Libsyn’s Podcast Monetization System Grows by 167%

 I guess that Libsyn, the podcast hosting, advertising, and monetization giant, has proved the adage podcasters want Libsyn to "show them the money."

 

 Last week, Libsyn announced that Libsyn Glow, a podcast monetization platform that the Company acquired in April 2021, has experienced a 167 percent revenue growth.

Glow enables Libsyn podcasters, as well as those on other hosting sites, to benefit from a multitude of monetization options and tap into significant podcast subscription revenue streams. The digital platform, which offers ad-free, private feed podcast paywalls and subscription billing, makes it easy to start a paid membership program and offer exclusive content to podcast audiences. Podcasters also have the option to accept monetary support from listeners, using the same secure and seamless Glow payment system.

 

In 2020, Libsyn delivered over 6 billion downloads and hosted over 5.8 million podcast episode files from more than 75,000 podcasts around the world.

 

Brands powered by Libsyn include podcast creation platform, Libsyn Studio; podcast membership platform, Libsyn’s Glow; web hosting platform, Pair Networks; and Libsyn’s AdvertiseCast, connecting advertisers with podcasters. 

 

“Libsyn Glow’s growth trajectory demonstrates a strong desire from podcasters to monetize their content on their own terms and an increased willingness from audiences to pay for premium content from their favorite creators,” said Yvette Menase, Senior Product Manager, Libsyn.

 

The NoSleep Podcast began offering its premium membership program known as the ‘Season Pass’ back in 2013. Those early days were a struggle with technology not quite suited to the burgeoning platform of paid podcast content. 

 

"When we moved our Season Passes to the Glow system, the process became so much easier for us and our members. The feedback from our listeners has been overwhelmingly positive. We celebrate along with Glow and the team at Libsyn for providing such a robust and supportive platform,” said David Cummings, Host and Producer of The NoSleep Podcast, a multi-award-winning anthology podcast series of original horror stories.

 

“Glow's customer service and support is incredible! They not only helped us get set up with donation support for our podcast, but also aided in the creation of a special private podcast feed for our Labs Narrative Podcasting course.” said Laura Joyce Davis, Host and Writer of the Shelter in Place podcast. “I'm continually amazed and impressed by how quickly they've responded whenever we needed anything. This is a great platform where you get support from real people who are committed to helping you succeed.” Shelter in Place is an award-winning narrative nonfiction podcast blending open-hearted personal essays and intimate interviews.

 

So is Libsyn a podcast hosting site worth recommending?

 

 Libsyn allows podcasters to adjust settings based on the platform they want to distribute with. Dedicated listeners on a paid app may be paying to hear podcast episodes sooner than unpaid listeners.

You can also create a different show title based on the platform, along with other settings.

Some podcast hosting sites alter the file so that it’s easier to upload, resulting in lower quality sound, which listeners don’t love and can turn most people off from your podcast. However, Libsyn doesn’t alter the file at all. Listeners hear the quality that you intended.

Storage with Libsyn is based on how much you pay monthly, just like any other podcast hosting platform, so each tier gives you more storage.

The Libsyn pricing model works like this: Any specific tier of pricing, whether it be the $5 or $75 tier, has an allotted amount of storage along with a list of features. Of course, what you get out of this storage depends on how long your podcast episodes are and what bitrate you’re uploading them at, but Libsyn is flexible enough to plan that.

Tiers also come with bonuses like stats reporting, so make sure to look at all tiers and their features to figure out which is the best for your podcast.

Libsyn’s support staff offers customer service weekdays from 9 AM-5 PM. Although it’s not 24 hours, it’s still convenient. You can also submit a ticket to a specific department if you know what jurisdiction your problem falls under.

Libsyn also offers Knowledge Base, a site specifically for new podcasters by podcasters. It helps new users with how to use and troubleshoot the site. 

 Feedback from users indicates that Libsyn’s website is hard to navigate and isn’t beginner-friendly, and that's an issue.

 

If you’re just getting started with podcasting, and you’re not sure if podcasting is for you, you may want to go to a media host that can offer a free trial period, such as Podbean or Buzzsprout. These sites, unlike Libsyn, offer a trial period where you can upgrade (for a price) if you decide you want to continue podcasting.

Libsyn does not have a free option, and users must commit to at least $5 per month to use the service.

So there are cons when it comes to Libsyn, just as there are cons for any other hosting platform. However, there aren’t nearly as many cons as there are pros, which is why we have reached my verdict. 

Try Libsyn for all the above reasons, and its many brands you can access.

 

Photo by Cotton Bro.