How to Make Money Podcasting

When the subject is how to make money podcasting, there are many ways to follow and create an income while you produce audio and video content. Success worldwide, there are podcasts about several topics, such as true crime, pop culture, comedy, and sports.

According to a Demandsage report, in 2023, the number of podcast listeners globally was 464.7 million. 22% of them listen to podcasts while driving, and the leading platforms in podcast streaming are Spotify and Apple.

9 Options for How to Make Money Podcasting#

Imagine you want to work as a podcaster, you probably have asked yourself about how to make money podcasting and if that's actually possible. The good news is you can have many sources of income with a successful podcast, many people already do that.

However, it takes a lot of work, dedication, research, and being able to engage with your audience. Some of the ways you can profit are:

1. Advertising#

You can use your podcast as a space for companies to advertise their products and services. You can contact brands that want to place ads on your podcast episodes or join an advertising network that will connect you with potential advertisers.

Usually, the mid-roll ad, the one that is inserted in the middle of a podcast episode is more expensive. While the ones put before (pre-roll) or after (post-roll) have a lower price because it's easier for listeners to skip them.

You may offer two options of ads for the brands. First, you will talk about the product or service, which may sound less intrusive to your audience. The second option is to use a record provided by the brand.

2. Paid Membership#

Once you have conquered an engaged audience who values your content, you can make money podcasting by creating premium content for the one interested. In this case, you will establish a price for people to subscribe to receive exclusive content made by you to them.

You can include as benefits for being a paid member access to extra episodes, behind-the-scenes content, participation in a chat group with you and the other members, podcast merch, and much more.

3. Affiliate Marketing#

In affiliate marketing, you partner up with brands and receive specific links or codes to their products and services to be promoted in your podcast. You will earn a commission based on the number of sales made through the link you have placed in the podcast episode description, for example.

4. Merchandise#

Products related to content people like to consume, such as movies, songs, TV shows, and podcasts are a success among fans. You can create different types of products with your podcast logo or your catchphrases, like mugs, keychains, and t-shirts.

One option is to create a website for your podcast that will reunite all the episodes, special content, and an ecommerce section where the listeners can buy your merch. ,

5. Events#

Creating a successful podcast allows you to also be recognized as an authority on a specific topic, which may lead to giving lectures at conferences, congresses, and other types of events. You can create your own podcast events as well, such as a fan reunion where they can get a picture with you, learn how you develop the podcast, and buy merch products.

6. Donation or Tips#

If you have an engaged base of fans, you can ask them to support your work with donations that will allow you to keep producing and publishing the podcast. You can enjoy the tools some platforms already offer. For example, the spectators can send gifts on TikTok lives or donate on YouTube lives using the SuperChat feature.

7. Number of Views#

Platforms like YouTube and Spotify pay creators for the content they publish. How much you will earn depends on the number of views of each one of your podcast episodes.

However, it doesn't mean that you just need to post an episode to start earning money. Your account has to meet each platform's requirements, and you have to subscribe to their partnership program.

8. Courses#

You can also give courses related to the topic approached in your podcast or even teach how to create a podcast. It's possible to create online courses that will be put on sale on your podcast website, for instance.

However, notice that to offer a course, you need to have authority in the course subject and be considered an expert. You must have valuable knowledge to offer to your target audience, which makes them want to pay money to learn with you.

9. Books and E-books#

Another possibility regarding how to make money podcasting is turning your successful podcast into a book or e-book. You can use the expertise you have acquired about a subject, thanks to the podcast, and write a book where you will develop even more ideas about this topic.

An e-book is easier to produce and less expensive than a physical book. However, many people live to have the printed edition with them. You should consider if it's worth producing both, and what is the demand of your target audience.

Best Practices for Profiting with Your Podcast#

As you can see, there are many possibilities for how to make money podcasting. However, you only will be able to enjoy them if you create a successful podcast with a high number of listeners and a solid base of fans. Some strategies can help you with that.

1. Build a Community#

Engage with your target audience, look for ways to connect with them so they will feel like an essential part of your podcast. You can do this, for example, by asking their opinion about the episodes and answering questions through social media.

Provide means that enable your audience to straighten their relationship with you, so they don't feel only as listeners but as having a two-way conversation. You can create social media profiles for the podcast

2. Publish High-Quality Content#

Dedicate yourself to producing a high-quality podcast. Define who your target audience is, get to know them, understand what their interests and demands are, and provide them with content that suits them.

Plan every episode carefully, create a script, and research every topic thoroughly. In the editing process, pay attention to the audio quality, the cuts, and if there is cohesion from the beginning to the end of each episode. Review everything before posting.

3. Promote Your Podcast#

Create a marketing plan to promote your podcast and instigate your target audience to hear it. You can invest in paid ads in search engines like Google, and social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook. In those cases, you have the opportunity to segment who is going to see the ads based on who your target audience is.

You can also promote it for free by creating a podcast profile or page on the social media platforms mostly used by your target audience. Create exclusive content for each one, and invite the audience to listen to the episodes by publishing just a small excerpt from it, to instigate their curiosity.

4. Pay Attention to Trends#

Keep yourself up to date with the latest trends related to the main topics you approach and also to podcasts. Listen to other podcasts, mainly the ones that are listened to by your target audience, and pay attention when different audio content formats arise. Remember, it's important to keep your podcast relevant.

5. Analyze the Metrics#

Analytics tools are a great asset to evaluate your podcast performance and the individual performance of each episode. You can get access to the number of views on each platform, the number of times each episode was played completely, how many clicks and purchases were made through a link you were promoting, and much more.

This data will enable you to identify the strong and weak points of your podcast so you can improve continuously and attract more listeners. Besides, regarding how to make money podcasting, it's important to have those numbers to show them to potential advertisers and other partners.

FAQ: How to Make Money Podcasting#

Are podcasts profitable?#

Yes, it's possible to make money with podcasts. Some podcasters have become a worldwide success and make millions of dollars every year. However, it's a very competitive industry, which makes it difficult to stand out.

How much does it cost to start a podcast?#

It depends on how much you are willing to invest. If you have a smartphone and access to the internet, you can start with that, for example. But, if you want to invest in sound quality and edition, you can buy other equipment. Some podcasters rent a studio to record and pay a professional to edit the episodes.

What equipment do I need to start a podcast?#

You can start recording your podcast with your smartphone. Just try to record the episodes in silent places to preserve the audio quality.

Create a Unique Brand With Your Podcast#

One important thing that will help you when it comes to how to make money podcasting, is making your podcast a brand, with visual identity, tone of voice, catchphrases, and other elements that will enable your audience to recognize it. This will help you stand out in such a competitive market as the internet.