It doesn’t help when the tools you use get fragmented fast when trying to achieve that. Your podcast lives on a dedicated host. Paid content lives on Patreon. Your website is either neglected or stuck on a generic template.

Beamly (formerly Podcastpage.io) positions itself as a way to simplify that setup.

Instead of combining separate tools, it aims to give podcasters one place to host and publish their shows, run a branded site, offer memberships and private podcasts, sell digital products, and find ways to engage directly with their audience.

But does bundling everything together actually help, or just create a different kind of mess? We’ve spent time testing Beamly to see how it holds up in practice, and where it makes sense to stick with specialist alternatives instead.

What is Beamly?

Podcasters can host a show directly on Beamly or import existing feeds from other hosts to feature on the website.

You can:

• publish regular audio shows or video podcasts
• distribute episodes to the major listening apps
• sync YouTube content
• run a blog
• sell digital downloads
• build membership tiers
• gate premium content behind logins or private RSS feeds

All of this is then wrapped by Beamly’s website-building layer, where listeners can access content, purchase access, subscribe to a paid membership, comment or engage and so on.

The websites are automatically generated based on your podcast and data (less manual work in keeping it up to date), but can also be fully customized. The platform takes SEO and AIO/GEO into account to optimize for organic traffic.

It’s a tool podcasters can leverage to grow and monetize their show, but also quickly experiment with other content formats and see what meets demand.

Why an owned platform matters for podcasters

There is a difference between having listeners and having a relationship with listeners.

Public podcast directories are brilliant for reach. Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts and the rest are where people discover, follow, and consume shows. Every podcaster should be there.

But those platforms are not really built to help creators own the audience relationship.

Your show is yet another surrounded by millions of others. These apps help listeners listen, but that’s not the same thing as helping a podcaster grow a business.

An owned platform changes the equation. Instead of building everything inside someone else’s ecosystem, you send listeners to a site on your own domain. That’s where they can subscribe to your email list, read transcripts, browse old episodes, buy a product, join a membership, or read your sponsor page.

Over time, your website becomes the home base for the show.

How Beamly helps podcasters monetize

Podcasters can host a public show and publish it everywhere, then layer paid access on top through memberships, private podcasts distributed via secured feeds, gated pages, or digital products.

If a creator wants to offer ad-free episodes, extended interviews, behind-the-scenes feeds, workbooks, transcripts, or a private member series, Beamly can handle that with the same branded experience.

This shifts the model away from relying entirely on ads, merch or sponsorships. Giving creators a way to convert engaged listeners into members directly won’t replace sponsorships for every show, but it provides a much more predictable recurring-revenue layer.

It is also worth noting the fee structure. Beamly charges 0% platform fees on memberships and product sales, with Stripe processing fees still applying. For podcasters comparing net revenue across platforms, this is an important variable.

How Beamly compares with platforms like Patreon or Supercast

Patreon

Patreon remains one of the easiest ways for podcasters to launch a paid support model around bonus content, community perks, and fan access. It has strong brand recognition, a familiar listener experience, built-in community tools, and its own internal discovery.

Patreon also now leans heavily into podcast support, with private RSS delivery, podcast syncing, Spotify integration, and the ability to manage multiple podcasts.

For setting up a support page and offering bonus episodes to existing fans, Patreon can be a great option. It’s simple, established, and community-oriented.

The downside with Patreon is control – you don’t own the audience or branding. Patreon also takes a 10% platform fee, plus payment processing and other fees, and the fan relationship still lives inside Patreon more than it lives inside your own brand.

You can export emails, but you’re not building the core experience on your own domain. For podcasters who prioritize brand ownership and on-site conversion flows, Beamly may be a better fit.

Supercast

Supercast is strong if your paid offering is mainly a premium audio subscription. Its product is built around subscriber podcasts, private feeds, conversion, retention, and premium listening.

But it’s still a more focused tool. Supercast gives you a subscription storefront and subscriber management, not a full content hub for your show, site, blog, products, and public-facing brand.

Its standard pricing is also usage-based, at $0.59 per subscriber per month plus Stripe fees. If you want to publish free episodes, rank in search, collect emails, post articles, sell downloads, and build a broader home for the podcast, you will still need other pieces around it.

Where Beamly tends to fit best

Beamly is generally a fit for podcasters who want to do several things at once:

• Host or import a podcast
• Build a proper branded site on a custom domain
• Offer private podcasts via memberships or one-off products
• Give listeners places to engage and respond through comments, reviews, contact forms, or voicemail
• Publish supporting content like blogs, videos, or course material alongside the show

That combination makes the platform relevant for this segment. It’s less about visual polish alone and more about running core publishing and monetization tasks from one base.

A sponsored show can use Beamly to improve discoverability and build a media kit.

A membership-driven show can use it to run the public feed, the premium feed, and the sales pages.

A podcast with educational or consulting elements can combine episodes, blog posts, downloads, and paid access without sending the audience across several tools.

That kind of consolidation saves time, but more importantly, it reduces friction for listeners.

Where Beamly is not the obvious choice

More features are not automatically better.

A podcaster who only wants a quick member-supported setup and doesn’t care much about a custom site might find Patreon to be an easier starting point.

Similarly, if your business is almost entirely a paid audio subscription and you already have a marketing stack in place, Supercast can work well. And for those whose main priority is just standard, public hosting, a traditional podcast hosting provider often makes more sense.

Pricing and value

At the time of writing, Beamly’s Creator plan starts at $30 per month when billed annually, with 0% platform fees and up to 1,000 members included.

The Business plan starts at $64 per month when billed annually and opens up multi-show support, more advanced AI transcription, and built-in site analytics.

Beamly is not the cheapest route if all you want is a simple public podcast feed. But it can be cost-effective if it replaces several tools at once:

• podcast host
• website platform
• membership tool
• product checkout
• private podcast layer
• and parts of your audience-engagement stack.

Is Beamly worth the switch?

Beamly is a solid option for podcasters who want one place to publish, grow, and monetize.

The core value here is ownership. Your site lives on your domain. Your offers live under your brand. Your members and payments run through your setup. Your listeners have one place to browse episodes, join your list, buy your products, leave feedback, and support the show.

Beamly won’t be the right fit for every show. But if you aim to make a business out of a podcast, without duct-taping multiple apps together, Beamly can be a great choice.

Finally, if you’re looking for a recording and editing platform to pair up with Beamly, look no further than Alitu. Whether you’re working with audio, video, or both, you can easily record and produce your episodes. Tools like text-based editing, filler-word removal, and automatic volume levelling help you create a great-sounding show without spending hours hunched over your laptop. Try it free for seven days and see for yourself!

And no, going viral doesn’t matter here. The subscription podcast just has to make sense – for you and for your community. That is exactly what we will unpack in this article: why subscription podcasts are turning small shows into serious income sources and how creators are getting paid for their voices and stories, month after month.

By Sarah Mitchell

Sarah Mitchell is a freelance writer dedicated to producing premium blog content for entrepreneurs and SMBs. Her work helps them streamline their content marketing, and you may recognize her name from platforms like Hubspot, Outbrain, Flippa, and many more.

Why Subscription Podcasts Are Becoming A Central Player In Creator Income

Let’s see what is driving the shift in how successful podcasters are earning today and why subscription podcasts are right at the center of it.

1. Ad Money Doesn’t Stretch Anymore

Ad revenue used to be the holy grail for podcasters – get enough downloads, and sponsors would line up. But those days are fading fast. CPM rates (cost per thousand listens) have flattened while production costs keep climbing.

A mid-tier podcast with 20,000 monthly downloads might earn around $400–$600 from ads. That doesn’t even cover decent equipment, let alone a living. And advertisers now prefer bigger, safer shows with guaranteed impressions. This leaves smaller or niche creators with scraps.

Many creators end up running their own paid promotions to push episodes out to cold audiences. But that ad-spend pile-up makes the gap even clearer – you are buying reach on a platform you don’t control, while the revenue coming back from ads barely moves.

Subscription podcasts have rewritten the numbers. You don’t need millions of listeners – you need loyal ones. A creator charging $5 a month with just 500 paying subscribers brings in $2,500 monthly. That is steady and predictable money without chasing sponsors or compromising content for brand safety. It is income built around the listener, not the advertiser.

2. Listener Behavior Has Changed

Listeners are tired of interruption-based content. They skip ads and pay for premium Spotify and binge ad-free Netflix. That same mindset carries over to podcasts. People now expect smooth and uninterrupted experiences – and they will pay for them. 

For example, The Rest Is Politics in the UK earns more from paid podcast subscriptions than traditional ad deals. The hosts built a paid tier that includes early access and private Q&A episodes. Listeners jumped in because it feels personal and premium. 
That is where the industry is heading – fewer casual listeners, more superfans engage deeply with their favorite shows and prefer exclusive access over free abundance.

3. Creators Want Predictable Income

Ad deals come and go. Sponsorships dry up during recessions. Even affiliate revenue depends on external sales cycles. Creators are done playing that game. They want stability – a consistent base income that lets them plan and grow without worrying about next month’s brand partnership.

Subscription podcasts give that stability. Monthly revenue from listeners means steady cash flow – which means creators can hire supporting cast and focus on making better content instead of chasing down the next brand deal.

Take Sleep With Me, a podcast that helps people fall asleep. The creator built a paid version with ad-free episodes and bonus content. That steady income let him stop worrying about ad cycles and start focusing on the storytelling that made the show popular in the first place. That is the difference predictable income makes — it gives creators room to breathe and create.

4. Freedom From Algorithms Puts Creators Back In Control

The Infinite Dial Survey 2025 shows that 40% of respondents tune in to podcasts every week, and creators recognize the value of owning their connection with listeners. Social media platforms decide who sees your content. You can post daily and still get pushed down in the feed because the rules changed overnight. That happens more often than you think. 

Subscription podcasts break that cycle. When your income comes directly from listeners, you don’t care if Apple or Spotify tweaks its charts. You own your subscriber base and your publishing schedule. You decide when to release and how to monetize. 

People are deliberately trading algorithm chaos for content they actually care about. That independence is rare in today’s creator economy. And with subscription podcasts, creators finally get back what social media took – control and a direct line to the people who actually care.

5. Ownership Matters More Than Reach

Reach used to be everything. Everyone wanted downloads and views – but reach doesn’t mean ownership. One tweak in Spotify’s policy or a YouTube algorithm dip, and that “reach” becomes a number with no income behind it.

Subscription podcasts fix that by giving creators real ownership – of their content, of their subscribers, of their revenue. And that ownership gives creators the upper hand. They can start running real businesses rather than building rented empires.

Look at what Chris Williamson did with Modern Wisdom – he built a thriving private feed that did two jobs at once – a home for his fans and a testing ground for premium content before going public. That is smart business – using audience data and feedback you control to refine your offer.

6. Platforms Like Apple Podcasts & Spotify Are Encouraging It

Subscription podcasts aren’t just a creator movement – major platforms are pushing it too. Apple rolled out Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, so creators can charge directly inside the app through Apple Pay. 

Spotify jumped in with Paid Subscriptions, which were integrated with Google Pay, taking zero cut for the first two years. And then there is Supercast, which lets creators manage payments and bonus feeds.

