Podcasts have been around for nearly 20 years.  The Oxford American Dictionary declared Podcasting, ‘Word of the Year’ in 2005.  Blogs are the precursor to the podcast in many ways as it was considered a low-tech entry point into the dissemination of ideas, important information, or just one’s daily musings for all to read.  Anyone could do it.  In much the same way, but in audio format, podcasts came on the scene and. Of course, Apple made that all too easy with their hardware (the ipod) and software (iTunes). 

In both mediums there were certain voices that stood out and a following began to grow adding new readers or listeners with each published post.  The latest post or episode were the stuff of water cooler discussions (before the days of WFH) and everyone was asking, did you read…, did you listen to…?  It wasn’t long before content creators realized they could monetize their creations by displaying ads alongside their blogs.  It seemed to take a bit longer for the major brands to recognize, like readers, listeners are a valuable customer but that has all changed.  With podcasts becoming the new ‘primetime’ advertisers are jumping on board.

Podcast audiences growing exponentially and hit shows topping out at 50+million downloads per month; advertisers have realized this is a place to invest ad dollars.  Monetizing a podcast has never been easier.  Statistically, just over 50% of podcast listeners say they have bought something talked about on a podcast.  That is a phenomenal response rate to ad spending.  Couple that with the average listener’s socio-economic demographics, 12-34 years old, financially secure, well educated, and you have a brand’s ideal target for promotion. 

The creators of Podspot recognized the power of advertising and noticed the unhelpful way that larger ad firms were grouping faith-based shows in their ‘Religion & Spirituality’ categories. A children’s Bible story podcast is being promoted alongside a show that champions ‘curiosity and sex positivity’, or a show on horoscopes in the same offering as one on holiness seemed to suggest that advertisers do not understand their audiences.   With over 20 years in ministry and marketing the leadership of Podspot understands the Christian podcast audience.  That means we can match the right brands to the right shows.  We understand what your audiences are interested in and what wouldn’t be in their comfort zone.  And for brands looking to find new audiences that will become loyal customers, we can make that introduction. 

We are committed to making your message matter most.  We recognize that monetizing your podcast is a helpful way of stewarding the story you are telling on your show.  Brands are looking for new markets and audience you are broadcasting into is not small or insignificant.  They have the resources to move the needle and brands like BetterHelp, HelloFresh, Stamps.com have the marketing dollars to spend.