Today after church a few of us from choir were hanging around and talking about performing. Our choir director was telling the younger members how the main difference between a Professional musician and an Amateur musician is the fact that a professional gets paid. That’s why it’s called Professional, as in, that’s the person’s profession — they get paid to perform.
I’ve been trying to figure out if singing an episode of my podcast technically qualifies me as a professional singer. I don’t think I’ve ever been paid to perform, but I’ve definitely sung on podcasts that have made me passive income. Photo from our choir’s recent spring concert.
She went on to say how just because someone is technically a professional it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re good; it just means they can command a price to perform. The opposite can also be true — an amateur can be just as talented and even more so than a so-called professional.
Side note: Did you know the word “Amateur” comes from the Latin word “amāre,” which means to love? Amateur means “to love a hobby!” (Source)
As I was driving home, I was thinking about that concept and how it can also apply to podcasting.
It’s funny how some people who have never once been on a podcast and by definition would be considered “amateurs” take to it quickly like a duck to water. Many times these people have transferable skills, like improv training or public speaking experience. Sometimes they’re just blessed with the gift of gab and good on the spot.
The reverse can also be true (and why podcast editors are so in demand). I had a strategy session recently with a client who interviews lots of big names in their field and who are all considered “professionals” on the mic. Many of them are front-facing entrepreneurs who have profit-generating podcasts and are paid professionally to speak in front of audiences and give presentations. Some even charge speaking fees when they give talks or appear on podcasts.
By all accounts, these people could be considered “professional podcasters.”.
Some of these guests had podcasts that made it to #1 positions in Apple Podcasts charts in their respective categories. But when I talked to the client and their editor, they lamented how they couldn’t believe the amount of editing they needed to do sometimes to these guests or the lack of quality sound they were getting from these big names.
Why does this happen?
Sometimes it’s because the guest isn’t as prepared or they’ve never actually listened to themselves speak to recognize their frequently-used filler words. It may have been an off-day for the guest or their nerves may have gotten the best of them. Maybe they were distracted by something going on while the recording was taking place. Sometimes it can be because people are great at memorizing or reading from a script or bullet points, but not so great when answering questions off the cuff.
Does that stop this person from being considered professional? That’s not really for me to say, though it we’re going by the literal definition of “being paid to do the thing,” then I guess not if their podcasts are generating money/business for them.
I would say about 1/3rd of my Strategy Session clients are folks looking to go from “amateur” to “professional” and take their podcasts to the next level, perhaps through monetization. Many times they’re wondering if they’re ready.
Here’s the answer I give most often when asked if a podcaster is ready to monetize: You’re ready to monetize when you feel confident you are providing your audience value that you feel OK (and not icky) taking money for. If you’re putting your time, knowledge, and energy, (and sometimes your own money) into making a podcast that helps people, it’s not a bad thing to put out a tip jar or let people know how they can support you in return.
And that doesn’t just mean sponsors.
A mistake new podcasters sometimes make is thinking that the only way to make money in podcasting is by getting sponsors. But loads of independent podcasters will tell you that sponsorship is only one way to monetize — and not even the most effective for many niche podcasts!
A few ways creative independent podcasters can monetize their podcasts that aren’t sponsorship include:
Selling merch, such as T-shirts and sticks with your podcast cover art on it or some catchphrases from the show your audience enjoys and would wear around town to support you. Dropship sights like TeePublic and Redbubble offer print-on-demand and shipping all done for you so you just upload your art and they do the rest, plus give you a few bucks every time your design is sold.
Affiliate deals, which is sort of like sponsorship, only it’s not based on how many downloads you get but on how many people actually purchase the product/service. With affiliate sponsors, you’re given a special code or link your audience can use to purchase a product or use a service. When that code is used or that link is clicked ( depending on your affiliate deal), you earn a commission. Pro tip: If you’re constantly talking about a product or service on your podcast that your audience would like, consider finding out if they have an affiliate program you can sign up with.
Crowd-sourcing, like a tip jar or monthly membership. Patreon is popular with podcasters and streamers as a way to encourage your audience to directly support you with a few bucks either on a regular basis or a one-time donation. With some of these services, you can even offer bonus content for different levels of support. Another popular tip jar-type service is BuyMeACoffee.com — you can find my link to Buy Me A Coffee here and at the bottom of this post 😉. I like Buy Me A Coffee since it can be a one-time thing and I get a kick out of thanking my supporters over in my Instagram Stories when I can splurge in the Dunkin’ drive-thru!
Be your own sponsor, which is my favorite! If you are using your podcast to promote your business, your organization, or even your own brand as a creative, make sure you’re mentioning how your listeners can support you and check out your stuff. This might not even be directly related to money, although it can be if you decide to turn your podcast into a book or paid subscription. I never considered myself as my own sponsor for The Story Behind until I wrote the book based on it and, even though the podcast is on hiatus at the moment, I still get book sales because I talked about it plenty on the podcast that new people are finding every day! It really is one of the best forms of passive income I’ve found.
You never know who from your audience is looking for a way to thank you for creating your podcast.
When I started my first podcast, a listener reached out and asked how to support the show and he asked me to start a Patreon. This was back in 2015 and I hadn’t really heard of it and was a little nervous to set it up. I felt weird asking for money to do this podcasting thing I wasn’t even sure I was good at, but the listener insisted. Once I mentioned my Patreon on the next few episodes and thanked my first supporter, more joined! In the first six months of podcasting, I was making a whopping $13 per month, which basically covered our hosting costs.
But it was more than I expected to make with this little hobby of mine, for sure!
Did I consider myself a professional though? Well, to be honest, no. But I suppose technically I was! Though I’m glad I didn’t take that as a sign to quit my day job. (That wouldn’t come for at least another year, but that’s a story for another day.)
So what do you think?
Are you a professional when that first bit of money comes in? Does being an amateur podcaster make it any less fun or rewarding? Did you start your podcast with the intention of making money? If you never made a single dime with your podcast, would you keep doing it? How long under you consider yourself a “professional” podcaster?
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