Building Your Podcast Audience: 15+ Tips and Tricks

Welcome to the world of podcasting! The excitement of having your voice heard and spreading your message is a thrill like no other. There are 464.7 million podcast listeners globally as of January 2023.   But what good is a podcast if nobody is listening? 

In this blog, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty of building your podcast audience and growing your listenership. From networking and collaboration to promoting your show and engaging with your audience, we’ve got you covered.

Are you ready to begin? So grab your mic, put on your headphones, and let’s get started on building the audience of your dreams! 

 

Top 16 Tips To Build Your Podcast Audience Effectively

Building a podcast audience can be a challenging task, but with the right strategies, it can be achieved. Here are some tips and tricks to help you build a loyal audience for your podcast:

 

1. Define Your Target Audience

The first step in building an audience is to determine who you want to reach. Determine your target audience and focus on topics that are of interest to them. This will help you create content that appeals to your audience and establish your podcast as a trusted resource in your niche.

Look at demographic data, such as age, gender, education level, and location, to get a better understanding of who your potential listeners might be. You can also track your competitors to better understand who your target audience might be.

Then, once you have gathered all this information, create a detailed profile of your ideal listener. This should include demographics, interests, and behavior patterns.

 

Pro Tip: Use feedback and analytics to refine your understanding of your audience and make data-driven decisions about your content.

 

2. Consistent Content

Consistency is key when it comes to building a podcast audience. Regularly releasing new episodes at a set schedule will help you build a routine with your listeners and keep them engaged. Not only this, but consistent releases also improve your podcast’s discoverability on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. When new episodes are released on a regular basis, these platforms are more likely to recommend your podcast to potential listeners. 

If you are struggling to maintain consistency, here are some tips to help you:

 

1. Plan ahead: Schedule your recording and editing sessions in advance to ensure that you have the time and resources to consistently release new episodes.
2. Be flexible: While consistency is important, it is also okay to be flexible and adjust your schedule if necessary. Just be sure to communicate any changes to your audience.
3. Stay organized: Use a calendar or scheduling tool to keep track of your recording and release schedule.
4. Use automation: Automated tools like IFTTT and Zapier can help streamline the process of publishing new episodes and promoting them on social media.
5. Batch production: Consider recording multiple episodes at once to ensure that you have a backlog of content in case of unexpected events or scheduling conflicts.

3. Do Not Avoid Taking Professional Help

Growing a podcast requires a lot of time and effort, and it can be challenging to manage all aspects of the process by yourself. Professional help can save you time by handling tasks such as editing, promotion, and audience engagement.

Additionally, working with professionals can help you improve the overall quality of your podcast. They have the skills and equipment necessary to produce high-quality audio, graphics, and video content, which is essential for attracting and retaining listeners. 

Lastly, service providers have access to a vast network of industry contacts and resources that can help them reach a wider audience. They can help you get your podcast in front of people who are interested in your content and connect you with potential sponsors and advertisers.

4. Use CTAs

CTAs help build a relationship with the listener and encourage them to take an active role in supporting the podcast. Secondly, CTAs can drive traffic to a website, increasing brand awareness and potentially leading to increased sales or conversions. Additionally, these can be used to track the success of a podcast, as the number of clicks or conversions can be measured and used to improve future episodes. Do you know CTAS are beneficial but are confused to place them effectively? Do not worry! We are here to help. To effectively use CTAs in podcasts, it’s important to:

 

1. Make them clear and concise: The listener should understand exactly what action they’re being asked to take.
2. Make them relevant: The CTA should be relevant to the content of the episode and the target audience.
3. Place them strategically: CTAs should be placed at natural breaks in the episode or at the end of the show when the listener is most likely to take action.
4. Repeat the CTA: Repeat the CTA several times throughout the episode to increase the chances of the listener taking action.
5. Offer a clear incentive: Provide a clear reason for the listener to take the action being suggested, such as exclusive content or a discount.

 

5. Warm Up

The trailer can serve as an introduction to the podcast and give potential listeners a sense of what the show is about, the host’s style, and what topics will be covered. This helps create excitement and anticipation for the upcoming podcast. 

