Podcast is powerful medium that fosters discussions and allows people to connect with the industry they are interested in. Many believe that it is the top content platform today due to the following reasons:
- Podcasting is the only content platform that allows indirect consumption. People can listen and learn while also doing something else.
- Podcasts are consumed for longer periods of time. The average length of a YouTube video is 4 minutes and 20 seconds. If it is too long, people would quickly lose interest and the same goes for reading a blog post. Podcasts can last for over an hour and people would still listen.
- Podcasting helps build a stronger relationship with your audience. It connects you to your followers that cannot be duplicated by any other medium. The reason for this is quite simple. Podcasts has a voice. It is this voice that breathes life into the content.
“People are really listening and want to consume all of the content that is there and available. There’s a level of dedication that comes from podcast listeners that you otherwise don’t find. And now the numbers prove it. Podcasts aren’t a bubble, they’re a boom and that boom is only getting louder.” – Miranda Katz
Whether your podcast is about technology, fashion, finance, art, design, education – there will always be enthusiasts in those niches. These people are hungry for the latest industry news and expert interviews.
However, it takes a lot of hard work for people to listen to what you have to say especially if you are still starting out.
Here are 10 tips to grow your podcast audience:
1. Invest on high-quality equipment
No one wants to listen to a podcast with low-quality audio no matter how interesting the topic is. If your recording sounds terrible, there are thousands of other podcasts in your niche with better audio quality and it would be very easy for your audience to listen to those instead. This is why investing in great podcast recorder software and other equipment should be a prime concern.
2. Pick the right niche
Of course, you should pick a niche that you are knowledgeable about so your audience can actually get value from you. Pick a topic that you are interested in and that you’ll continue to be interested in over a long period of time.
It is also advisable to pick a highly specific niche and serve a smaller group of people well than go after a large audience with a broad focus. What, exactly , do you want to talk about? If you want to talk about business, what aspect of business would you want to explore?
3. Know your target audience
Your goal should not be to get more podcast subscribers but to get the right podcast subscribers. Put yourself in the shoes of the people that you are speaking to. Think about what they would like to hear and what topics they would like for you to explore. Speak to them while sounding cheerful and welcoming. If you do this right, everything else will be simple.
4. Focus on consistency
Being consistent with the episodes you publish speaks volumes of your dedication to your show. If you want to go live once a week, stick to that schedule. If you plan to do more than one episode per week, that is perfectly fine as long as you are able to religiously stick to it. Plan and record episodes one or two weeks in advance so you are able to maintain consistency.
5. Promote and market
Producing a quality product is only half the work. You need to proactively promote and market it for it to become a success. It’s a good thing that nowadays, it isn’t that hard to promote a product through social media. Actively leveraging platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google Plus, Instagram and Pinterest is highly recommended.
6. Reach out to influencers
Influencers have a large audience and are recognized authorities in their chosen niche. Engaging with them is a very effective marketing strategy. They can help you build a larger following, increase your credibility and bring in more listeners to your podcast.
7. Repurpose your content
Record a video of yourself during your sessions and put it up on YouTube for those who prefer watching a video. You can also turn your podcast to a blog article or make it the subject of your social media posts for a certain time frame. Repurposing your podcasts will not only bring your show in front of more people, it will also save you a lot of time in making new content.
8. Be engaging
Don’t be a snob and actually engage with your followers. Always respond to comments, answer their questions and re-post material that they’re posting. Be friendly and make them feel welcome. If you aren’t engaging with your followers, chances are, they aren’t going to continue to be interested in what you have to say.
9. Network with other podcasters
Find someone who targets an audience similar to yours and agree to promote each other’s shows. If you treat other podcasters as competition, you won’t see growth. By collaborating with the right person, both of you will benefit from an increase in listeners. Be guests on each other’s shows and recommend episodes to your respective audience.
“You just need one person to listen, get your message and pass it on someone else. And, you’ve doubled your audience.” – Robert Gerrish
10. Encourage your listeners to leave feedback
The more reviews and comments your show has, the higher the chance of Apple and Google noticing your podcast and placing your show on their shelves making it easier for people to find. But of course, this is not the only purpose of reviews. Getting feedback on how to improve your show is also very important. Feedback is powerful because it serves as a guide to assist you in finding better ways to provide value to your listeners.
Keep in mind that growing your audience is a long-term play. This is something that you have to do on an ongoing basis. Results are not immediate and never be discouraged if your numbers are not what you want them to be. Keep on putting out high-quality content and you will attract more and more people over time.
Writer for olelo.io – a place to create skills from your podcasts.