Podcast Insider Todd Cochrane, Mike Dell & MacKenzie Bennett

Exclusive Content Has the Capability to Reshape the Podcast Industry

Companies like Spotify, Wondery, and Luminary have invested in exclusive podcasts, contributing to a more competitive environment. Blubrry, on the provider side has also started offering Premium podcasting subscription plans content creation for our podcasters. Are these efforts worth it for the podcast industry?



These directory platforms offer unique content to their subscribers, with Luminary, for instance, providing exclusives featuring well-known personalities and charging a monthly subscription fee.



This move towards exclusive content not only diversifies the podcasting ecosystem but also pushes platforms to innovate and improve their offerings to attract and retain listeners​.



These platforms offer unique content to their subscribers, aiming to stand out through exclusives with high-profile personalities and utilizing subscription-based models to thrive.

Today's Hosts: Mike Dell, Todd Cochrane and MacKenzie Bennett

How the drive for exclusive podcasts is affecting creators, listeners, and the platforms themselves.

Content Differentiation and Quality Improvement: Exclusive content platforms often strive to distinguish themselves through high-quality, unique programming. This competition can drive overall improvements in content quality across the industry, encouraging creators to innovate and invest more in production values.



Audience Fragmentation: Exclusive deals can lead to audience fragmentation, where listeners are spread across multiple platforms, each requiring separate subscriptions. This fragmentation could make it challenging for listeners to access all their favorite content without subscribing to multiple services, potentially leading to subscription fatigue.



Increased Monetization for Creators: Platforms that offer exclusive content deals often provide substantial financial incentives to creators. This influx of resources can enable creators to produce higher-quality content and potentially expand their operations, but it might also create a divide between creators who secure exclusive deals and those who don't.



Discovery Challenges and Opportunities: Exclusive platforms may offer better discovery tools and marketing support for their content, helping some podcasts reach larger audiences. However, the exclusivity could also limit discovery opportunities for those podcasts outside of the platform, potentially stifying their audience growth.



Innovation in Content and Distribution: The push for exclusivity can lead to innovation not only in the content itself but also in how it is distributed and consumed. Platforms might introduce new features, interactive content, or cross-medium storytelling to differentiate their offerings.



Potential for Consolidation: As exclusive platforms grow and solidify their positions, there could be a trend towards consolidation in the podcast industry, with larger players acquiring smaller ones or exclusive deals leading to a concentration of popular content on a few platforms. This could impact competition and diversity within the industry.



Impact on Independent Creators: While exclusive deals can be lucrative for some creators, they may also pressure independent creators who wish to remain platform-agnostic. These creators might find it increasingly challenging to compete with the marketing and production capabilities of exclusive content.



Adapting Business Models: The growth of exclusive platforms may encourage the entire industry to explore and adopt new business models beyond traditional advertising, including direct listener support, premium content tiers, and hybrid models.



Global Expansion and Localization: Exclusive platforms with significant resources may also push for global expansion,

A recap of the Mid-America Trucking Show and Podcast Movement Evolutions, featuring an interview with our April Podcaster of the Month, Cheryl Jones

In this enlightening episode of our podcast, Todd and Mike recap their experiences at two conferences they attend in March: the Mid-America Trucking Show and Podcast Movement Evolutions. Getting into the the details of these conferences, buzzing with innovation, inspiration, and insightful exchanges.



They share their experiences with keynote speeches that set new directions for the future of podcasting and reflect on the informative and inspiring conversations with today's creators speaking on some of our latest releases, specifically Vid2Pod and PAI, our Podcast AI Assistant.



This episode packs in valuable takeaways, trend predictions, and behind-the-scenes glimpses from some of the industry's most anticipated gatherings. Don't miss out on this comprehensive recap that promises to fuel your passion for podcasting and perhaps, inspire your next big idea.

Today's Hosts: Todd Cochrane and Mike Dell

Mid-America Trucking Show



More commonly called, MATS

Mike attended this show to talk with truckers who want to or have a podcast

Spoke with people about Vid2Pod for YouTubers that want audio podcasts as well

One of the networks with Blubrry is PodWheels powered by Radio Nemo

A massive conference overall



Podcast Movement Evolutions



More B2B than other podcast events

Had some great conversations with partners, potential partners and organizations that are or will be doing podcasts

Onboarded a Vid2Pod show from YouTube (now a podcaster)

Reviewed our new podcast ai assistant, PAI



April Podcaster of the Month, Cheryl Jones

Read more about Cheryl and her show here; her show is Thrive 55+ Podcast.







The best place for support with any Blubrry product or service is our ticket system. Tickets give the whole team access vs. direct emails or calls. General podcasting discussion and more can be shared on the Blubrry Podcasting Facebook group.



