The Brutally Honest FAQ About Podcasting: Growth, Money, Gear, Mistakes, and What Actually Works
How much can I actually make from podcasting?
Short answer: it depends.
Long answer: it depends on how smart your strategy is.
Here’s what affects your earning potential:
Audience size. More ears equals more leverage.
Niche. Finance, business, health — these get you premium ad dollars.
Your monetization mix. One strategy is good. Three is better.
If you treat your podcast like a hobby, expect hobby-level income.
If you treat it like a brand, now we’re talking real money.
Can you give me some actual income numbers?
Sure. Just don’t tattoo these on your forehead.
Small audience (1,000–5,000 downloads per episode):
Expect a few hundred bucks a month. Mostly through donations or niche-specific sponsors.
Medium audience (5,000–25,000 downloads per episode):
Think low four-figure income if you layer multiple monetization methods.
Large audience (25,000+ downloads per episode):
You’re in the premium zone. Five figures monthly is realistic. Some hit six.
The real kicker? You don’t need a massive audience.
You need a loyal one. That’s where the money is hiding.
What’s the best podcast hosting platform?
There’s no “one host to rule them all.” But here’s the breakdown.
Libsyn: Old-school solid. Great analytics. Built for serious shows.
Podbean: Beginner-friendly. Free plan. Clean UI.
Anchor: Totally free. Auto-distributes. Better for casual creators.
Buzzsprout: Intuitive. Clean interface. Solid monetization features.
Pick the one that makes your workflow feel less like work.
How often should I release new episodes?
The real answer? As often as you can stay consistent.
Weekly: Keeps the momentum rolling. Great for high-engagement shows.
Bi-weekly: Easier to manage. Still keeps listeners hooked.
Monthly: Works best for deep dives or research-heavy content.
Don’t overpromise and burn out. Consistency beats frequency. Always.
Can I actually make money with a small audience?
Absolutely. But forget “mass appeal.” Focus on depth.
Here’s how small shows make real money:
Listener support: Patreon, Buy Me a Coffee, private episodes
Niche sponsors: Less reach, more relevance
Affiliate marketing: Promote stuff your audience already wants
Courses or coaching: Especially if you’re in an expertise niche
Remember, a tight audience that trusts you is more valuable than 10,000 strangers half-listening.
What are the most common mistakes podcasters make?
Let’s call them what they are: growth killers.
Inconsistent publishing. If your listeners don’t know when you’ll show up, eventually they stop waiting.
Garbage audio. People will forgive a lot. But bad sound? That’s a no.
Zero engagement. If you treat your audience like a wall, they’ll treat you like background noise.
No promotion plan. You made a great episode. Cool. Now go make sure someone hears it.
Your podcast is not Field of Dreams. If you build it, they won’t just come. You have to invite them.
What gear do I actually need to start?
You don’t need a studio that looks like a spaceship. You need:
A decent mic
Basic editing software (Audacity, GarageBand, Descript)
Quiet room
The guts to hit record and the discipline to keep showing up
Start small. Get fancy later.
How do I keep things legal?
Easy.
Use music and effects you’ve licensed
Don’t republish other people’s work without permission
Have contracts for guests and sponsors (yes, even your friend from Twitter)
Don’t assume you’re too small to get in trouble. Protect your work like it matters. Because it does.
How do I track my podcast’s performance?
Downloads are just one metric. And frankly, a vanity one.
Go deeper with:
Your host’s built-in analytics
Google Analytics for traffic tied to your show notes and landing pages
Podtrac or Chartable for audience trends and retention
Ask: Are people sticking around? Are they sharing? Are they buying?
That’s what tells you if it’s working.
One last thing:
Podcasting isn’t just about sounding good.
It’s about building something worth listening to.
And that takes real strategy.
Evolved Podcasting helps with that.
From production to growth to monetization
We help creators like you turn your podcast into something serious
Not just content.
A business.
A brand.
A movement.
Ready to Launch or Grow Smarter?
You’ve got the roadmap. Now it’s time for real support.
If you already have a podcast or you’re building one and want expert eyes on your concept, positioning, or content, book a personalized audit.
The $197 Podcast Audit Call
Get direct feedback on what’s working, what’s missing, and how to make your show stand out and sell.
This is a one-time, deep-dive strategy call designed for coaches, experts, and creators who want clarity fast.
Want to Contribute or Collaborate?
We’re building a content platform for coaches, creators, and podcasters who want to grow with intention, and we’re open to guest blogs and content partnerships.
If you’d like to:
Share your voice on our blog
Contribute a high-value article for our audience
Collaborate on a backlinking exchange or co-post
We’d love to hear from you.
📩 Email: [email protected]
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