And no, platforms aren’t doing this out of kindness. They have realized that creators bring the value, not advertisers. People tune in for hosts they trust, and the only way to keep creators happy is to help them earn directly.
You will see this shift everywhere – from news outlets like The Economist offering private feeds to indie creators using Substack’s audio feature to monetize niche shows. The infrastructure is finally creator-first – and that is a massive shift in how the podcast economy works.

7. Creator Success Tied To Premium Experience Strengthens Bonds

When ad money is involved, the real customer is the brand. When subscriptions are involved, it is the listener – and that changes everything. 

Creators start adopting a customer-first approach, and they care about retention more than reach. They know every subscriber who stays means steady income. If your content slips, they cancel. If you deliver consistent value, they stay – sometimes for years. This pushes creators to actually listen and evolve alongside their audience. 

This direct relationship builds loyalty that no social platform can replicate. It turns audiences into advocates and advocates into collaborators. And the creators become long-term brands that grow without chasing virality or outside validation.

7 Core Subscription Podcast Models Fueling The Next Wave Of Creator Revenue

The days of relying on ads or podcast sponsorships are fading, and creators are finding smarter ways to earn. Here are seven models that are shaping how podcasts make money next.

1. Freemium Model

This is the “try before you buy” setup – and it is working brilliantly for podcasters who want to balance reach and revenue.

How It Works:

• You keep part of your content free and open to everyone, usually your main feed.
• You offer early releases or ad-free versions behind a paywall.
• The goal is to hook casual listeners with your free content, then convert them once they want more.

Pro Tip: Make sure your free content is strong enough to build trust but leaves enough curiosity for the paid account. Don’t overdeliver on the free feed – just enough to make them want the full version.

2. Exclusive Paid Access Model

This is the purest subscription setup – everything behind the paywall, zero free episodes. It is direct and ideal if you already have a solid audience base.

How It Works:

• Your entire show (or a dedicated spinoff) is only available to paying subscribers.
• Listeners pay a flat monthly or annual fee for full access.
• Usually paired with platforms like Apple Podcasts or Patreon tiers.

Pro Tip: You will need a clear hook or promise – “insider access” or “off-the-record interviews.” People pay when they feel they are getting exclusive content they can’t find anywhere else.

3. Micro-Subscription Or Episodic Paywalls

Instead of a flat fee, listeners pay one-off amounts to get single episodes or mini-series. It is low-commitment and instant.

How It Works:

• Listeners pay per episode or per small bundle of episodes.
• Prices are low ( $1–$3 per episode), which makes it easy to test what sells.
• You can experiment before rolling out a full paid tier.

Pro Tip: Use micro-paywalls to identify your superfans – the ones willing to pay early. Those insights help you create a full subscription tier later.

4. Membership Community Model

This one is for creators who want more than passive listeners. The membership model turns your audience into an actual inner circle.

How It Works:

• Listeners pay a monthly fee to join a private group or space where you engage directly with them.
• The podcast stays the main attraction, but the real connection happens inside – live chats, behind-the-scenes updates, polls, bonus voice notes.
• You become part of their daily conversations, not just a voice they hear once a week.

Pro Tip: Make your community feel alive. Host small live sessions and reply personally. Listeners should feel like insiders, not customers.

5. Tiered Subscription Model

Not every listener wants the same thing – or to pay the same amount. The tiered model gives everyone a choice, without forcing anyone to overcommit.

How It Works:

• Set multiple tiers with clear perks – $3/month for ad-free listening and $7 for bonus episodes.
• The base tier keeps things accessible, while higher tiers reward superfans who want closer access.
• Every tier should feel worth it on its own – not just a step toward the next one.

Pro Tip: Keep it simple. Two or three tiers max. Anything beyond that becomes a chore – for you and your audience.

6. Hybrid Model (Ad + Subscription)

This model is for creators who want to have it both ways – free reach and stable income. People want ads to be balanced – enough to support creators, but not hijack their time. The hybrid setup respects that balance. You keep your free feed open, but give paying subscribers the cleaner and richer version.

How It Works:

• Your free feed stays public and ad-supported. That is where new listeners discover you.
• Subscribers get the same episodes early and ad-free – maybe with a little extra content.
• It is a soft conversion funnel. The free listeners eventually upgrade once they want a smoother experience.

Pro Tip: Don’t pitch the paid feed as “no ads.” Pitch it as time saved and extra depth. That is what people pay for.

7. Corporate Sponsorship + Subscription Mix

This is the middle ground between full creator freedom and strategic partnerships. You get stability from both sides without giving either total control.

How It Works:

• You work with a few aligned sponsors long-term, not random ad slots.
• Meanwhile, your subscription tier gives fans the option to skip ads completely and get a more personal experience.
• Both sides feed each other. Brands get reach, subscribers get value, and you get balance.

Pro Tip: Be picky. One perfect sponsor that fits your style is worth 10 random deals that make your show sound like an infomercial.

How To Launch A Subscription Podcast Successfully: 6 Proven Strategies

Here’s how to start your subscription podcast the right way.

1. Segment Your Audience To Identify Who Will Actually Pay

Not everyone who listens will pay – and that is okay. Your goal is to find the ones who will. These are usually your most engaged listeners – the ones who comment on every post or binge your old episodes. If you know who they are in your audience, that is your subscription base right there. 

What to Do:

• Check analytics from your hosting tool to find the top 10–15% of listeners who complete full episodes – that is your paying core.
• Run a short listener survey asking what kind of bonus content they would pay for.
• Bring in an audience engagement coordinator who can track engagement on social posts and pull listener behavior trends. This helps you understand what your most loyal listeners actually care about.
• Build a simple “interest tag” system in your email tool so you can target your most loyal listeners separately.

2. Build An Email Waitlist Before You Launch

You don’t want to launch into silence. A pre-launch waitlist gives you a pool of warm and ready-to-pay fans before the subscription goes live. Even if it is 200 names, those are future paying listeners.

What to Do:

• Use email marketing software to build a simple landing page for your waitlist.
• Offer a small bonus (like a private Q&A recording or early access) for joining the waitlist.
• Share that link in every free episode or social post leading up to launch.
• Use the waitlist to test price sensitivity. Ask people what price range feels fair before you finalize your tiers.
• Use a mass notification system to alert everyone on your waitlist when your subscription goes live. It creates excitement and gives your launch a coordinated push.

3. Create A Strong Hook That Justifies The Paywall

People won’t pay just because they like your podcast – they pay for why it is worth paying for. Your hook is the reason that turns curiosity into commitment. If your free podcast gives the what, your subscription should deliver the why and how. And that is the value gap worth paying for.

What to Do:

• Write one clear sentence: “Subscribers get ___ that free listeners don’t.”
• Name your paid tier in a way that feels aspirational – like “Insiders” or “Backstage Feed.”
• Record a short teaser episode explaining what makes the paid content different.
• Include examples of what subscribers can expect – e.g., “deep dives on episodes too raw for the main feed.”

4. Offer A Limited-Time Founding Member Discount

Scarcity works, but only if it is authentic. A “founding member” offer rewards the early supporters and creates social proof.

What to Do:

• Announce the discount 1–2 weeks before launch and keep it open for no more than 7 days.
• Make the discount meaningful but sustainable – around 20–25% off the first 3 months is ideal.
• Shout out founding members publicly in a thank-you episode or email to make early adoption special.
• Keep their rate the same forever. They will stay subscribed longer because they feel like part of your foundation.

5. Use Free Episodes Before You Offer Subscriptions

Before asking people to pay, you have to condition them to expect value. Start seeding the idea that something premium is coming – and what it is going to be like. You are priming them to convert.

What to Do:

• Create 2–3 “bridge episodes” where you reference upcoming paid content.
• Use dynamic ad insertion to promote your subscription across old episodes.
• Add a call-to-action in your outro – “If you love this topic, I’ve got a deeper dive in the premium feed.”
• Post short clips on social media teasing subscriber-only discussions.

6. Choose A Platform That Fits Your Podcast Subscription Goals

The platform you pick decides how much control you have — and how much you keep. Apple and Spotify make it easy for casual subscribers, but third-party tools like Supercast or Memberful give you full ownership of your subscriber data. You need to decide what matters most – reach or control.

What to Do:

• Compare revenue splits. Apple (30%), Spotify (free for 2 years, then 5%), Supercast (~10%).
• Check if the platform supports private RSS feeds (a must for smooth playback).
• Make sure it integrates with your email or CRM system for subscriber tracking.
• Choose one platform to start – then expand once you have proof of concept.

Turn Your Podcast Into Sustainable Income

Subscription podcasting isn’t a passing trend; it’s one of the most direct ways to build reliable revenue around your voice. A paid tier lets you validate ideas, serve your most committed listeners, and earn predictable revenue without relying on shifting algorithms or ad markets.

With that said, there are still many other ways to monetize your podcast. Check out this full guide, built around the three pillars of Audience, Authority, and Assets. No matter your stage, your topic, or your download numbers, you’ll find something in there that works for you!

Podcast sponsorship as a whole can be a very effective form of advertising. In fact, when done well, it’s probably the best.

Acast’s 2023 Spanish listener survey revealed that 97% of listeners have a positive perception of brands advertised on podcasts.

I’ve also literally just finished reading a piece by Tom Webster of Sounds Profitable that I thought would be worth quoting here.

 86% of ad-supported podcast listeners recalled seeing or hearing an advertisement in the past week. That’s not just a robust number—that’s the highest recall rate of any measured ad-supported medium in this study.

So, if you’re going to run any kind of ad, a podcast is obviously a decent place to do it.

But, when you sponsor a podcast, how can you prove that it has “worked”?

After all, increased sales, sign-ups, or downloads might be purely a coincidence. Or, the result of some other tactic. You might even be sponsoring multiple shows at once – how do you know which one is the most effective?

Tracking the effectiveness of podcast sponsors isn’t watertight, but there are a few easy ways to build a picture. Let’s package them into a tenuous acronym or framework for no other reason than my own personal amusement.

If you’re happy and you know it…

C.L.A.P

… your… brands?

• C – Codes
• L – Landing Pages
• A – Attribution Polls
• P – Parameters (UTMs)

Alright, let’s get into them…

1. C – Codes

If you literally sell stuff – anything from coaching and courses, to books and beyond – then you can simply create a discount code relevant to the show you’re sponsoring. For example, “use coupon code PODCRAFT10 to save 10% at checkout.”

If you don’t want to discount your prices, set up this code to incentivise something extra instead. Are there any bonus resources you can add to your offering?

The bottom line is that these codes are highly trackable. You’ll know exactly how many people took action on the ad, and exactly where they came from.

2. L – Landing Pages

You might create a special landing page for listeners of the podcast and give it a memorable URL. Or, you could simply make the memorable URL as a redirect link (using a tool like PrettyLinks) and point it to your main landing page.

Either way, you can track metrics and get a decent gauge of how effective the ad has been. But then again, not all listeners will type in these special links. So here’s another option…

3. A – Attribution Polls

Sometimes, listeners hear an ad on a podcast but are unable to take action in the moment. Later, they might search for the product or service on Google, and any attribution to the podcaster seems lost.

