To get started on selling a podcast, here are some of the basics you need to know about getting your podcast valuable, converting your listeners into listeners-cum-customers, and generating income from your show.

Introduction: How To Sell A Podcast

This aspect is easy to forget, but all podcasts have the potential to sell online. Audio is more efficient than text for conveying information. Podcasts are gaining popularity among people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests.

Audio can be used as a lead magnet for people to subscribe to your podcast. You could, for example, give a sneak peek of the latest episode to anyone who subscribes by email or text message.

Your podcast might not be financially viable, but it could still bring in revenue. This money could be used to pay hosting fees or other expenses associated with running your podcast.

A website that sells podcasts and merchandise (like t-shirts) doesn’t require a lot of money is all you need. You only need a website that allows people to subscribe via email or text message so they are notified when new episodes become available.

The most well-known sites to sell podcasts online are

• iTunes
• Google Play Music
• Spotify
• Stitcher

These services let you sell individual episodes and subscriptions. A way for people to download your podcast and listen to it on their mobile devices is also necessary. This can be done with the apps mentioned above.

If you have multiple podcasts or different shows in the same series, you may wish to create more than one audio website. Subscribers can access all your podcasts at once by simply registering via email or text message on each site.

You should consider starting a podcast website if you don’t have one. A place where you can host all the episodes that you create and promote them by linking to email subscriptions or text messages is necessary.

This website could also be used to host audio content such as videos, music, and eBooks. You may have some experience with creating websites, or if you are interested in learning more about it. This will ensure that your visitors don’t get lost on your website. Signing up via email or text message is a great way to help new subscribers find the information they need.

After you have built your website, you need to make a podcast people want to listen to and subscribe to. This will allow them to get new episodes as they are released. It’s important to have content that is interesting enough to your listeners (and potential subscribers) who aren’t familiar with podcasts.

Interviews with guests from your industry or field, reviews of products, educational programming, interviews on topics like gardening techniques and cooking, as well as discussions among friends over coffee.

Selling a Podcast: Should You Sell Individual Episodes?

There are many types of podcasts. Many podcasts focus on interviews and some focus on education. Others feature humor or music.

Interview podcasts are the most popular type. Here, you can chat with other people in your field about their hobbies or profession.

It doesn’t matter if every episode is about one topic. All that matters is that each episode addresses an aspect of your professional or personal life that interests you as an expert in that field. This allows hosts and guests to have more meaningful conversations because they can talk about topics that are relevant to their work.

A podcast can also be a one-to-one interview between the listener and you, in which you share information about your personal life and what makes you an expert in your field. This is similar to informational podcasts such as “The Tim Ferriss Show” about personal development.

If I was interested in bodybuilding and wanted to interview lifters about their methods, diets, and even recipes, I could create my show. This will allow you to focus on your interests and expertise, even though the topics covered may be less varied.

Advertising? As a way of making money while creating your podcast, you can also sell individual episodes. It’s not necessary to sell every episode, but if you have a large audience who wants to hear more from your podcast, selling single-episode episodes could be a great way to keep the show going!

One example is that if my guest is someone I have wanted to interview for many years (like Tim Ferriss), but he doesn’t have the time or desire to do a complete interview, I can sell each segment separately. To make your show more sustainable, you can sell it as a whole over a longer period. Or, you could go the way Tim Ferriss did and offer audio-only episodes.

Selling a Podcast: How to Write a Podcast

Let’s now talk about how to create a podcast.

How long should your first episode be?

What length should your first episode be? If you aren’t sure, I suggest starting with one hour. If people don’t enjoy it or want more information on a topic, then at least they have enough content to listen to without waiting too long (even if it’s only ten minutes). Depending on the type of show format you choose and the subject matter, the time it takes will vary.

Once you have written your first episode, how long do you think it should be? This question will vary depending on what type of show you are creating. Take this example:

If you have a show that focuses on a single topic, such as cooking, 25 minutes may be sufficient for the intro and main course. However, if you need more information or guests to share their experiences, 45-60 minutes might work well. In general, 30-45 minutes episodes are ideal. It’s difficult to keep listeners interested if there is too much content in an episode.

How long should your episodes be?

Your episodes will vary in length depending on what type of show you are creating and the amount of content within each episode. For most shows, I recommend 30-45 minutes. However, some people prefer longer episodes because they get more value and can listen to them for longer periods if they aren’t interrupted by other responsibilities.

