PodOmatic Premium Podcasting 
creates a unique marketplace for digital content. We bring buyers and sellers together in a convenient and secure environment, using the familiar concepts of podcasting. Premium podcasting has all the features of traditional podcasting, with the exception that only media previews are publicly available. Transactions are processed through Google Checkout, and content is delivered to buyers' media library. Only PodOmatic has all the tools you need to market and sell digital products to a wide audience. PodOmatic is the place to buy and sell high-value content!
How does it work?
- Buyers browse Premium Podcast pages, containing previews of available content. Previews are also viewable on seller's profile page, premium RSS feed, and embedded players.
- Premium Episodes are added to buyer's shopping cart. Transactions are processed through Google Checkout.
- Seller's Google Checkout Merchant account is credited as appropriate.
- When transaction is complete, premium content is delivered to buyer's media library. Purchased content can be downloaded or consumed through the browser from the buyer's PodOmatic account.
Frequently Asked Questions
For Sellers
For Buyers
Answers
For Sellers
What am I selling?
You are selling individual Premium Episodes, which includes most importantly, a published media file, and optionally, a description and image. The published media will support web and download playable formats, according to your publishing specifications. When purchased, an episode is copied into the buyer's PodOmatic account, and all media formats are physically copied into their media library. Sellers must have the authority to sell the material made available.
What is the difference between my Podcast and Premium Podcast?
Your Podcast page is available for anyone to consume the media published on it. The Premium Podcast page only allows access to a preview of the media available for purchase. Both have the same supporting features sucah as RSS, embedded players, sharing, and comments. They have different themes, and other settings.
Why must I use a dedicated Google Checkout Merchant account for PodOmatic sales?
PodOmatic processes payment notifications using the Google Checkout API to perform delivery of the final product to the buyer. Our process is designed to protect your content, and provide a safe environment for these transactions for both parties. As such, we require your Google Checkout Merchant account to send notifications to PodOmatic, which applies to all transactions on the account. We are not equipped to process non-PodOmatic transaction notifications; if unknown notifications are received, your Premium Podcast will be temporary disabled until the problem is resolved.
Can I use coupons?
Coupons are not supported at this time. Contact us if you want this feature.
Can I use subscriptions or recurring charges?
Subscriptions and recurring charges are not supported at this time. Contact us if you want this feature.
What currencies are acceptable?
US Dollars and British Pounds. These options are dictated by Google Checkout.
Should I charge tax?
You are responsible for collecting and reporting pertinent tax on your transactions. If necessary, consult with a qualified tax professional to understand your tax obligations.
What type of content is allowed?
You must adhere to restrictions specified in Google Checkout content policies.
Can I use PayPal instead of Google Checkout?
At this time, only Google Checkout is supported. PayPal support is planned at a future date.
How do I start selling my Premium content on PodOmatic?
PodOmatic requires an account verification procedure, which you can view here. You must use a dedicated Google Checkout Merchant account for PodOmatic transactions.
How is the preview determined for my Premium Episodes?
You have two options for setting the preview:
- Previews can be automatically extracted from the beginning of the published media in the final publishing step. This is the default setting. You can choose from the first 30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 15 minutes.
- You can specify a media file to use as the preview for the episode. Note the preview should be the same format as the original media so the buyer knows what they are getting (for instance, you typically don't want to have a video preview for an audio sale item). The preview format will be converted identically to how the published media is formatted.
What are the transaction costs? What does PodOmatic charge for the service?
PodOmatic does not charge on a per-transaction basis. Transactions costs are charged by Google Checkout. Check their documentation on the specific nature of these charges. PodOmatic requires a minimum PRO Plus account to maintain a Premium Podcast.
Where can I find Google Checkout seller policies?
Seller policies are available here.
How are my statistics tracked?
Statistics are consolidated across your premium and regular podcast.
Are fans shared between my premium and regular podcast?
Yes. Your fans are tied to you, not the podcast, so they are shared by both your podcasts.
Do I have unique settings for my premium and regular show pages and RSS feeds?
Each podcast has its own settings. Your premium settings can be edited here; your regular settings here.
How can I protect my content?
Digital watermarking is an effective way to protect your content. If you are interested in watermarking purchases uniquely to identify their buyer, contact PodOmatic for more information.
Why can't I use the Chapters feature with Premium?
Chapters is not enabled for the beta release of Premium. Support will be added soon.
What is the difference between my Premium Podcast and my regular podcast?
Your premium podcast lists previews of the content, and copies the original into the buyers' media library upon purchase. The regular podcast lists the content as it is posted.
How do users access my Premium Podcast page?
The premium podcast is accessible by prefixing your podcast URL with premium.
For Buyers
What format does the media come in?
The media comes in two formats: one for web-based play and one for downloading. The format media is based on how the author published them. Your media library will display the downloadable format, and the web format will be available when playing through the browser. The format you purchase should be identical to what's available in the preview, but this may depend on seller preference. Contact seller to confirm. You are responsible for ensuring you can play the media you purchase.
Do I need a Google Checkout account to make a purchase?
Yes. Buyer and seller must use Google Checkout for the purchase.
Do I need a PodOmatic account to make a purchase?
Yes. PodOmatic creates a secure and convenience marketplace, which requires both parties have accounts. Purchased content is copied into your media library.
What is the return policy on Premium Episodes?
Returns and refunds policies are dictated by Google Checkout policies. Since Premium Podcasts involve sale of digital media, Google's Payment Guarantee Policy does not apply, and therefore no refunds are available.
Can I use PayPal instead of Google Checkout?
Not at this time. We expect to include PayPal support at a future date.
Can I pay with a credit card?
You can pay with any method supported by Google Checkout.
Can I redistribute purchased material?
You cannot redistribute or re-sell any material purchased on PodOmatic. Seller retains copyright on all material unless indicated otherwise.
How do I access Premium Episodes that I have purchased?
After you have purchased the media, it is copied into your media library. A list of all the Premium Episodes you have purchased is available within the Premium Content page. From there you can access the media through your web browser, or download it to your computer. PodOmatic recommends downloading the media to your computer, and keeping backup copies.
What can I do with media purchased on PodOmatic?
You must adhere to whatever terms are dictated by the seller regarding your purchase. You cannot re-publish media purchased on PodOmatic. You can download the media to your computer, and you can play the media from a browser within your account on PodOmatic.
How can I contact the seller with a question?
On PodOmatic, you can leave the seller a comment on their Premium Podcast page, or add them as a friend, and contact them directly through PodOmatic. After the transaction you will have the seller's contact information. Seller may also provide additional contact information on their Premium show page, or PodOmatic profile.
Do I need a PRO account to purchase content?
No. A basic PodOmatic account includes 500MB of free media library storage. If you wish to increase your storage, then a PRO account is required Visit the Go PRO page for more information.
Where do I find my purchased content?
Your purchased episodes appear in the Premium Content section, under the Purchased tab. The media files are also stored in your media library. There may be more than one copy of the media file, if separate files are required for download and web play. Only the download-format version of the file is counted against your storage quota, and that is what appears in your library. The web version can only be played from the Purchased tab.