If you’re new to the podcast scene and aren’t sure how to grow your listener base, or if you’re looking for some extra tips to improve your podcast, you’re in the right place. Read on to find out the best tips to help more potential listeners find you.
Effective Tips That Help Increase Podcast Listeners
1 – Create an Eye-Catching Podcast Trailer
Some podcasters believe that a podcast episode needs no introduction, but most listeners subscribe to a podcast without listening to any episodes first. The podcast cover art and podcast trailer are the first impressions a listener has of your show. These elements should give them a reason to tune in and should make your show stand out from the crowd.
2 – Use Social Media to Your Advantage
Use social media to share your podcast episode with potential listeners. This might be as simple as sharing your podcast artwork via Twitter and Facebook. Or, if you have a large Twitter following, you can ask them to share your show with their followers.
3 – Don’t Forget About Email
Even though you have social media accounts, don’t ignore the power email still holds. Email subscribers are more likely to listen to your podcast than your social media followers, so don’t neglect them.
4 – Make it EASY to Subscribe
If you’re trying to encourage listeners to sign up for your podcast, make it easy. Don’t make them visit a webpage and type out their email address. Instead, put a simple sign-up form on your website or blog that they can fill in with a single click.
5 – Use Call To Action
It’s unlikely that anyone will hit play on your podcast episode without knowing what it’s about. So, be clear about what they can expect to hear. Tell listeners to ‘press play now’ or ‘listen in to this episode.’
6 – Encourage Listeners to Share
Nobody wants to feel like their work is going to waste. Give your podcast listeners the opportunity to share your show. Tell them to send your podcast episode to their friends and family or to write a review of your show.
7 – Try a Teaser Episode
To get people interested, try releasing a short teaser episode before your first full episode. This teaser episode can be less than 7 minutes long and will give potential listeners a chance to hear one of your previous episodes as a sample.
8 – Make Your Show Easy to Access
Don’t make your listeners search around to find your show. Make sure that your show is easy to find, either on your website or on your social media accounts.
9 – Don’t Be Shy
Don’t be afraid to let people know that you have a podcast. You might think that being too ‘in your face’ will drive people away, but the opposite is true. If you’re confident in what you’re doing and don’t mind being upfront, people will be more likely to check out your podcast, if only just to see what you’re all about.
Conclusion
Building your podcast audience is all about giving people a reason to tune in. Be creative and find ways to get people interested. Once you absorb these tips, you’ll be ready to start increasing your podcast listeners. As with all aspects of podcasting, it takes time and patience to see your hard work pay off. But, these tips are a great place to start.
If you need help with your audio marketing strategy, contact Promoly. We help innovative brands promote their audio over email and social media.