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Growing a podcast audience takes time, strategy, and dedication—but there are some tactics you can implement from the beginning to help increase your show’s reach.
If you're looking to expand your listener base, here are eight effective strategies to help you reach more people and create a loyal following.
Know Your Target Audience
Before you can grow your podcast audience, you need to know who you’re trying to reach. Research who your ideal listeners are; what their interests, challenges, and pain points may be; and what type of content they are already consuming.
Tailoring your content to their preferences will make your podcast more relevant and engaging, encouraging listeners to stick around and share your episodes with others.
Diversify Where Your Podcast Is
Don’t limit your podcast to just one platform. Instead, diversify where your podcast is hosted to reach a broader audience. Research different podcast hosting platforms to see which ones are performing best or would best fit your show. Make sure your show is available on all major podcast hosting platforms, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
By casting a wider net, you'll increase the chances of your podcast being discovered by new listeners.
Host Guests
Featuring guests on your podcast is a great way to grow your podcast audience. Guests can bring their own followers to your show, expanding your reach to a completely new set of people.
And, if they’re following someone who is an expert in or related to your podcast’s topic, it’s likely they are already interested in what your show talks about and may stick around once introduced to your podcast.
Additionally, a guest's unique insights and expertise can add variety to your content while adding authority to your brand, keeping your current listeners engaged, and adding to your brand’s credibility.
Optimize Your Podcast’s SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) isn't just for websites. By optimizing your podcast’s titles, descriptions, episode blogs, and show notes, you can improve its visibility in search engines.
Just like with websites, there is a lot that goes into podcast SEO. However, some of these steps can be as simple as using keywords that your target audience is likely to search for and including them naturally in your content. Likewise, creating a website for your podcast is a great way to boost your show’s SEO and visibility.
Optimizing your podcast for SEO can help potential listeners discover your show t when they search for topics you cover.
Send Email Reminders
If your podcast or company has an email list, use that to your advantage. Whenever an episode of your show airs, send out an email announcing the episode, summarizing the topic, and linking back to where they can listen in. Email reminders can help re-engage existing listeners and attract new ones who might be interested in the topic or guest speaker.
Utilize Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool for growing your podcast audience. Be sure to stay active on all the platforms that your target audience is on. Whenever you air a new episode, post about it and link to where people can listen in. Don’t be afraid to share snippets of your show in short-form videos or quote graphics. These can show potential listeners what your show is about and pique interest.
If you have a guest on your show, tag them in your posts and encourage them to share the posts and episode. This will connect you with their audience and again bring more new people to your podcast.
Connect with Your Audience
Engagement is key to building a loyal listener base. Social media is a great place to do this. Connect with audience members by responding to their comments or mentions or create instances in which they can have an impact on the show—such as through polls or questions you can use in episodes later on.
Depending on your show style, you can even plan episodes where your audience is directly involved. For example, you could do a live episode where audience members can phone into your show and ask questions or offer their thoughts. When your audience feels like they’re part of the show, they’re more likely to stay engaged and spread the word.
Ask for Reviews
Reviews are extremely important for supporting your podcast’s credibility and visibility. Encourage your listeners to leave reviews on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. The more reviews you have, the higher your podcast will rank in search results, making it easier for new listeners to discover your show. Plus, feedback from your audience can help you improve and refine your content.
By implementing these strategies, you can steadily grow your podcast audience and create a community of loyal listeners who eagerly anticipate each new episode.
At Honest Podcasts, we strive to help value-driven companies launch successful podcasts because we have the drive to help others succeed.
Connect with our team to learn how we can help you easily create strategic content that generates strong leads, develops loyal customers, and makes a positive impact.
Have an idea for a future podcast episode (or a guest in mind that you think would be a great fit)? Send us an email at hello@honestpodcasts.com. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
