A new way for podcasters to earn sponsorship revenue has been developed by CodeADX, which identifies itself as The Promo Code Marketplace. In this system, podcasters have full control of their sponsors and the products promoted on the show. It’s based on a commission model which generates what CodeADX calls “meaningful revenue,” even for shows lacking a scaled-up audience.
CodeADX connects podcasters to Shopify stores, which become sponsors of the podcast via promo codes. The idea is that small podcasts have small audiences, but loyal ones that can be responsive to host endorsements. In the CodeADX arrangement, podcasters can fashion the promotions however they want — recorded spot or live host-read endorsement. (We are told that guardrails are in place for inappropriate promos.) There are no restrictions on the podcast’s audience size, how the ads are placed, or the style in which ads are delivered. (We have queried whether that allowance could ever be problematic.)
“It doesn’t take a large audience for a commission model to work—just a few engaged listeners making
purchases can generate meaningful revenue for a podcaster,” says Jeffrey Specter, Founder/CEO of
CodeADX.
The sales commissions, set by the participating stores, are typically 15%.
Tom Webster (Partner, Sounds Profitable), Steve Goldstein (CEO, Amplifi Media), and Mike Agovino (President of Workhouse Connect and Co-Founder of Triton Digital), each endorses CodeADX, as documented below.
“In our work with clients, we’ve found there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to monetizing podcasts. CodeADX’s commission model, combined with its innovative partnerships with Shopify stores, is poised to be a game-changer. It allows podcasters to generate revenue regardless of audience size—a strategy we’ve seen succeed in other industries and one we’re excited to see applied to podcasting.” –Steve Goldstein, CEO of Amplifi Media
“Commission models like CodeADX’s have existed since the early days of podcasting, but the logistics kept them from wider use. I am excited to see solutions like CodeADX that open up this opportunity to a wider group of creators”. –Tom Webster, Partner, Sounds Profitable
“For years, media buyers prioritized large audiences over smaller shows, even though performance advertisers care more about sales than impressions. Tracking sales performance of smaller shows wasn’t efficient, and cost-per-thousand models fail with smaller audiences. CodeADX changes that by making performance campaigns viable for any show. With seamless shopping cart integration, sales are tracked by promo codes, letting podcasters earn sales commissions. Wow, everybody wins—especially shows that have struggled to monetize.” –Mike Agovino, Triton Co-Founder, President of Workhouse Connect
