Maximize your podcast revenue effortlessly with programmatic advertising, a dynamic method that seamlessly inserts relevant ads into your episodes. Perfect for passive monetization during breaks or leveraging your back catalog, this option turns your podcasting efforts into a continuous stream of revenue.
In this article:
About The Programmatic Program
About The Programmatic Program
Explore this guide to find answers to common questions about the Programmatic program.
What are Programmatic ads?
What are Programmatic ads?
Programmatic ads streamline the monetization process by automatically inserting relevant advertisements into your podcast episodes. You retain control, selecting preferred ad slots and insertion points to strategically manage your content. Through automated matching, programmatic ads connect you with advertisers targeting your specific audience. Utilizing advanced data and algorithms, these ads align your content seamlessly with brands that resonate with both your podcast and your listeners' interests, enhancing the overall effectiveness of your monetization strategy.
Is there a specific Zencastr plan type I need to be on to participate in the Programmatic Program?
Is there a specific Zencastr plan type I need to be on to participate in the Programmatic Program?
Users on any subscription plan, free or paid, can join the Programmatic Program.
Do I need to migrate hosting to opt in to the Programmatic Program?
Do I need to migrate hosting to opt in to the Programmatic Program?
To participate in the Programmatic Program, it's essential to be hosted on Zencastr, as the ad server is necessary for your show to connect with the ad exchange. More information on redirecting here.
Can you accommodate VAST tags so I can stay with my current host?
Can you accommodate VAST tags so I can stay with my current host?
At the moment, personal VAST tags are not supported. However, some hosting providers may enable you to remain with their hosting while accessing external programmatic streams for additional monetization. If you're interested in this feature, feel free to reach out to us at creatornetwork@zencastr.com to share your feedback.
My audience is outside of the US, can I still participate in the Programmatic Program?
My audience is outside of the US, can I still participate in the Programmatic Program?
Yes, our Programmatic partners cater to a global audience. Ad fill may vary based on the demand in each region.
Is there a download threshold?
Is there a download threshold?
No download requirements! While there are no strict prerequisites, we recommend your show to have at least 50 downloads/plays per episode. Earnings will be influenced by factors such as audience size, demographics, and podcast genre.
Do I have the ability to approve ads before they run on my show for brand safety?
Do I have the ability to approve ads before they run on my show for brand safety?
Advertisers bid on your show in real-time in a dynamic ad marketplace. Creators do not have the option to pre-approve ads before they are served. To ensure brand safety, automatic filters are in place to prevent content from risqué or controversial brands.
What types of ads are running?
What types of ads are running?
The ads typically cover a range of categories, including food & beverage, automotive brands, travel services, and consumer products. Additionally, there may be local brands featured based on geolocation, such as car dealership ads and grocery store chains.
What does revenue share mean?
What does revenue share mean?
Opting into the Programmatic Program entails revenue sharing, with the specific percentage outlined in your invitation to accept the offer. This starts with a base rate of 50% for non-investors, potentially increasing based on your participation in our WeFunder Investor Campaign. It's important to note that revenue share percentages may differ from other monetization programs due to considerations such as platform costs and fees, ensuring the sustainability and availability of the program for all creators on Zencastr.
Your individual percentage is contingent on your active participation level in our WeFunder Investor Campaign, the perks of which are discussed here.
What CPM can I expect?
What CPM can I expect?
The CPM range is $5-$15, the floor is $2.
I need help, should I use the chat icon for support?
I need help, should I use the chat icon for support?
If your podcast is hosted on Zencastr, please contact creatornetwork@zencastr.com via email for any programmatic inquiries. For assistance with redirecting or any other issues, reach out to our support team via email at support@zencastr.com or through our chat feature.
Get Started With The Programmatic Program
Follow this guide for step-by-step instructions on joining and completing onboarding steps to enable Programmatic ads.
How to join the Programmatic Program
How to join the Programmatic Program
Reach out to us at creatornetwork@zencastr.com with your show name and Zencastr username. Upon approval, you'll receive an offer visible in your Monetize dashboard, accompanied by an email notification.
Please note that you must be hosted on Zencastr to proceed. Refer to this guide for seamless migration steps here.
What is the review process like?
What is the review process like?
✔ Confirmation your show is hosted on Zencastr.
✔ Zencastr admin review shows to determine if the program is original, hosted by a real person, and not bot-generated.
To expedite your onboarding process and ensure you’re joining all monetization opportunities, please be sure to join The Creator Network.
To expedite your onboarding process and ensure you’re joining all monetization opportunities, please be sure to join The Creator Network.
Follow these 3 easy steps to join The Creator Network.
Step 1: Sign up here.
Already have an account? Log In
Step 2: Claim Your Show
Connecting your podcast syncs your show to Zencastr and will not impact your current podcast availability. Your podcast will continue to be served from your host provider, without any delays and noticeable differences from your listeners. For a how-to, watch this video here.
