038 Unusual Ways to Monetise Your Sound 🤔
This is the final part of our Monetizing Your Podcast Mini-Series. Explore some of the more surprising, and underused ways you can start bringing in income through your podcast 💰
Ideas Discussed This Episode + Episode Timecodes:
00:00 - Kicking off with weird and wonderful monetisation ideas
00:37 - Grants: a hidden goldmine for Victorian podcasters
02:36 - Live shows and community events as income streams
02:58 - Collaborating with festivals and local libraries
03:21 - Turning your podcasting skills into freelance gigs
04:06 - Using your podcast as a personal portfolio
04:45 - Final wrap on monetisation series and a call to action
Unusual Ways to Monetise Your Sound 🤔
From grants to gigs, there are loads of creative ways to earn through your podcast. Even if you're not pulling big numbers 🔢 Let’s uncover clever ways to turn your show into a portfolio, side hustle, or community stage.
This is Part 3 of our Monetizing Your Podcast Mini-Series. So make sure to check out Parts 1 + 2 here. So, there’s more to podcast monetisation than ads and affiliate links (despite what gurus may have you believe). Grants, which are often overlooked, can fund gear upgrades, content creation, or even social impact podcasting. In fact, many Victorian councils and arts bodies offer funding to podcasters, especially for creative or community-driven projects. 📣Best of all, you can catch these opportunities via the VIC Podcasters email list or Facebook or LinkedIn Groups.
📝 Related Blog Posts from VIC Podcasters
EP036: Making Moolah with Your Mic
This episode kicks off our monetisation mini-series, exploring foundational income streams like sponsorships, listener support platforms, and selling your own products or services. It's a great starting point for understanding how to begin earning from your podcast.EP037: Cash In On Your Podcast
Building upon the previous episode, this installment dives deeper into practical strategies for monetising your podcast. Topics include dynamic ads, affiliate marketing, and leveraging your audience to generate income.EP012: Audio vs Video Podcasts: Monetization Opportunities
This episode examines the monetisation potentials of both audio and video podcast formats. It discusses various revenue streams such as sponsorships, donations, and ad placements, helping you decide which format aligns best with your monetisation goals.
Live shows and community events are another income stream that's more accessible than you'd think. Whether it's a library collab or a local venue, ticketed live recordings turn your podcast into a performance, and a lucrative source of revenue. These events also help build a stronger bond with listeners and make great content for marketing. Which can mean more oppoutines in the future for you, your team, and your podcast 😇
Then there's the power of your voice as a service. Offering editing or coaching services, or even using your podcast as a portfolio for job hunting, can open doors you didn’t know existed. You’re already doing the work, might as well show off those skills in the workplace.
Keen to explore these ideas further or want help getting started on monetizing your podcasting journey? Work with the host of VIC Podcasters Podcast, Zoë Wood of the Video Confidence Coach. Together we’ll map out your unique monetisation path together.
TIME FOR A QUICK QUIZ 🤓
Which of these is NOT a monetisation option covered in this episode?
A) Library live events
B) Freelance podcast editing
C) Affiliate marketing
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Answer: C) Affiliate marketing - It’s not that unusual so it was mentioned last episode. 😉
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(0:00 - 0:20)
Let's find the hidden ways to make money in podcasting. Some of the weird ways, yes. Let's find the less obvious ones for you, shall we? You're listening to the Victorian Podcasters Podcast, your bite-sized slice of podcasting know-how.
(0:21 - 0:37)
We're all about connecting Victorian Podcasters, newbies, pros, and the ungonna crowd. We'll put your money where your mouth is and join our emailing list and Facebook and LinkedIn groups for exclusive updates, resources, and our community Q&A. Because podcasting doesn't have to be a solo gig.
(0:37 - 1:01)
The Podcasters is proudly produced on Wadawurrung land. This is our third and final episode of our little mini-series about monetising your podcast. We started off with how to make money from podcasting, some monetization strategies, and now we're gonna get weird with it and think of some less obvious ways that you can get some bonus money from your marketing and podcasting endeavours.
(1:02 - 1:23)
Any and all of these unconventional ways of monetising your podcast are going to be mapped out in our downloadable low-stress guide to podcasting for profit. Make sure you check it out in the show notes or the description of this podcast. One of the things that Vic Podcasters provides to our members is opportunities and what grants are available for Vic Podcasters.
(1:23 - 2:03)
So grants are gold. And if you're unsure what a grant is, it's essentially where a, usually government, but sometimes council or local community provides monetary grants or incentives from places like Victorian Councils, arts organisations, or AusGov for selected communities to be able to get monetary incentive to say, for example, create a limited series podcast or maybe help train some disadvantaged communities on how to start podcasting for themselves. Now we won't get into the actual nitty-gritty of how to apply to these grants, mainly because that will not fit into a five-minute episode, but you can find out all the details on our email newsletter first thing, and then we filter that to the Facebook and LinkedIn groups.