Well, not quite. If you add a “how did you hear about us?” poll to your website or checkout, credit can still be assigned!

4. P – Parameters (UTMs)

UTM stands for – believe it or not – Urchin Tracking Module. So you really can enlist the help of urchins without becoming a Dickensian sweatshop owner.

With podcast sponsorship, you’re not totally reliant on folks hearing a link being read out. “All links in the shownotes” is a common phrase amongst podcasters. So when you sponsor a podcast, give the host a UTM link to insert into accompanying shownotes and blog posts.

You can easily make UTM links for free using this Campaign URL Builder tool. Here’s what they look like:

https://www.alitu.com?utm_source=thepodcasthost&utm_medium=blog&utm_campaign=podcast-sponsor-tracking-tips

Definitely not one for reading out on air, eh? But you can get much more nuanced with these across multiple different pages and posts than you could with a simple shortlink.

Tracking Podcast Sponsor Impact

If you’re spending money on marketing, you want to make sure it’s working, and if it’s working, you’ll probably want to do more of it.

Hopefully, these tips for easily tracking podcast sponsor impact will help you keep your finger on the pulse of your ad-based ventures. Employing some or all of these will likely help you build the most accurate picture – there’s definitely no need to stick to one and be done with it.

And of course, there’s more to podcast sponsorship than simply tracking its effectiveness. In our full guide to sponsoring a podcast, you’ll find info on costs, along with additional tips, tactics, and best practices to set up and optimise these partnerships.

I should really round this off with a callback to “the CLAP”, but I won’t give you the satisfaction. Stop laughing up the back… we’re done for the day!

Before Patreon and other such platforms existed, podcast sponsorship was how most creators monetised their content. It’s still a popular method to this day, and often how the bigger shows earn a crust.

Podcast sponsorship is an option for shows with numerically smaller audiences, too, providing their topic and niche is a good fit. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the various ways podcast sponsorship can work. We’ll also cover how to reach out to potential sponsors – should you decide that it sounds like the right path for you and your show.

And, if you run a business and have been approached about potentially doing podcast sponsorship, check out How to Sponsor a Podcast. That’s our guide for all the info you’ll need on that front!

Why Podcast Sponsorship?

Just like people have different motivations for podcasting, they also have different motivations for monetising their content.

For one podcaster, the thought of covering their web and hosting costs is enough. Maybe even to have enough left over to treat their other half to a nice meal every couple of months.

For another, it could be an essential income stream in their business, where they’re actually paying a team of freelancers and assistants to work on their show.

Ultimately, podcast sponsorship is a form of the age-old marketing tactic where someone has assembled a crowd, and someone else would like to advertise a product or service to that crowd.

The Strength of Podcasting

Most podcasts that “succeed” focus on a certain topic or niche. That means the audiences they build around them generally share a common interest. This could be anything, from losing weight to breeding gerbils to collecting stamps or brewing coffee.

Straight away, this gives podcasting the strength of targeting. Advertising on a podcast isn’t like putting up a billboard at the side of a road, where 90% of the folks who see it aren’t a company’s target audience.

Granted, targeting isn’t exclusive to podcasts. Things like trade magazines and blogs can be very niche and targeted, for example. But the other big strength of podcast sponsorship is in the delivery method.

Long-form audio content means listeners can spend lots of time listening to a presenter in a very intimate and regular way.

This builds a layer of trust and authority. It’s much harder to do this in the written word, where blog posts are Googled and skimmed for the one piece of info the reader wants.

How Do I Find a Sponsor?

Some media ad agencies and podcast hosting platforms can help you set up a sponsorship agreement for your show. This is the “middleman” approach, which can be easier to get off the ground but less fruitful in the long run.

Typically, these services look for a certain number of downloads. Commonly, this is 5000 US-based downloads per new episode within the first month of its release.

Most podcasts have significantly lower numbers than this, though. Having a smaller audience doesn’t necessarily make it any less valuable. But if your audience is in the low hundreds, you’ll likely be better off seeking out your ideal sponsor and attempting to negotiate a deal with them directly.

To identify potential sponsors, think of products or services you use that would also improve the lives of your listeners. This is totally topic-dependent, but a few examples might be

1. A running podcast where the presenter uses a particular piece of tech to measure her performance.
2. A gardening podcast where the presenter uses a particular type of feed on his lawn.
3. A show about miniature wargaming where the presenter uses a particular company to buy paints and models.

Each of these podcasters could reach out to the companies behind the products they use and make a pitch.

Our How to Sponsor a Podcast article was designed as a guide for business owners who’ve been approached about advertising on podcasts. You can use this resource either as a template for your own pitch or just link them to it directly. It’ll answer all the questions they’ll ask about how sponsoring your podcast will not only work but also benefit them.

Creating a Media Kit

If you want to find a podcast sponsor, creating a media kit is good practice.

Podcast Media Kit Examples, Tips, & Resources: Amplify & Attract

Read article called: Podcast Media Kit Examples, Tips, & Resources: Amplify & Attract

A media kit is the essential information about sponsoring your show, packaged up in an easy-to-read manner. You might create it as a designed and illustrated PDF, either available on request, or via direct download from your site.

In a media kit, you’ll want to include things like:

• Information about your audience. Their needs, wants, and pain points
• The role your podcast plays in your niche or topic
• Download and/or engagement statistics
• Episode pricing & slot availability
• Links to samples of your audio – make it easy for them to hear you
• Some examples of listener reviews you’ve had

Also, make sure it’s easy for potential sponsors to contact you. Create a ‘Contact’ page on your website, and in there, list and link to every way someone can interact with you.

How Podcast Sponsorship Works

Let’s get into the nuts and bolts of podcast sponsorship, then. At the most basic level, the advertiser pays to promote their product or service on one or more podcast episodes.

Commonly, podcasts deliver ads in one of two ways.

‘Host Read’ Ads

The most effective way is for the host to talk about the product or service. They’ll tend to mention why they recommend it, some examples about how they themselves use it, how they benefit from it, and why the listener would, too.

Done well (and legitimately!), a host-read ad can act as another part of the episode content, instead of sounding like an interruption.

‘Radio Style’ Ads

An alternative is for a third party to create adverts. This way, the podcaster simply has to play them on their episodes. This is a lot less effective because the audience listens to hear the presenter’s thoughts and opinions. Having a random Voice-Over interrupt the content to quickly give you a sales pitch can be jarring and even annoying. Listeners can fast-forward or tune out as soon as they hear the change in cadence or background sound.

Placing of Ads

An advert might appear at the very beginning of an episode, the very end, or somewhere in between. These slots are known as:

1. Pre-Roll – Before the content starts
2. Mid-Roll – during the main content of the episode
3. Post-Roll – After the content has finished

Mid-roll is the most desired spot (and, thus, the most expensive). Listeners are less likely to skip this content. Post-roll is the least optimal position for an ad, but it’s also the cheapest.

How Do I Create a Good Podcast Advert or Sponsorship Slot?

Doing the ads yourself will make them more effective. After all, your audience turns up to hear you.

You can do the ad during your recording, or you can record and mix one separately and stitch it into the finished episode. Let’s talk a bit about both approaches.

Sponsorship Slots as Part of Your Content

Here, you’ll talk about a product or service while recording your episode.

Pros

1. Minimal interruption to your content. When done well, these are really just another aspect of your content offering and can blend in seamlessly.
2. Minimal editing and production – you don’t need to add any segments in the editing phase.

Cons

1. Can be difficult to transition to during a podcast interview.
2. Can be more difficult for the inexperienced presenter to “get right” first time.

Pre-Producing Your Podcast Ad

The alternative is that you script up your ad, record it as its own segment, and edit it into the episode. Or, use a dynamic ad insertion tool to place it there.

Pros

1. You don’t need to think or worry about doing your ad reads during the recording session. This lets you focus entirely on your episode topic.
2. You can take a bit more time to craft your ad and feel like the finished product sounds just right.
3. Pre-recorded ads are easier to run a ‘Mid-Roll’ ad during a podcast interview.

Cons

1. This type of ad – although delivered by you – can still be seen as an interruption by some of your listeners.
2. If you’re playing the same one on every episode, it can train your listeners to hit the skip button.
3. It can begin to grate on those bingeing through your back catalogue.

Podcast Sponsorship Best Practices

If you plan on using podcast sponsorship in your content, there are a few things to be aware of, either to optimise your efforts or to keep you out of trouble.

Declare Them

If you’re taking money to advertise anything, you must make that clear to your listeners. A quick “thanks to Jim’s Underpants Emporium for sponsoring this content” will do the trick. Adverts need to be clearly marked as such, and not sound like you just so happen to be waxing lyrical about Jim’s Y-fronts as part of your episode.

Create Special Links

A tool like Pretty Links is a great way to send your listeners to your sponsors. Here, you can make memorable links that are easy to read and remember. You can also track the clicks to measure the effectiveness of your ads, too.

Some sponsors will even create discount coupon codes, which also help track effectiveness.

Create a Space

Another good practice is to send your listeners to a bespoke landing page. This page would contain all the info about your Call to Action, as well as any discounts or special offers. Having a page like this makes it easier to track engagement, and encourage more conversions and sales, too.

Sponsoring Fiction Podcasts

What if you run a fiction podcast or audio drama? You might think this would make it harder to run podcast sponsorship. But some of the best sponsor collaborations I’ve heard have come via storytelling shows.

In Wooden Overcoats (a sitcom following the antics of two rival funeral directors) you’ll hear some outstanding examples of their Bruno Mattress commercials. Check out the opening few minutes in Season 2, episodes 2, 3, and 4.

How Much Does Podcast Sponsorship Pay?

There’s certainly no one-size-fits-all answer here and lots of variables to consider.

There’s the “CPM model” (or cost per thousand listeners), a method of measuring advertising based on audience numbers.

Typically, podcasters stand to earn around $20 per ad, per 1000 downloads, within 30 days of an episode’s release.

CPM can work well for podcasts with thousands of downloads, but many have much smaller audiences.

A smaller audience doesn’t make it any less valuable, though. In fact, the opposite can be true, the more hyper-targeted it is.

Imagine you ran a podcast about building rockets capable of flying humans to Mars, and you only had one listener – but that listener was the director of NASA. How much could you charge for an ad slot on that show? Basically, you could name your price.

A very niche show with around 200 listeners might charge $150 per episode, whilst a podcast with 5000 listeners based around a much more general topic might struggle to get a better deal than $20 CPM.

The good news is that if you own your podcast – as most do – then it’s entirely up to you what you charge. That doesn’t necessarily mean someone will be willing to pay it. However, it does mean that there’s no need to run ads if you’re unhappy with the amount they offer.

Affiliate “Sponsorship”

Another model of podcast sponsorship is the affiliate commission route. Here, you run ads in the same manner as above. Instead of being paid per episode or 1000 downloads, payment is based on how many people actually buy the product or service.

Many early-stage podcasters take this route because it can be difficult to negotiate a good deal with a brand-new show and a fledgling audience.

The downside is that there’s no guarantee of any commission at all. On the flip side, there’s no cap on what you could potentially earn if your ads resonate with your audience.

