If you're looking for ways to increase revenue from your podcast, then look no further than sponsorship deals. Sponsorships can be a great way to earn money from your podcast while providing valuable business exposure.
In this blog post, we will discuss what podcast sponsorships are and how to get them in the UK. We'll also cover some key areas businesses should focus on when trying to secure podcast sponsors. So, keep reading if you're ready to start making more money from your podcast!
How a Podcast Sponsorships Work
Podcast sponsorship is a form of advertising that allows businesses to promote their products or services on your show. In exchange for this exposure, the sponsors pay you a fee. The amount of money that you can charge for sponsorships will vary depending on your audience size, the length of your show, and other factors. However, if you have a large and engaged audience, you can expect to charge more for sponsorships.
There are a few different ways that businesses can sponsor your podcast. The most common method is for companies to pay for pre-roll or post-roll ads. These are short commercials that run before or after your show. Businesses can also sponsor specific podcast episodes. This is usually done by companies providing you with a product or service to give away to your listeners. Lastly, businesses can also become sponsors of your entire podcast series.
How many downloads do you need to start?
In order to get your first sponsor, you will usually need to have a significant number of downloads per episode. You don't want to approach businesses too early, as you won't be able to charge much for sponsorships, which can hurt your show's growth. We recommend waiting until you have at least 1,000 downloads per episode before reaching out to businesses.
If you don't have 1,000 downloads per episode yet, don't worry! Just keep growing your audience and producing great content. Once you reach that 1,000 download milestone, you'll be in a much better position to start selling sponsors, and you'll be far more appealing to businesses. If you're struggling to increase your downloads, then check out our marketing blog.
Targeting your niche industry
We recommend that you start by targeting businesses that are in your niche. These businesses will be more likely to be interested in sponsoring your podcast because they're already familiar with your audience. For example, if you have a podcast about health and lifestyle, target supplement companies, fitness businesses, or health food stores. This will come across as less sales-y and will be more effective in the long run.
Some businesses will have their own advertising or marketing budget that they use to sponsor podcasts. However, most companies will need to go through a third-party agency in order to invest in your show.
How are sponsorships different to other monetization methods?
Podcast sponsorships are different to other monetization methods, such as selling ads or affiliate marketing, because they offer a more direct way for businesses to promote their products or services. Sponsorships also tend to be more expensive than other forms of advertising, but they can be well worth the investment for businesses that are looking to reach a specific audience.
How to find podcast sponsors
Pitching
The first and most obvious method for potential sponsors is to reach out to businesses yourself and try to secure sponsorship deals. This can be done by sending companies an email or reaching out to them on social media. Some of the best pitching practices include:
Researching the business beforehand and knowing their target audience
Offering businesses a specific sponsorship package that outlines the benefits of sponsoring your show
Include a description of your podcast
Display your audience demographics and statistics
If you need help with pitching, then we recommend checking out our blog post on how to pitch your podcast to brands.
Sponsorship agency
These are companies that help to match businesses with the right podcasts. This can be a great option if you don't have the time or resources to reach out to businesses yourself. Some of the best Brokers in the Uk are:
Podcast Advertising
Midroll
Adswizz
Acast
Podbean
Podcast Network
Another way to get a podcast sponsor in the UK is to network with other podcasters and
businesses in your niche industry. This can be done by attending industry events, such as conferences and meetups, or by joining online communities, such as Facebook groups. By networking with other people in the industry, you'll be able to build relationships and get your name out there. This can eventually lead to businesses approaching you about sponsoring your podcast.
Some of the best networking events for podcasters in the UK are:
-The Podcast Movement
-The British Podcast Awards
-PodcastCon
How much can you earn from podcast ads?
Obviously, the amount that you can earn from podcast sponsors will vary depending on a number of factors, such as your audience size, the niche of your podcast, and the type of sponsorship deal that you're able to secure.
You can expect to earn between £10-£30 per 1,000 downloads for an ad read.
It's also worth noting that some businesses will pay a flat fee for your sponsorship, regardless of your audience size. This is usually done for product placement deals, where businesses will pay you to mention or use their products on your show and use their items on your social media pages.
Different types of sponsors?
The main sponsor is a business that provides the majority of the funding for your podcast. In return, they will usually get a larger number of ad reads or a longer length of time for their ads.
A co-sponsor is a business that provides some of the funding for your podcast, usually in return for a smaller number of ad reads.
What is a product placement deal?
A product placement deal is where a business pays you to mention or use their products on your show. This can be done either as a one-off mention or as a longer term partnership.
Best podcast sponsorship agencies in the UK
It's best to sign up with a podcast ad agency that is based in the UK so you can avoid any potential issues with copyright or payment. Here are some of the best podcast sponsorship agencies that have UK offices that all offer ad placement, campaign management and analytics:
Placment of Ads and why it matters.
Pre Roll ad. This is an ad that plays before the start of your podcast episode.
Mid Roll ads. This is an ad that plays in the middle of your podcast episode.
Post Roll ads. This is an ad that plays at the end of your podcast episode.
Where you place your ad will depend on a number of factors, such as the length of your podcast episode and the type of sponsorship deal that you have.
If you have a main sponsor, then it's likely that their ad will be placed as a pre-roll or mid roll.
This is because they're paying the most money and want their ad to be heard by as many people as possible.
If you have a co-sponsor, their ad will likely be placed as a post roll. This is because they're not paying as much money and so their ad won't be heard by as many people.
If you have a product placement deal, then the placement of the ad will depend on the agreement that you have with the business. For example, they may want their product to be mentioned at the start of the podcast episode so that more
Conclusion.
There are multiple ways to increase revenue from your podcasts and it doesn't end at sponsorships. Sponsor Ad revenue is one option, but you can use other methods such as an affiliate model, closed community groups, promoting your own products and more. Make sure and check out our article on other podcast revenue streams.