Step 3: Apply to the Creator Network
Once your show is connected, an application form will pop up, from here you can opt-in to flexible monetization programs.
All set!
How do I enable programmatic ads on my show?
How do I enable programmatic ads on my show?
If you’re hosted on Zencastr, you’re required to complete the following tasks before your show is processed and enabled to run Programmatic Ads.
Accept your Programmatic offer from your dashboard.
Upload your demographics here.
Open ad slots.
Refer to the following guides to get started:
How do I find my demographic information to provide for Programmatic onboarding?
How do I find my demographic information to provide for Programmatic onboarding?
To find your demographic information, login into your Spotify for Podcasters account. Please reference this support article here.
If you are unable to login, you may not have claimed your show on Spotify. Refer here on how.
If you are hosted elsewhere (not through Spotify/Anchor/Megaphone) you will still be able to access this information if one of your distribution endpoints is Spotify. This demographic information is data gathered from your show from the audiences who consume their podcast listening through Spotify.
Can I disable programmatic ads anytime?
Can I disable programmatic ads anytime?
Yes, you have the flexibility to toggle programmatic ads on or off directly from your dashboard, giving you control over their presence at any time.
Maximizing Your Programmatic Ad Earnings
Explore this guide to find answers on how to maximize your Programmatic Ads revenue.
How much ad fill can I expect?
How much ad fill can I expect?
Fill rates can vary based on the show's type, genre, season of podcast listening, and advertising trends. Ad fill rates tend to increase after the first 60-90 days as the platform becomes familiar with your posting habits and aligns your episodes with suitable advertisers.
Disclaimers on ad fill:
1. Creators have control over the number of ad slots opened for programmatic ads.
Reference ad slot creation tutorials:
2. Ads can change hourly, and each listen/stream may have a different ad.
3. Monetization of podcast downloads/plays depends on real-time bidding for ad insertion. Not every play/download will be monetized.
How many ad slots should I open for programmatic ads?
How many ad slots should I open for programmatic ads?
Let’s review the types of ad slots:
Insertion: Choose the timestamp of where you want to place an ad slot in your episode. More information here.
Extraction: Repurpose an existing embedded ad, only one ad will be played in this spot. More information here.
Ad Break: Use ‘Create Insertion Point’ to add an ad slot. To increase the number of ads to play within this break, toggle to increase the number of ads. For example, if you create an insertion point at 00:00:00, and want up to 3 ads to play within this break, you must select 3 in the ‘Number of Ads’ field.
Determining the ideal number of ad slots for programmatic ads depends on what best fits your show and audience. It's important to note that an ad slot doesn't dictate the number of ads in a break. If you add 3 insertion points, only up to 3 ads can be served. To maximize your insertion points, adjust the "Number of Ads" field. For instance, if you've set 3 ad breaks with up to 3 ads each, you can potentially serve up to 9 ads per episode.
Adding Insertion points or ad slots: Based on industry standards, a recommended approach is to open three ad slots for shorter episodes: a preroll (first 25%), midroll (between 26-75%), and postroll (76%-100%) ad slots. For longer episodes, such as those over an hour, maximizing ad revenue could involve adding multiple midroll ad breaks. Tailoring the number of ad slots to your episode length can optimize your monetization strategy.
Payouts and earnings
Explore our guide for answers to frequently asked questions about payments and earnings.
How and when will I receive payment?
How and when will I receive payment?
✔ Payouts are done via PayPal. Please fill out the following form here. If you have already filled out this form, you’re all set. If you need to change your information, please contact us directly at creatornetwork@zencastr.com
✔ Earnings from the Programmatic Program are paid on a NET 90 basis after activation on your show.
✔ Payout earnings will be sent only via PayPal. Other payment channels such as Venmo, Cash App, Zelle or Stripe are currently unavailable.
✔ A minimum of $20 in earnings is required for payment to be issued for the show.
How can I see my stats or earnings?
How can I see my stats or earnings?
A monthly report will be sent to you to review your earnings. We’re working on some integrations for real-time reporting within your dashboard. Stay tuned!
Do I have a tax obligation for my earnings through Zencastr? How can I obtain a 1099 form?
Do I have a tax obligation for my earnings through Zencastr? How can I obtain a 1099 form?
Below are some references that may be significant to you. Please note that the details we share here are not intended as tax advice, and for specific questions related to your unique tax situation, we recommend consulting a tax professional.
As payments are disbursed via PayPal, the following articles might be helpful:
These resources from PayPal aim to assist you in understanding the tax implications associated with your earnings. If you have specific questions or concerns, it's always a good idea to seek advice from a qualified tax professional, especially as tax laws and filing vary from state to state and country to country.