Acast has announced an integration with Meta that will give podcasters new ways to grow audiences and engage with fans.
The companies are developing an integration between Facebook Groups and Acast+, the platform’s subscription offering that allows creators to give paying fans exclusive benefits across multiple platforms.
Creators using Acast+ will be able to offer listeners entry to subscriber-only Facebook Groups where fans can engage with each other, interact directly with their favourite podcasters, and get access to exclusive benefits – including live streams, Q&As and special events.
When a fan subscribes to a podcast’s Acast+ membership, they are admitted into the Group by linking the subscription to their Facebook account from the podcast feed. These communities will be powered by Facebook’s new Interoperable Subscriber Group technology.
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The integration will not only enable podcasters to build a community for their listeners, but also to offer their fans new perks with a much simpler user experience.
Ross Adams, CEO of Acast, said: “When podcasters are able to build deep relationships with their listeners, great things happen. A core part of Acast’s mission is to help turn those listeners into true, loyal fans — and this integration with Meta helps make that a reality for our tens of thousands of podcasters around the world.”
This new connection between the social media platform and podcast company will allow podcasters to create their community hub seamlessly – without the need to manually find and add fans.
Podcasters will be able to manage their Group, using it to engage with their community, promote new and upcoming episodes, access insights, and much more.
Simon Marcus, Acast’s VP of Strategy, said: “The best parts of the web are powered by platforms that are interoperable — ones that communicate with each other and enable creators to reach their audience wherever they are. Such technology is the foundation of the open podcast ecosystem that Acast has championed since its inception.”
“Interoperability profoundly affects the ability for new businesses to start, creators to thrive, and users to access content across platforms — which is key to the technology we’re so excited to be developing with Meta,” he added.
Ahead of the public launch, several creators — including Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Sullivan, who host the beauty podcast Fat Mascara — will participate in a testing period to help refine the technology.
Acast is the first podcast company to announce an integration with Facebook’s Interoperable Subscriber Groups.
The integration will be available to all podcasters offering an Acast+ membership, which any of Acast’s 47,000 podcasts can start for free.