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The Ultimate Guide to Growing Your Podcast
Are you getting frustrated because your podcast isn't growing? You’ve done everything you can, but you still aren’t seeing any results. While you might be sitting there and thinking about calling it quits, don't give up yet.
Unless you’re a celebrity or already have a large following across all social media platforms, everyone starts at the bottom. Their podcasts start on a small scale and it takes time to get any traffic. Throughout this blog, you’ll be reading about the reasons why your podcast might be struggling and the tools you can use to help find that growth.
Why isn't my podcast growing?
It takes more than just buying all the proper equipment and having the right setup to grow your podcast. Show development and planning out the details are key when it comes to getting your show to the masses. Getting your podcast out there requires strategy, figuring out what makes it unique and will attract listeners to tune in.
A podcast audit is one method you can use to help you grow your podcast. Podcast audits help you to measure the current progress of your podcast. A major component of a podcast audit is conducting a SWOT analysis. This will help you get a better understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats within your podcast. The data you collect from your podcast audit should be use to help you develop a new strategy moving forward.
How do I get more people to listen to my podcast?
Having very few listeners can be quite discouraging, and finding them can be really difficult, but with the right approach you can find yourself with more traffic and an increase in podcast downloads. Here are some tips to help you get that boost in podcast listenership:
Know your audience - Create a podcast that will allow you to connect with the audience that you want. It’ll make things easier for you with content creation and you’ll be giving the listeners exactly what they want. Don’t be afraid to narrow your target market. A niche audience can result in a greater listenership experience. This can also help with advertising as companies will recognize certain audiences and want their products to be reached to these people through your podcast.
Be intentional with your episode - The number one form of marketing is word of mouth. You want listeners to be talking about and sharing your podcast with family and friends. Once you impress them with the subject matter of your show, it will be a lot easier to know what your future episodes will be about. Keep the listeners happy with what you have to say and they’ll continue to listen as well as tell others to check your show out.
Have a platform outside of the podcast - It’s important to engage with listeners on more than just one platform. You can set up fan pages on social media, create an email list, or even host an aftershow on YouTube. These are some of the things you can do to enhance your relationship with these listeners with the option to offer them more content. Referrals are the number one source of podcast traffic. The more people enjoy your show as well as engage with you, the more likely they are to tell their friends about your show or leave a great review.
What can I do to market my podcast?
We’ve already discussed word of mouth as the number one form of marketing. However, it isn’t the only form you can rely on. Just like any product or service, marketing is crucial if you want people to know what you’re putting out there. Here are some ways that can help you market your podcast in an effective manner:
Make it easy for your audience to share your podcast - An efficient way of doing this is by creating graphics for each of your episodes using a site like Headliner. The work is already done and your listeners will be taking your brand and sharing it on their respective social media pages.
Utilizing SEO - Using text that is associated with your podcast is very important when it comes to ranking high on search engines. The right keywords (phrases or overall language that your market familiarizes themselves with) will help place your podcast with other related shows as yours could come up as a recommendation. Adding metadata and ID3 tags is also something that shouldn’t be glossed over when it comes to the editing process. It must be noted that this should be done organically as you want to make what you find relative to your audience. If you’re not labeling things correctly, such as show title or description boxes, then it’ll make things more difficult for new listeners to come across your show.
Going live with your podcast - YouTube is a great platform to do live broadcasts as it’s already a search engine. Adding video to you is another element you can add to your show and opens the door for potential monetization and engaging with listeners via a live chat.
How long before I start to see my podcast grow?
Chances are that your show isn’t going to be an overnight success. You need to give yourself some time before you can see positive results. Wait about three months before you decide to make any drastic changes. Track listenership and podcast analytics on a monthly basis to see where you’re at, and allow yourself to be flexible along the way so that you can make those changes you need in order to offer your listeners a relevant and palatable experience.
Learn how to launch a podcast that's profitable from day one!
More About Anchored Media
At Anchored Media, we develop, produce and market high-quality revenue-generating podcasts that make a real difference in people’s lives and help brands connect to a broader audience — all from the ground up.
We teach podcasters how to find their voices and refine their messages.
We help them discover the value of their unique perspectives and guide them as they design signature styles that attract loyal followers and boost profits.
We give brands the tools they need to position their podcasts for exponential growth and long-term success.
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