You don’t need a million downloads to make money from your podcast. Actually, most podcasters are shocked to learn that the average sponsor pays just $25 per 1,000 listens. That’s not exactly a full-time income. And if you’ve ever tried to pitch a sponsor, you know how frustrating and time-consuming it can be. But luckily, there are better, smarter, and more sustainable ways to monetize your podcast, without relying on ad spots or brand deals.
I’m Kara—content writer, podcast strategist, and founder of The Kara Report. I help business owners turn their podcast episodes into evergreen content that sells for them, long after they’ve hit publish. Whether you’re recording in your car between client calls or batch-producing like a pro, your podcast has the potential to drive way more revenue than a sponsor ever could.
Monetizing your podcast isn’t just about ads, it’s about ownership. When your episodes are tied to your own offers, repurposed into SEO-friendly blog posts, or even placed behind a private paywall, your podcast becomes a sales tool, not just another piece of content. In this post, I’ll give you the steps you need to take to turn every episode into an opportunity to grow your income. Let’s dive in!
The average sponsor pays $25 per 1000 listens
If you’ve ever wondered why podcasting feels like a lot of work for not a lot of payoff, you’re not wrong. The average sponsor pays just $25 per 1,000 downloads. That means even if your podcast gets 2,000 listens per episode (which is well above average), you’re still only earning $50 per ad spot.
And don’t get me started on how much work it is to even get sponsors in the first place. You have to:
- Pitch yourself to brands that may or may not be aligned with your audience
- Negotiate contracts and deliverables that often require multiple revisions
- Create media kits and track your metrics manually
- Tailor your content around what the sponsor wants you to say
- Monitor performance and justify results
All of that, just to make less than a hundred bucks? I’ll let you decide if it’s worth it.
In my conversation with Hayleigh Hayhurst, podcast publicist and host of The Employee to Boss podcast, we talked all about this sponsor myth and why most creators burn out chasing downloads. If you haven’t yet, go listen to this episode on What Nobody Tells You About Starting a Podcast—it’s a must-hear for anyone thinking long-term.
The truth is, if you want your podcast to pay you back, you need a model that doesn’t depend on someone else’s budget. Sponsorships are not the only path, and they’re definitely not the most profitable one.
Instead, look for ways to sell your own offers
If you’re podcasting for business, then your episodes should work for your business, not for someone else’s. Sponsorships promote other people’s products. But your podcast? It should promote yours.
One of the best ways to monetize your podcast is by turning it into a soft funnel. That means using each episode to gently guide your listeners toward the offers and resources you already have.
Here’s how to do it:
1. Educate around your offer
Choose episode topics that naturally connect to what you sell. If you’re a coach, talk about a challenge your clients face and how you solve it. If you’re a service provider, walk listeners through a common misconception or mistake you see and the process you use to fix it. Give away value that aligns with what you eventually want them to buy. If you need help choosing podcast topics that align with your offers, read this blog post!
2. Shift beliefs
Before someone will buy from you, they need to believe that:
- Their problem can be solved
- You’re the one who can help solve it
Use stories, case studies, and behind-the-scenes moments to break down limiting beliefs and show them what’s possible.
3. End with a clear, natural CTA
Wrap up with a next step that doesn’t feel forced. This might be:
- A free lead magnet
- A waitlist for an upcoming launch
- A link to your services or contact page
Just one CTA per episode is enough. The goal is to build trust, not overwhelm. Over time, that consistent messaging turns casual listeners into qualified leads.
Want more help turning your podcast into a lead-generating funnel? Check out this blog post for all the details.
Turn your most valuable episodes into evergreen content hubs
With just a few extra steps, you can turn your most valuable episodes into evergreen content hubs. These hubs become resources that keep driving traffic, building trust, and generating leads long after they air.
