When creating your own podcasts, it can be difficult to know how to offer your content to potential fans and customers.
These subscription plans are relatively common, but there are several variations that you can choose from – each of them offering a little different, and having different impacts on your audience.
But what plans are there for podcast subscriptions, and what effect do these have?
| 🏆 Best Overall  | 🥇 Best Hosting  | 🚀Growing  | 🎤 Distribution  |
| 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.4 |
The Best Content Formats
When choosing a podcast subscription format for your new podcast, there are several that you can choose from.
Ad Free Episodes
One of the major benefits of offering a subscription service is that you can have ad free episodes.
For many people, paid advertising in the middle of their favorite podcast can be a source of irritation and annoyance, so offering ad-free episodes might be incentive enough for some people to pay to listen to your podcast.
In many ways this is a win-win situation, allowing your listeners to have uninterrupted content, earning you an income from subscriptions, and ensuring that you are not beholden to potential advertisers – as is the norm with most free podcasts (also see, ‘Best Podcast Host For Monetization‘).
In Apple Podcasts, you can offer ad free episodes as part of an in-app purchase subscription. Many podcast providers have found success in offering listeners the choice between listening to normal, ad-supported episodes, and paying a small fee to access uninterrupted versions.
For podcast listeners, accomplishing this is often as easy as clicking on a ‘Subscribe Now’ button within the podcast app they are using. This will take them to a page where they can purchase the subscription.
For podcasters, setting up ad-free episodes is fairly straightforward – you just need to create an in-app purchase subscription option and link it to your podcast feed.
In Apple Podcasts Connect, for example, you need to create a subscription and enter the RSS feed associated with it. Then, Apple Podcasts will periodically check your podcast feed and automatically add new content to the subscription.
Apple Podcasts subscriptions are a great way to offer ad-free content and increase your podcast’s income (also see, ‘How To Submit Your Podcast To iTunes‘).
It’s an easy, effective way to generate subscription revenue from loyal listeners who are eager for uninterrupted content. With the right setup and promotion, you can create a successful subscription service that will benefit both you and your audience.
Exclusive Episodes
One other option is having exclusive episodes.
This works best with a free podcast, and means that you can hide exclusive content behind a paywall, meaning that podcast subscribers will have to pay a small one-off fee to gain access to it.
It has the benefit of allowing the content creator to be a little bit more real, personal, and ‘raw’ with the fans who go behind the paywall.
This tends to work best with established podcasts, especially those with some celebrity appeal, as this will often create a sense of exclusivity and make paying subscribers want to access the extra content.
This could also work if you are offering specific advice, or the answers to a specific problem talked about in the previous (or accompanying) free episode.
| Web Player  |  |  |  |
| Primary Rating: 3.5 | Primary Rating: 3.5 | Primary Rating: 3.5 | Primary Rating: 3.5 |
| N/A | N/A | $0.00 | N/A |
Behind The Scenes Content
For free subscribers who wish to upgrade and learn more information, you could also offer a paid behind the scenes episode – or additional content.
This paid podcast subscription can not only create a greater sense of closeness between you and the section of your fanbase, but you can also develop a sense of exclusivity – something that can cultivate interest in the podcast as a whole.
You could also offer fresh, never before heard takes on the free content you provide, and in a sense create like a ‘backstage pass’ feature where paying fans learn the secrets of the business, tidbits from the process, and answers to the burning questions they might have.
Host Q&As
One option for paid subscriptions is to have regular Q&As with the podcast hosts, wherein only those who have paid a subscription are eligible to chat.
This can not only be a great way to cultivate a small circle of die-hard fans, but can also help with the interpersonal relationship between the host and the community they have created.
This could be used to answer follow-up questions from previous episodes, and give insider information about the process, answers to problems that fans might have, or simply a light-hearted chat between the host and the fans.
Extended Episodes
Something that has been adopted by many free podcasts is the presence of extended episodes, wherein the free content lasts for, say, 1 hour, and then the extended episode continues past that point, with only paid subscribers being granted access.
This is a savvy business model, as those who have already been watching for an hour might then feel like they’re missing out by not continuing with the episode.
This too creates a sense of exclusivity, which is attractive to a lot of people.
Early Release Episodes
You could also potentially release episodes sooner to paid subscribers, giving them early access to the next episode several days before the usual time.
This can be great for die-hard fans, and can create a sense that they are a) a priority, and b) that they are the first to know what is going down.
Live Content
You could also offer live content, which breaks away from the typical podcast format and offers an almost broadcast-like piece of content.
This is good content to provide, as it adds a sense of variety to what your paid subscribers can access.
For this strategy, offering annual subscription plans or one-time payment plans can be a great way to monetize your podcast.
When it comes to live content, you have two main options. You could either create a series of pre-recorded episodes with the expectation that they’ll be aired at specific times, or you could offer real-time broadcasts with interactive elements like taking questions from viewers.
The former is a good option for podcasters who already have an established audience and want to offer something new and exciting without the pressure of having to produce live content in real-time (also see, ‘How Much Do Podcasters Make in 2023‘).
The latter, however, can be very rewarding as it allows podcasters to engage with their audience in a more direct way.
Of course, both options require some extra technical know-how, so it’s important to understand the limitations of your platform before committing to this strategy.
If you do decide to monetize your live content, podcast advertising is one way to generate additional income by offering advertisers access to your broadcast. This could include anything from sponsorships and product placements, to pre-recorded or live reads of ads.
For many podcasters, this can be a great source of revenue, as long as it doesn’t overwhelm the actual content of the podcast. Of course, it is important to make sure that any advertising you do offer is appropriate for your audience and in line with your podcast’s values.
Things To Remember
Before you implement any of these methods though, there are certain things to consider.
Establish Yourself First
This is incredibly important to think about. If you are not already established – that is, with a dedicated following – then you cannot possibly hope to implement these methods and succeed.
People are not going to pay for someone they don’t know, so you need to create interest first.
ALSO SEE: Joe Rogan Podcast Statistics
Listen To Feedback
If your fans hate the new format, then you need to listen.
That isn’t to say you need to pander to a small percentage, but if it seems unanimous, then you should listen – or risk losing fans as a result.
Be Generous
It is important to be generous to your paid subscribers, as they are the ones who care enough to go the extra mile.
This means not being lazy or sloppy with content, showing gratitude, and giving them premium content that is worth their money and time.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, everything you need to know about plans for podcast subscriptions, and the various ways you can make your podcast available to viewers and listeners.
Podcast subscription plans can be a great option for podcast monetization and provide ad-free content for your audience.
Podcasting is widely popular, and the market has become hectic with different genres of podcasts, and different formats.
As such there are numerous ways you can deliver your podcast content to your fans, whether it’s through exclusive access, subscriber only content, bonus content, or ad free listening.
So if you are looking to start your own journey as a podcast creator, but don’t know the best way to deliver your content, then why not consider some of these methods?
Something tells me you won’t be disappointed!
