Podcasting has become a popular way for people to build an audience around a topic or interest and develop a second stream of income. It’s also an easy, mobile-friendly way for people to consume content. However, it’s a competitive space and growing a consistent listener base requires hard work and dedication. Discover 9 proven strategies to help you grow your podcast organically without relying on paid advertising.
1. Offer a Transcript
Providing transcripts for your episodes is a great way to drive listener engagement. It’s a huge draw for new and potential listeners who may not be sure whether your podcast will be relevant to them or not. If they can read the content in their free time before committing to an hour of audio, they’ll know what to expect and will be more likely to take the plunge.
2. Encourage Ratings and Reviews
Getting your listeners to rate and review your podcast is a great way to attract new listeners. It can feel like an inconvenient ask, so try to make it worth their while by offering prizes or sweepstakes for every review submitted.
3. Invite Guests
Hosting special episodes where you interview people from your industry or audience can be a powerful marketing strategy. This builds trust and credibility as well as bringing in a wider range of voices and opinions. It’s important to keep in mind your audience’s interests and the types of guests you would want on your show, but bringing in big names will likely increase your exposure to a new audience.
4. Include a Call to Action at the End of Each Episode
Incorporating a call to action in your podcast is a great way to drive new listeners and promote your website or social media channels. This could be as simple as asking your listeners to share an episode with a friend or recommend the show on iTunes. You can also create a newsletter or email campaign to inform your audience of your latest episodes and any other news related to the show.
5. Promote on Other Platforms
Podcasts are becoming increasingly popular on platforms outside of Apple, and it’s important to consider all your options when promoting your content. For example, video platforms like TikTok allow you to post short snippets of your podcast that are easy to digest and can be watched on the go.
6. Optimize for SEO
Having your podcast listed on podcast apps such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify makes it easier for listeners to find. You can optimize your listing by selecting the episode titles that best represent what’s discussed, and using keywords that match what your target audience searches for on Google.
7. Start an Email List
Creating an email list is a great way to communicate with your listeners and encourage them to subscribe. If you don’t already have a mailing list, you can use platforms like Mailchimp to get started.
8. Track Your Experiments
It’s important to test different marketing tactics for your podcast so that you can figure out which ones are working and which aren’t. This will save you time and resources in the long run and will help you reach your goals faster.