Podcasts. They’re easy to make and great to listen to when you’re in the car, or out on a run.
And if you’ve got a good mic and a solid message, there’s a whole world of listeners (and advertisers) ready to make it worth your while.
Here are a few tips and tricks that MONIIFY gathered at the 1 Billion Followers Summit in Dubai to help you transform your podcast from a hobby into a revenue stream. 😉
First things first
Start small and don’t try to conquer the podcast world on Day 1. This gives you room to grow and polish your skills without a massive audience watching every misstep 👀. Plus, fewer people knowing you early on means fewer risks to your reputation while you find your groove, the founders of Bidon Waraq podcast told a panel.
Find your tribe
Look for your niche and serve that audience well. Whether it’s true crime, fitness hacks, or obscure snacks, the perfect niche will help you build a loyal audience, and this is your ticket to $$$: ads. 💰
Once you’ve got a steady listener base, brands will pay for ad spots on your show. Even smaller podcasts can land sponsorships if their audience aligns with the sponsor’s target market, Stefano Fallaha, CEO and founder of Podeo, tells MONIIFY.
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Experts= credibility+ 💵
Bring in experts to talk about what they know best. Leaders and specialists add credibility to your show and make it more appealing to listeners and advertisers. You don’t have to know everything, you just need to find the right people.
But before you DM the heavyweights, make sure you have a solid base of episodes because high-profile guests will want to check out your podcast to see if it aligns with their brand.
A polished background shows professionalism and consistency. Think of it as your podcast’s resume, make it impressive first.
No ‘podcrastination‘
Want a fun fact? If you make it to episode 10, you’re in the top 1% of podcasters and with only 500,000 podcasts globally, there’s room for you, Gautam Raj Anand, founder and CEO of Hubhopper, told the summit. Don’t let podcrastination lead to podfading.
A tip from Anand: come up with 20 episode ideas first. If you do that, congrats, you’ve got a podcast that is evergreen in nature.
Ivan Zeljkovic, co-founder of Poddster, told the summit the biggest mistake is waiting for a perfect topic or moment and getting obsessed with having the perfect plan. Perfection doesn’t launch podcasts, action does, Zeljkovic adds.
Read more: How Roblox creators are minting cash faster than you can say NFT
The mic drop? 🎤
MONIIFY’s got a scoop for you: YouTube is actually the biggest platform for podcasts (no, it’s not Apple and it’s not Spotify) and it’s doubling down on giving podcasts a place to shine. (You’re welcome 😉.)
Here are a few pointers if you want to take off on YouTube, a spokesperson tells MONIIFY:
- Thumbnails matter. You need a square thumbnail for podcasts, so it goes on the YouTube music app.
- Spend time on your podcast title. It’s your first impression and your ticket to discovery. People will search for what interests them, so your title needs to grab attention and promise value.
- When you upload your podcast, make sure to add it to playlists. It’s YouTube’s sign to feature it in the music app, helping your reach and profit.
- Collaborate with other YouTubers and podcasters who already have experience and an audience. Piggybacking will help you build that audience faster.
Podcasting is a marathon, not a sprint. Start small, stay consistent, and aim high. With the right balance of guts, smarts and good content, your podcast could be a tidy side-hustle and a great way to build your personal brand.
Edited by Lin Noueihed and Azar Zaidi. If you have any tips, ideas or feedback, please get in touch: talk-to-us@moniify.com
