Simple tips to build a successful podcast
There are many ways to promote your business and grow a following. But, if you want to build an engaged audience that will listen to what you have to say, one of the best ways is through podcasting.
But that being said, in order to host a successful podcast, you need more listeners, subscribers and downloads. Otherwise, you’re just talking to yourself.
Are you looking for ways to get more podcast subscribers? Today, we’re going to show you how.
Why podcasts are growing in popularity
Before diving into how you can get more podcast subscribers, let’s take a moment to appreciate the benefits that podcasts have for your audience.
1. Podcasts are free to listen to
2. They’re easy to download and store on your phone or computer
3. You can listen when you want, where you want (i.e., while commuting)
4. The content is always fresh and new for listeners
5. Podcasts are intimate – they feel like a friend is talking with you one-on-one about their favourite topics of discussion
6. There’s no need for visuals, so it’s easier for people who have trouble paying attention in class or lectures because there’s nothing else competing for their attention (no TV screens, no computers)
7. Audio-only podcasts help those who have difficulty reading text due to dyslexia or blindness
So now that we all agree that podcasts are amazing, let’s help you get more ears listening to your episodes.
10 Tips to get more podcast subscribers
1. Understand who your audience is and target them
In business, one of the main principles is to identify with great clarity who your ideal audience is. In this way, you can target and make your episodes focused on their problems, concerns and issues.
Knowing who you wish to speak to will make the content creation process, and the marketing of your podcast, significantly easier!
2. Networking is a valuable tool
Experiencing a busy lifestyle may not leave much room to get out and network, yet this is very important. This could boost the marketing process because even your podcast needs to be marketed to help people discover it.
Talk to other podcasters who are already doing well – there are lots of internet forums and Facebook groups where you can share tips and tricks. Don’t make the mistake of seeing them as competition to beat, but instead pool your expertise so that your podcast grows even quicker. You can learn valuable lessons from the success and failure of others and this is why networking is so important.
3. Form collaborations
Collaboration is what happens after you’ve networked. It’s speaking with like-minded individuals and deciding to work together to produce an episode. Just like influencers on social media, certain podcasts already have a large following and this can be beneficial for you.
So after the networking process, see if you can add value to someone else or vice versa because the quickest way to grow is to leverage other people’s audiences.
4. Invite popular guests onto your show
One of the best ways to get subscribers fast is to have well-known personalities feature on your podcast. We understand that it’s not simple to do this, but oftentimes it’s about who you know. If you know some influential business owners or people that are inspiring others, then invite them as a special guest in one of your podcast episodes.
Be sure that your guest speakers are people your audience would want to hear from. Say for example that you host a podcast all about running, it would not make sense to have a DIY home decor expert on your show. But if you managed to get Bruce Fordyce to say a few words, well, that would be incredibly valuable to your listeners.
People are intrigued and often want more episodes that feature popular names and would subscribe just to hear them. Networking helps you to meet possible influential entrepreneurs.
5. Publish consistently
Sometimes more is better. When you’re just starting out, if you only publish one podcast a month you won’t get much traction. That’s why you’ll need quantity to boost your numbers, to begin with. If you’re able to manage it, try publish a podcast 3 – 5 x per week for the first few months.
Thereafter you can upload a new podcast weekly or bi-weekly but if your ultimate goal is to get more subscribers, then upload at least 2 – 3 x per week until you hit your target number.
6. Tell your listeners to share the word with others
One of the best ways to get more people tuning in and subscribing is by using social proof. Your listeners can help you get the word out by telling others about your podcast.
You can also incentivise them to leave a 5-star iTunes review by giving an Amazon voucher to one person per month for their review, or a discount voucher on one of your products.
7. Cross-post on your other platforms
Instead of just recording the audio of your podcast, you can film yourself doing the podcast and upload the video to your YouTube channel so that people can find you on YouTube (which is more a search engine than a social media platform).
In essence, you want to make it as easy as possible for people to find you.
8. Social media is your friend
Another excellent digital marketing tool comes in the form of social media. With millions around the world using and subscribing, your chances of reaching a target audience via social networks are not impossible.
Use YouTube and Facebook to boost your business through your podcasts. You could, for example, post a snippet of your live podcast on Facebook with the link to the full episode.
Similarly, you can post snippets of the podcast on your Instagram Stories to encourage viewers to listen to your podcast.
Include the link to your podcast in your Instagram Bio, include a button on your website and add a CTA at the end of your email signature.
9. Ensure your podcast is listed
iTunes is the biggest one but don’t forget about listing your podcast on Google and Spotify to reach even more people.
10. Email your list
Of course, one of the best ways to promote your latest podcast and get more subscribers is by promoting it to your email list.
Every few weeks you can add the call to action for them to subscribe to your podcast, so that you slowly build your podcast subscribers with people who are on your email list. These are ideal listeners because by being on your email list, they are showing that they are already interested in what you have to say.
The takeaway on how to get more podcast subscribers
Podcasting is the perfect medium to provide information about niche topics or interests in bite-sized increments of time.
Growing your podcast and getting more subscribers will take time and effort (like most good things in life) but we’re happy to share that unlike growing your Instagram, it’s still relatively these days to grow your podcast using organic methods like what we describe above.
If you have a podcast, use the tips to secure interesting guests, promote your podcast on social media and encourage your listeners to become your newest subscribers.
Blog on YouTube
