How to Build a Podcast Audience from Scratch in 7 Easy Steps

Building a podcast audience from scratch can seem like a daunting task, but it’s the cornerstone of your show’s success. A podcast audience consists of loyal listeners who engage with your content, share it with others, and contribute to the growth and sustainability of your show. Without a dedicated listener base, even the most well-produced podcasts might struggle to make an impact.

Starting from zero presents unique challenges. You need to attract listeners in a crowded market, maintain their interest over time, and foster a sense of community around your content. This process requires patience, consistent effort, and strategic planning.

In this article, I’ll cover 7 easy steps that will guide you in building a podcast audience from scratch:

1. Understand Your Target Audience
2. Submit Your Podcast to Directories for Maximum Exposure
3. Optimize Your Podcast Episodes for Better Search Rankings
4. Create an Engaging Podcast Website or Landing Page
5. Build a Strong Community Around Your Podcast Through Social Media
6. Harness the Power of Guest Interviews to Expand Your Reach
7. Cross-Promote Your Podcast Through Other Content Mediums

These tips will provide practical strategies to help you grow a loyal listener base and ensure your podcast thrives in the competitive landscape.

Identifying and understanding your target audience is crucial for effective podcasting. Knowing who your listeners are helps you create content that connects with them, building loyalty and interaction.

Gathering Demographic Information

Start by collecting demographic data about your potential listeners:

• Age
• Gender
• Location
• Occupation

Platforms like social media analytics and podcast hosting services can provide valuable insights into these demographics.

Uncovering Psychographic Details

Dig deeper with psychographic information to understand their:

• Interests
• Values
• Lifestyle choices

Consider conducting surveys or engaging with your audience on social media to gather this information.

Pinpointing Pain Points and Interests

To create compelling content, identify the pain points and interests of your audience. Ask yourself:

• What challenges do they face in their daily lives?
• What topics are they passionate about?

Use listener feedback, comments, and reviews to refine your understanding. Addressing these pain points through your podcast will make it more relevant and valuable, ensuring that listeners keep coming back for more.

Using popular podcast directories is a game-changer for getting your show out there. These platforms make it easy for new listeners to find you, which is crucial when you’re just starting.

Benefits of Podcast Directories

• More People Can Find You: Your podcast becomes accessible to millions of users who browse these directories.
• Better Search Rankings: Your podcast can rank higher in search results because directories have high domain authority.
• Convenient for Listeners: Listeners can subscribe and get updates automatically, which helps build a loyal audience.

How to Submit Your Podcast to Different Directories

Apple Podcasts

1. Create an Apple ID if you don’t have one.
2. Log into Apple Podcasts Connect.
3. Click the “+” button and submit your RSS feed URL.
4. Validate your feed and provide necessary show details.
5. Submit for review.

Spotify

1. Go to Spotify for Podcasters.
2. Log in with your Spotify account or create one.
3. Paste your RSS feed URL and verify it via email.
4. Add podcast details and submit.

Stitcher

1. Register at Stitcher Content Provider.
2. Fill out the application form with podcast details.
3. Submit for approval.

Podchaser

1. Sign up at Podchaser.
2. Claim your podcast by searching for it or adding it manually.
3. Enter RSS feed URL and complete profile info.

Overcast

1. Visit Overcast’s Submission Page.
2. Enter your RSS feed URL and submit.

Pocket Casts

1. Go to Pocket Casts Submit Page.
2. Paste your RSS feed URL and follow instructions to complete submission.

Submitting to these directories ensures maximum exposure, making it easier for potential listeners to discover and subscribe to your podcast.

Optimizing your podcast episodes for search engines is crucial if you want to attract organic traffic to your show. Just like websites, optimizing your podcast content can help potential listeners discover your episodes through search engines.

Why SEO Matters in Podcasting

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is all about making your content more visible in search results. By doing this, you increase the chances of people finding and listening to your episodes when they search for topics related to your podcast. This not only boosts visibility but also helps you build a loyal listener base over time.

Tips for Optimizing Your Episode Titles

Crafting effective titles for your podcast episodes can have a big impact on how discoverable they are:

1. Use relevant keywords: Incorporate keywords that your target audience is likely to search for. For example, if your episode discusses “time management tips,” include those exact words in the title.
2. Be descriptive yet concise: A good title is clear and informative without being too long. Aim for around 60 characters to ensure it looks good on different platforms.
3. Include numbers and lists: Titles like “5 Ways to Improve Your Productivity” often perform better because they promise actionable content.
4. Ask questions: Formulating titles as questions (e.g., “How Can You Boost Your Podcast SEO?”) can intrigue potential listeners who are looking for specific answers.
5. Place any meta aspects of your title toward the end: Labels such as “Episode X” or the date of the episode should go after your full title so that potential listeners see the hook first, e.g. “Twenty Years of Photo Experience in One Hour | Episode 16”.

By focusing on these strategies, you can improve the reach and impact of each episode, making it easier for new listeners to find and enjoy your content.

To establish a strong online presence for your podcast, it is crucial to have a dedicated podcast website or landing page that serves as a central hub for your audience. This platform should encompass various elements like show notes, episode transcripts, and supplementary content, all working together to enhance the listener experience.

Key Elements of an Effective Podcast Website

1. Show Notes: These should provide a concise summary of each episode, highlight key discussion points, and include relevant links to resources or guests mentioned. Apart from delivering value to your listeners, show notes also play a role in improving SEO.
2. Transcripts: Consider adding transcripts of your episodes as they can significantly improve search engine rankings by providing more indexable text.
3. Episode Player: Embed an intuitive player on your website where visitors can conveniently listen to episodes without leaving the site.
4. Subscription Links: Make it effortless for visitors to subscribe to your podcast on their preferred platforms by prominently featuring subscription links.
5. Contact Information: Ensure that you provide listeners with a means to reach out with feedback or questions.

