PodMov Daily: Wednesday, December 9

Episode 333: Your Midweek Update

This Podcaster is Taking Control of Monetization

Shani Silver is done waiting. Each week, Silver hosts, records, edits, and publishes A Single Serving, launched in April 2019. “My goal for the podcast has always been twofold,” Silver says. “First, help people. And second, earn a living helping people. We’re good on the first, but the second goal has been a taller order.”

For an independent creator not publishing on a platform like Wondery, Silver says, CPM models result in “minimal” ad earnings. “[….] after two years and 400K organically earned podcast downloads, I still wasn’t getting paid for the job that was taking up the majority of my time,” she reports. In January, the system gets an upgrade.

One weekly episode per month will be published free, with the rest on Patreon. As well, the show’s Facebook group will be replaced by one for patrons. Silver explains that organic growth won’t magically result in a living. “I decided that if there wasn’t a structure out there that could support me, I’d make a new one.”

Weekly Recap: Alumni Episodes & Holiday Rates

This week’s update celebrates some of this year’s great work. The Bello Collective’s 100 Outstanding Podcasts From 2020 inspired the team to share some favorites from PM speaker alumni, like “Galactus Cometh” (MARVELS), written by Lauren Shippen.

Ho ho holy discounts! (Yep.) We’re gifting special holiday rates for Podcast Movement 2021 this August in Nashville, Tennessee. Attend in-person or virtually to get access to expert keynotes, breakout sessions, and much more. Register now for the best deal. 

Are you free later? Join the PM team and community members for the Home for the Holidays virtual meetup today at 2:00 pm ET. Take part in open forums for general discussion or small groups for niche topics. RSVP to let us know you’re coming.

Memberful: Smarter Podcast Memberships

For podcasters, a strong community and stronger revenue are the dream. Memberful makes it easier than ever to have both. Used by the web’s biggest creators, Memberful is the convenient, safe, and intuitive way to sell memberships to your audience.

There are no hidden steps with Memberful: Just connect your Stripe account, add your podcast, and your listeners can subscribe immediately. Plus, Memberful integrates seamlessly with your favorite tools and works with your existing podcast hosting, so there's no need to change your workflow.

Your listeners already love your content. With Memberful’s features, like custom branding, gift subscriptions, Apple Pay, and free trials, you have even more tools to keep them tuned in. Ready for deeper connections and revenue to match? Get started for free — no credit card required.

Here's what else is going on:

• Stories wanted: Audible has launched a Podcast Development Program to commission and produce original podcasts “from emerging and undiscovered storytellers.” The program is currently seeking narrative podcasts only. Applications for the first round will be accepted until January 18.

• Future sounds: Where is podcasting headed in 2021? Pacific Content asked industry leaders for their predictions. Indies rejoice: Laura Mayer of Three Uncanny Four anticipates a year of great opportunity for “sleeper shows [that] start with deeply engaged, maybe initially niche, followings.”

• Triple scoop: How, exactly, are third-party podcast analytics services helpful? Services like My Podcast Reviews, Chartable, PodKite, and PodRover can show how global audiences feel about your show, explains Lindsay Harris Friel. Her overview includes pros, cons (like privacy), and pricing scales. 

• Inside out: The Prison Radio Association (PRA) cleaned up at the UK’s Audio Production Awards last week. Caroline Crampton of Hot Pod checked in with Andrew Wilkie, the organization’s Director of Radio, to find out why he thinks audio from prisons has proved so powerful and so popular.