You usually don’t need permission to sign up for affiliate schemes either, so you can run ads on your podcast from episode one if you want to. Check out our post on affiliates for podcasters where you can choose “sponsors” based on your content, your audience, and which ones are a good fit for both.

Dynamic Ads

Some media hosts and agencies can set you up to run ‘dynamic’ ads on your podcast. This means you can earn from running ever-updating radio-style ads on all your episodes.

An argument for this could be that any ‘baked-in’ ads you ran 100 episodes ago or five years ago are still being played in your back catalogue, but you’re no longer earning from them.

Whilst this is true, the rates in dynamic advertising are pretty low. I’ve seen examples of podcasters earning a whopping two cents (literally, two cents) for an entire month of running dynamic ads.

On top of that, the ads risk being irrelevant to your audience, breaking up your content in a jarring manner, and generally annoying your listeners.

As a side note, the fact that non-dynamic, ‘baked-in’ ads continue to play in your back catalogue “forever” can be sold as a benefit to potential sponsors.

Some hosting providers have dynamic ad tools that enable you to create your own, so you don’t need a third-party agency to run and play them for you, either.

Downsides of Podcast Sponsorship

Things change the minute there’s money involved. And your podcast is no exception.

If you’re taking payment from anyone, you have an obligation to them. They’re paying you for a service, and you need to deliver and try to keep them happy.

Up until now, if your podcast has been a hobby, you might’ve been able to miss the odd week if you were too busy, or just didn’t feel like hitting record.

That changes when someone has paid to advertise on your show, though, especially if those ads are time-sensitive.

Additionally, you have a duty to your audience. You’ve slowly built up a level of trust with them. What if they begin to question whether your latest episode was only released because you were getting paid to run an ad?

Take this all into consideration before deciding for sure that you want to go down the podcast sponsorship route. Remember, too, that if you’re looking to earn from your content but don’t like the idea of running ads, then other podcast monetisation avenues are available.

Podcast Sponsorship: Next Steps

1. Planning to approach a business about sponsoring your podcast? Use our How to Sponsor a Podcast guide to create your pitch.
2. Create a Media Kit for your show. Consider creating an audio trailer to present your work succinctly.
3. Not fully bought into the sponsorship route, but want to explore monetisation? There are other options available.

If you can relate to that goal, you may ask: How much money do podcasters make?

Podcasting might seem like money for nothing, as Dire Straits once sang. It takes time and commitment to generate income from your podcast. But it is possible, and you can make good money from your podcast if you get the formula right.

How Much Do Celebrity Podcasters Make?

Let’s get this out of the way first. When you hear people talking money in podcasting, it’s often in eye-watering numbers. This is because it’s rare. The popular podcasters whose paychecks make the news do so because scarcity makes it newsworthy. 

For example: 

• Joe Rogan renewed his contract with Spotify in 2024 for $250 million. 
•  Tim Ferris charges $43,200 per episode sponsorship (as of this writing).
• Crime Junkie may make as much as 5.6 million per month from podcast sponsorships alone. 

Again, these numbers are rare among podcasters. And, these cases don’t account for income streams outside of their podcast. 

But what about the other podcasters who monetize their shows? How much money are they making? Let’s take a look at some examples before diving into exactly how they make it.

How Much Does An Average Podcaster Make?

Podcast celebrities aside, how much money can your average independent podcaster expect to make?

Well, the answer is “it depends”. But, based on our own experiences of well over a decade in the medium, here are some fictionalised but realistic case studies.

The Hobbyist – $60 per month

The hobbyist could be running a fiction podcast or creating content around their passion (think knitting, miniature painting, or retro video games).

In this example, our hobbyist’s enthusiasm is infectious, and they build a dedicated community around it. They use a site like Patreon for regular listener donations, release premium episodes behind a paywall, and sell the odd t-shirt, sticker, or mug.

After a couple of years of delivering consistently great value, they can cover their hosting costs and treat themselves to a pizza every now and then. 

How much does a hobbyist podcaster make?

• Crowdfunding $30 per month
• Premium content $20 per month
• Merch $10 per month

In this case, the podcaster is in it for intellectual and emotional stimulation, rather than profit. 

The Side Hustle – $240 per month

The side-gigger enjoys talking about their passion, too. But it’s more likely that their topic will address some sort of audience pain point. That could be anything from weight loss or fitness goals to learning a language or passing a particular type of exam.

This type of podcaster offers solutions for their listeners, approaching it with more of a business mindset. A consistent episode publishing schedule makes their show a good fit for advertisers and affiliate links. Plus, they’ve distilled their knowledge into an eBook, which is sold as a product.

Maybe they can eventually grow this into a full-time income. But for now, it’s a nice extra earner for doing something they enjoy. 

How much does the side hustle podcaster make?

• Sponsorship $150 per month
• Ebook Sales $20 per month
• Affiliates $70 per month

The Business Owner – $2600 per month

The business owner might’ve once been a side hustler, or, their business might pre-date their podcast. In either case, this podcaster offers something their listeners are willing to invest in.

This podcaster has grown such a strong authority and personal brand that people will pay a lot of money for an hour-long coaching session with them.

There are detailed courses for sale for those who can’t afford private coaching. The business podcaster has also created a product for their audience’s particular pain point, another solid income source.

Though the top line here seems (and is!) impressive, effort and time demands are also much higher. 

How much does the business-owner podcaster make?

• Course sales: $600 per month
• Coaching: $1200 per month
• Product sales: $800 per month

Choosing a Money-Making Niche

Our fictional podcasters all have one thing in common: a clearly defined niche.

To make a substantial income stream from your podcast, you must choose a niche to help you do that. Either that or you’ll need to be an already-known figure or brand.

For example, if you want to make money through podcast ad revenue, there are a lot of tv-recap podcasts. Sponsors pay for ad reads on those shows, plus it’s easier to make many episodes (or, as ad buyers call them, “inventory”) in a short time. 

But, the more unique your value proposition, the more your podcast will stand out. It’ll be memorable, and your audience will likely share it with their friends. The community it creates may be smaller but more engaged.

Some podcasters dig into a social need, what marketers call “pain points,” to create content. Tim Ferriss tapped into white-collar workers’ need to feel fulfilled and gain control over their lives. Crime Junkie satisfies their audience’s need for compelling mystery and validates their desire for justice. 

Can you make lots of money by simply recording yourself talking? Probably not. Can you make money by sharing knowledge and expertise with a combination of excellent sound design, unique and useful ideas, careful research, and interesting guests? Much more likely.

The main takeaway here is that in no way is podcasting passive income. It’s a lot of work.

6 Core Podcast Monetization Methods (and How Much YOU Can Make)

Now, let’s look at a few of the core ways podcasters make money and how much you can expect to make if you go down that route with your podcast.

1. Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate sales are probably the easiest way to start monetizing your podcast if you’re new to the game.

Running an affiliate program is when you agree to provide an affiliate link somewhere on your website or show notes promoting a brand, product, or service. You can read about how it works in our affiliate marketing for podcasters guide.

Essentially, you generate a small income every time a listener buys through your custom affiliate link. How much you make per click depends on the affiliate sales agreement you have with the brand, but normally, it’s between 5-50% of the sale. So, if it’s a link to a book that costs $20, you could earn between $1-10 for every click.

Amazon affiliate commission ranges from 1% to 20%, depending on the product category (fashion 10%, home improvement 7%, etc.), and you can earn 1.5% on any unrelated products a customer buys on the platform after arriving there via one of your links.

2. Advertising and Sponsorship

While advertising is often the go-to monetization strategy, it’s not the easiest way to make money podcasting. To make decent money from advertising and sponsorships in podcasting, you need one of two things: Impressive download numbers or an extremely niche topic with a hardcore audience (or both!).

In the right circumstances, ads and sponsorships are a win for everyone involved. Businesses like podcast advertising because it offers a unique way of reaching audiences. Studies show that podcasts can strongly influence listener brand perception by building intimacy and trust over time. Recently, podcasts have overtaken TV and radio as the most effective medium for advertising.

How Much Ad Revenue Do Podcasters Make Per Episode?

CPM (cost per mile) in podcast advertising is around $25 per 1000 downloads per episode. Note that this only includes downloads within the first 30 days of the episode’s release date.

But if you have a popular podcast with a very loyal niche audience, you theoretically could earn the same amount for around half the number of downloads per month. Ultimately, it depends on your niche and how valuable your audience is to the advertiser.

3. Exclusive Content

Offering exclusive content is a monetization method that will only work with a hardcore loyal audience who need your content. That, or you’ll need to provide very niche content where listeners see value in paying for your expertise.

Normally, podcasters will charge for access to their back catalog or high-value episodes in addition to their free content. You can expect to earn between $3-6 per series with this strategy, depending on how popular your podcast is. Check out this guide on how to sell podcast episodes if you’re interested in pursuing this.

To generate income from a private podcast, you’ll also need to pay for a hosting provider that offers membership capabilities. You can expect to pay around $20 per month for this software.

4. Selling a Product or Service

Creating your own physical products or consulting services to sell through your podcast (rather than advertising someone else’s) is a popular way to make money through your podcast.

For example, maybe you run a bodybuilding podcast and decide to start selling health shakes that include a new ingredient you’ve been raving about to your listeners. Or, you might start offering online training sessions with listeners.

How much money podcasters can make here depends on a few factors:

• If it’s a digital product, any cuts to partners will likely be minimal, and there will be no manufacturing or shipping costs.
• If it’s a physical product, it’s likely you will need to pay partners to create and distribute your goods.
• If it’s a service, you probably get to keep all of the profits, unless you employ a team to help run it.

5. Paid Subscriptions (Crowdfunding)

Paid subscriptions might include exclusive content as part of the package, but not always. To start making money from paid subscriptions, you’ll need to be popular with your audience or offer a really attractive subscription package. This might even link up with selling exclusive content or a service or product through your podcast.

The Tennis Podcast, for example, is available on all major platforms. Their website has merchandise for sale. However, the podcast also makes money by asking listeners to “Become a Friend” of the show. This membership includes ad-free listening (via Supporting Cast), bonus content, and access to live shows via YouTube. Friends of The Tennis Podcast also get access to The Barge, their online community for the show’s fans. And, Friends get a presale code to buy tickets for live shows (yet another income stream).

With an audience “in excess of 100,000,” if 5% of their audience joined the Friends community at the £6 level, that would be £30,000 per month. 

Bear in mind, this excludes any amount The Tennis Podcast pays to use Supporting Cast and their Friends membership platform. Producing a live show isn’t cheap, either. The point remains that The Tennis Podcast’s income stream is more like a cable of threads spun together. 

The most popular way to run paid subscriptions is via Patreon, but there are many good Patreon alternatives out there, too.

6. Donations

Donations can tie in with paid subscriptions, as many of the tools are the same (e.g., Ko-Fi, Buy Me a Coffee, etc.).

Accepting listener donations is a monetization method many creators use to keep their podcasts independent.

Asking listeners to commit to a regular monthly donation frees you from relying on other podcast monetization strategies like sponsorship, which might influence the content of your show.

Donation buttons can be set up for voluntary amounts (starting at $1 per month), or you can have fixed tiers that ask for a higher donation in exchange for something (for example, bonus content or merchandise). 

