As someone that likes to stay up to date with the latest social media trends, I do find it hard to find time to read up on the latest trends. I have recently started listening to podcasts, I find this to be a great way to consume content while multi-tasking.
Now as a person that is BRAND NEW to podcasting, my first instinct is how do I grow my following? So I did some research and this time I had to read!
One thing I knew was very clear, I wanted to take my follower on the same journey as what I was going through. From doing my first podcast to how to edit a podcast, how to plan your podcasts and how to grow your following.
The most important factor was to add value!
Before we start worrying about growing our following let’s take a step back and make sure you have a solid foundation set for your podcast. Being able to grow your podcast depends on having these pieces in place first.
1. Define your avatar and identify your niche. Knowing exactly who you’re creating your podcast for (your avatar) and being able to niche down so you’re not trying to speak to everyone are two of THE most important parts of your foundation.
2. Once you have identify your avatar and your niche, you need to confirm your uniqueness. This is what sets you and your podcast apart from all the other podcasters and podcasts in your industry or niche, and it will be a BIG reason why listeners choose YOUR podcast over another.
3. Work towards making your podcast different. Whether that be in the way it’s formatted, the frequency, how you start it, how you end it – you have to find something that will make it stand out.This is also going to require some research on your part. What are other podcasters doing in your industry or niche currently?
4. Consistency is key in podcasting; it’s important that you commit to a publishing schedule so your listeners can rely on you and the content you’re providing.
5. The format and length of your episodes is an important decision to make; however, these are not decisions that should hold you back from just starting.
So with the research completed I found the below growth hacks:
1. Launch with 3 podcasts, oopsie this is not something I did! With three podcast this will give your listeners the opportunity to see what you are all about.
2. Consistency is a BIG thing! Consistency builds trust, loyalty, momentum and engagement, and all of these are critical factors when it comes to your podcast’s growth. While being consistent may not sound like a growth hack, the truth is you cannot grow a podcast audience all on your own.
3. Connecting with your listeners doesn’t scale, but it can be a massive growth hack for your podcast if you take the time to do it right.
All that’s required is a strong call to action from you on your podcast inviting listeners to do one of the following:
Reach out to you via email
Fill out a form on your website that captures their email address
Schedule a one-on-one call with you
Connecting with your listeners and asking them questions like:
What is your #1 struggle or fear right now?
What are your biggest dreams and aspirations?
What is your favorite thing about the podcast?
What do you feel would improve the podcast?
Will give you the exact feedback you need to skyrocket your podcast’s growth.
Once you’ve had these chats with anywhere from five to 25 of your listeners, you’ll be able to take a look back at the data and identify common themes. Those common themes are things you can use to improve, and therefore grow, your podcast.
4. Create a community. You creating a space for your listeners to come together and start to create a community will help them feel connected and give them a reason to continue coming back to you. Create a platform that allows your audience to engage not just with you, but with others who are like them.
This might be a Private Facebook Group, an in-person meet up at a conference or event, or simply in the comments section of your blog.
Creating a safe space where people feel comfortable and know they can go to be surrounded by like-minded people will again, give them a reason to come back to you.
5. Two of the most underutilized growth hacks for growing your podcast are guest posting and guest podcasting.Does it take time to build relationships and find the right connections so that when you do guest post or appear on someone else’s podcast it’ll benefit the host, your host’s audience AND help you grow your podcast all at the same time?
Of course it does. If it didn’t, and it was super easy, then EVERYONE would be doing it.
Perhaps that’s why more people aren’t doing it, which means it’s the perfect time for you to step up.
Every time you find another website or podcast that’s in the same industry or niche that you are – and that is speaking to a similar audience – that’s another opportunity for you to put yourself in front of a whole lot of people who may have never heard of you before.
Continue putting yourself on multiple platforms and you will gain exposure for you, your brand, and your podcast.
6. A strong call to action in every single one of your podcast episodes where you were literally telling your listeners what their next step should be?
Then, you’ll be making it easy for them to know exactly what you want them to do; plus, you’ll be adding even more value to their experience.
Send them:
To your website for the show notes (“Remember, you can get all the links and references mentioned on today’s show by going to…”)
To a content upgrade that gives them a free download and is directly related to the episode they just listened to (“If you want to grab a checklist for all 7 Growth Hacks for Your Podcast that we’re going to talk about today, head over to… to download it now!”)
To your email inbox (“I’d LOVE to hear your feedback on today’s episode and I’m always here for you; send me an email at…!”)
A question (“What’s the ONE thing you would change about… Head over to the show notes page and drop down to comments section to share!”)
7. The best way is still to test your topics and type of content on social media. Hop over and listen to my first, uncut podcast: http://bit.ly/2lWMbHo
Like with any other social media platform growth takes time and commitment. NOTHING good happens over night!
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