Here’s how:
- Pair every episode with a blog post
Turn your episode into a written post optimized for search. Use it to recap key takeaways, expand on stories, and include helpful links. This gives Google something to crawl and gives your audience another way to engage. - Create Pinterest pins that link to your blog
Pinterest is a search engine, not a social platform. And your podcast content is perfect for it. Use quotes, episode titles, or tips from your show to create scroll-stopping pins that drive traffic to your blog or show notes page. - Add your episode to a welcome or nurture email sequence
If the episode connects to your offer, include it in your funnel. A well-placed episode can build trust and help a potential client binge your expertise before they ever get on a call. - Reshare seasonally or when relevant
Bring old episodes back into rotation when they align with a launch, trend, or upcoming season. - Track what’s working
Keep an eye on what episodes are getting the most downloads or search traffic. Those are the ones worth turning into full-on content hubs with pins, emails, blogs, and more.
Not sure where to start? This blog post shows you how to use Pinterest and blog content to grow your show.
And once your evergreen systems are doing the heavy lifting, you can take things a step further by offering content that’s not just searchable, but exclusive.
Offer exclusive paid content on a private podcast feed
Once you’ve built a loyal listener base, a private podcast feed can be a powerful way to monetize your show. Instead of chasing sponsors, you’re offering your audience something deeper: exclusive content they can’t get anywhere else.
This model works best when:
- You already have an engaged audience who regularly tunes in
- You’ve built trust by consistently providing value
- You’re ready to offer bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes content, or coaching-style audio trainings
It’s a strategy I use in my own business, with my private podcast Build It Once, Get Found for Months. It’s where I share the behind-the-scenes of my anti-burnout marketing strategy.
Private feeds like this give your biggest fans a way to go deeper with you. Plus, it gives you a way to monetize your podcast without relying on algorithms or ad spots. But keep in mind, exclusive content only works when there’s trust, and that starts with community.
Build your community
If you want to monetize your podcast, you have to realize community beats vanity metrics every time. You don’t need to go viral or top the charts. You just need a handful of loyal, engaged listeners who trust you and who are excited to hear what you have to say (and sell!).
People don’t buy from podcasts. They buy from people. And the more your audience feels like they know you, the more likely they are to stick around, refer friends, and eventually invest in your offers.
Connection Creates Conversion
Want to grow your income? Focus on growing your relationships.
Your podcast gives you a unique opportunity to build intimacy at scale. When someone listens to you every week, you become part of their routine. And that consistency builds a kind of trust that Instagram just can’t match.
So don’t be afraid to:
- Share behind-the-scenes moments and stories
- Speak directly to your listeners’ struggles and goals
- Invite them to connect with you off the podcast (like on your email list or inside your DMs)
When you treat your listeners like part of your inner circle, they’ll show up for you again and again.
Your Community Is Your Business
A strong community isn’t just a marketing asset, it is your business model. When you’ve built trust, you don’t need gimmicks or high-pressure sales. You can focus on creating genuine offers for people who already believe in what you do.
This is what makes podcasting such a powerful foundation for long-term, sustainable growth.
If you’ve built an engaged audience, you already have what you need to monetize your podcast without sponsorships. From selling your own offers to creating content hubs that keep working for you, there’s power in taking ownership of your platform and showing up for your people consistently.
Because when your podcast is grounded in connection, strategy, and service, the revenue follows.
Ready to Monetize Your Podcast Without Relying on Sponsors?
Monetizing your podcast isn’t about chasing downloads or waiting for a sponsor to slide into your inbox. It’s about using the content you’re already creating to serve your audience, sell your offers, and grow your visibility in a way that actually lasts.
From building soft funnels that lead to your services, to turning episodes into evergreen content hubs, to connecting deeper with your community, you’re in control. And when you approach your show with strategy and intention, it becomes more than content. It becomes a tool for growth.
But you don’t have to do it all yourself. If you want help turning your episodes into blog posts that boost your visibility, bring in leads, and work across platforms, I’ve got you! My team and I write strategic, optimized blog content that’s rooted in your podcast message and repurposed with longevity in mind. You record the episode, and we’ll take care of the rest.
If you’re ready to get started, reach out here! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for more ways to build content that gets found, lasts longer, and works harder for you.
