So you've created a great podcast, came up with your format, you might even have titles and ideas for your podcast. Here’s the hard part: How do you get people to listen to it? There is no hard and fast rule(s) when promoting your podcast. Sometimes you’ll strike lightning, sometimes not. But you must remember that there is no one else who has your voice, so don’t give up. Podcast promotion and marketing is essential for any podcaster who wants to reach a wider audience. Here are a few effective strategies to get you started:
1. Promote your podcast on social media.
This is a no-brainer. Share your podcast episodes on your social media channels, and encourage your followers to subscribe and listen. You can also use social media to run contests and giveaways to promote your podcast. But start small, get your friends and family to subscribe and listen. Then ask them to promote your podcast on their social media. (Here is the perfect opportunity for me to demonstrate how old I am by referencing a commercial about 2 people telling two people and then they will tell two people!)
2. Submit your podcast to directories.
There are a number of different podcast directories where you can submit your show. This will help people find your podcast when they're searching for content. Some of the most popular directories include Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
Here’s a great article on how to submit to Google Podcasts!
3. Guest on other podcasts.
This is a great way to get exposure for your own podcast. When you guest on another podcast, you'll be able to introduce your show to their audience and hopefully get some new listeners. It builds your confidence and helps solidifies you as an expert in your field, or even just an interested party that has a cool podcast.
4. Run ads.
If you have the budget, you can run ads to promote your podcast. This can be a great way to reach a wider audience, but it's important to target your ads carefully so that you're reaching people who are actually interested in your show. Again, if you have a budget for it, but I wouldn’t necessarily suggest putting money in this at the start. (Good quality equipment for the best-sounding podcast should take priority here).
5. Collaborate with other podcasters.
Collaborating with other podcasters is a great way to cross-promote your shows. You can do this by doing interviews, co-hosting episodes, or even just sharing each other's content on social media. By featuring them or suggesting their podcast on yours, they can do the same. So a sort of mutual commercial that cost neither of you anything!
6. Get help from a professional.
If you're not sure how to promote your podcast, don't be afraid to ask for help from a professional podcast marketing company. MW Studio Services can help you develop a custom promotion and marketing strategy that will help you reach your target audience. By honing in on who your audience is, you can target them more successfully to engage them.
By following these strategies, you can effectively promote and market your podcast and reach a wider audience.
Here are a few additional tips for independent podcast producers:
Be consistent. The key to successful podcast promotion is consistency. You need to be constantly promoting your show on social media, submitting it to directories, and running ads.
Be patient. It takes time to build a successful podcast audience. Don't expect to see results overnight. Just keep promoting your show and eventually you'll start to see a return on your investment.
Have fun! Podcasting should be enjoyable. If you're not having fun, it will show in your promotion efforts. So relax, have fun, and let your personality shine through.
I hope these tips help you promote and market your podcast. Good luck!
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