Key Takeaway: Use Multiple Income Streams

If you ask any podcaster who makes a decent income from their show how they do it, they’ll likely say, “multiple income streams.”  Combine some, if not all, of the above monetization methods. That’s how most podcasters make their money.

While no single option from the list above will be your golden ticket to quitting your day job, a combination could bring in a decent monthly package.

The Price of Admission in Podcasting

Although the price of admission in podcasting is low, it’s not a free-for-all. So, while you can easily make money with your podcast, you’ll need to spend at least a little cash first to make some later. This means you’ll likely be operating with negative cash flow when you start out.

New podcasters have some fixed costs (such as gear, hosting, branding) and variable costs (time, energy, enthusiasm). But you can definitely start with a low budget. Libraries, for example, sometimes offer courses, equipment, and quiet space to record.

However much it costs you to make your podcast, your content and niche have to be interesting, unique, well-crafted, and necessary, otherwise, you can forget breaking even, let alone making a profit.

There are many different ways to monetize a podcast – but they all require one thing: an audience. And to build an audience from scratch, you must create content that people actually want to listen to.

Case Study: Sarah Rhea Werner, Write Now and Girl In Space

Sarah Rhea Werner is one of the biggest success stories in independent podcasting. She began making solo shows (Write Now and Girl In Space), and now she is able to say, “I make a full-time living podcasting (including paying for healthcare, if not saving for emergencies) because I include both direct AND indirect podcast income.”

She diversifies her podcasts’ revenue streams with “avenues like Patreon, tip jars, in-episode advertising, etc.” As a result of her podcasts, she can also make money indirectly, “speaking engagements, product & merchandise sales, course sales, freelance opportunities, coaching, IP/rights licensing/sales, and more.”

She points out that the key is to set realistic goals, and build your audience first:

“Unless something magical (or illegal) happens, you’re probably not going to make $1 million podcasting overnight. But you can begin to make money and increase it incrementally over time, scaling it like a business.

It comes down to setting and attaining realistic goals. So perhaps your first goal is to cover your podcasting costs — your microphone and other equipment, your website, your hosting company, paying actors, and maybe a few other things. What does that money look like on a per-month basis? How will you obtain it, dollar by dollar? That’s your first goal.”

So, How Much Money Do Podcasters Make?

In summary, there are many ways to monetize a podcast, and generating multiple income streams from a combination is the way to make a decent packet.

In the Podcraft Academy, our Monetization Mastery course is dedicated to helping you set up and grow those streams, walking you through everything from affiliates and merch to premium content and sponsorship. You’ll find loads more in the Academy, too, from podcast feedback tools to downloadable checklists and resources. We’d love to work with you in there!

You’ve probably seen creators who seem to monetize their work across multiple channels effortlessly. The reality? Behind every thriving creator business is a clear strategy that aligns their content with specific revenue streams.

In this guide, you’ll discover proven business models that today’s top creators use, plus practical strategies to match these models with your financial goals.

By Haley Trinh, Sage

Haley is an SEO Market Strategist for Sage, managing projects and supporting performance marketing activities for the North American region. She has over 5 years of experience across Media Planning, Digital PR, and SEO.

An Overview of Business Models for Content Creators

There are several business models available that content creators can use. Some, like subscription platforms, provide a steady monthly income. Others, such as brand partnerships, might bring larger but less frequent payouts.

The most successful creators typically combine two or more. Think of a YouTuber who makes money from video-editing software while also running membership programs and selling merchandise.

Let’s explore each model in detail to see which aligns best with your goals and content style.

Subscription-based Models (e.g., Patreon, Substack)

Subscription models transform your most engaged followers into reliable monthly income. Platforms like Substack, Patreon, and alternatives have made this easier than ever.

The magic of subscriptions lies in their predictability. Once you build a loyal subscriber base, you can forecast your income and plan your content calendar with confidence.

Most creators offer different membership tiers. Your entry level might give subscribers exclusive posts or early access to content. Higher tiers could include personal coaching calls or custom merchandise.

Take newsletter creators on Substack. Many start with free content to build an audience, then introduce premium newsletters that dive deeper into their expertise. Some earn thousands monthly from just a few hundred passionate subscribers.

Advertisement Revenue Streams (e.g., YouTube, Podcasts)

Ad revenue can turn your content views into a steady income. The math is simple: more views typically mean more earnings.

YouTube creators earn through pre-roll, mid-roll, and end-screen ads. The platform handles all the tech work — you focus on creating content that keeps viewers watching.

Podcast advertising works differently. Instead of automatic placements, you’ll negotiate directly with brands for host-read ads. This personal touch often leads to higher rates, especially if you’ve built trust with your audience.

Sponsored Content & Brand Partnerships

Brand deals can become your biggest revenue source once you’ve built a dedicated audience. You’ll earn by creating content that naturally showcases products your followers already want.

The sweet spot? When a brand’s values match yours perfectly. Your audience can tell when you genuinely love a product and that authenticity drives better results for everyone.

Payment structures vary widely. Some brands offer flat rates per post, while others might pay based on performance metrics. Top creators often negotiate packages that include multiple deliverables across different platforms.

Digital Products & Services (e.g., Courses, E-books)

Creating your own digital products puts you in complete control of your income potential. Your expertise becomes a 24/7 revenue stream through courses, e-books, templates, or coaching programs.

The upfront work is intense — you’ll spend weeks or months creating high-quality materials. However, once launched, these products can earn while you focus on creating new content.

Online courses often bring the highest returns. 

Many creators start with a small workshop to test their teaching style, then expand into comprehensive programs based on student feedback.

E-books and templates work well for solving specific problems. A food blogger might sell meal-planning templates, while a finance creator could offer budget spreadsheets.

How to Set Content Creator Financial Goals

Setting clear financial goals starts with understanding your current income and expenses. Track every revenue stream meticulously, from sponsorship deals to merchandise sales.

Smart creators running their small businesses use accounts receivable software to monitor incoming payments and maintain a healthy cash flow. This gives you accurate data to plan your financial future and spot growth opportunities.

Break down your goals into three categories: short-term (monthly income targets), medium-term (business expansion), and long-term (wealth building). Each goal should be specific and measurable.

Factor in the seasonal nature of creator income. Some months might bring in significant brand deals, while others remain quiet. Build a financial buffer to smooth out these fluctuations.

3 Strategies to Align Your Financial Goals

Success as a creator isn’t about copying what others do. It’s about matching your unique content style with the right revenue streams to hit your financial targets. Let’s explore three proven approaches that top creators use to build sustainable businesses.

1. Tailor your content creator business models to financial objectives

Understanding your income targets shapes which business models you prioritize. For high monthly targets, combine revenue streams that complement each other.

An easy win? Pair passive income from social media with active revenue like coaching. Your automated content keeps earning while you focus on high-value clients.

The timing matters, too. Build your subscription base first to create a steady income. Then, layer on sponsored content and digital products. This approach provides stability while you explore bigger opportunities.

2. Diversify your income streams to stabilize revenue

Smart creators never rely on a single platform or revenue source, such as making money from a podcast on only one platform. Build your presence across multiple channels to protect against algorithm changes or platform shifts.

Start with two core revenue streams you can manage well. Once those are stable, experiment with a third. Many successful creators earn from four to five different sources.

Watch your metrics closely. If one stream consistently underperforms, redirect that energy to better-performing channels.

3. Reinvest your profits to scale your business

Set aside 20-30% of your earnings for business growth. Invest in tools, team members, or skills that multiply your impact.

Consider outsourcing tasks that don’t directly generate revenue. This frees up time to focus on high-impact activities like creating premium content or nurturing brand partnerships.

Test new business models with small investments first. Scale up what works, and be quick to step back from what doesn’t.

Tools & Resources to Manage Finances and Track Goals

Every successful creator needs the right financial tools in their arsenal. The key is picking solutions that match your business model.

If sponsored content and brand partnerships drive your revenue, invoicing software helps you maintain professional relationships and secure timely payments. This becomes crucial as you juggle multiple brand deals and content deadlines.

Beyond core financial tools, successful creators rely on productivity apps to manage deadlines and project management platforms to coordinate with their teams. These tools keep you focused on content creation while automating business operations.

Consider investing in an analytics tool to track your content’s performance across your own platforms. Understanding which content performs well helps you make data-driven decisions about where to focus your efforts.

Remember: your tools should grow with your business. Start with the essentials and add more as your needs evolve.

Final Thoughts: Business Models for Content Creators

Building a profitable creator business takes more than just great content. It requires smart financial planning and the right mix of business models for your goals.

Many creators feel overwhelmed by the number of options available. Don’t be. Start by choosing one primary revenue stream and master it completely. Then, gradually expand using the strategies we’ve discussed.

The key is staying flexible and adjusting your approach based on what works for you and your audience. Your creator journey is unique, and your business model should reflect that.

Ready to level up your creator business? Start mapping out your financial goals today.

How Do You Make Money From a Podcast? 12 Monetization Tips

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In August of 2024, Patreon announced, “Apple is requiring us to switch over to their in-app purchase system for all iOS transactions or else risk being kicked out of the App Store altogether.”

What’s the big deal?  Starting in November of 2024, “Apple will be applying their 30% App Store fee to all new memberships purchased in the Patreon iOS app, in addition to anything bought in your Patreon shop.” Patreon says they’re switching all creators to a subscription-only model to avoid creators getting hit with these charges.

My opinion on Patreon is as ambivalent as snow on a fence rail in April. It could come down on either side. Patreon has benefits and risks, depending on how you manage your monetization.

Patreon for Podcasters: Best Practices & Who’s Doing it Well

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While Jack Conte’s big digital diva may be a household word, it’s not the only crowdfunding platform that can help you sustain and grow your podcast.

Far from it, in fact.

Here, I want to show you some Patreon alternative crowdfunding platforms, so you can make an informed choice. By the end, we’ll have narrowed it down to the best crowdfunding platform for you!

Some of these crowdfunding platforms work on a time-based approach. Others are a per-project or per-month funding option. Just like everything else in podcasting, there are pros and cons. Let’s take a look at these alternatives to Patreon.

Deadline-Based Patreon Alternative Crowdfunding Platforms

If you want to raise funds over a finite period and devote your full attention to the campaign, then a deadline-based approach is a good choice.

Fundraising is a project in and of itself. If you separate your fundraising project from other parts of your podcast, you can take time and effort to promote the fundraiser and reward your supporters. Then, once the campaign is complete, you can focus on other aspects of your podcast.

This is good for producers who podcast in seasons or favor batch processing. It helps to separate crowdfunding from the rest of your workflow. But, the deadline-based approach can subject a campaign to binary judgment: it’s either a “success” or a “failure.” This is not a great way to think about creative projects.

As you’ll see, there’s more than one way to make a crowdfunding program effective. 

Kickstarter

Kickstarter set the standard for crowdfunding in 2009. It’s favored by designers and people who make tangible things. Small businesses that compete on the TV show Shark Tank often raise their initial capital via Kickstarter. 

As the first online crowdfunding platform to have major visibility, it built the expectation that backers receive something specific and tangible in exchange for their support. The result is a mentality that Kickstarter is a way to pre-order a creator’s merchandise at a discount. Nothing wrong with that. For podcasters, competing with tangible objects is hard, and there’s pressure to create extra rewards.

