Pod617’s Guide To Improving Your Pod & Building Audience
- Seek out compelling guests including ones with robust networks. Follow up after the show and again 2-4 weeks later. (“I’m getting such great feedback on your episode. Here’s the link if you want to share it again”)
- Follow up with guests strategically.
“As my guests began sharing their interviews with their audiences, the download numbers began to climb. My first email every morning was to my featured guest whose interview went live that day. Here’s what the email said: Thank you so much for sharing your amazing journey on Entrepreneurs on Fire. I would be honored if you would share with your audience. Here are the links if you decide to do so. <insert links here> Thank you again for igniting the world!“
Source: John Lee Dumas, founder and host of Entrepreneurs on Fire (full article = “Ultimate Guide to Podcast Sponsorships”)
Create valuable partnerships via guests.
“By asking people to be guests on your show, you’re initiating relationships with ideal clients, referral partners, and industry experts. It’s so much easier to create new relationships when you have something of tangible value to offer from the start.”
Develop regular segments that enhance the pace/flow of the show - Include audio clips from media/entertainment connected to commentary. Try new things including departures from your regular format - Use producers to add in-show and post-production feature
Examples of compelling segments:
Getting your guest to share something personal and fun (but staying on topic)
‘The Didi & Lital Show’
The show is “a married couple’s take on cybersecurity and life in general”
The clip comes at the 29:08 mark and it’s called “Prove You’re Not A Robot: 3 Final Authenticating Questions for Our Guest” -
Chat with your co-host AFTER s/he has signed off
‘The Women of Ill Repute’
Interview show with two of Canada’s most talented (former broadcasters)
This is a clip at the end of the show AFTER they have finished speaking to Pam Anderson.
(Yes… that Pam Anderson)
Start at 19:01 here - https://www.womenofillrepute.com/pam-anderson/
Jazz up your ‘Housekeeping’
‘Blocked and Reported’
Two lib journalists who have both gone through cancellation analyze internet BS.
Their housekeeping segment is famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) for being either entertaining or inept. It is revealing to the hosts’ relationship; it is a source of show lore; listeners comment on it; it is unpredictable; it is memorable.
Starts 27:47: https://www.blockedandreported.org/p/episode-195-a-morbid-tale-involving
End with a Bang
‘YOUR WELCOME’ with Michael Malice
His show ends with the same question to his guests: What has been your favorite part of this interview? The answers are often a real switch from the rest of the interview (style and pace.) Frequently, the guests are more candid. Examples: Kyle MacLachlan https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L_c3hZE0eIyX_b_BhSbvPAC90PEzhFtX/view?usp=sharing
Vivek Ramaswamy https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Af5m5_737Uq6v1ldBQFRy-PN168sdlmb/view?usp=sharing
Getting Personal
‘The Ryen Russillo Podcast’
Classic Sports Podcast, Starts with Host-selected topics on current happenings in NBA or NFL, followed by a short interview segment with someone in the industry (in this episode, former NBA All-star Andre Iguodala, and the segment I really love is they close out with listener-submitted life advice. Best part is the 2 producers get to chime in so you’re getting 3 perspectives.)
Segment: starts at 58:00 - 60:00 depending on the ads
Get listeners to act.
– Decide on the best one or two calls-to-action, i.e. website, email you, subscribe, do a survey, leave a review, like or comment on social media, share your podcast on social media, or simply come back for next week's episode?
– Quiz or Contest
– Explore Patreon for locked down content and-or swag (https://www.patreon.com/creators/podcasts)
Communicate with Your Audience and Develop Ambassadors.
Use social media and work to build a community around your podcast. Give them the opportunity to learn more about you through question and answers and be sure to check out their profiles as well and give them some love. When you have several “ambassadors,” call upon them to help you build the community, I.e. after each episode email a small number of them with a specific request to share the show.
Network - at industry events, not podcast events.
Attend events and meetings with the specific goal of telling people to be a guest on your show or to tune in.
Creating additional content
Coordinate podcast with blog, website; newsletter, YouTube channel.
- Boost SEO.
Write show notes strategically.