In fact, a well-produced trailer can demonstrate the level of quality and professionalism of the podcast, which can attract more listeners.

Pro Tip: The ideal length of a podcast trailer is usually between 30 seconds and to 2 minutes.

 

6. SEO

The goal of podcast SEO is to increase the visibility of your podcast in search engine results pages (SERPs) and make it easier for potential listeners to find and subscribe to your show. Wondering how it’s done? here are the steps to do podcast SEO:

 

1. Choose a Relevant and Unique Title: Your podcast title should be descriptive, relevant, unique, and attention-grabbing.
2. Optimize Your Episode Descriptions: should be well-written and include relevant keywords. Make sure to use keywords that describe your episode’s content, and include relevant links to your podcast or other related resources.
3. Use Proper Meta Data: Proper metadata, including title tags, description tags, and keywords, will help search engines understand what your podcast is about.
4. Submit Your Podcast to Directories: Submitting your podcast to directories such as iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play can help increase your visibility and make it easier for people to discover your podcast.
5. Promote Your Podcast: Promoting your podcast on social media, in your email signature, and through guest posts on other blogs will increase its visibility and help drive more traffic to your site.
6. Monitor Your Results: Regularly monitoring your podcast’s performance through tools such as Google Analytics and Podtrac will help you understand what is working and what isn’t. This will allow you to change your strategy and improve your podcast’s SEO over time.

 

7. Add Video

Some individuals really enjoy watching videos over audio, right? By including video in your podcast, you get a chance to tap into this audience as well.

 

Basically, there are three methods for doing this:

1. To turn your audio file into a video file, all you need to do is add a static image
2. Videotape yourself as you record your podcast with your guests and co-hosts
3. Generate original video content with graphics and other exciting stuff to complement your program.

 

Whatever you choose, do not forget to post the outcome on YouTube.

 

 

8. Build a relationship with your listeners

Building a strong relationship with your listeners takes time and effort, but is really rewarding. Here are some quick tips to build a loyal following of dedicated listeners who look forward to your shows.

 

1. Be authentic: Be yourself and let your personality shine through in your content. Your listeners will appreciate the real you and will connect with you better.
2. Show genuine interest in your listeners: Ask them questions, respond to their comments, and show that you care about what they have to say. This will help build a relationship of trust and mutual respect.
3. Provide valuable content: Share helpful information and tips related to your topic. This will help establish you as an expert in your field and demonstrate your commitment to your listeners.
4. Engage with your listeners: Encourage them to participate in discussions, surveys, or Q&A sessions. This will create a sense of community and help build a stronger connection with your listeners.
5. Follow up with your listeners: Reach out to your listeners after your shows to thank them for listening, and to ask for their feedback. This shows that you value their input and that you are open to improving your content.
6. Be relatable: Share your own experiences and struggles that are relevant to your listeners. This will help you connect with them on a personal level and make them feel like they are not alone.

9. Invest in quality content

High-quality audio equipment and well-researched, well-organized, and well-delivered content will help establish your podcast as a credible source of information. Undoubtedly, such content is more likely to keep listeners coming back and sharing the content with their friends and family. 

Additionally, By offering a well-produced and engaging podcast, you can attract advertisers who are looking for a high-quality platform to reach their target audience. So, if you haven’t worked on the quality of your content, gear up!

 

10. Collaborate with others

By collaborating with other podcasters, you can reach new audiences that may not have found your podcast otherwise. This will help you expand your reach and attract new listeners. You can even bring new perspectives and ideas to your show. This will help keep your content fresh and interesting for your listeners. 

If you can find a ‘star guest’ to collaborate then nothing like it! Collaborating with a star guest or a popular podcast can help increase your credibility and authority in your field. As popular people have a loyal fan following of a sizeable audience, this can help you widen your reach considerably.

 

11. Work smartly

Use analytics tools, such as Apple Podcasts Analytics, to track the performance of your podcast and make data-driven decisions about how to improve and grow your audience. This will help you understand what’s working and what’s not, so you can make the necessary adjustments.

