How to Develop a Subscription-Based Podcast Website?

We are in an era of podcasting. Podcasts have evolved from being mere niches to a “must-have media moment” for every brand. So, whether you’re looking to build your podcast website or a podcast marketplace like Supercast, it’s a profitable pursuit. In this blog, we explore the steps to build a subscription-based website, successful examples, and best practices.

Is it Better to Host Podcasts on Your Own Website?

No, it is not a good idea to host extensive podcast files on your website due to bandwidth problems, speed, and storage issues. This might significantly affect your site’s performance and server resources.​

You don’t get enough visibility and access to analytics and advanced monetization tools. Further, creating a dedicated page and battling with RSS feed errors is challenging.

So, is there an alternative? You can either host on a popular podcasting platform like Supercast or build your own podcast subscription platform. While building everything from scratch looks intimidating, luckily, solutions like Fanso.io reduce the development overhead, so you focus on growing your business!

Owning a Subscription Website Vs. Hosting on Existing Podcast Platforms​

How do Subscription-based Podcasts Work?

Before building a subscription-based podcast site, you need to understand how such platforms work.​

While most creators offer free podcasts, paid podcasts are equally prevalent. Creators can typically lock their podcast shows behind a paywall and offer access to only paid subscribers. 

On popular podcast platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Supercast, creators offer subscriptions for paid podcasts, early access, bonus content, live AMAs and video episodes.

Creators and entrepreneurs monetize from subscriptions, ads, merch and communities. And subscribers can access the show from any podcast platform with private, unique RSS feeds.

These subscription platforms offer monetization, analytics and growth tools to build a successful podcast community. In exchange, the platform takes a fixed fee or revenue share based on the monthly downloads.

How to Build a Subscription-Based Podcast Website in 6 Easy Steps?

Podcasts are no longer a side experiment, but a powerful media channel earning the trust of the audience. There are over 4.52 million podcasts worldwide, and 158 million listen to podcasts every month in the U.S. So, if you have second thoughts on building your subscription-based podcast website, be rest assured you’re on the right track!

Here’s a step-by-step guide to develop a subscription-based podcast website:

Step 1: Identify a Niche & Theme

Every successful subscription-based website begins with a clear and high-paying niche. A targeted niche helps to reach a more specific audience. Thus, you can build a more refined business model and marketing strategies.​

Here are a few examples of popular podcast websites and their niches:

• Supercast – Business, comedy & culture, crime & fiction, news, health & fitness
• Buzzsprout –  Business & entrepreneurship, personal finance, education, technology, health & wellness
• Patreon – Creator-focused communities
• Spotify for Creators – Lifestyle & personal podcasts, self-help, education, micro- learning, entertainment

Choosing the right niche is crucial for positioning your business in the market. You can build an open podcast directory, a creator-centric membership podcast, and premium podcast websites. If you’re an independent podcaster building your own community, you can skip this step as you have found your niche.

Step 2: Choose Your Business Model & Revenue Streams

Before you delve into the steps of developing your subscription-based website, let’s talk about the business logic. While your platform is built on a subscription-based model at its core, your revenue streams also contribute to overall success.

Here are the key revenue streams your podcast website can monetize from:

• Tiered Subscriptions– Create basic tier (ad-free), mid-tier (bonus episodes), premium tiers (exclusive one-to-one interactions) for different audience segments.
• Platform Fees – Monthly or annual hosting plans based on upload hours, tools & analytics, etc.
• Ads – Connect podcasters with advertisers based on a revenue share model.
• Revenue Share- Earn a percentage of creator revenue based on their reach and downloads. (50% revenue share for 50,000 downloads).
• Add-ons & Upsells – Charge for extra upload hours, more analytics and tools.
• Merch & Communities – Instead of ads, creators can even monetize from merch and exclusive community access.
• Featured Listings – Creators pay more for featured listings or new launches on the website.

Remember, diversity in revenue streams helps to keep the platform revenue steady. Premium subscription model, membership model, and pay-per-episode model are common podcast subscription models.

