The Candian metropolis of Halifax is broadly recognized for its seaside magnificence and its vigorous nightlife. However do you know it has a vibrant podcast scene?
Each month listeners from all over the world are tuning into the town’s podcasts, from Sickboy, a humorous and life-affirming present about dwelling with illness, to the hyper-local, true-crime podcast Nighttime.
After we heard about the Atlantic Podcast Summit, Halifax’s first main convention for podcasters, whether or not we should always attend or not was a no brainer. Not solely did we wish to try the candy Canadian metropolis, we additionally wished to know the reply to the next query: what’s inspiring all of those high quality podcasts which might be popping out of the area?
Tracy Kaplan, Patreon’s Head of Creator Partnerships, headed out to Halifax and introduced again the largest ah-has from the convention.
Listed here are Tracy’s 5 takeaways from the Atlantic Podcast Summit.
1. In podcasting, native is sizzling
Simply since you don’t stay in New York or Los Angeles doesn’t imply you’ll be able to’t create an excellent podcast.
After all many podcasters are likely to broadcast from areas which might be extra historically generally known as media retailers. Nonetheless, you podcasters who stay distant from the Empire State Constructing and the Hollywood Stroll of Fame have one thing these podcasters don’t — you will have inside details about a novel and fascinating location.
That is one thing that Nova Scotia’s podcast scene is aware of very effectively. On the Atlantic Podcast Summit, we met many podcasters who’re creating extremely localized content material. And their audiences, each inside and outdoors of Canada, are loving them for it.
Take Nighttime, a true-crime podcast produced in Halifax. The present is unapologetically native, that includes mysterious tales from in and round Nova Scotia. The native twist on the true-crime format has listeners on the sting of their seats, incomes the podcast over 7 million listens because it first launched.
The Nighttime podcast is a part of a powerful community of Nova Scotian podcasters which might be taking inspiration from their native environment. Tracy cherished the area’s wealthy and collaborative podcast scene, which is made up of DIY lovers and trade professionals who love the place they’re from (and suppose the remainder of the world ought to too).
“Halifax is really an artists’ hub with robust native organizations and a vibrant artistic spirit.”
2. Combine and match the strategies you employ to earn money together with your podcast
Whether or not it’s membership via Patreon, sponsorship, merchandise, or stay performances, there are various methods to get income in your podcast.
However is one monetization methodology higher than one other?
“The Enterprise of Podcasting” panel on the Atlantic Podcast Summit aimed to reply that query. On the panel, Tracy and different trade consultants talked in entrance of attendants in regards to the numerous strategies of gaining income in podcasting.
And, in accordance with Tracy, whereas there was a number of nice monetary recommendation for podcasters, one key take away was this — in relation to monetizing your podcast, extra strategies could also be higher than one.
Quite than depend on one methodology of income to assist your podcast, make your income stream extra dependable by diversifying it. In case your present already has sponsors, launch a Patreon account too, after which plug it on the finish of your podcast. Or, if assist on Patreon goes robust, then perhaps it’s time to begin placing collectively a stay present, as effectively.
Utilizing numerous income strategies which might be genuine to your viewers will go a great distance in serving to you accrue the revenue it is advisable hold your podcast going for the lengthy haul.
“The enterprise of podcasting panel was an excellent lesson in podcast monetization choices. For these new to podcasting, selecting what kind of monetization is correct for his or her podcast may be complicated. On the finish of the day, a podcaster ought to take into consideration what strategies are an genuine match for his or her message and viewers. In any case, they know what’s going to greatest resonate with their viewers.”
3. Know your targets
There’s a hearsay floating round that podcasting is an effective way to earn some quick money. However is {that a} life like expectation for the medium?
Whereas many do make a dwelling from podcasting, reaching monetary stability in all probability wasn’t a fast or simple course of. Even podcast pioneers, like comic and interviewer Marc Maron, spent years doing their podcast earlier than they have been capable of earn sufficient cash to cowl greater than their manufacturing prices.
More than likely, there are sooner and simpler methods to get wealthy than by beginning a podcast. So given this actuality, what recommendation did panelists on the Atlantic Podcast Summit have for the podcasters in attendance?
With regards to podcasting, their recommendation was to know your whys. Why did you begin a podcast within the first place? Why did you select your podcast’s theme? Did you begin your podcast since you wished to get a specific message out to the world? Or, maybe you liked a sure subject material so dearly that you simply wished a cause to discover it extra deeply.
No matter your targets for podcasting are, it’s good to be intimately acquainted with them. That approach, when the going will get powerful, your why can function a robust motivator.
“It’s laborious work to create, to distribute, and to monetize a podcast. There are simpler paths on the market to earn money. It’s essential to know what your targets are and what success means to you. Perhaps it’s partaking a group or being a storyteller. As Kimberly Hacuman from the Leisure One Podcast Community requested, are you going to be as passionate and if you find yourself at your fiftieth episode, your a centesimal, or your 2 hundredth?”
4. Don’t be a lone wolf
Contemplating there are solely so many podcast listeners on the planet, and solely so many hours in a day for them to hear, you’d suppose podcasters could be sensible to be aggressive.
Quite the opposite, if the Atlantic Podcast Summit is any indication, collaboration and group in podcasting is alive and effectively. Because it seems, collaborating with different podcasters doesn’t simply really feel good — it’s a necessary a part of rising your podcast’s viewers.
When a podcaster is a visitor in your present, they’re bringing alongside extra than simply their radio persona. They’re additionally bringing alongside their viewers and who is aware of? In the event that they like what they hear, perhaps they’ll turn into your viewers, as effectively.
So, please soak on this message, podcasters: don’t be a lone wolf. Collaboration is an effective way to generate content material, construct an viewers, and even make a brand new good friend.
“Within the ‘How you can Minimize Above the Noise Panel,’ the panelists spoke about how essential it’s to succeed in out to different podcasters to be company in your present. You’ll be able to’t push somebody to advertise their look, however if you’re offering worth to them, they’ll wish to promote and assist your present.”
5. Why You must Go Subsequent Yr
There was loads to write down dwelling in regards to the Atlantic Podcast Summit.
Firstly, you’ll be able to’t discuss in regards to the summit with out mentioning the fantastic thing about Halifax. The Canadian metropolis has a sure je ne sais quoi that made it the right backdrop for the summit. Perhaps it was the town’s fairly seaside location, or maybe it was all the pleasant individuals who stay there. No matter it was, Halifax itself was a memorable a part of the Atlantic Podcast Summit.
Then there was the occasion, which was as informative as the town was lovely. Whether or not attendees wanted assist with sensible elements of podcasting, reminiscent of shopping for gear and recording their present, or sought recommendation on the enterprise and advertising aspect, the 3-day summit had one thing for podcasters of all expertise ranges. Plus, it’s only a ton of enjoyable.
Would we return once more? Most positively.
“Other than being a fantastic location with the friendliest individuals, the convention supplies the total image of the podcasting trade. From the chance to pitch a podcast, to listening to from trade consultants, the occasion was a beneficial expertise for attendees of all skilled ranges.”
