What is Back Catalog?
A back catalog refers to all the previously published episodes of a podcast. These older episodes can generate significant 'evergreen' traffic and revenue long after their release.
Why Back Catalog Matters for Podcasters
The back catalog consists of every episode a podcaster has published prior to the current one. For many shows, the back catalog is a goldmine of passive traffic. Unlike news or sports podcasts, which have a short shelf life, 'evergreen' podcasts (covering history, education, or storytelling) often see listeners discovering episode 1 years after it was released. A healthy back catalog increases the total download numbers for a show, which can help with sponsorship deals. Some podcasters monetize their back catalog by putting older episodes behind a paywall (subscription) or by using Dynamic Ad Insertion (DAI) to inject fresh ads into old episodes, ensuring that even a listen on a 3-year-old episode generates current revenue.
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Audiogram
An audiogram is a short video clip that combines audio from your podcast with a visual waveform and your cover art, creating shareable social media content that promotes your show.
Waveform
A waveform is a visual representation of audio that shows the amplitude (loudness) of sound over time. In podcasting, waveforms are used in audiograms and editing software to visualize audio.
Show Notes
Show notes are written summaries or bullet points that accompany each podcast episode, typically including key topics, guest information, timestamps, and links to resources mentioned in the episode.
RSS Feed
An RSS feed is a standardized XML file that contains information about your podcast episodes, including titles, descriptions, audio file URLs, and publication dates. It's how podcast directories and apps discover and update your show.