Step 3: Decide the Core & Advanced Features of Subscription-Based Podcast Website

The basic purpose of subscription-based podcast websites is to connect creators with their audience through podcast episodes. Easy podcast hosting, content discovery, smooth playback, subscription and payment management are the fundamental elements for podcast websites.​

Let’s look at the top creator and admin features to build your podcast website!

Creator-based Features

Creators look for easy content management, diverse monetization streams, 99.99% uptime and maximum reach on podcast websites.​

Monetization Features

• Profile setup & login
• Easy upload & episode scheduling features
• Paid subscriptions & tiers
• Private RSS Feeds
• Advertising network
• Content gating & access control
• Payments & subscription setup
• Payout management

Growth Features

• Resources & content hub
• Content discovery & filters
• Listing on top podcast directories
• Creator dashboard, tools & analytics
• Merch store
• Social community features
• Email listings
• Customer support
• Listener support & donations

Customization Features

• Audio enhancement tools
• Extra upload hours, upsells & add-ons
• Branding & website features

Subscriber-based Features

Subscribers desire premium content, smooth playback options, secure payments, and direct interactions with their favorite podcasters.

• Exclusive content access
• Smooth video & audio playback
• Playlist creation
• Autorenewals
• Newsfeed
• Easy content access
• Secure payments & purchase flow

Admin-based Features

Admin features provide easy revenue management, payouts, analytics, & managing active users and creators.

• Dedicated Admin panel
• Manage creator data, payouts & subscriptions.
• Business analytics & revenue
• Onboarding & setup help
• Payments & refund management
• Branding & API integrations

Once you nail the core features, move on to advanced features. Think of adding AI-based content recommendations, AI pricing features, social sharing and more. Fanso.io offers a range of premium add-ons for AI enhancement, monetization and payment gateways to scale your platform.

Step 4: Integrate with a Suitable Payment Gateway & Subscription Setup

Monetization is a non-negotiable aspect of podcasting. While it offers more control, you need a robust infrastructure for accepting payments securely.​

Trusted payment gateways include:

• Stripe Integrations & add-ons for recurring payments and custom flows
• PayPal for one-time and recurring payment support
• Local & region-specific gateways like Verotel, Pix, Boleto, iDEAL

Choose a payment gateway with recurring billing support, PCI-DSS compliance, security and chargeback protection.

Build a seamless checkout process to offer easy, convenient and frictionless payments for users. Further, provide multiple payment options and flexibility with monthly and annual payment plans to attract different types of audiences.​

Step 5: Build from Scratch vs. Buy Ready-made Subscription Clone scripts

Now comes the most exciting and crucial step of the development journey — choosing the right development partner. You can either build your website from scratch or choose a ready-made podcast subscription platform clone script.

A reliable development approach is one that suits your business needs and budget. Here are a few important questions for making the right decision:

• Which subscription models does the platform support?
• What are the core features & monetization tools?
• Which payment gateway integrations does your platform support?
• Does the software help to scale the platform as my users grow?
• Do you offer maintenance, upgrade, and monitoring?
• How long does it take to build from scratch vs. building with a ready-made clone script?
• Does the platform support user migration?

Choose building with a ready-made clone script if:

• You’re planning a quick launch and have a limited budget.
• You need an MVP with all the core features of a subscription website.
• You want to escape the coding hassles or technical know-how needed.
• You’re looking for a tested and proven industry model.
• You need a highly customizable solution with branding features.

Choose building from scratch if:

• You have an extensive budget, time and resources.
• You’re having a dedicated tech team for development.
• You need unique workflows.

Fanso.io is a highly customizable subscription-based podcast platform clone script to build your own podcast website. Whether you’re building a podcast marketplace or your own self-hosted podcasting platform, it offers you everything you need!

Step 6: Plan a Launch & Marketing Strategy

Before your website goes live, you need to launch and market it in the most effective way.

Right?

That’s how you hit the right chord with your future podcasters and subscribers.  Don’t worry; we dish the deets in a while!

