In this episode of The Future of Podcasting, I (Dave Jackson) sit down with co-host Daniel J. Lewis to talk all about the podcast funding tag and new ways podcasters can get value for the value they provide. We dig into the mindset a lot of podcasters have about monetization, why it can feel awkward to ask for funding, and how the funding tag makes it simple and (dare I say) fun to encourage support from your listeners.

Future Proof Your Branding

Daniel and I chat about the importance of branding your funding link to your own show, rather than sending people to something like patreon.com/yourshow, and we share examples like my own page, askthepodcastcoach.com/awesome, and Daniel’s theaudacitytopodcast.com/giveback. I explain why having these branded links gives you control, future proofs your funding page, and lets you move between services if something better comes along.

You Can Link to Anything

We also talk through ideas for what your funding tag could actually link to—it doesn’t have to be a traditional donation page. Get creative! It could be a volunteer page, a merch store, or even a way for someone to send you cookies. Daniel points out that the funding tag is just a link, and it doesn’t even have to be about money. It all comes back to building a page that fits your show and your brand.

Other highlights include:

Tips for making your funding call-to-action less awkward and more value-focused
How I use dynamic pre-rolls to thank supporters and give them a quick shoutout
The importance of reinforcing your brand in your URLs and CTAs
Why convenience is crucial for getting support, and the direction podcast tech is heading for seamless giving

Want to check out more about the funding tag? Daniel recommends visiting podcasting 2.0's tag documentation (the transcript references "podcasting. two. tags funding" as a quick link; the actual URL is https://podcasting2.org/docs/guides/how-to-use-the-funding-tag).

Companies, tools, and URLs mentioned in this episode:

Patreon
PayPal
Buy Me a Coffee
Glow (no longer)
Supercast
Podpage
Teepublic
Redbubble
Sticker Mule
WordPress plugins: GiveWP, Formidable Forms, Gravity Forms, Ninja Forms, Easy Digital Downloads, WooCommerce
Radiolab (as a show example)
Congressional Dish with Jen Briney

Examples of branded funding/support URLs:

askthepodcastcoach.com/awesome
theaudacitytopodcast.com/giveback
onespodcast.com/hero and onespodcast.com/villain (custom supporter names for Daniel's old show)

If you found value in this episode, it’d mean a lot if you considered giving some of that value back. Visit my branded funding URL or look out for the funding/support button in your podcast app!

Want To Give Some Value Back?

All you have to do is click this link and choose your amount.