Fill out our listener survey at surveys.blubrry.com/podcastinsider



Hosting customers can schedule a one-on-one call with Todd or a tech checkup with Mike.

todd@blubrry.com and mike@blubrry.com

In today's episode of Podcast Insider hosts Todd Cochrane and Mike Dell discuss the new tools released by Blubrry Podcasting: Widgets & Embeds, and Vid2Pod. Widgets and Embeds are aimed at improving engagement with audiences and Vid2Pod makes it incredibly easy for video creators to also become audio creators.







The first of these services, Widgets and Embeds, offers a seamless integration of podcast content into websites and blogs. This tool allows podcasters to effortlessly share their episodes on various platforms, providing listeners with easy access to their favorite shows. With customizability and user-friendly design at its core, the Widgets and Embeds service ensures that podcasters can maintain their brand's aesthetic while reaching a wider audience.







The second service, Vid2Pod, is a game-changer for podcasters looking to tap into the power of video content. This innovative feature simplifies the process of converting video content into podcast format, opening up a new realm of possibilities for content creation. Vid2Pod addresses the growing demand for versatile content consumption, allowing listeners to enjoy their preferred podcasts in whichever format they choose, be it audio or video. By bridging the gap between video and podcasting, Blubrry's Vid2Pod service is set to revolutionize the way we think about content creation and distribution in the podcasting world.



Let's delve into these new features from Blubrry Podcasting.

Today's Hosts: Todd Cochrane and Mike Dell

Widgets & Embeds

Been available for about two weeks, if you haven’t tried these widgets and embeds out yet you can find them under Show - Manage - Widgets from the sidebar in the Podcaster Dashboard.

PodRoll



Recommends podcasts similar to yours

This widget uses the PodRoll tag to promote the shows you like and can be used for cross-promotion



Audience Survey



Gives a link for your listeners to fill out your survey (from Blubrry)



Subscribe/Follow



Similar to our WordPress Widget, it gives links and logos for people to follow your show on the podcast apps.



Funding



Uses the funding tag for Paypal, Buy Me a Coffee or Pateron, Boostagrams (Or any donation site)

V4V boosts just like in the apps



Show Credits



Shows any show-level credits for your show like Hosts, Producers and editors.



Live



Indicates live streaming status in real-time for listeners

Gives your live status: future, currently live or past live streams



Trailer Episode



Shows a player with your trailer episode



Compatibility



Available for all websites that can embed iFrames, not exclusive to WordPress and accessible from the Blubrry dashboard.

Vid2Pod

Vid2Pod is a way for video-first creators (YouTubers) to have an audio podcast version of their show available in all the podcast apps without extra work. It will automatically create a podcast episode for any new video you put out on your playlist in YouTube (currently).



Automatically converts YouTube playlist videos to audio podcast episodes

Targets video-first creators to expand to podcast platforms

Automated conversion, metadata pulling, and direct publishing









Together, these two services enhance the podcasting landscape and also empower creators with more tools to expand their reach and engage with their audience in innovative ways.







The best place for support with any Blubrry product or service is our ticket system. Tickets give the whole team access vs. direct emails or calls. General podcasting discussion and more can be shared on the Blubrry Podcasting Facebook group....

This week we released our latest tool for podcasting, our very own Blubrry PAI - Podcast AI Assistant. In this episode we go into detail on how our new artificial intelligence feature for Thrive Bundle customers completely changes the way they prepare for, publish and promote their podcast. This new podcast AI tool is a game-changer for our creators and we promise will simplify the podcasting process, saving all involved precious time and energy that can be devoted to your podcast recordings.

Today’s Hosts: Todd Cochrane and Mike Dell

Last week we talked about the Thrive Bundle at Blubrry. Now, the REST of the story.



Blubrry AI Release Blog Post

Blubrry PAI Podcast AI Assistant Info Page

Blubrry Thrive Bundle - The only way to get our AI tool is by purchasing our hosting add-on



Features of Blubrry PAI, Podcast AI Assistant



Pre-Show, Episode Planning Features



Topics suggestions

Guest questions

Will generate show flow content



Post-Show, Episode Podcast Production



Transcript

Show title suggestions

Show summary to use for show notes or more

Bullet points

Episode artwork

Chapters (Podcasting 2.0)



Social Production



Social media captions

Promotion email content



Coming Later



Highlight Clip Creation



We've always got more up our sleeve. Want a specific feature, be sure to let us know.



Join us for a Blubrry PAI Platform Walkthrough



Thursday, April 4th, at 5PM EST. Register here.







Don't forget to subscribe to Podcast Insider for more insights on making the most of your podcasting efforts. Have questions or want to share your experiences with Blubrry PAI? Reach out to us on social media or send us an email.







