Growing Your Audience Episodes

Today, we’re exploring the world of partnerships versus sponsorships with the fabulous Stephanie Thompson. The key takeaway? Partnerships are better at growing your show. Forget just pocketing cash for a shout-out; we’re talking about meaningful connections that can actually grow your audience. Stephanie explains how she snagged partners before she even had a following—zero downloads, folks! So, if you’ve been thinking about how to take your podcast game to the next level, this chat is for you....

Molly Ruland stops by to explain how she started a branded podcast that brought in so many clients from season one that she had to pause it. For Molly, it is all about starting and building relationships with her guests. By conducting targeted outreach, she added 500 marketing people to her LinkedIn network, improving the relevance of her feed. When it comes to SEO, AI is interesting, but she advises against using "podcast lingo" and emojis in podcast show notes and metadata. Instead, she reco...

After a lot of feedback on the first episode about podcast newsletters, I wanted to answer more questions, and this time I brought Paul Gowder to help. We’ll discuss what tools to use and what content to include. If you really want to skip this whole newsletter thing, we've got some backup plans for you, too. Paul not only has wisdom about newsletters, but we also talk about building his community. Spoiler alert: You might even want to ditch social media for this! Buckle up, because we’re abou...

I ask my audience what their top pet peeves are just drive them nuts. We're spilling the beans on all the annoying things that make us want to tear our hair out while listening. We've got it all covered from podcasters who take forever to get to the good stuff to the dreaded mid-sentence ads that pop up like uninvited guests at a party. We also chat about the classic blunders that drive listeners nuts, like out-of-context clips and those cringe-worthy audio issues. So, grab your headphones and g...

Forget social media; if you want to drive traffic, newsletters are where it’s at. Seriously, I’ve been crunching the numbers and guess what? My newsletter is pulling in way more visitors than my half-hearted attempts at tweeting or posting on Facebook. Yeah, shocking, I know. It’s like trying to catch a fish with a toothpick when you could just use a net, right? So, in this episode, we’ll look at why newsletters are the real MVPs of traffic generation, sharing some juicy stats and personal tale...

We're diving into the wild world of podcasting and pulling some juicy lessons from the legendary Saturday Night Live as it hits the big 5-0. Seriously, SNL didn’t just survive; it thrived, and we’re here to steal some of that magic for our own shows. From knowing your audience to embracing the weirdness, there’s a treasure trove of insights that can help us all level up our podcasting game. Forget about being boring—SNL took risks, and guess what? It paid off! So, buckle up and get ready to chan...

Danny Pena is back on the mic, and let me tell you, he’s got stories that’ll make you believe in the power of podcasting. After 20 years of grinding with Gamertag Radio, Danny shares all the wild opportunities that have come his way, and trust me, it's not just luck; it's hustle. Danny DOES THE WORK. From interviewing gaming legends to landing a gig at the New York Stock Exchange, Danny shows us that if you know your audience and stay true to yourself, the sky's the limit. We dig into how he bu...

Every podcast can benefit from editing because it enhances the listening experience by removing the boring parts and keeping the content engaging. While authenticity is important, it shouldn't come at the cost of listener engagement. Effective editing can transform a good conversation into a great podcast by honing in on valuable content and eliminating distractions. By focusing on who your audience is and what they want to hear, you can make informed decisions on what to keep and what to cut. U...

Starting a podcast in 2025 can be a daunting decision, but the real question is whether it’s worth it for you personally. The answer often hinges on your motivations and available time, as podcasting requires commitment and passion. I look into the statistics and share insights about the competitive landscape of podcasting versus other platforms like YouTube, illustrating that while the odds can seem slim, the rewards can be substantial if approached with the right mindset. I emphasize the imp...

Are you worried about not just starting a podcast, but keeping it going? I dig into essential strategies for sustaining your podcasting journey, emphasizing the importance of knowing your "why." I share personal stories and actionable tips to help you identify your passion and maintain motivation. From brainstorming episode ideas to understanding the time commitment, I encourage you to start small and seek feedback. I also discuss the significance of focusing on the aspects of podcasting you lo...

In this episode, I’m joined by Doc G (Dr. Jordan Grumet), the author of The Purpose Code: How to unlock meaning, maximize happiness, and leave a lasting legacy, to tackle one of the biggest challenges podcasters face—not the technology, not the gear, - but the mental game. Whether it's "head trash," imposter syndrome, or the overwhelming pressure to succeed, Doc G shares practical strategies to help you push past mental barriers and create a podcast you truly love. Doc G shares his journey fro...

Every year, I ask my audience, "What is your favorite podcast - and WHY." When we hear what resonates with people, we can ensure we include those ingredients in our show. Participants Steve Stewart from The Podcast Editor Academy and the Podcast Editors Mastermind loves Stacking Benjamins. Ralph Estep Jr from the Ask Ralph Podcast (Christian Finance) loves the Ask the Podcast Coach show. Randy Black from Bible Bytes loves the No Agenda Show. Kim Newlove from The Pharmacist’s Voice and Perry...