Here’s the ultimate marketing playbook for your podcast website:

• Social media promotions with launch posts, contests, and unique features
• Offer early access perks & benefits to quality creators
• Newsletters to podcasters packed with monetization guides & launch checklists
• Resource & content hub with insights on monetization, equipment, and more
• Provide podcasting Q&A, forums, and creator support episodes
• Offer early or limited-time discounts for the first few sign-ups
• Influencer promotions & collaborations
• Promote success stories & case studies on your website
• Host community events & meetups

By counting on the right strategies, you get maximum visibility from your day one and can grow your platform seamlessly.

Popular Subscription-Based Podcast Website

Need some inspiration for building your subscription-based podcast website? Let’s learn from successful podcast sites that have already been there!

Supercast

Supercast is a leading podcast subscription platform hosting the likes of Peter Attia, Shane Parrish, and Rhonda Patrick, successfully monetizing from their shows. It is known for selling paid access to their shows, bonus episodes, and other membership perks. 

The platform supports a wide range of niches, including business, comedy & culture, health & fitness, crime & culture, news, and more.

Creators offer access through multi-tiered subscriptions, flexible price plans, and trials. On the other hand, subscribers get converted through two-tap subscriptions. Private RSS feeds, analytics, built-in AMA, Stripe integration and platform support are the platform’s core features.

Supercast offers two monthly hosting plans: all-in-one and a custom plan with exclusive perks and benefits. Further, it distributes creator podcasts across popular platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube Music, maximizing your reach.

Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout is another podcast hosting and monetization platform trusted by over 120,000 active podcasters. It offers tools, support and a great community to get started with podcasting.

With private RSS Feeds, customizable podcast websites, analytics, and monetization tools, Buzzsprout makes podcasting easy. Creators can get listed on popular podcast directories, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pocket Casts, etc.

Buzzsprout is beginner-friendly, offers listener support and subscription options to build an audience over time. Creators can opt for $19/month (4hr upload), $39/month (15 hours), or $79/month (35 hours) to publish their shows on the platform.

Partner with Fanso to Launch Your Subscription-Based Podcast Website

Ready to step into the astounding podcasting industry? Fanso makes it easy to build and manage a podcast subscription platform.

With no coding hassles, you can build a customizable website for hosting podcasts with all the essential monetization and branding features for complete control. It’s packed with subscription tiers, social community features, built-in AMAs, a payment gateway, content discovery and more.

Beyond the core features, it offers analytics, dashboards, and mobile optimization to help you run your podcast website. Fanso is a seamless solution to build your podcast community, monetize, and boost visibility! So, get started today!

Conclusion

Well, that’s a complete guide on how to develop a subscription-based podcast website. If you want to build a successful podcast subscription platform, don’t blindly mimic your industry leaders or competitors.

Find your USP and a real industry gap to scale on. This helps to stand out and build your own authority in the podcasting industry. At Fanso.io, we craft products with unmatched expertise in the industry, backed by our cutting-edge technology. Contact our team to transform your podcast idea to the next revolution gripping the industry!

FAQ-Related to Developing a Subscription-Based Podcast Website

1. How do I create a website for my podcasts?

Here are the detailed steps to create a podcast website:

1. Identify a profitable niche & theme
2.  Choose the right business model & revenue streams
3. Design core & advanced features for podcast website
4. Integrate with a suitable payment gateway and subscription setup
5. Partner with the right development platform
6. Plan an effective launch & marketing strategy

2. How much does it cost to build a podcast website like Supercast?

The cost of building a podcast website like Supercast is approximately $30,000 to $70,000, depending on features and customization.  

3. What are the key features to add to a subscription-based podcast website?

Subscriptions & payments, smooth audio & video playback, easy podcast hosting and private RSS feed are the core features of subscription-based podcast websites.

4. What are the monetization strategies that I can use for my subscription-based podcast website?

Subscriptions, platform fees, ads, merch store, community access, add-ons, and upsells are different ways to monetize your podcast websites.

5. Is it possible to make a podcast website using Fanso?

Yes, it is possible to build a podcast website with ready-made subscription-based creator community platforms like Fanso.