Do you have a message that you want to share with the world? Are you interested in starting a podcast? Nowadays, the podcast is becoming a popular way to reach out to people and share your message.
Not only is it a great platform for sharing your ideas, but you can also make money from podcasting. Are you wondering how to start a podcast and how to make money from podcast? If you are, you are in the right place.
In this blog post, we will discuss how to start a podcast and how to make money from podcasting. We will cover the different ways that you can make money from your podcast, as well as the equipment that you need to get started. We will also provide tips for creating content and marketing your podcast.
*FTC Disclosure: This article may contain affiliate links. The recommendations below are based on my first-hand experiences and I earn a small commission at no cost to you. You can read my full affiliate disclosure in my privacy policy.
What is a podcast?
A podcast is a digital audio file that is available for download and listening. It is similar to a radio program but can be downloaded and listened to at any time. Podcasts are typically episodic, with new episodes being released regularly.
The topics for the podcast can be anything that you want to discuss. There are podcasts about business, sports, news, entertainment, and much more. If you can think of a topic, there is probably a podcast about it.
Benefits of a podcast.
There are many benefits of starting a podcast. First, it is a great way to share your ideas and reach out to people. You can build an audience of listeners who are interested in what you have to say and a community.
A podcast is also a great way to connect with people. When you release a new episode, you can interact with your listeners and get their feedback. This interaction can help to build a community around your podcast.
Another benefit of a podcast is that it is a flexible platform. You can release episodes on your schedule and you are not constrained by time slots like traditional radio. The listener can download the episode they want to listen to and listen at their convenience.
You have control over choosing the guest, format, and length of the show. This means that you can tailor the podcast to your audience and make it exactly what they want to listen to.
You also have complete control over the content of your podcast. You can say whatever you want and there are no censors. This freedom allows you to be creative and produce a truly unique podcast.
More than just a platform for sharing your ideas, the podcast can also be a great way for marketing. You can use your podcast to promote your business or products. You can also build relationships with other businesses and collaborate on marketing campaigns and make money podcasting.
Podcasting platforms.
There are so many podcasting platforms out there you can choose from. Some of the platforms are free to use while others are paid but still affordable. The platform you choose will depend on your needs and budget.
Here are some examples of podcasting platforms:
- Riverside.FM
- Kajabi
- Youtube
- Spotify
Riverside. FM.
Riverside. FM is known for being one of the easiest podcasting platforms to use. They have a simple interface that makes it easy to navigate. Riverside. FM provides the high-quality audio that you need for your podcast.
Kajabi.
Kajabi is an all-in-one platform that allows you to create, market, and sell online courses and digital products. With Kajabi, you can publish either a public podcast that is visible to anyone or a private one that requires listeners and audiences to purchase. Kajabi is compatible with other platforms such as Google, Apple, or Spotify.
Youtube.
Youtube is a very famous video uploading platform. You can use Youtube as a podcast platform where you can upload videos of your podcast instead of audio files. This is a great way to reach out to a wider audience as Youtube has over two billion monthly users.
Spotify.
Spotify is a music streaming platform with over 320 million monthly listeners. You can use Spotify for the podcast by submitting your RSS feed. Your podcast will be visible on the Spotify app and website once it is approved.
How to make money from podcast?
Most big podcasters usually make money podcasting. There are several ways to make money podcasting. The amount of money is depending on the number of your audience, how often you release new episodes, and how many people listen to each episode.
Here are examples of making money podcasting:
- Donation.
- Podcast ads/advertising.
- Premium membership.
- Adverting networks.
- Merchandise.
Donation.
One of the ways to make money from your podcast is through donations. You can set up a donation button on your website or podcasting platform. This is a great way to get support from your listeners.
The more subscribers and listeners you have, the more possibilities to make get donated. If you have a big following, you can even ask for donations per month.
Podcast ads/advertising.
Another way to make money from your podcast is through ads. You can sell ad space on your podcast to businesses. You can get support from businesses and brands that want to promote their products or services.
Podcast advertising is probably the most common way how big podcasters make money podcasting. The more listener you have, the possibility that businesses want to advertise on your podcast will be bigger.
