5 Takeaways From the Atlantic Podcast Summit

The Candian metropolis of Halifax is broadly identified 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 residing 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 needed to know the reply to the next query: what’s inspiring all of those high quality podcasts which can be popping out of the area?

Tracy Kaplan, Patreon’s Head of Creator Partnerships, headed out to Halifax and introduced again the most important ah-has from the convention.

Listed here are Tracy’s 5 takeaways from the Atlantic Podcast Summit.

1. In podcasting, native is scorching

Simply since you don’t stay in New York or Los Angeles doesn’t imply you may’t create an ideal podcast.

In fact many podcasters are likely to broadcast from areas which can be extra historically often known as media shops. 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’ve inside details about a novel and fascinating location.

That is one thing that Nova Scotia’s podcast scene is aware of very properly. 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 can 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 assume the remainder of the world ought to too).

“Halifax is actually an artists’ hub with robust native organizations and a vibrant inventive spirit.”

2. Combine and match the strategies you employ to become profitable along with your podcast

Whether or not it’s membership by way of Patreon, sponsorship, merchandise, or stay performances, there are various methods to get income on 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 concerning the varied strategies of gaining income in podcasting.

And, based on Tracy, whereas there was lots of nice monetary recommendation for podcasters, one key take away was this — in terms of monetizing your podcast, extra strategies could also be higher than one.

Relatively than depend on one methodology of income to help 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 help on Patreon goes robust, then possibly it’s time to start out placing collectively a stay present, as properly.

Utilizing varied income strategies which can be genuine to your viewers will go a great distance in serving to you accrue the earnings it’s essential to preserve your podcast going for the lengthy haul.

“The enterprise of podcasting panel was an ideal lesson in podcast monetization choices. For these new to podcasting, selecting what sort of monetization is correct for his or her podcast will 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 spite of everything, they know what’s going to finest 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} sensible expectation for the medium?

Whereas many do make a residing from podcasting, reaching monetary stability in all probability wasn’t a fast or straightforward course of. Even podcast pioneers, like comic and interviewer Marc Maron, spent years doing their podcast earlier than they had been capable of earn sufficient cash to cowl greater than their manufacturing prices.

Most probably, 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?

In relation 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 needed to get a specific message out to the world? Or, maybe you liked a sure subject material so dearly that you simply needed a cause to discover it extra deeply.

No matter your targets for podcasting are, it’s good to be intimately aware of them. That method, when the going will get powerful, your why can function a robust motivator.

“It’s arduous work to create, to distribute, and to monetize a podcast. There are simpler paths on the market to become profitable. It’s vital to know what your targets are and what success means to you. Perhaps it’s partaking a neighborhood or being a storyteller. As Kimberly Hacuman from the Leisure One Podcast Community requested, are you going to be as passionate and when you find yourself at your 50th episode, your 100th, or your 200th?”

4. Don’t be a lone wolf

Contemplating there are solely so many podcast listeners on the earth, and solely so many hours in a day for them to hear, you’d assume podcasters can be good to be aggressive.

Quite the opposite, if the Atlantic Podcast Summit is any indication, collaboration and neighborhood in podcasting is alive and properly. Because it seems, collaborating with different podcasters doesn’t simply really feel good — it’s a vital 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 character. They’re additionally bringing alongside their viewers and who is aware of? In the event that they like what they hear, possibly they’ll turn into your viewers, as properly.

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 buddy.

“Within the ‘Learn how to Lower Above the Noise Panel,’ the panelists spoke about how vital it’s to achieve out to different podcasters to be company in your present. You may’t push somebody to advertise their look, however if you’re offering worth to them, they are going to wish to promote and assist your present.”

5. Why It’s best to Go Subsequent 12 months

There was lots to put in writing residence concerning the Atlantic Podcast Summit.

Firstly, you may’t speak concerning 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 the entire 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 stunning. Whether or not attendees wanted assist with sensible elements of podcasting, equivalent to shopping for gear and recording their present, or sought recommendation on the enterprise and advertising and marketing facet, 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.

“Apart from being a phenomenal location with the friendliest folks, the convention gives the complete 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.”