Kickstarter depends on an all-or-nothing approach. Either you meet your funding goal, or you don’t. If your project receives enough pledges of support to meet your fundraising goal, Kickstarter charges the credit cards of all the supporters. Kickstarter doesn’t charge anyone if the project doesn’t gather enough pledges to meet the goal.

If you want to test the waters and determine if your idea is strong and planned properly enough that people would be willing to support it financially, Kickstarter is a good testing ground. If your Kickstarter campaign doesn’t meet its goal, you can figure out what to do to strengthen your plan.

Fees: “If a project is successfully funded, Kickstarter applies a 5% fee to the funds collected.” Stripe, Kickstarter’s payment processor, charges a 3-5% processing fee (which varies depending on the country).

Education: Kickstarter Creator Resources is a blog hub with articles about making a successful Kickstarter campaign.

Community: If the campaign succeeds, Kickstarter provides the campaign creator with a list of supporters’ names and e-mail addresses.

Creators can then ask supporters for contact information so they can send them their reward. After that, the community depends on respecting supporters’ privacy. You can ask them to opt-in to an email newsletter, for example. 

Crowdfunding by BackerKit

If you’ve backed Kickstarter projects that reached their pledge goals, you may have received a reward email with “Backerkit” in its URLs. This crowdfunding campaign pledge manager specializes in ad campaigns, customer relationship management, fulfillment, shipping, and strategy.

In 2022, Backerkit chose to stop being Kickstarter’s support toolbox and start its own crowdfunding platform, due to Kickstarter’s investment in blockchain. Though Backerkit first specialized in tabletop games, there’s plenty of room to expand. 

Fees: 5% of total funds raised, plus payment processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per pledge in the US, and the fees vary by country). Just like Kickstarter. 

Education: Besides their Help Center, Backerkit has an online community, guides, webinars, a blog, and a Crowdfunding Roadmap. This last resource is meant for people who make tabletop roleplaying games, but still, it has useful information for any crowdfunder. 

Community: When you see a podcast similar to yours, it’s not competition; it’s an opportunity for cross-promotion. And now, Backerkit has Collab-Funding. Partner with another creator to give your audience and theirs an extra benefit, or get multiple creators together to share promotion and benefits.

Backerkit’s pilot program, Pintopia, raised over $68.5K for a cohort of 20 enamel pin creators.

IndieGoGo

Similar to Kickstarter, Indiegogo offers a time-based goal. But It’s not an all-or-nothing approach. If you don’t reach your goal, you can still get to keep what funds you raise. Also, you can leave your campaign open after the deadline. If someone finds out about your podcast crowdfunding campaign after the fact, they can contribute.

Indiegogo has a marketplace called IndieShop, so creators with funded products can sell merchandise from their campaigns. Like Kickstarter, this platform seems oriented toward tech and designers, so tangible rewards thrive.

Fees: Indiegogo charges a 5% fee, and additional payment processing fees.

Since this article’s last update, Indiegogo made its fees and pricing less transparent. Most crowdfunding websites’ home pages show a link to a Pricing page. Indiegogo shows pricing in their Support articles, where a chart shows how fees vary by nation and currency. Then, this fee can vary for creators receiving international pledges.

Like all online tools, you should always check the pricing structure.

Education: Indiegogo’s education center has articles and guides on all aspects of crowdfunding. Prefer to listen? Go Time, the Indiegogo podcast, is their audio version of the latest and best practices for crowdfunding. And, Indiegogo’s list of case studies can help you see what works and what hasn’t.

Community: The Experts Directory helps Indiegogo users find (you guessed it) experts on any part of the crowdfunding process. At first, I thought this was a way to ask other Indiegogo creators about their experience. But this directory is a list of recommended corporate partners for services that crowd funders need.

Crowdfundr

This certified B Corporation appears to be a response to the crowdfunding industry. The first thing Crowdfundr will tell you is that their service is free. Did they mention it’s free? Don’t worry. They’ll tell you soon enough. 

Creators can choose All-Or-Nothing (like Kickstarter) or Keep It All (like Indiegogo). And when your campaign meets its completion date, you can roll your campaign over into a merchandise store.

Crowdfundr excludes shipping costs from the amount your campaign earns, so you don’t have to calculate that or puff up your crowdfunding goal to cover shipping costs. 

Fees: Unlike the aforementioned time-based crowdfunding platforms, Crowdfundr has pricing tiers. They are: 

• Free: You pay Crowdfundr nothing but the credit card processing fees. Crowdfundr says, “You only pay for your Stripe/PayPal fees, and we ask your supporters for a tip. If they tip, we get paid. If they don’t tip, we still charge you nothing.” 
• Fee Recovery: Crowdfundr charges you 5% of your earnings and the credit card processing fee. But, Crowdfundr asks each supporter if they want to cover the 5% and credit card fees for this transaction on your behalf. 
• Flat Rate: Creators pay 5% of their earnings and the credit card processing fees. 

Education: Crowdfundr has videos to walk you through campaign creation, promotion, and fulfillment. There are also blog posts, tool kits, and templates for people like me who prefer reading. And, Crowdfundr has free printable workbooks. 

Community: In Crowdfundr’s case, community is twofold. 

The Crowdfundr Creator Hub is a behind-the-scenes community where Crowdfundr users can get help with their projects. Crowdfundr hosts their support chats and creator interaction on Discord and also has webinars and Ask Me Anything sessions on its website. 

To promote projects to the public, Crowdfundr hosts Spotlight events, with projects grouped by theme. For example, Crowdfundr’s Media in Motion event focuses on films, television, web series, cinematography, and video projects. These virtual events help creators support each other while promoting their own projects.

In my opinion, Crowdfundr is an excellent choice for podcasters as an alternative to Patreon. The only negative aspect is that Crowdfundr doesn’t appear to know what to do with podcasts. They have 13 project categories, from “Art” to “Writing,” with a “Music and Audio” category in the middle. Why not have a podcast category, too? 

Project-Based Crowdfunding Patreon Alternative Platforms

A disadvantage of some online crowdfunding platforms is that supporters can change their minds before their card is charged or contest a credit card charge. Buyer’s remorse is a legitimate concern.

Project-based support reduces that by focusing on the completed project, rather than a number and date. When funders see the person making the project that has an impact, they’re less likely to pull their funding. Abstract campaigns are easy to ignore and forget. Specific and clear campaigns are memorable.

Which donation would you rather make, five dollars toward a ten-thousand-dollar fundraiser or the same amount for a podcast of relaxing stories for kids recuperating in hospitals? Details matter when it comes to crowdfunding, whether Patreon or an alternative.

Many of these project-based crowdfunding platforms provide the option to donate once or give a recurring donation. This means you don’t have to start a new crowdfunding campaign whenever your funding runs out.

Ko-Fi

An alternate spelling of “coffee,” Ko-fi uses the idea of buying someone a cup of coffee in exchange for their creative work. The free version is, essentially, an online tip jar. It uses short links, so it’s easy to share. It’s straightforward and avoids buyer’s remorse. If someone likes what you do, this is a simple way for them to pay for it. It’s the simplest possible Patreon alternative.

Of course, there is a more committed option: Ko-Fi Gold. This lets you set up memberships, create patron-only posts, customize your page and username, sell merchandise, and more, for one monthly flat rate instead of a percentage.

Fees: Ko-Fi doesn’t charge a platform fee for the tip jar version. When you sell memberships, merchandise, or commissions, Ko-Fi takes a 5% platform fee. Ko-Fi Gold is $6 per month.

As I understand it, Stripe and PayPal take their processing fees on the donor’s end of the transaction (for example, if you give a creator $3, what comes out of your pocket is $3 plus the processing fee).

Education: Ko-Fi has a blog and a knowledge base.

Community: Ko-Fi’s Discord integration lets you chat with your most supportive fans. This is a great way to communicate with your audience. For example, you can have live Q&A sessions or talk about topics related to your podcast.

Ko-Fi vs Buy Me a Coffee: Where to Make a Latte Loot?

Read article called: Ko-Fi vs Buy Me a Coffee: Where to Make a Latte Loot?

Buy Me A Coffee

Buy Me A Coffee lets supporters give a one-time amount or join with a membership to view members-only content. The emphasis here is on community. Patreon emphasized community initially, but this Patreon alternative continues to prioritize it.

In a nutshell, it looks like Patreon, acts like Patreon, but allows one-time gifts, and it’s significantly less expensive for creators. Plus, they have more transparency and a set of values to be proud of.

Fees: 5% transaction fee. Creators can choose how they manage the credit card processing fee: whether to deduct the total from their earnings or “cover the credit card fee from your supporters.” In that case, if a supporter contributes $25, they pay $26.03.

Education: They have a clear FAQ and support articles, plus a Discord server.

Community: Supporters can leave a comment every time they give you money or comment on every membership post. Not only is the support per project, but so is the interaction.

Sponsus

Sponsus looks and acts like Patreon, simplified, emphasizing control, SEO, and privacy. Creators can sell memberships or make a Sponsus Storefront to sell merchandise. If a supporter wants to give you money without logging in, you can give them a gift code to let backers use membership benefits without sacrificing their privacy.

Fees: 7%, “excluding payment processing fees.” Considering how much they prioritize security and SEO, there seems to be more architecture behind this crowdfunding platform, which is probably what that extra 2% provides.

Education: A knowledge base and a Discord server. They ask users to submit feature requests and appear to be responsive communicators.

Community: Again, supporters can comment on individual posts, so they can respond to the project directly.

Supporting Cast

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed when you open a podcast listening app, Supporting Cast can help. This platform is meant to remove obstacles between audiences and the podcasts they love, while helping creators get paid for the shows they create.

Simplicity makes Supporting Cast work. The audience pays to subscribe to a private RSS feed for your show. You can add premium or bonus content to the RSS feed. Plus, you can share blog posts, email newsletters, Q&A sessions, and discussions with your audience.

Fees: 10%. This doesn’t include the credit card processing fees, about 2.9%+ thirty cents per transaction.

While this is expensive for a Patreon alternative, it’s on par with direct-to-consumer platforms like Substack. However, Supporting Cast offers flexibility with payments. You can sell a lot of content with one price for a whole season, or charge your audience more frequently.

Education: Supporting Cast provides comprehensive customer support, such as white-glove onboarding. To try Supporting Cast, you need to request a demo. This is great, but it doesn’t let people learn how the platform works or why: users have to trust that “this is where the magic happens.”

Supporting Cast: An Alternative to Patreon or Apple Subscriptions?

Read article called: Supporting Cast: An Alternative to Patreon or Apple Subscriptions?

Community: Supporting Cast’s myriad integrations include Discord, but you can communicate with your audience through blog posts and discussion sessions as well.

Patreon Alternatives: What Do Podcasters Need In a Crowdfunding Platform?

Have you ever noticed that restaurants with small menus specializing in a few items tend to have tastier food than those with huge menus and dozens of dishes? It’s simpler to make three different kinds of soup (and make that soup excellent) than to master all Mediterranean cuisine.

