PodMov Daily: Wednesday, August 3

Episode 693: Your Midweek Update

Programmatic Ads Can Be a Podcaster's Lifeline

“For some podcasters, programmatic is the devil,” writes Tom Webster of Sounds Profitable. It’s an understandable opinion – the tech is often used to cram loud, bad, irrelevant ads into shows you used to love. But. It makes podcasts easier for brands to buy, which can keep independent creators in the game. 

“Let’s face it: direct support from subscribers and patrons can only carry the developing podcaster so far,” Webster says. If your goal is to operate on host-reads alone, programmatic ads could support your growth until host-reads are realistic to sell. What of the assumption that you’ll ruin your show in the process?

Again, there’s no ancient demon asking for your dignity in return. Programmatic’s bad reputation comes from “some dude named Brandon or Kyle” who tossed in a screaming car dealership ad and called it a day. Webster outlines the primary assumptions we make about the tech – and about host-reads.

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This TikTok Deep-Dive is Well Worth Your Time

If you’re interested in the evolution of YouTube and TikTok for content creators, this article/podcast episode is a must-read. On Decoder, The Verge Editor-in-chief Nilay Patel spoke with Hank Green, co-founder of VidCon and one of the earliest and most successful YouTubers.

Green is all-in on TikTok, and he offers a fascinating look into how it works. It’s not all sunshine, thankfully. The two discuss its addictive algorithm, unparalleled discovery opportunities, and why Spotify-style streaming monetization is unlikely for a corporation tied to the Chinese government.

“People want content from different kinds of people,” Green says. “I also love how culture just freaking happens…I am happy to be on it, but I have a lot of concerns about it. I think it’s definitely a citizenship thing to not accept the place where you are as the way that it will always be.”

A quote for the road: “I don’t like the sunset. Sunsets are terrible. Have you ever really looked at one? So ugly.”

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After the Assessment, power your strategy with a free membership to the PodRocket Academy. Led by ProudMouth’s expert podcast producers, high-quality courses and guides help you improve your score with strategies that work. Ready to see what 6 minutes can do?

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Here's what else is going on:

• Endless summer: The PM22 event platform and mobile app are now live. This week’s update has access instructions, details on those legendary parties (hello, free specialty cocktails), workshop signups, yet another round of speakers and sessions, and links to surprisingly low airfare to DFW.

• Bright idea: “Podcast Pitching” from Dustlight Productions is this Friday, August 5. Founder & CEO Misha Euceph (Tell Them, I Am) will lead the class through elevator pitches, pitch decks, and deciding on who you should pitch to. Bring a rough podcast concept. $75 registration; assistance available.

• Small wonder: Katie Paterson takes a quick dive into short-form podcasting and how to get started with “mini-mum effort.” Episodes under 20 minutes aren’t just trendy, she writes for The Podcast Host. They’re faster to produce, simpler to repurpose, and have more potential to reach new audiences.

• Track team: The Latino Podcast Listener Report 2022 webinar from Edison Research is coming up on August 16. Gabriel Soto and Elsie Escobar will present emerging listener habits and preferences, including interest in video and feelings about ads on Spanish-language podcasts. Free registration.