Hi, I’m Scott. In 2022, I began a journey that would end up changing my life and the path that I would follow. What followed was the creation of my own online radio station with the help of my co-host, Emily. Together, we built a following of thousands of passionate sports fans who tuned in every week to listen to our coverage. Over the years, we’ve built a reputation for giving unbiased, no-bias coverage and have become known for our fun, enthusiastic style. Along the way, we’ve interviewed some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment and even gotten the opportunity to cover some major sporting events including the NFL, MLB, and NBA games. Our passion for sports shines through in every aspect of the show and makes it a must-listen for anyone who loves their sports.
Why Host Your Own Radio Show?
We all love listening to well-established sports radio stations. Whether you love the classic rock sound of a station like ESPN Radio or the energetic vibe of a station like the NFL Network, there’s something for everyone.
But what if you want to listen to something different? What if you want to create your own radio station that reflects your personality and has a unique voice?
You can do that! All you need is a microphone, a computer, and the desire to create the sports radio station that you and your friends listen to, follow, and love.
This journey convinced me that you can make money online without needing to be a professional affiliate marketer. You can start up a podcast of your own and use affiliate marketing to earn a passive income stream. You can even use a tool like GoFundMe to raise money for your new show. In this article, I’ll teach you how.
The Nuts and Bolts of Podcasting
Simply put, a podcast is a digital radio show that you can upload to the internet and make available for others to listen to. You could say that a podcast is like a radio show, but instead of using radios to broadcast, you use a computer.
Unlike a radio station, you don’t necessarily need any special equipment to create a podcast. You will, however, need a microphone, which can become quite expensive. You also need software such as Audacity or a similar application for recording audio files. Finally, you need a platform to actually publish your podcast, whether that’s YouTube or iTunes.
The process of creating a podcast is pretty simple. You start by identifying your target audience and determining their interests. For example, if you’re a surfer and want to create a podcast to share with other surfers, you might start with a theme like surfing, followed by interviews with industry professionals and famous surfers. Or, if you’re a horse lover, you might want to create a podcast around your hobbies, such as showing horses and chatting with other horse owners. Interested in creating your own podcast but don’t know where to start? No problem. You can use an online tool like Get Inspired to generate ideas for your next topic.
Podcasting Is a Viable Income Stream
According to Entrepreneur, the median income for a podcaster was $64,500 in 2020. This represents a 23% increase from the year prior and a 138% increase since the beginning of the decade. Much of this growth can be attributed to the fact that podcasting is a viable income stream for those looking to break into the entertainment industry. If you’re looking for a way to make money from home, you could consider podcasting as a way to do so.
How to Start a Podcast
If you’re looking to create a podcast, the first step is to find an affiliate marketing program that suits you. In 2020, you have a multitude of options when it comes to affiliate marketing. There’s literally something for everyone, from those seeking to make a quick buck to those who want to build a long-term income stream. Consider what you want out of the program and how you want to structure your income. Typically, you’ll want to create a free membership site to get the ball rolling. Many online marketplaces, such as Clickbank and Shopify, offer creators like you a free trial or even a free membership. You can use this to try out their platforms and build a following. Then, once you have a solid base of interested potential customers, you can move into more lucrative affiliate marketing opportunities.
If you’re looking for inspiration on where to start your podcast, you can check out this list of the top 75 best-selling podcast series in the US. There’s something for everyone, from sports fans to dog lovers. You could start by creating a theme around your hobbies, such as exploring the outdoors with your dog or finding good food for your pet. From there, you can branch into a variety of topics that you are passionate about, such as fashion, style, music, films, tv, and more.
Podcasts Are More Than Just Audio
If you’re new to podcasting, you might not know that you can do more than just create an audio file and upload it to the internet. You can actually publish a podcast and drive traffic to your blog or website. To do so, you need to have a short piece of HTML code called a script. At the end of each episode, you’ll need to include this code in the podcast’s article.
This bit of code helps search engines like Google and Apple’s Podcasts to identify and categorize your podcast into digital directories, like their music and comedy directories. In addition to these search engine optimisation (SEO) benefits, you can use the code to gain additional exposure for your podcast. If someone visits your website or follows your Instagram account while listening to your podcast, you can be sure that they’ve heard of you and your work. In case you’re wondering, the code for your podcast’s description simply reads:
This podcast is brought to you by your sponsors. To learn more, visit your website.
An Investment in Time
One of the biggest drawbacks to podcasting as a way to make money is how much time it takes to build a following. To get started, you’ll need to spend a considerable amount of time creating content that is both informative and entertaining. If you’re looking for a way to make quick cash, you might want to think about doing some affiliate marketing, though. With affiliate marketing, you’ll only need to have a few posts each week instead of a daily news show. Plus, with affiliate marketing, you can scale your income quickly. A few high traffic blogs can get you started and then you can branch into product reviews, affiliate offers for companies such as Amazon, and more.
A Place to Share Your Opinion
While the world of sports is unpredictable, one thing is for sure: We all have an opinion on something. Especially when it comes to our beloved sports teams, we’ll frequently have strong feelings about the play-callers, coaches, and owners of our favorite teams. It would be great if we could all get a voice and be able to share our opinions with the world. This is where podcasts really shine. You can interview prominent figures in the sports world or simply find ordinary people who are just as passionate about sports as you are.
Additionally, podcasts give you the opportunity to educate your audience about your favorite teams and players. If you’re a baseball fan, you might want to create a podcast around the Boston Red Sox. You could interview prominent Sox players or go in-depth about their history with detailed statistical analysis. The sky is the limit when it comes to the information you could share in an educational and entertaining podcast.
If you’re looking for a new way to make money, you could consider podcasting. Not only does it present an opportunity to create a passive income stream, but it’s also a viable option for those seeking to enter the entertainment industry.