It benefits crowdfunding platforms to provide a wide variety of features and options so that creators of any craft, from fursuits to sestinas, can sell their work. More users, more inventory, more sales. However, having more options can also mean more maintenance and more problems for Patreon or an alternative to Patreon.

What if there were a crowdfunding platform specifically for podcasters? Podcasters need:

• a private RSS feed to share early and bonus content
• interaction with their backers: not only comments on project posts but also threaded discussions (such as Discord)
• options to post text, images, embedded video, and audio
• a storefront that can sell physical and non-tangible goods, from stickers to consultation sessions
• platform architecture that provides privacy and security
• a cost-effective price point that helps creators without gouging supporters.

There are book-oriented platforms for authors, music-oriented platforms for musicians, etc. Why not a crowdfunding platform for podcasters?

Why Do Podcasters Need a Patreon Alternative?

Patreon swings with market whims. One day, they love podcasters. The next day, they love original content from celebrities. Who knows what they’ll love next?  

Often, when a crowdfunding platform becomes close to remunerative, its leadership sells it to a larger platform. Remember, despite using charitable feelings as a marketing tool, crowdfunding platforms are not charities. They’re businesses, and they’re interested in their stability and expansion. The best crowdfunding platform for podcasters helps producers share their content and ideas with their fans, with minimal maintenance, whether Patreon or a Patreon alternative.

Podcasters are great customers for Patreon and other crowdfunding platforms. The backer benefits tend to be intangible (and easier to deliver), plus podcasts bring enthusiastic audiences who may be interested in other creators on the same platform. How crowdfunding platforms benefit podcasters, specifically, remains to be seen.

Crowdfunding, whether deadline-based or project-based, is just one part of an overall monetization strategy. In our Monetization Mastery course inside the Podcraft Academy, we leave no stone unturned when it comes to nurturing income streams for your content.

In the Podcraft Academy, you’ll also find all our other courses, from planning and launching to growth and beyond. There are also loads of downloadable checklists and resources, and you get access to weekly live Q&A sessions, too!

• You might sell original podcast episodes as premium content if you already have an existing audience.
• Or, you might choose to sell your back catalogue, whilst keeping your most recent episodes free on your main feed.
• You can even put your entire show behind a paywall, but this comes with the huge risk of dismantling your audience.
• There are plenty of ways to sell podcast episodes. Patreon is a popular platform, and many hosting providers now offer private podcast features.
• And, you call sell podcast episodes on apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, too.
• Read on for the full range of options…

Podcast episodes are generally free of charge. They ‘live’ on a podcast hosting platform and can be found everywhere podcasts are consumed (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and hundreds more listening platforms). Listeners can subscribe to them on their app of choice.

This is an overwhelmingly positive thing, because:

• From a listener’s point of view, podcasts are accessible to almost anyone.
• From a podcaster’s point of view, this means that your content has the potential to reach the maximum number of people.

It’s a win-win.

However, you might be thinking about how to sell podcast episodes as additional ‘premium’ content alongside your main series.

Or, you might just want to run a 100% ‘premium’ podcast, as opposed to creating free content available to everyone.

In this guide, I’ll run you through some options.

But first, a word of caution…

Who Can (or Should) Sell Podcast Episodes?

If you’re going to sell anything, you need an audience. One thing most aspiring and new podcasters have in common is that they’re starting out without one.

Podcasting is one of the best ways to build a loyal audience, but this takes time.

Coming right out of the gate, without any existing fans, and announcing that your new podcast is behind a paywall (however low) will kill it before it begins.

Even if you’re an established podcaster with a dedicated following, you should consider going premium carefully.

If you move your entire podcast over to a paid model, you’ll likely lose most of your audience.

You might continue to release the main podcast for free but create additional premium episodes. If this is your plan, be sure that you can take on this extra work without sacrificing the quality of your content (or your mental health).

Selling Your Back Catalogue

A tried-and-tested approach for podcasters who’ve been in the game a while is to sell their back catalogue. This is a strategy Mur Lafferty talked about in Podcast Income Stream Lessons From Top Indie Creators.

In this situation, you might always have your most recent 50 episodes available free on your feed. This means you’re still bringing in new listeners and turning them into dedicated fans.

But then you can sell access to your full back catalogue or blocks of episodes, which means listeners can pay to binge through the entirety of your content.

So, there are middle-ground options that aren’t all or nothing. Your podcast can be freemium and premium at the same time.

A more pressing matter for you right now might be wondering how you will take payments for your podcast episodes and ensure that they’re only available to your paying customers. Let’s look at eight great options.

How to Sell Podcast Episodes

If you’re looking to sell your podcast episodes, then you’ll find the perfect fit right here.

1. Patreon (or Ongoing Crowdfund Platforms)

Patreon means “ongoing crowdfunding model” in the same way that Google means “internet search.” As far as I know, Patreon is the original and biggest platform in this space. However, popular alternatives exist, such as Buy Me a Coffe, & Ko-Fi.

The bottom line is that these platforms allow your listeners or fans to give you money on a regular (usually monthly) or “per piece of content” basis.

If you go down this route to sell your podcast episodes, you’d likely have your main podcast as well as the behind-a-paywall content you release to your backers.

2. Supporting Cast

Supporting Cast is a platform created by The Slate Group to manage its podcasts. The platform provides audio for the audience on demand and a distraction-free relationship between the audience and podcasters.

The principles of Supporting Cast are similar to those of Patreon and the others mentioned above. The key difference is that Supporting Cast specialises in audio content.

Supporting Cast also integrates with MailChimp, WordPress, and many other platforms to help your show grow.

3. Memberful

Memberful is a platform designed for people who want to run a membership site. This is overkill for the average podcaster, but it is often an attractive option for people who run service-based businesses.

With Memberful, you can run a members-only podcast and other premium content offerings, such as blog posts and videos.

Memberful integrates with compatible podcast hosting platforms, so you would still host the audio on a separate platform. For some podcasters, Memberful would be an unnecessary middleman. But, others can build an entire business around their podcast with Memberful’s additional integrations.

4. Podcast Hosting Providers

Some podcast hosting providers offer private podcasting tools. These tools allow you to set up protected feeds that aren’t available to the general public.

Private doesn’t necessarily mean “paid”. But access to any private podcast feed can be granted by using a third-party e-commerce tool.

Hosting providers Captivate, Podbean, and Castos have integrated approaches that allow you to take payments directly. If premium podcasting will be a big part of your monetization strategy, then publishing on one of these platforms makes a lot of sense.

5. DIY Options

An effective (if a little clunky) route is to link to your premium episodes in the cloud on a platform like Dropbox or Google Drive.

You’d still need an e-commerce platform like Gumroad or E-Junkie to take payments. In addition, your listeners won’t be able to access your “podcast” in their listening app because there won’t be an RSS feed. However, this might be a simple way of testing the water when figuring out how to sell your podcast episodes.

It’s worth moving to one of the other options listed here, though, if you want to keep going in the long run.

6. How to Sell a Podcast on Apple Podcasts

Podcasters can create ‘channels’, grouping multiple shows together, and create freemium or fully paid tiers around their content in Apple Podcasts.

With Apple Podcasts Subscriptions, “you receive 70% of the subscription price at each billing cycle, minus applicable taxes. After a subscriber accumulates one year of paid service, your net revenue increases to 85% of the subscription price, minus applicable taxes. Your other podcast revenue — including any ads — will stay 100% yours.”

As one of the biggest podcast listening platforms in the world, this will be a low-hanging fruit and an appealing option for many. However, some podcasters have raised concerns that your paying audience will be locked into Apple’s ecosystem, and you’ll have no way to reach them outside of the platform.

If you’d like to dive in and start selling Apple Podcasts subscriptions, you just need to fill out this Apple Podcasters Program Agreement.

7. How to Sell a Podcast on Spotify

If you host your show with Spotify for Podcasters, you can sell episodes on Spotify with their ‘podcast subscriptions’ feature.

Aside from the hosting criteria, you must have at least two published episodes and at least 100 listeners in the last 60 days.

Once you’re set up, you can mark any episodes (existing and future) as ‘subscription only’, putting them behind a paywall.

With Spotify subscriptions, you keep 100% of your earnings, excluding payment processing fees.

You can also download your subscriber list to get the emails of the subscribers who’ve opted to hear from you.

If you use Patreon to sell podcast episodes, you can also integrate it with Spotify to give supporters the option to listen on the platform.

8. Bandcamp

Bandcamp is the website that gives artists control over what they sell, how, and to whom they sell it. You can use Bandcamp to sell podcast episodes. You can even use it to sell merchandise, such as t-shirts or physical copies of your audio. And you keep ownership of all your content.

Uploading your podcast files on Bandcamp costs you nothing but a little bit of time. You can also choose how many times each audio file will stream for free.

With Bandcamp, you upload your podcast in a lossless (WAV or FLAC) format, which makes it particularly appealing for fiction podcasters and audio dramatists. Here’s our full guide on how to sell your podcast with Bandcamp.

So… Should I Sell Podcast Episodes?

Surprise, surprise… it depends.

Are you just starting out in podcasting with no existing listenership? If so, then probably not. Focus all your time and attention on consistently creating quality content that resonates with your target audience.

On the other hand, if you’ve been podcasting for a while and already have an engaged following, it might be a tactic worth exploring. Just be mindful that creating extra content will require extra time and mental bandwidth.

Can you afford either?

Selling your back catalogue is a handy way of making premium content available without much extra work. This is a “best of both worlds” approach, as you’re still releasing your show as free and available to all. You can still pick up new listeners along the way; maybe they’ll go premium further down the line.

Remember that there are many other ways to monetise a podcast. Check out our ultimate guide for a list of different strategies and techniques. You’re guaranteed to find something that fits your situation, your podcast, and your audience.

We can also work with you inside Podcraft Academy to help you with every aspect of podcasting, from launching and editing to interview skills and promotion. In there, you’ll find all of our courses, resources, checklists, and templates. We run weekly live Q&A sessions, too, so you’ll always get the help, support, and guidance you need to keep on going!

Most podcasters know to make their shows available wherever their audience is. However, a dedicated app removes obstacles to the navigation of your content. Supporting Cast provides this kind of platform to help podcasters own their relationship with their audience. When podcasters use Supporting Cast, they get the exclusivity of private podcasting, the community and regular income of crowdfunding platforms, and ease of use for both the podcaster and the audience so both can focus on their relationship. 

What is Supporting Cast? 

Supporting Cast is a platform created by The Slate Group to manage its podcasts. As podcasters, they know what to prioritize. The platform provides audio for the audience on demand and a relationship between the audience and podcasters that’s free of distractions.

Whether you use the WordPress plugin on your site, manage a private RSS feed, or run a private app, Supporting Cast manages your billing, provides a community for discussion, and keeps your audience relationship free of distractions (like algorithms, ads, or trolls). Your audience can use their favorite podcast listening app or go to your app or website to enjoy your show and discuss it with you. 

Supporting Cast provides the technology behind podcast networks such as NPR, Pushkin Media, Pinna, and many more. 

How Does Supporting Cast Work? 

You upload your episodes to your host and create a private RSS feed. Supporting Cast uses the RSS feed to send your episodes to subscribers and works with you to make that relationship as effective as possible.

