Monetizing a Podcast
Posted in Post by sapodcasters on January 24th, 2007 In the boards recently there has been some discussion about the monetization of podcasts.
Monetize….is that a dirty work?
For some it is but, for others the only dirty words they know are of the 4-letter variety. I say live and let live. If you want to make some money from your podcast then do (or at least try to). If you don’t want to make money on your podcast, then don’t. Let’s not bash each other on the head for choosing one over the other.
I agree with Leo LaPorte who spoke at the PME II when he said (I’m paraphrasing here big-time) we should be promoting and encouraging one another. This medium is too new for us to down each other based on our stance on this or any one issue. Our main priority goal should be letting folks know it even exists.
What, you say? There are people who don’t know about podcasting? Are they living in caves?
No they’re not…..well at least I don’t think they are.
Our passion got us into podcasting. It’s passion that keeps us up during those 3am editing sessions even when your loved ones wonder what has gotten into you. When you’d rather buy new equipment for your show than get the car tuned-up. When you buy a plane ticket to fly half-way across the country to meet other crazy podcasters because they’re the only ones who truly understand the podcaster in you. When you’ve stopped listening to radio. When you now have friends across the country/world that you wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for podcasting. When you jam those earbuds in for news, entertainment and to some hear some really cool Podsafe Music every chance you get. Yep, passion. But that passion…..well….it costs money.
What started out as a hobby with the mic that came with your computer, free software, free audio hosting, free blog pages you found on the web can become a pocket emptying proposition. All in search of a better sound. Mixers, preamps, USB Mics, XLR Mics, shock mounts, mic stands, headsets, etc… The list is varied and for everyone it’s completely different. What works for you may not work for me and vice versa. It’s no wonder we begin to look around and think, “Hey, I sure could use some money for a pizza right now . Too bad I spent my last $20 buying an iRiver on eBay.”
So if you decide now is the time for the baby that you’ve loved and nurtured into fruition to start earning it’s keep (or a least a triple-shot, cinnamon cafe-mocha now and then) I say go for it.
The next time your favorite podcast site has Google AdSense or a banner ad or maybe asks you to use a promo code like this:
” Own a piece of the web with your own Domain Name and save 10% using Promo Code: blu29 at the checkout
or
“Unleash the power of your domain name by adding a Hosting Account and save money doing it by using Promo Code: pod29 at checkout
Be a lover not a hater. Or at least be an encourager, supporter, promoter for your favorite podcasts and in doing so for their creators.
Happy Podcasting!
P.S. Speaking of monetizing, here is something I found that works directly with your ClickBank account.
Awesome post Jennifer. I completely agree with you. The one thing I don’t like is when someone becomes so consumed with monetization or even subscriber numbers and stops paying attention to why they got into podcasting in the first place. For example, I try not to take our podcast subscribers and downloads too seriously, but they have been fluctuating recently, we got down to something like 55, went back to 90 and then down to 80 on iTunes subscriptions lately. It really doesn’t affect me bc I’m still podcasting for the same reasons I did when I got into podcasting. My cohosts are a little different and sometimes they can get caught up into numbers and how we don’t have the most interactive listeners. One of them has a podcast himself, and I told him, unless you’re able to look past the numbers, one of the worst things you can do is pay attention or track your downloads and subscribers. I often remind them that we didn’t get into podcasting to be celebrities, we got into it bc we have a passion for sports and think we have something to offer. I would love to make money off of podcasting, but if I don’t, it’s not going to stop me from continuing to do my show. When it stops becoming fun, then I’ll stop. I’ve even said on the show, whether we have 5 or 5 million listeners, I’m still going to podcast and I’m still going to do the show the same way and for the same reasons. It’s just sad to me when a podcaster gets too caught up with that stuff. You can almost hear it in their voice. I’m not talking abut you by the way. I still hear the same passion in your voice that I heard in your first episode and it seems like you are having fun with every show. It’s the reason I subscribed to MBC in the first place and the reason why I listen to every show the day you release it. To make a long story shorter, if I could get some cash to pay for hosting, hardware and for the time the other guys put into it, that would be awesome, but I don’t think people should get into podcasting just to make money.
Great post! I tend to agree with both of you. I personally have no real desire to try to make money with my podcast, but I do keep an eye on the numbers. I don’t obsess over them because, as has already been said, I do this because I enjoy it. Realistically, however, if I show up in a room to talk about my podcast subject and nobody comes to hear/participate, I’m not sure I would still talk. Now if 4 people show up, to me it’s just as much fun as 400 people showing up.