Is Podcasting Profitable?

Podcasting is one of the most powerful, yet least talked about traffic mediums.

It's easy to setup, and very inexepensive.

I don't know where you got that listing of equipment from, nor those figures. I set up my own podcast for less than $250.

I use...

1. Skype.
2. Blue yeti microphone
3. Audacity
4. Amazon S3

That was the ACTUAL equipment I've purchased. I'm a bit of an audiophile though. I have a background in recording, so I tend to gravitate towards better equipment. I've got a nice Mackie mixer, a DBX graphic equalizer, a Behringer 4 channel noise gate, an Audio Technica 2600 mic, a Furhman power conditioner, and a nice DJ case for my rack mount equipment. I'm using my Mac for Skype to record and edit the audio. Audacity is my editing software of choice too. Plan is to record to a Tascam 4 track portable recorder and bring it into the Mac for recording.

I'm planning to use Libsyn for media hosting because it's A LOT cheaper than Amazon s3 if you become a success.

I'm using Hostgator for my website hosting, and planning on using a separate RSS provider because I've seen successful podcaster's websites hit by hackers, and their RSS and podcast stayed online due to a separate RSS provider and media host, probably going to use Rapidfeeds. Plan is to use Constant Contact for autoresponder provider. I'm planning on a daily show Monday through Friday, so I big hosting plan from Libsyn will be involved.

The bill will probably be $105 a month for media hosting, web hosting, RSS provider, and auto responder provider. Could do it cheaper, but this setup maximizes the potential ROI.

Im curious about this too, since im a fan of many podcasts, JRE, Dan Carlin, Bill Burr etc...

under 250 is pretty cheap. I'm subscribing to this thread, like to see where this goes.

I know of two high profiled internet marketers that receive over 1,000 downloads a day.

Unlike traditional mediums, such as text, images and even video, podcasting allows you to engage your audience and build a personal bond - which helps build trust, and with that comes sales.

Before I got into podcasting, I thought it was this obscure weird thing that only certain professionals used.

It's not. Anyone can do it.

You might be interested in taking a look at this. I haven't been through the course, but I do know Sean personally. He's a great guy, and very knowledgeable.

You can check out his podcasting course here - RapidAction Podcasting | Using Your Voice To Build Authority

For $7 how can you go wrong?

I just started my own podcast for exactly the reason you mentioned: traffic. Hopefully it will pan out. If you're just getting started, here's a great, detailed (and free) guide:

Pat Flynn's guide to podcasting - How to Start a Podcast – Pat’s Complete Step-By-Step Podcasting Tutorial

The most successful online marketer I'm aware of is a podcaster making over $50K a month, not bad for a few hours work a day. It's more than that when he is building a new site, or launching a new product, but he only does that every so often.

Another podcaster I'm aware of ads 60 subscribers to his autoresponder everyday as a result of his podcast and he has only been doing it for 8 months. He has more than 10K people on his list in less than a year. Not bad for NO ADVERTISING COSTS and $100 a month in hosting costs.

Oh, and the guy gets to interview other entrepreneurs and fairly successful people like Seth Godin, and Tim Ferris as part of his job. How would you like to pick the brains of the best and brightest in your industry for an hour or two FOR FREE, and possibly build a genuine friendship with them?

What I can't figure out is why people are still blogging, when podcasting is just as available.

had to bump this old thread because the answer is clear.

2016 podcasting IS profitable look at:

Podcasts Archive - The Smart Passive Income Blog

Joe Rogan (Podcast Site)

Dan Carlin - Hardcore History Library

Sure it CAN be...keep in mind competition has increased substantially since the names listed above made their mark. Doesn't mean it is impossible, just that it takes ever MORE work than these guys and gals put in - and they put a LOT!

To succeed...

- You need figure out what market you will serve, what your personality will be (ideally it is close to the REAL you), and what value you will bring to the marketplace.
- Be fearless - no excuses, jump in and work through all of the BS you will hit along the way - most people will not have the stomach for this
- Start with the budget you have (ex you may not have $1500 to spend on top notch audio equipment - you can start without it) BUT be in a position where you can re-invest most of the profit in the early days back into your business
- Have a plan for what you will sell...what offers will you put in front of your audience and why should they buy from you?
- Be different, find a way to stand out from the crowd. Offer value, but innovate around the format
- Tell stories - easiest way to be interesting and appealing
- Work like a maniac...be consistent, stick with it, be persistent - for the first few months you will be talking to nearly nobody (assuming you start without a list or market presence) - branch out and be a guest on other podcasts, produce a blog, write articles, publish videos - become known so that you attract people back to your podcast
- Engage the audience through q&a, contests, giveaways, specials, etc...
- Interview experts so you can leverage their following and brand - this means you must be/get good at networking

The more of these you follow- the more successful you will be.

Podcasting is no different than any other form of marketing as it relates to the end result and not the medium itself.

Some folks will make good money and most won't make a dime. If it were a 'sure thing' who wouldn't be doing it? Anyone can podcast, but doing it well, both technically and creatively is not that easy.

Cheers. - Frank