It is now being reported from FTC disclosure rules that podcasts guests are paying hosts up to $50K for an interview. The disclosures around that exchange aren’t always clear or even existent. The broader podcast industry hasn’t discussed standards around disclosures, and some podcasters don’t know this is happening.

The concern many podcasters are expressing is that it taints the medium. That "we are going astray from the core podcasting values that built this space."

Or are we now maturing as a medium? Do we now have a better grasp that the content that podcasters create has value? Though it would be argued that it's not the content being sold, the listeners are. But doesn't content and listeners go hand-in-hand? If you don't have great content, you don't have listeners.

We need to start giving our listeners and podcasters more credit.

Listeners have all the power to make a podcast worth something to the podcaster, whatever that may be. It may be monetizing the content, or just creating and nurturing a community of followers. And give the podcasters credit as well. They know to have a following, they need to deliver content that keeps listeners engaged and respected.

Why this matters: No one likes to be misled. But. As this article on The Big Lead pointed out, it’s not necessarily a bad thing if people want to pay for more exposure. There are a lot of ways to make money from podcasting. Whatever you do, keep the FTC’s guidelines in mind. Regardless of the medium you work in, the FTC says deception occurs when consumers are misled about the nature or source of advertising or promotional messaging.

Podcasting is a MARATHON, not a sprint. Be patient, take action and apply yourself.

Let’s talk about what podcasting can do for your business in the next 12-months. Whether you’re B2C or B2B, we can create a content marketing strategy that will work for you.

Connect with me if you would like to talk more about this. My calendar is available on my Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants business website.

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Recorded in conjunction with Channel 511, in the Brewery District, downtown Columbus, OH.

Brett Johnson is the owner and lead consultant at Circle 270 Media® Podcast Consultants. With over 35+ years of experience in Marketing, Content Creation, Audio Production/Recording, and Broadcasting, the podcast consultants at Circle 270 Media® strategically bring these strengths together for their business Podcast clients.

Email us at podcasts@circle270media.com to set up a time to talk more about your new or established business podcast.

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To Charge or Not To Charge Your Podcast Guests