FLASHBACK STORY

12: Get exciting guests – At first you may not be able to get well-known guests, but you can still get super interesting people who are informative as well as entertaining.

13: Add a signature intro – You’ve heard professional sounding podcasts that begin with a professional introduction of the host. You can hire someone to make this for you, or create your own. If it sounds exciting and makes the listener eager to stay tuned, you’re on the right track.

14: Use your and your guest's social following - If you're doing interviews, make sure to share the episode on social media and tag the person you've interviewed. Every re-share is an opportunity for new listeners.

15: Offer incentives for listeners to share your podcast - Offer exclusive content, discounts, or shoutouts for sharing your podcast with their friends and on social media.

16: Use paid advertising - Consider investing in paid advertising on social media or podcast directories to reach new audiences. You might even advertise your podcast on other, related podcasts.

17: Get guest posts - There are blog sites that can write about your show if you’re willing to bring value to their audience, or you can ask to write a guest post yourself. In either case, link to your podcast.

18: Start a blog yourself – This will help with SEO. Use the blog to promote the podcast and the podcast to promote the blog, and then promote both on social media.

19: Ask for backlinks - Ask guests if they are willing to link to the episode on their blog. This will result in more credibility, traffic, and growth of your audience. And it helps to convince other big players in your niche to be a guest on your show.

20: Get listed in directories – And once you’re listed, ask for your podcast to be featured, too.

21: Ask for reviews - Ask your audience to leave reviews, and even incentivize them to do so.

22: Be consistent - Consistency is key for growing your podcast audience. Stick to a regular publishing schedule, engage with your listeners, and keep creating high-quality content. You might have a tiny audience at first but stick to your schedule anyway. Your first 10 to 30 episodes are really all about getting the practice, and by the time you reach that 30 episode mark you should be on your way to building a loyal following.

23: Land whales – Befriend the big people in your niche. Don’t expect anything in return, just make friends. Follow them on social media. Comment on their content. Reply to their posts. Be nice and be helpful. (You know how to be a friend, right?) Then once you’ve got a couple dozen GOOD shows under your belt – preferably shows with guests – ask these big whales to be on your show. Some will say no, but some will likely say yes. One shout out to their list and followers can result in a ton of traffic to you. Plus, it will be much easier to get other big names on your show once you’ve gotten the first one.

By following these tips and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and platforms, you can grow your podcast audience in 2023 and beyond.