9 Surefire Ways to Get More Podcast Listeners

As far as content creation trends are concerned, podcasting is the most popular. We’ve seen a surge in advertiser interest for these sponsorships and SHE Media Partners have delivered. Over 50 of our partners have started a podcast over the last few years and just about all have seen an increase in their audiences because of it.

If you’ve already decided that a podcast is for you, and taken all the necessary first steps to get it off the ground, the next thing you’ll be asking yourself is how to grow your audience. Typically the main metric associated with this audience is the number of subscribers. This is the metric we’re most asked for when brands are trying to find podcasts to sponsor.

Here are nine ways to get more eyes, I mean ears, on your show.

1. Network, network, network

Connecting with other podcasters is particularly vital if you’re just getting started. Join Facebook groups, like She Podcasts and Podcasters’ Support Group and share the news that you’ve launched yours. Meet people who might be interested in being interviewed and foster relationships with similar podcasters instead of viewing them as competition. LinkedIn and Reddit have groups as well. Relationship building is still the number one way to create meaningful partnerships and grow a valuable audience. It takes work and isn’t easy, but invest some time in this one.

2. Build a community

You won’t be able to do this on your own—know that going into this. There are many amazing community platforms available for podcasters, such as this one on LinkedIn or Reddit. Find these and spend the time building real connections with others in the space. Seek information from others who have more experience and you never know, their audience may also be interested in your story.

3. Choose a good host

Selecting the right podcasting host is very important. The best fit for you will depend on the tools you’re looking for, your website, and the size of your podcast. As it grows, you will need a host that is reliable and fast and can handle the bandwidth. There may be a few options that will let you host for free, but eventually, that reliability factor will become more important to you and you’ll choose a paid option. Some podcast hosting companies that are popular with our partners are SoundCoud, Spreaker, PodBean and BuzzSprout.

4. Search engine optimization

Just like all other content types, SEO is one of the most important aspects of audience growth. The same best practices that apply to blog posts, like producing quality content, apply to podcasts as well. Many of the same elements we talk about, like keywords, tags, titles, and descriptions are needed for podcasts. Podcasts are showing up in search results more and more, you don’t want to miss out on this exposure. Optimizing for Google searches will also optimize your podcast for in-app searches, double bonus.

5. Market your podcast

Once you launch (and even leading up to launch), it’s time to promote. Write about it on your blog, share it on your social media accounts and in your newsletters. Find blogs that are similar to yours and cross-promote. If you have a little budget, invest in some Facebook ads or Instagram ads. Additionally, have a way for your listeners to submit reviews or ratings.

6. Submit to podcast apps

Apps for podcasts are on the rise, just as music apps were 10 years ago. These podcast apps are directories, and you should submit yours to as many as you can to increase your chance of being discovered. Apps help increase your reach and also can help increase your opportunities for monetization. Some popular ones are Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, PlayerFM, and TuneIn Radio.

7. Engage with your audience

Make sure to reply back to comments on your socials pages or web comments. Your audience is your most valuable asset and it will behoove you to get to know them. Asking them questions and getting feedback will also help you make your podcast better.

8. Make it positive

The world is desperate for more positive conversations, programming, and platforms. Whatever your mission is, hopefully, it adds to the good, meaningful conversations and not the negative. Keep diversity at the forefront, build people up and engage in smart conversations and people are bound to subscribe!

9. Contests and giveaways

This is a common one, and always a winner. Host contests or giveaways where your listeners can win things for sharing your social or podcast link. Ask people to leave reviews or tag friends on social media. As best possible, try to keep within relevant communities for these giveaways, or the likeliness of accomplishing #7 from the above lessons. If your podcast is about solving crimes, people in those type groups or social followings is the best place to share the giveaways. Expose your podcast to the right type of audience for a long term

For further inspiration on podcasts, check out this list of best podcasts for influencers, a list of those perfect for parents and on the topic of race.

The SHE Media Partner Network helps content creators and entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses with dedicated support for managing ads, brand partnerships, and more. Apply now to join our mission-driven platform.