 

12. Make use of Podcast Community

Podcasting can be a great way to connect with others who share similar interests. This connection can help build community, foster collaborations, and spark new ideas. Here are some quick and easy tips to make use of the podcast community, read on!

 

1. Engage with other members: Join discussion groups, forums, and social media channels associated with the podcast community. Participate in conversations and provide feedback on others’ podcasts.
2. Share your own podcast: Share your podcast with the community and ask for feedback. This is a great way to gain exposure and improve your podcasting skills.
3. Attend events: Attend podcasting events and conferences to meet other podcasters, learn new skills, and network.
4. Learn from others: Listen to other podcasts and take note of what makes them successful. Learn from the experiences of others and apply what you learn to your own podcast.
5. Provide support: Offer support to other podcasters in the community. Share your knowledge and resources, and be a supportive and encouraging member of the community.

 

Regularly participate in the podcast community to establish relationships and build your reputation. Consistency is key in any community, especially in a podcasting community!

 

13. Create a podcast website

Even if most of your listeners access your material through their preferred listening app, your podcast website is still a crucial tool for expanding your listenership. Before choosing to listen to an episode, new listeners will browse your website, listen to a few samples, and read what you’re about.

However, a website is useless if no one can discover it, therefore it’s critical to make it visible to potential listeners by putting substantial effort into search engine optimization (SEO). Make a separate page for each episode on your blog. On the page for each episode, provide a complete transcription and show notes. This way, you can create content that can be adored by search engines.

 

14. Repurpose your shows

By repurposing podcasts, the material can be presented in a variety of media, including transcripts, articles, videos, and social media posts. Making the original content available to a variety of audiences and platforms also helps to optimize its worth. Repurposing can also help the podcast become more visible and accessible, which encourages greater involvement and might attract new listeners.

 

15. Promote Your Shows

To build a wide audience base, it is important for you to let them know about your work. This is why promoting your podcast is of utmost importance. There are various ways to do so, some of which are listed below:

1. Social Media: Utilize social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to promote your podcast. Share links to your latest episode and engage with your followers.
2. Email List: Build an email list of subscribers and send out updates about new episodes and other relevant information.
3. Guest Appearances: Invite guests to appear on your show and promote the episode on their own social media channels and websites.
4. Podcast Directories: Submit your podcast to popular directories such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
5. Paid Advertising: Consider using paid advertising on social media and other platforms to reach a larger audience.
6. Host a Live Event: Host a live event to promote your podcast and interact with your listeners.
7. Offer a Free Episode: Offer a free episode of your podcast to attract new listeners and encourage them to subscribe.
8. Engage with Listeners: Encourage listeners to leave comments and engage with them on social media to build a loyal following.

 

16. Be Patient

Building a podcast audience takes time and effort, but with the right strategies and persistence, you can grow your audience and establish a successful show. 

Finding the right format, equipment, and approach that works for you may take several attempts. Be open to experimenting and learning as you go. It’s also important to be patient with the growth of your audience. Building a loyal following takes time and consistency. So, keep putting out high-quality content, and your audience will grow over time.

Remember: 6–10 episodes won’t significantly affect your website’s traffic. On the other hand, six months of weekly episodes will definitely have an influence. The benefits will compound if you continuously release high-quality episodes for one to two years, and the bar will start to move toward your objectives.

 

CONCLUSION

As of 2023, the podcasting industry is valued at $2 billion. The podcasting industry will be worth $4 billion in 2024.  

But it is not all gilts and glam in this industry. Building a podcast audience is a journey that requires patience, persistence, and consistent effort. The key is to create quality content that resonates with your target audience and to utilize various marketing strategies to reach and engage with them. From studying your audience, and collaborating with other podcasters, to utilizing SEO techniques and paid advertising, there are many ways to grow your podcast audience.

The aforementioned are our top 16 strategies for you to try and grow. However, whatever you choose remember to track your progress, analyze your results, and make adjustments as necessary to continuously improve and reach your goals.

This is not it! We have a pool of content to help different levels of podcasters. From starting their first podcast to monetizing different podcasts effectively we have got them all for you! As we update our content library frequently, stay tuned for more exciting blogs coming your way. See you in the next blog!