Acast provides various options for monetizing your podcast on your own terms. You have control over what is promoted through your channels, either via your blocklist or through our AdCollab platform.
Different campaign types require different levels of involvement from you as a Creator:
For audio Ads and Programmatic campaigns, you won't need to create any content.
For Sponsorships, Branded Content, and Social campaigns, you will need to collaborate with advertisers to produce the necessary materials.
Below is a breakdown of the different campaigns and revenue sources you might notice on your revenue dashboard and your payout statements.
Ads
These audio ads, typically 30 to 60 seconds long and provided by the advertisers, resemble commercials heard on the radio.
They are dynamically inserted into audio episodes distributed via your RSS feed, and sometimes referred to as “Airtime Ads”.
These ads are directly bought through the Acast Sales Team or the Acast Self-Serve platform, in contrast to programmatic ads.
Programmatic
Programmatic ads are bought and sold automatically by the Acast Sales Team through online auctions on the Acast Automated Marketplace, which is a ‘private marketplace’, not an ‘open marketplace’ where any advertiser could run in an uncontrolled way.
These ads are dynamically inserted into audio episodes distributed through your RSS feed. Listeners will not notice any difference between Programmatic ads and directly bought ads.
Sponsorships
Sponsorships, sometimes called “host-reads” or “reads”, are direct endorsements, typically read by the content Creators themselves. They are created in collaboration between your team and the brand.
These are the different types of Sponsorship campaigns:
Sponsorships: 60 to 90 seconds long reads dynamically inserted into your audio episodes.
Baked-In Sponsorships: Similar to the sponsorships described above, except they are permanently integrated into the episode rather than dynamically inserted.
Sponsored Stories: Longer (2-4 minute) story-driven reads that are dynamically inserted into your audio episodes.
Simulcast with Baked In Sponsorship - Youtube: Video and audio reads integrated into the YouTube episode of the podcast, in addition to the audio episode distributed through your RSS feed.
Sponsorship Plus: Reads that run on other Acast shows, instead of on your episodes.
Branded Content
Branded Content is longer ad content created collaboratively by your team and the brand. These ads are usually integrated directly into the episode content ("baked in") rather than inserted dynamically. Branded content can include formats such as:
Branded Segments: a portion of branded content within a regular podcast episode, typically ~5-10 minutes in length. The goal is to integrate the brand message into the episode's content in a way that feels natural to the listener.
Video Segment - YouTube: Branded Segment integrated into the YouTube episode of a podcast.
Branded Episode: An episode, published as bonus content or as a regular episode, that is created in partnership with a brand and reflects the brand's values or themes.
Video Episode - YouTube: Branded episode published on the podcast’s YouTube channel.
Branded Podcast: A standalone podcast feed created and owned by a brand in partnership with Acast and our creators.
Social
Social campaigns are similar to Branded Content, but are posted on the Creator’s or Show’s social media channels rather than being included in podcast episodes. These are the types of Social campaigns you might come across:
Instagram: sponsored content posted across a Creator's Instagram account, either as Reels, Stories or Grid Posts.
YouTube Shorts: sponsored short-form video format posted to a Creator's YouTube account.
TikTok: sponsored content posted across a Creator's TikTok account.
Other: Sponsored content posted across a Creator's social media account (for instance, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.)
Other
Amazon Ad Free (or “Ad Free Listen-Based”): Revenue generated by ad-free listens of your podcast on the Amazon apps by Amazon Prime members and Amazon Music subscribers.
Feed Drop: Revenue from releasing a teaser or bonus episode of another podcast on your podcast’s feed in order to promote it. The teasers for the other podcast are often introduced by the regular presenter of your podcast.
Guest Fee: Revenue to appear as a guest on another podcast.
Live Events: In-person events sponsored by partners.
Re-record Fee: Revenue from a charge imposed on advertisers requesting modifications to reads that go beyond the standard changes included in the initial deal.
Special Order: A unique or non-standard request from an advertiser, often requiring additional services or custom solutions.
Usage: Revenue from the advertiser reposting your branded content across its own channels, like social media or website, to boost reach. Covers exclusivity.