Premium membership.
Most of the podcasts are free to listen to and download, but if you have exclusive podcast content, selling premium membership could be a good idea to make money. In this way, you can grow loyal and engaging listeners with your podcast.
With a membership, your listeners will get access to premium content, such as bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes footage exclusive interviews, exclusive content downloads, or live events. The member is usually per month.
Advertising networks.
Advertising networks are companies that help podcasters to sell ad space on their podcasts. In this way, you can focus on creating great content for your podcast and leave the selling of ad space to the experts.
To join advertising networks, it's important to have a good reputation and a big following. Your podcast is the brand and collaborating with other businesses and brands for promoting and selling a product or service.
Merchandise.
New podcasters often find the hard time to launch merchandise and sell them due to a lack of reputation, but if you have a big following, you can use your podcast to sell merchandise. Merchandise could be the podcast t-shirts, mugs, or anything related to your podcast.
Your listeners are your potential customers and they're more likely to buy merchandise from a podcaster they know, like, and trust. Don't get to offer discounts for the premium members or give away some merch for free to the new listeners.
What do I need for the podcast?
There are a few things new podcasters need to prepare before starting a podcast. More than just equipment, you also need to plan your content, format, frequency, and equipment.
Content.
The first thing you need to do is plan your podcast content. You need to determine the topics you want to talk about and who will be your target audience. There are so many podcasts with a variety of topics. You need to find your niche that the podcast listeners enjoy or you can change topics for each episode. Consider hiring a PR firm for podcasts to find guests that will matter.
Format.
After deciding on the content, you need to determine the format of your podcast. There are several formats you can choose, such as an interview, a panel discussion, or a solo show. Pick the format that best suits your content and style.
Frequency.
You also need to determine how often you're going to release new episodes. It's important to be consistent, so your podcast can build a loyal community and followers and grow your audience size. You can release new episodes weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly.
See how often other podcasts in your niche are releasing new episodes and try to find the balance between being consistent and not overdoing it.
Equipment.
The next thing you need is the equipment. You don't need to spend a lot of money on the equipment. You can start with a simple setup with great topics.
To record your podcast, you need a microphone, an audio interface, headphones, and recording software. For the microphone, you can use a USB mic or XLR mic. The audio interface is optional, but it's recommended if you want to record high-quality content.
Creating podcast content.
Creating podcast content is not as difficult as it seems. You just need to be prepared and plan your content. The process of creating podcast content is similar to writing a blog post.
First, you need to come up with a topic and do some research. Doing research is important. You will be talking about the topic for at least 20 minutes and you need to make sure you have enough material to cover the topic.
Then, you need to create an outline of the topics you want to talk about in the show. An outline would help you to guide the conversation and keep the show on track.
After that, you can start recording your podcast. Make sure you sound natural and don't read from a script. Be yourself and have fun with it!
If you would like to upload your podcast on a video platform like Youtube, you can simply record your podcast with your webcam or camera.
When you're done recording, you need to edit the audio/video and add intro music, outro music, or sound effects. Finally, you need to export the file and upload it to your hosting site.
Marketing your podcast.
Marketing your podcast is the best way to grow your audience and listeners. There are a few ways to do that.
The first way is through social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. You could post about your podcast and share it with your followers. Use hashtags related to your niche or topic so people can find you easily.
The second way is to submit your podcast to directories like iTunes, Google Play Music, or Stitcher. This will help people who are looking for new podcasts to find yours.
The third way is through guest blogging or being a guest on other popular podcasts. In this way, you could make connections with other podcasters and market your podcast to their audiences and listeners.
Wrap it up, Dustin.
Podcasting is a great way to connect with your audience and build a community. If you're thinking to launch your podcast and want to make off podcasts, check out my blog post on how to learn more about it.
Start with great content, be consistent, market your podcast, and have fun with it! Don't worry about buying all those expensive podcast equipment at first. Upload a few episodes first and see how many audiences you gain and how the audiences engage with your podcast.
If you're not growing as fast as you want, then start investing in podcast equipment and other marketing strategies.
I hope you enjoyed this blog post. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
