Increase Podcast Listeners
Making podcasts is one of the fastest-growing and most successful ways to educate, entertain, inform, and connect with other people. Podcasts are relatively easy to make and inexpensive to produce and yet can still have a remarkably high impact on their listeners, elevating the podcast makers’ mission or business to the next level.
With so many podcasters out there, how can a person or a business get through to a specific audience ready to listen to just that kind of content? Below are some of our favorite and most effective tips on how to increase podcast listeners and retain them into the future.
1) Focus on developing your niche content to attract your ideal podcast audience.
With so many different podcast producers releasing new content every day, how do you stand out from the crowd? The first step is to get very clear about what focus your podcast will have. For example, are you most interested in talking about spirituality and health? Maybe you are a gardener who loves talking about plants and how they can bring vitality and joy into our lives. Whatever your interests are, try to specialize in one or two related areas of interest with some novelty added in to expose your listeners to new knowledge and to keep them interested, too.
2) Create high-quality content consistently.
Another way to stand out from the crowd is to carefully select your guests and make sure that their spirit and the essence of their message is represented on your podcast as fully as possible. Prepare well before each podcast so that you can ask good questions, and don’t forget to be a great listener so that your guests can truly express themselves.
It is a good idea to invest in high-quality equipment. It can help you make the highest quality podcast episodes. For example, having a microphone that can capture crisp and clear sound and a high-pixel camera to record your videos (if you will be making videos of your podcast sessions) can greatly increase the appeal of your content. Don’t underestimate the power of great editing so you can present your podcast in the best light possible.
3) Invite exciting and engaging guests.
Inviting suitable guests on your podcast will be one of the most rewarding and impactful steps you can take toward a solid listenership. If you haven’t thought about your guest list for a while, this is the best time to brush up on your networking skills and go out there to meet people who could be potential guests on your podcast. If you aren’t sure if particular guests are right for your podcast, don’t hesitate to reach out to them and ask them some questions to see if your values and sensibilities match. Sometimes, however, it is beneficial to invite a guest who doesn’t particularly match you but would still be a very interesting contributor to your podcast – your listeners could be energized and inspired by this kind of guest who shows them a different point of view.
4) Engage with your listeners.
If you are having trouble retaining and growing your audience, try engaging with your podcast listeners by asking them for advice about future topics and guests they would like to hear on your podcast. You can also pose questions that will make them think more deeply about your podcast themes. It is a good idea to have a Facebook group, a forum, or another social media platform where discussion about these interesting topics can continue and expand.
Your listeners will also get an opportunity to get to know each other and to feel a sense of community and support. Posting your podcast and any content associated with it on your social media channels can not only be a quick and efficient way for your audience to engage with your content but also an excellent way for them to engage with you. You will also be able to have direct contact with your listeners, who will feel more intimately connected with you, your content, and your business.
Another great way to bring more listeners on board is to have frequent contests and/or giveaways so that your audience can have an incentive to engage and contribute to the conversation. The easiest way you can introduce these incentives is through calls to action, either within your podcast audio/video or in the description notes for your podcast. These calls to action can prompt your listeners to take advantage of a giveaway or to engage in a discussion, helping you to establish a loyal audience.
5) Submit your podcast to podcast directories and apps.
In this busy world running on convenience, many people don’t take the time to search for what exactly they would like to listen to. Rather, many rely on suggestions from platforms such as Spotify, iTunes, Google, and Facebook. They also very often search within these platforms rather than on search engines to find the content they are interested in. A great way for new listeners to find you is through these platforms, so make sure to list your podcast on all available podcast directories, outlets, and apps. This way, you will make it easy for your audience to find you and to get updated about your new episodes. Make sure to include a thorough description of each podcast so that the algorithms of each platform let your ideal audience find you.
6) Become a master of SEO and marketing for your podcasts.
So, you have found your perfect guests, recorded wonderfully engaging content, and worked your editing magic. You are eager and ready to release your next podcast episode into the world for the people who truly resonate with it. You also know exactly who your ideal listeners are and where to find them, but now what? How do you attract the attention of this eager audience who will want to stick around podcast after podcast? You have to specifically and actively promote your podcast to this special group of people seeking out your content online.
One of the most important steps for you to take as you grow your podcast is to SEO optimize your website, including all your written content, your podcast descriptions, images, videos, website URLs, and any other searchable items so that the audience that is seeking you can easily find you through a search engine look-up. When your ideal audience starts coming to you, you can encourage them to sign up for your email list and subscribe to your podcast so you can grow and retain your listeners.
A great way to get your new listeners to contribute their email to your list is to insert calls to action throughout your website content and your podcast (in the audio/video as well as the show notes). These calls to action can be very short and sweet, leading your listeners to a freebie after they sign up for your podcast. For example, you can give them special or early access to your new podcast episodes, allow them to download a free ebook, or send them discounts on products that your podcast is supporting.
Once you have a mailing list, use it to let your audience know about your upcoming guests, give them new and informative content, and update them on services and products you might have. A well-designed newsletter can be one of the most effective ways to maintain and grow your podcast listeners, but you can also write simple emails inspiring your audience to engage with your content.
7) Be a guest on other people’s podcasts, and they will return the favor.
The more exposure you can get online, the more people can see you and make up their minds about your content. This doesn’t mean that you should take on any and every opportunity to be a guest on other people’s podcasts. When you participate in someone else’s podcast, you will be associated with that host, so think carefully if this is appropriate for your business. Once you have been a guest on podcasts you like, you can reach out to these hosts and see if they would like to be guests on your podcast. Most likely, these hosts will return the favor and agree to be interviewed by you.
8) Brush up on your hosting skills.
It never hurts to become better at your craft, especially since gaining confidence will make you a more effective host and interviewer. The more you practice your skills and even have an outside listener or two to give you feedback, the greater potential you will have to grow as a podcaster and business owner. You can also take a class on hosting podcasts effectively or hire a coach who can help you through the learning and growing process.
Remember to always retain from training and feedback what helps you and not to take every criticism to heart. The idea is not to become a clone of every other “successful” podcaster out there – the greater challenge is to become better and more effective at doing your own thing. People will like you and remember you for your uniqueness rather than for how sleek and polished your podcast is.
Conclusion
Are you a business owner struggling to expand your audience and grow your business? Are you ready to see how podcasts can enhance your visibility and help you create a community around your business but need help on your journey? Smooth Sailing Business Growth is here to help you find the most effective strategies for creating a podcast that will help you stand out from the crowd so your business can shine and thrive.