For example, you can: 

• Provide regular episodes early, send out premium content, and send out special audio clips, such as welcome messages or billing reminders.
• Interact with your audience on your website or your Supporting Cast community.
• Sell merchandise through a Supporting Cast storefront. 

Essentially, with Supporting Cast, you and your audience have more flexibility at a more affordable price than other platforms. 

What’s the Difference Between Apple Subscriptions and Supporting Cast?

Comparing Apple Subscriptions and Supporting Cast isn’t a better/worse comparison. It’s more like apples and oranges. Supporting Cast helps you share more than audio, maintain your relationship with your audience, and make money.

Supporting Cast Offers More Media Variety

Even podcasters who say their podcast is “audio-only” know there’s much more to maintaining a relationship with your audience and sharing your podcast’s topic than audio alone. Both Apple Podcasts and Supporting Cast help you share video files. However, Supporting Cast also helps you share blog posts and email newsletters with your audience. 

Supporting Cast integrates with MailChimp, WordPress, and many other platforms to help your show grow. Many people subscribe to shows without checking for new episodes, and Supporting Cast helps you invite them back for new installments. Everybody needs a nudge now and then.

Your Audience Is Free to Choose How They Listen

Apple Subscriptions are attractive when your audience reaches you through Apple Podcasts. But once they subscribe, they are locked into that app. With Supporting Cast, your audience receives your subscription content however they prefer. Whether it’s their favorite listening app, newsletter, or blog, your fans can listen to your audio, watch your video, and read your posts.

Supporting Cast’s Community lets you have question-and-answer sessions and discussions with your audience. Your audience gets a forum, you can add blog posts, and new episodes appear automatically. Though Apple Subscriptions has reviews, their communication system isn’t a two-way street. When your audience knows their voice matters to you, they’re more likely to keep coming back and recommend your show to others.

Keep More of Your Money

Since Apple was the first major platform to offer an ad-free monetization system for podcasters, their terms seemed generous. But, with what we now know about podcast monetization, we know that Apple could price its services more competitively.

Apple Podcasts Subscriptions charges 30% of the first year’s revenue and 15% per year afterward. By contrast, Supporting Cast takes 10% of your annual revenue, on par with Substack.

Since Supporting Cast launched, they’ve tracked how much their customers convert potential audiences into paying subscribers. Their internal data shows how podcasters can improve their investment with Supporting Cast. For example:

• Ad-free podcast feeds could convert as much as 1% of the show’s total audience in a year and 1.75% in three years.
• Podcasters who used Supporting Cast for early access or archive access could convert up to 1.5% of their total audience in a year and 2.5% in three years.
• Bonus content can convert as much as 6% of the total audience in a year or 8% in three years. It makes you want to make more bonus content, doesn’t it?
• When podcasters paywalled the majority of their show with Supporting Cast, they could expect to convert up to 20% of their total audience in a year and as much as 35% in three.

Many podcasters lean toward setting up their subscription program on Apple Podcasts since it’s the default podcast app on most phones. It may seem like the path of least resistance. That’s fine if you want to succeed by making Apple Podcasts more successful. Supporting Cast wants your podcast to grow beyond one directory. Again, it’s a question of what works best for you, your audience, and your podcast niche.

What’s the Difference Between Patreon and Supporting Cast?

Patreon and Supporting Cast are similar in that supporters provide recurring revenue in exchange for content. However, Supporting Cast is explicitly meant for audio, while Patreon is for any creator and audience. Patreon is like a portal to a world of creative people making exciting things for different audiences. If you don’t want your audience to take side quests but go straight to your show, Supporting Cast may prove a better option.

With Supporting Cast:

• You promote your show on a platform made for podcasts.
• Your audience gets its benefits in the app of their choice.
• Integrations allow podcasters to use the software or services they want to use, not the platform’s. 
• White Glove Onboarding means a dedicated manager works with you to set up your Supporting Cast system.
• Your audience’s onboarding is a two-click process.

Between Patreon and Supporting Cast, the feature that grabbed my attention is Supporting Cast’s pay-what-you-can subscription tier. Podcasters allow their subscribers to lock in their preferred subscription price.

Pay What You Can Subscriptions With Supporting Cast

Pay What You Can price strategies work because they convey confidence in the product, human decency, and reciprocity. But, these strategies work best when:

• an emotional relationship drives the purchase
• the earnings are given to charity
• you’re selling the last of something to use up the inventory.

For example, pay-what-you-can sales have been a helpful strategy for regional theatres for decades. Audiences know they’re gambling with what kind of seat they get at the last minute. But they care about the show, it’s for a good cause, and a full house is always more fun than a half-empty house.

But you’re not producing live nonprofit theatre; you’re podcasting. How can you make pay-what-you-can subscriptions work for your podcast?

• Give your audience plenty of leeway to enjoy the free content they’d get wherever they find their podcasts.
• Let that enjoyment build trust over time.
• Remind the audience that premium, ad-free content is just a few clicks away. And make sure that premium content is unique.
• Explain how their financial support improves the quality of your show, such as buying better sound equipment or taking more time to make a high-quality podcast.
• A pay-what-you-can podcast subscription isn’t charity (unless you’re podcasting to promote a nonprofit organization or running a charity drive). But clearly showing where your supporters’ money goes can make them more likely to give it to you.

Over time, your audience will decide they’re ready to level up and support your show.

On August 19, 2024, Podnews reported, “Patreon, which said recently that podcasters earn over $350mn a year on the platform, is saying that Apple will take 30% of all creator payments made on its iOS app by November. Apple is already taking 30% of all creator payments for Apple Podcasts paid subscriptions – and these payments, like Patreon’s, are not subject to Apple’s Small Business Program, which lowers the commission to 15%.”

What About Analytics?

Again, with Supporting Cast, you upload your audio files to the media host of your choice. You can always see how the show’s faring through your media host’s analytics. But, once the RSS feed runs through Supporting Cast, there’s more information to gather. Supporting Cast provides analytics about:

• Downloads per podcast, per episode, and user
• Revenue
• Signups
• Subscribers
• Cancellations

These analytics help you understand how your subscribers consume your content. For example, if you’re teaching a course with your podcast and one user stops after a few episodes, you may want to contact them and check on them.

You can export the analytic data and take it with you. If you move to another platform and someday need to check how well your third episode did when it was first published, the information is yours to work with.

When you know what your audience is doing, keeping that relationship happy and healthy is easier.

Does Supporting Cast Own My Email List?

Nope! The names and email addresses of anyone who joins your subscriber pool are yours. You can transfer them to another email marketing platform, send carrier pigeons or Morse-code telegrams, or whatever you like. With other podcast subscription platforms, you might not have this option.

How Much Does Supporting Cast Really Cost? 

Again, Supporting Cast charges 10% of podcasters’ revenue, plus credit card processing fees. They integrate with Stripe and WooCommerce, who charge 2.9%+ thirty cents per transaction.

With volume discounts, you can save money on credit card processing fees. For example, you can sell a whole season at once or an entire audiobook. Providing a volume discount incentivizes your audience to buy more of your content at one time.

Supporting Cast Puts You in the Spotlight

Today, 4 in 10 Americans surveyed say they’re “online almost constantly,” yet podcast discovery is tough. If I open Apple Podcasts on my phone, the app displays dozens of recommendations. At least five options are immediately available without scrolling. You work hard to earn your audience. Why should your podcast have to compete for attention? Supporting Cast makes it easy for your audience to enjoy your podcast, support you, and share in the conversation.

Of course, offering subscriptions isn’t the only way to monetize your podcast. Have a look at our guide to making money with your show, and come over to our Indiepod Community to chat about audience engagement or monetization strategies. We’d love to hear from you.

Our recent survey suggested that only 1 in 4 indies monetize their content, despite the majority of them wanting to build some income streams.

So, on this episode of Podcraft, we’re going to dig into the monetization methods and strategies that have actually worked for our IndiePod Legends, as well as the many that haven’t!

Transcription: Podcast Income Stream Lessons

The aim here is to show that while some revenue streams are a good fit for some, they don’t work so well for others. We’ll also answer questions like:

• WHEN should you try to monetize?
• What are some great on-ramps for smaller podcasts?
• Can monetizing your content hamper your creativity?

Workflow, Content & Longevity Lessons From 14 Top Indie Podcasters | Podcraft Season 20

Read article called: Workflow, Content & Longevity Lessons From 14 Top Indie Podcasters | Podcraft Season 20

Meet Our Indiepod Legends

“Download numbers don’t matter when it comes to trying to sell ad space. There’s that podcast industry standard of, like, you have to have 10,000 downloads to even think about getting partnerships. Well, we dispelled that myth pretty quickly, and I think more people are catching on to it.”

Alana & Samra – She Well Read

“I’ve been going all the years on Patreon, and I’ve never cashed the money in. I thought it was going into my bank account, but because it’s only small amounts, I didn’t really keep track of it. And then a couple of weeks ago, Patreon wrote to me saying I’d got $2,000 stacked up in the account, and I thought Christmas had come early.”

Paul – Fighting Through

“It’s very rare that I reach out to someone and say, hi, this is what I do, and I want you to spend money on my podcast. It’s a little bit more organic. It’s more about relationship building.”

Susan – Lush Life

“Be patient. Don’t quit your day job. Wait. Give value until you can’t give any more. Then ask. Because when you do that, the amount of money, the amount of people that want to provide value back to you is so much exponentially greater. And so just be patient.”

Gabe – Board Game Design Lab

“…and she had sent over a package of candles because I’d been spending money with her. So I made her the sponsor, and so she ended up working with me. She gave me a really nice promo code for listeners, so when they buy from her they can get 20% off their candles. And so I feel like that’s probably a direction that I would prefer to go.”

dCarrie – Travel N Sh!t

“I look at it as monetization will come, because I’m building a following. I’m now in the position where my host enables me to carry ads on my podcast, which really just kind of lowers my hosting bill each month. So I don’t get much monetization that way, but it’ll come. Little things are starting to happen.”

Paul – The Joy of Cruising

“It’s not that I wanted to put all my eggs in the Patreon basket, but it’s really that I’ve not found anything better than Patreon. I’m fine to stay with it. In theory, I’d love to have multiple revenue streams along those subscription lines, but it just hasn’t happened.”

Mur – I Should Be Writing

“But so far, brands have come to me and said, hey, we have this product, we’d love to get it in front of new people, can we sponsor your podcast? And so that’s usually how the conversation has gone so far. I’m very mindful of it, though, because I don’t particularly enjoy, like listening to ads, and I especially don’t enjoy the shows that have a ton of ads. I want it to be beneficial for my sponsors, so keep them very, very minimal. And so that has worked well for me in the past. It really just covers the cost of producing the show.”

Andrea – The Mindful Marketing Podcast

“It’s been interesting to be approached by businesses who just want to explore producing new types of content. And it isn’t just about social media. People are starting to realize that social media moves so quickly and algorithms are so volatile and temperamental that investing time and effort into more in depth and high quality content is something they really want to do. And podcasts, I think, are just at the cusp of being that medium that offers that as a marketing message, which is really, really exciting.”

Kathi – Wild for Scotland