How to Monetize a Podcast Directly

There are many other ways to make money from your podcast, even if you don’t want to advertise it or learn how you can sell it. You can take this example:

A sponsorship deal could be done with an advertiser (e.g. Amazon). You could offer access to the show in exchange for a premium service, such as Skype calls. You might be paid per iTunes or Soundcloud download. You could even charge people to promote your content via social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. If you are creative enough to think of ways to monetize your podcast, there are many options.

How to Monetize a Podcast Indirectly

Advertising is possible in many ways. You can advertise on the show (e.g. banner ads at the end or top of each episode).

A special offer could be made to promote your podcasts, such as discounts or future episodes for those who download them and listen regularly. Advertisers might be willing to pay more if you offer them more money. Depending on how creative your marketing is, there are many options.

How to Monetize a Podcast Through Sponsorship and Advertising

If you are interested in advertising, I recommend reaching out to several companies offering these services and finding out their rates for podcast ads. They can be very expensive. Once you have found the best deal, it is time to set everything up on your blog or website. Ads Wizz is one of the most well-known ad networks that work with podcasts. You will need to create an Ads Wizz account.

Once you have created an account, you will receive instructions on how to create your ads. You can choose between a pre-roll and post-roll advertisement depending on the content you offer (preferably the latter). If you want your podcast listeners to be able to click through to other websites and purchase products, then you will need to set up an account with Google AdWords. This is something you might be interested in, so I recommend that you read my guide.

Try Multiple Monetization Techniques

There is no right or wrong way to do it. It’s possible to try all the options and discover which one works best for your podcast.

There are other ways people can make money with their podcasts if they don’t want to sponsor or advertise.

Affiliate marketing – Companies pay you a commission every time someone clicks on an advertisement they have placed on your site and purchases something. Affiliate marketing is most effective when it revolves around products with high conversion rates.

This technique can be used with any podcast. It’s not the best option for podcasters who want to make money and have low conversion rates (e.g. if they’re doing interviews that don’t include much in-depth discussion).

Sponsorship: Companies pay you an upfront fee, or a commission, each time someone clicks on your advertisement. Sponsorship is a great way to make money with your podcast. It has very low setup costs and high potential returns when you have conversions from listeners/viewers. Sponsorships are usually paid per view. This means that the more people who listen to your podcast or see your advertisement and click on it, then the more money you will make.

Podcasts with a high conversion rate are the best candidates for affiliate marketing. You can find my guide here if you don’t know how much it would cost for an average episode.

Podcast Promotion Services – Use podcast promotion services to promote and sell audio content. This will allow you to reach a new audience, build authority, tell a brand story, and increase word-of-mouth podcasting.

Promoting your podcast can help you reach more people, even before you launch your first episode. This is a great way for your community to get involved and generate interest.

A podcast promotion company will provide expert writers, producers, storytellers, and support. They use the best podcast creation tools and marketing techniques to reach your target audience. Some of the most respected podcast promotion companies also offer web development, graphics, and design services. Many companies offer assistance in production and podcast promotion in multiple languages. This can make it easier to produce a high-quality podcast.

A Private Podcast and Membership Site to Market Your Podcast

Both of these options may not be the best for you because they are difficult to work with. Affiliate marketing won’t work if you have an interview show. Sponsors and advertisers with high conversion rates are very hard to find. However, if you have a podcast that features in-depth discussions, there will always be friction in getting people to visit your website so they can sign up or buy something.

One that offers all three is the best choice.

• Advertise on iTunes – You’ll be paid for every purchase made by someone who clicks on your advertisement. This is a great opportunity to make a high return on your investment, despite the effort required.

• You can make your podcast more profitable by creating a membership website. This will allow you to offer listeners additional benefits and high conversion rates.

• This is the best choice for podcasts that focus on deep discussion (e.g. The Tim Ferriss Show or any other podcast where friction is involved in getting people to your website (iTunes).

Takeaway

It can be difficult to sell a podcast online. However, with the right marketing strategies and monetizing strategies you can make it work. To achieve your goals, you can use the podcast-selling strategies shared in this article. Although they may not all apply to your podcast, you can use any one of them to improve podcast promotion and production. If you are unsure where to begin, don’t be afraid to seek professional help.