The best place for support with any Blubrry product or service is our ticket system. Tickets give the whole team access vs. direct emails or calls. General podcasting discussion and more can be shared on the Blubrry Podcasting Facebook group.



Fill out our listener survey at surveys.blubrry.com/podcastinsider



Hosting customers can schedule a one-on-one call with Todd or a tech checkup with Mike.

todd@blubrry.com and mike@blubrry.com

The Thrive Bundle from Blubrry is designed to empower podcasters of all levels.





From the novice just starting out to the seasoned professional looking to enhance their show. Combined with our renowned hosting services, detailed analytics, and seamless WordPress integration via the PowerPress Plugin, the Thrive Bundle offers tools and insights that are indispensable for podcast growth and audience engagement.



Today the team unpacks each component of the bundle and why it's a steal for anyone looking for that extra dose of podcasting power.

Today's Hosts: Todd Cochrane, Mike Dell and MacKenzie Bennett

Introducing the Thrive Bundle

Pricing: An affordable add-on at just $10 a month to your existing plan.

Features of the Thrive Bundle



Dynamic Ad Insertion Pre-roll: Automate the insertion of ads or promos at the start of your episodes to promote previous episodes, events, or sponsorships.

Expanded Episode Listener Comparison: Analyze five episodes against trending ones to understand listener uptake and engagement.

Listener and Subscriber Data: Track your audience growth with new statistics distinguishing between listeners and subscribers.

Average Daily Plays (ADP): A unique metric offering insights into show growth and back catalog consumption.

Quicklinks: Enhance audience engagement with customizable links, donations, and analytics.

Podcast 2.0 Features: Leverage the latest podcasting standards for a richer listener experience.

Apple Podcast Reviews: Promote your show's success with easy social media sharing of listener reviews.



Extra Metrics



Episode Comparison

Estimated Audience

Average Daily Plays



The Value of Quicklinks

Simplify audience engagement and support through donations, all while tracking effectiveness with Google Analytics.

Dynamic Ad Insertion

Benefits of pre-roll ad insertion for monetization and promotion.

Upcoming

Will be adding our AI service to the Thrive Bundle this spring.



Learn more about Blubrry's Thrive Bundle in our write-up here.







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The best place for support with any Blubrry product or service is our ticket system. Tickets give the whole team access vs. direct emails or calls. General podcasting discussion and more can be shared on the Blubrry Podcasting Facebook group.



Fill out our listener survey at surveys.blubrry.com/podcastinsider



Hosting customers can schedule a one-on-one call with Todd or a tech checkup with Mike.

todd@blubrry.com and mike@blubrry.com

Take your show to the professional level



In today’s episode we are taking a close look at the benefits of professional podcast hosting -- more so than using a reputable podcast hosting platform -- but the pro hosting plan offered by Blubrry Podcasting. This episode is a goldmine for both budding and experienced podcasters as we explore the comprehensive features that Blubrry’s Pro Hosting offers, such as its unmatched bandwidth, detailed analytics, monetization capabilities and robust support and migration process.

Today's Hosts: Todd Cochrane, MacKenzie Bennett and Mike Dell

Part of our Podcasting 101 series that dives into what podcasters can expect in their creative journey.

Main Features of Pro Hosting

Blubrry offers a sophisticated pro hosting offering that meets podcasters needs for businesses and organizations, educational institutions, government entities, networks, and creators with large files such as video content creators.



Hosting with unlimited bandwidth

Advanced Stats

Websites: Free managed WordPress Site included for each RSS feed

PowerPress

Monetization: Dynamic Ad Insertion and Programmatic Advertising

Network Showcasing Tool, example: www.techpodcasts.com 

Sub Accounts for teams

Any size show - video and audio

FTP, scalable plans, automatic payments



Learn more about Blubrry's Pro Hosting.

Pro Hosting Pricing

Starts at $100 a month, which includes 1 podcast (show), statistics and free WordPress Site. Additional shows within the plan are a monthly fee of $10/per show.

Extra Pro Services





Blubrry Pro-Production is a good fit for those looking to bridge the gap between idea to launch as well as launch to routine.



The combination of the pro hosting plan, our production partner and of course our highly capable tech support team, Blubrry provides a well-rounded solution for podcasters looking to take their shows to the professional level.



Thanks for tuning in to see how Blubrry’s Pro Hosting can fit into your podcasting routine.







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The best place for support with any Blubrry product or service is our ticket system. Tickets give the whole team access vs. direct emails or calls. General podcasting discussion and more can be shared on the Blubrry Podcasting Facebook group.



Fill out our listener survey at surveys.blubrry.com/podcastinsider



Hosting customers can schedule a one-on-one call with Todd or a tech checkup with Mike.

todd@blubrry.com and mike@blubrry.com