Creating an effective audience survey is essential for understanding what your listeners want and how to enhance their experience. This episode dives into the crucial steps for crafting survey questions that engage your audience and encourage participation. Dave Jackson emphasizes the importance of knowing your audience and keeping surveys concise, ideally under ten questions, to boost completion rates. He also discusses strategies for increasing responses, such as using incentives and clear c...

Being open to receiving feedback is crucial for growth, especially as we head into 2025. If podcasters are unwilling to listen to their audience, they risk repeating the same mistakes and achieving the same results. This episode delves into the importance of having a receptive mindset regarding advice and input from listeners. Today, I share anecdotes and examples, including the cautionary tale of Elizabeth Holmes and the pitfalls of ignoring expert advice. He emphasizes that understanding your ...

This week, we had something that doesn't happen often outside of the Super Bowl—lots of Americans watched the same thing at the same time. Today, I thought we could look at WHY and what podcasters can learn to add those winning ingredients to their podcasts. Audience Survey Help make the show better, and you'll be entered to win a year of membership at the School of Podcasting. Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/survey Takeaways: Building anticipation for your content is crucial; promoting months in...

Today we look at how to encourage guests to promote their episodes. Host Dave Jackson opens the show by discussing the importance of reciprocity in the podcasting world, emphasizing that hosts and guests benefit from effective promotion strategies. Got Feedback On This Episode? I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode. If you have a minute or two, it's less than five questions and works great on your phone or computer. Share Your Thoughts Contributors: Kim Newlove - The Pharmacists...

This episode serves as a guide for content creators to learn from the mistakes of the movie industry. It advocates for creativity, genuine audience engagement, and strategic marketing that resonates with today's consumers. The movie industry is falling fast. I share my childhood memories of the joy of watching movies and how attending a movie now has changed dramatically. We need to understand the power of audience engagement, noting that the film industry is often playing it safe with sequels ...

Chapters in podcast episodes allow listeners to easily navigate content, enhancing their listening experience by allowing them to skip to segments they find most intriguing or relevant. Dave Jackson explores the evolution and utility of chapters, reflecting on his initial disdain and eventual reliance on them. Dave invites podcasters to share their perspectives, highlighting a range of opinions from enthusiastic advocates to skeptics who worry chapters might disrupt the listener's engagement. T...

In this episode of the School of Podcasting (episode 949), we get some great insights from media research expert Tom Webster. With a focus on optimizing podcast content and strategy, Tom and Dave explore common pitfalls that podcasters face, particularly the importance of engaging content from the outset. They discuss practical tips on improving podcast narrative and editing, handling advertiser concerns, and leveraging audience feedback to refine your podcast. Whether you're a seasoned podcaste...

DISCLAIMER: Today's show contains adult content. Maybe listen to this one when the kiddies aren't around. Today, I share some insights that will explain why I spent close to $400 to fly to Atlanta for one day. Then I share some stories about some strange laws in the UK that are getting people arrested for posting memes and two words that cost a comedian millions of dollars. Mentioned In This Episode Join the School of Podcasting Community Profit From Your Podcast Book Power of Podcasting Networ...

Are you confident your podcast content is truly resonating with your audience? Many podcasters assume their content is "fine" without digging deeper. But there's a powerful way to gain invaluable insights directly from your listeners. In this episode, I share a game-changing strategy I recently used at my new job with Podpage. By conducting one-on-one Zoom calls with users, we uncovered crucial feedback that transformed our product. This approach can work wonders for your podcast too! Got Feed...

70% of podcasts are discovered via word of mouth (Jacobs Media). So if we can understand what makes someone recommend something, we can start to do that in our show. We heard words like affordable, quality, and unique. Some people recommend based on a relationship that delivers value. When you deliver something you can't get any place else. Got Feedback On This Episode? I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode. If you have a minute or two, it's less than five questions and works gr...

My last day at Libsyn was July 12th, 2024. I'm starting a new chapter in my podcasting career, and so to announce the next chapter, I thought it might be fun (and maybe inspirational? ) for newbies to see what is possible with a podcast. Last week I talked about my journey through technology. I explained that where I am now is NOT where I started and it took years to get here. Today I'm talking about the most important benefit of podcasting (and it's not money, or fame). It's relationships. You...

How to Ensure Your Podcast Guests Shine: Understanding your audience is non-negotiable when crafting an exceptional podcast. All good podcasters start by clearly identifying their audience. Are you catering to 24-year-old women or 59-year-old women? Knowing your audience is essential to producing content that resonates. This involves diligent research to understand your listeners' preferences and needs. Today, we're talking about how to do ENGAGING interviews as well as how to GET MORE INTERVI...