Create a transcript of the show (or selected episodes) and include with pod. (Direct listeners to where they can find transcript) “Creating a podcast takes some time and effort, however, the effectiveness of podcasting for your SEO may surprise you. Using podcasts, you can boost the visibility of your brand... Podcasting helps establish a good reputation for your company [and] is another way to share important information on your special offers and new arrivals.”
Include written content for each podcast episode
Other hacks:
Reverse engineer keywords
Change the name of your pod.
Use Zoom AI summary
Places to pay attention to SEO:
The title of the post
The title of the podcast episode
Subheadings
The URL of the post
Image file names
Image ALT attributes
Beginning and end of the page content
Sprinkled naturally throughout the page content
Sources:
5 Metrics to Measure the Success of Your Podcast (Hint: Downloads Isn't One of Them)
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/5-metrics-to-measure-the_b_13250204?guccounter=1
Podcast Sponsorships: The Ultimate Guide
https://www.eofire.com/podcast-sponsorships/
Everything You Should Know About SEO For Podcasts: https://castos.com/seo-for-podcasts/
Reddit thread on building audience https://www.reddit.com/r/podcasting/comments/16ssdih/tips_for_growing_a_small_podcast_audience/
Source: Jacob Soto - Fashion Brand Owner
Using social media to promote your blog or podcast is an effective way to increase your reach, engage with your audience, and drive traffic to your content. Here are some strategies to effectively leverage social media for promotion:
Choose the Right Platforms: Focus on the social media platforms that align with your target audience. For written content like blogs, platforms like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram can be effective. Podcasts often perform well on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and especially audio-centric platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Create Shareable Content: Craft attention-grabbing headlines, visually appealing images or graphics, and compelling descriptions. Shareable content increases the likelihood that your audience will share your posts with their networks, expanding your reach.
Consistent Posting Schedule: Establish a consistent posting schedule to keep your audience engaged. Use social media management tools to schedule posts in advance and maintain a regular presence.
Leverage Hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to increase the discoverability of your content. Research popular hashtags within your niche and incorporate them into your posts.
Engage with Your Audience: Respond to comments, messages, and mentions promptly. Engage in discussions related to your content and build relationships with your followers.
Utilize Visuals: Visual content like images, infographics, and videos often perform better on social media. Create eye-catching visuals that convey the essence of your blog or podcast.
Teasers and Snippets: Share snippets or excerpts from your blog posts or podcast episodes as teasers. Highlight the most interesting or valuable parts to entice your audience to click through to the full content.
Cross-Promotion: Collaborate with other bloggers, podcasters, or influencers in your niche for cross-promotion. Share each other's content to tap into each other's audiences.
Run Contests and Giveaways: Organize contests or giveaways with enticing prizes related to your blog or podcast. Encourage participants to share your content or subscribe to your channels for a chance to win.
Share User-Generated Content: Encourage your audience to create content related to your blog or podcast and share it on their profiles. User-generated content can boost your credibility and reach.
Live Streaming: Host live Q&A sessions, interviews, or discussions on platforms that support live streaming, such as Facebook Live or Instagram Live. Live content tends to engage audiences more effectively.
Analytics and Optimization: Monitor the performance of your social media efforts using analytics tools provided by the platforms. Adjust your strategy based on what works best for your audience.
Email Marketing Integration: Promote your blog or podcast through your email newsletter by sharing recent content and encouraging subscribers to follow you on social media.
Paid Advertising: Consider investing in paid social media advertising to reach a broader audience. Platforms like Facebook Ads and Instagram Ads offer detailed targeting options.
Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest trends and changes in social media algorithms to adapt your strategy accordingly. Social media platforms are continually evolving.
Remember that consistency and engagement are key to successful social media promotion. Building a genuine connection with your audience and providing valuable content will help you grow your blog or podcast's reach over time.
Miscellany: Suggestions for webcams:
The Logitech Brio 500 ($130).
The Insta360 Link is an AI-powered 4K webcam perched on a 3-axis gimbal, packed with a variety of capture modes and features that will appeal to content creators such as AI movement tracking, and offers incredibly impressive color reproduction and auto-exposure. A retail price of $250.
As far as lighting, something like a 2 Pack LED Video Light gets the job done for $50.
Link: https://a.co/d/5Y7edib
Please contact David Yas with any questions.
781.820.1027 / david@pod617.com