(2:04 - 2:22)
So if you're interested, make sure you sign up to our email newsletter at vcc.training.vic-podcasters. And these grants don't necessarily have to be for the podcast itself. It can be to fund specialised projects or maybe gear upgrades for yourself. Pitch your podcast with purpose and maybe get some money for it.
(2:24 - 2:31)
Vic Podcasters was brought to you by The Video Confidence Coach. That's me, smashing your marketing mayhem with killer video strategies. Love ya.
(2:36 - 2:57)
Moving on from grants, we have live shows and events. So if you have a community, especially if you have a localised community of any people that are in either one area or in a localised area, you can host live recordings. You can have them as ticketed events, which allows you to bring in income and buzz, and also give you an opportunity to see your listeners face-to-face.
(2:58 - 3:21)
And also, to be honest, get some marketing done of taking some photos to show that your podcast is more than just some noise and music and someone talking at the end of the day. You can also partner with festivals or libraries who, again, have that captive audience, who regularly offer live recordings and events, and they already have the audience and the space. Make sure you check out any local libraries or festivals that you have near.
(3:21 - 3:44)
On Vic Podcasters, we don't currently offer festivals in our lineup of information that we provide to people, mainly just because there's usually so many. But in those moments, if anything catches our eye or if there's any call-outs for podcasters for any festivals that are run in Victoria, you will surely know that Vic Podcasters will be there to make sure that we promote it for you. You can also use your knowledge in podcasting for freelance gigs.
(3:45 - 4:05)
You can do this by editing podcasts, maybe coaching new people on how to podcast if you're a seasoned pro, using the knowledge that you have gained from podcasting for yourself and offering your skills as services that people will pay for. I am definitely one of those people. I offer my podcasting skills to new and seasoned podcast professionals alike through my business, Video Confidence Coach.
(4:06 - 4:29)
And the last example I want to give to you today is podcast as a portfolio. You can use your podcast as a way to land jobs or clients. For example, you may not have a podcast that's strictly within your niche, but if you are passionate about something, there's a high chance you're going to be in a situation where you're going to have job opportunities that show this passion and are able to utilise that passion.
(4:30 - 4:45)
So proof of your voice and your expertise and consistency. And there has been a fair few times where I have landed opportunities because I host podcasts, because I know what I'm talking about and consistently know what I'm talking about. So people are more likely to trust me just because I have a podcast.
(4:45 - 5:04)
Hopefully they listen and actually check me out. So wrapping up our podcast monetization series, if you need any of this mapped out for you, if you're still a bit unclear on how to monetise your podcast or what options you have, make sure to check out our low stress guide to podcasting for profit in the show notes and the description. Making money with your podcast is doable, but you have to show up first.
(5:05 - 5:11)
Stay curious and stay consistent. Your podcast is your platform. So make sure you use it and make sure you grow it.
(5:12 - 5:24)
Your audience is there and waiting for you. That's a wrap. Remember, we're here every week to share quick tips, updates, and the occasional bad joke.
(5:24 - 5:40)
Feeling inspired? Good. Now hit record or go to the show notes of this episode for a backstage past experience of the Victorian podcasting scene. Vic podcasters would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin Nation, the traditional custodians on the land on which we work, live, and play.
(5:41 - 5:49)
We pay our respects to their elders past and present. We stand with the traditional custodians of these lands in working towards a more equal future. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
(5:50 - 5:53)
And remember, podcasting doesn't have to be a solo gig.
The above episode description and transcript were generated with human knowledge + ai.
Photograph of 4 members of VIC Podcasters who met up in Geelong.
Who are VIC Podcasters?
VIC Podcasters—where Victorian podcasters connect, collaborate, and grow!
Podcasting doesn’t have to be a solo gig, and that’s why VIC Podcasters exists. Whether you're a seasoned pro, a hobbyist, or still planning your first episode, our community is here to support you. Join us for free on Facebook, LinkedIn, and our mailing list for exclusive opportunities, industry updates, and a place to swap ideas with fellow podcasters.
VIC Podcasters opens up opportunities to collaborate with fellow podcasters.
As a member, you get access to:
🎙️ VIC Podcasters Podcast – A 5-minute weekly show packed with quick tips & updates.
💬 Q&A Sessions – Ask questions, get answers, and learn from the best.
🤝 Collaboration Opportunities – Find guests, share behind-the-scenes insights, and explore ad & production partnerships.
📰 Podcast Industry News & Events – Stay in the loop with Victorian podcasting updates.
Be more in the know about podcasting in Australia and the world with our regular Q & A sessions and member workshops.
💰 Grant & Funding Alerts – Be the first to hear about VIC-wide podcasting grants.
Want in? Sign up at vcc.training/vic-podcasters and start connecting today!
Zoë Wood of the Video Confidence Coach coaching a client on camera.
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Find out more about how to grow your personal brand with the power of video right here on vcc.training
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