable way to promote your business, connect with influencers, and tout your expertise. Or you can start a podcast as a home business. The challenge for many who are interested in starting a profitable podcast is that technical know-how and logistics can seem overwhelming. While there is a lot to plan and do ...

Can I edit podcasts on Garageband?

A long time, affordable (as in free) option for podcast editing has been Audacity. Mac users have Garageband standards on their machines. There are other audio editing options as well, but you’ll want to find one that allows you to fix sound issues, cut segments, and add elements (i.e. your intro and outro). Another option is to outsource audio editing. If you’re doing a videocast, you’ll want the same elements except it should edit video.

Do you want to read a podcast?

The most interesting podcasts are conversational in nature. So while you may want a script to stay focused and avoid rambling, you don’t want to read your show. If you’ll be interviewing a guest, get or share questions in advance so you both know what’s going to be covered.

What does it mean to be an authority on a podcast?

As an authority on a particular subject matter, you may be approached by organizations to speak at an upcoming event. These people have heard your podcast and think that your message will align with their event.

Can you sell a product line with your podcast?

Nowadays every business has at least one promotional product that they offer. And that can be your podcast, too . You can sell a product line with your podcast’s logo or podcast’s tag line on it. T-shirts, hats, keychains, bumper stickers, pens, mugs…you name it.

How To Start A Podcast And Make Money?

The good news is that you can start a podcast for free with just a few tools and manipulations. So, the barrier to becoming a podcaster is not too complicated and challenging.

FAQs

Based on calculations through December 2019, the average duration of each podcast episode is 36 minutes. This number may have been shorter and more common in the modern era.

Closing Points

Hopefully, this article has answered questions like “ where do we begin podcasting ” or “ how much does it cost to produce a podcast ?”

What is the best thing about advertising networks?

The best thing about advertising networks is that you have the opportunity to grow. When you first start out, you'll have little control over rates, but, as you gain popularity, you'll be able to charge more for advertising slots. Crowdfunding.

Is affiliate marketing good for podcasts?

The same goes for unique discount codes that people can use at checkout. All things considered, affiliate marketing is a great way to keep the money trickling in with minimal additional work.

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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

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