Design Tips for User-Friendly Sites

• Clean Layout: Opt for a clean and uncluttered design that offers easy navigation.
• Mobile-Friendly: Ensure your website is fully responsive so that it looks great and functions smoothly across all devices.
• Fast Loading Times: Optimize various elements such as images to ensure quick loading times, which are crucial for keeping visitors engaged.

Example: “The Creative Pod”

Let’s consider an example called “The Creative Pod.” This podcast website could feature:

• A visually captivating homepage with a prominently displayed embedded player for the latest episode.
• A dedicated section for show notes which includes timestamps and key takeaways from each episode.
• An accompanying blog where in-depth articles related to episode topics are published, providing additional value to the audience.
• An email subscription form offering exclusive content to further incentivize visitors to subscribe.

By crafting a podcast website that seamlessly incorporates these elements, you will not only attract new listeners but also retain existing ones by providing them with valuable resources and easy access to your content.

Social media engagement is a powerful tool for community building around your podcast. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok offer unique opportunities to connect with your audience and foster a sense of loyalty.

Strategies for Effective Engagement:

• Create Platform-Specific Content: Tailor your posts to the strengths of each social media platform. Use Instagram Stories for behind-the-scenes content, Twitter for quick updates and discussions, Facebook Groups for community interactions, and TikTok for engaging video snippets.
• Use Hashtags Wisely: Incorporate relevant hashtags to increase discoverability. Research popular hashtags within your podcast’s niche and create a branded hashtag for your show.
• Interactive Posts: Engage with your audience through polls, Q&A sessions, live streams, and interactive stories. For instance:

“Who’s excited about our next episode featuring [Guest Name]? Drop your questions below! 🎙️ #PodcastName”

• Share User-Generated Content: Encourage listeners to share their experiences with your podcast and re-share their posts. This not only validates their participation but also promotes word-of-mouth growth.
• Consistent Posting Schedule: Maintain a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged. Use social media management tools like Buffer or Hootsuite to plan and automate your posts.
• Engage in Conversations: Respond promptly to comments and messages. Personal interaction can significantly strengthen listener loyalty.

By using these strategies, you can turn casual listeners into an active community that supports and grows alongside your podcast.

Inviting guest speakers with established audiences is a powerful way to reach more people with your podcast. Working with influencers can introduce your show to a larger audience, leveraging the guest’s followers who may become loyal listeners.

Benefits of Having Guests on Your Show

• More People Finding Your Podcast: Guests often share their podcast appearances with their own audience, providing organic promotion for your show.
• Building Trust: Featuring well-known influencers can enhance your podcast’s credibility and attract new listeners interested in the guest’s expertise.
• Keeping Things Interesting: Guest interviews add variety to your content, keeping episodes fresh and engaging.

How to Approach Potential Guests

1. Find Influencers Who Fit: Identify influencers whose audience aligns with your target demographic. Look for guests who share similar interests or themes.
2. Write an Engaging Invitation: Reach out with a personalized message. Highlight how their appearance will benefit both parties, enhancing value for their audience and yours.
3. Give Guests the Tools They Need: Make it easy for guests to promote their episode by providing social media assets, episode links, and promotional copy.

Effective guest appearances create a win-win scenario, expanding your reach while offering valuable content to listeners. Collaborations foster community growth and enrich the listening experience.

Exploring various content channels can significantly enhance your podcast’s reach. Cross-promotion leverages the strengths of multiple platforms to attract a diverse audience.

Blog Posts

Writing blog posts related to your podcast topics can drive traffic from search engines and readers who prefer written content. Include key takeaways, insights, and links to your episodes.

Videos

Create short video clips or full-length episodes for platforms like YouTube. Visual content can engage viewers who might not typically listen to podcasts but enjoy video formats.

Email Newsletters

Use email newsletters to keep your subscribers updated with new episodes, behind-the-scenes content, or exclusive offers. Personalized emails can foster a stronger connection with your audience.

Examples of Effective Cross-Promotion:

• Blog Posts: Write an in-depth article that expands on an episode topic and embed the audio within the post.
• Videos: Share teaser clips from your podcast on social media platforms.
• Email Newsletters: Send out a weekly roundup of episodes with direct links and brief summaries.

By using these cross-promotion strategies, you can attract listeners from various content preferences and broaden your podcast’s audience base.

Building a dedicated podcast audience takes time and effort but offers immense value in the long run. A loyal listener base not only boosts your show’s success but also fosters a strong community around your content.

With the rapidly growing value of having an audience, or even better, a community, the allure of beginning to build your own is stronger than ever, and podcasting is the perfect point of entry for starting your journey, with plenty of room to scale if your brand goes viral.

Introducing the WavMaker plugin—an upcoming tool designed to elevate your podcast’s visual appeal. Our plugin will allow podcasters to showcase their audio with responsive, stylized waveform embeds, enhancing the overall listener experience.

Benefits of Using WavForm.io’s Plugin:

• Audio Visualization: Engages listeners with visually appealing waveforms that sync with your podcast audio.
• Attract and Retain Attention: Unique visual elements can help keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.

Interested in unlocking this feature? Join the WavForm.io waitlist for exclusive early access and stay updated on the latest trends in podcasting.