The Podcasting Business Model
Why I’m not quitting my day job any time soon.
Ashley Milne-Tyte shared a great Wall Street Journal article on people who produce podcasts and how they’re looking to build business models out of them.
TL;DR: Most people aren’t building any sort of business out of podcasting. Period.
If you’re wondering, The Shakes is in the same boat with these examples. I’ve probably got $2000 (and counting) invested in the assorted gear and software needed to produce the show. And between booking guests, planning for future episodes and recording and editing current episodes, the show feels like a second full-time job. Donations via Tugboat Yards and sponsorships have helped recoup most of the expenses, but there’s no way doing the show full-time would be a viable way for me to make a living.
“So, why do you even do it?” is probably the question running through your mind. For me, the whole reason why I’d even keep going with something so time-consuming was summed up nicely in the final quote of the article:
“It is similar to the economics of a band. You are saving money to do more of what you love in the future, instead of making a living off of that thing right now.”
That’s totally it. The way I see it, if the donations and sponsorships help me break even, then I’m actually ahead. I never truly thought that doing a podcast would give me a new career. I just hoped it would enrich my current career while giving me something fun to do.
