With subscriptions, Apple Podcasts and Spotify are “(finally) offering a viable and (mostly) built-in monetization path,” says Sounds Profitable editor Bryan Barletta. But “there are a lot of little details I want you to understand before you take the plunge and start building subscription offerings in these platforms.”
If download numbers are the most important factor in how you present your show’s popularity, Barletta recommends holding out. Both options leave you “blending your primary feed and your subscription feed IAB-certified download numbers from two separate sources,” making it tough to provide a clear, trusted picture.
The splintering of touchpoints and measurement across platforms comes with significant risk. “If you’re going to try this, you need to buy in to subscriptions completely,” Barletta advises. “You should have your own solution that you push people towards, especially if you offer more than just podcast content.”
First off, congratulations to the winners and nominees of the inaugural Ambies Awards, held on Sunday for an audience of about 25,000. We recommend checking out the results on this Podchaser list, courtesy of Evo Terra. Unlike official announcements, it includes direct links to listen to each show.
Terra makes an interesting point about the reach of podcasting awards in comparison to those honoring film, television, and music: “While you and I likely know about the shows and the production houses that helped make them, I don’t think the average weekly podcast listener would say the same.”
How should we go about increasing recognition outside the bubble? He thinks that “we need to do our part in talking up award-winning podcasts to people outside of podcasting.” That means sharing the best-sounding shows, which are likely to be from major studios. After all, a rising tide lifts all boats.
Whether you’ve been podcasting for days or years, collaboration is the key to growing your audience. Audry is a platform where you’ll find and connect with like-minded creators. Every day, large and niche podcasters are swapping ideas and organizing cross-promotions to reach their full potential.
A fast, free sign-up is all you need to start browsing the community. Filter over 12,000 profiles by category or activity, or search directly to find potential partners. You’ll even see details like listeners per episode. Organizing a collaboration or booking a guest spot is one conversation away.
In just one year, Audry has grown into a diverse community that listens, learns, and grows together. Ready to own your success story? Audry works with any hosting provider and is 100% free. Just enter your Apple Podcasts URL and explore the possibilities.
It’s better to be good and liked than to be the best and have nowhere…
We’ve had a busy few weeks since Evolutions wrapped up! This week, we're sharing the…
Experience + continued training = a great end product.
Where you keep and organize your golden nuggets is almost as important as the ideas…
Our true selves are weird. We’re an amalgamation of brilliance, bizarreness, and at times, WTF-ness.