Research shows that there are currently over 2 million active podcasts. The growth is exponential, considering that in 2018 there were only 500,000.
The popularity of podcasts could be attributable to so many factors. These include a platform to acquire new knowledge, news source, entertainment, and even inspiration.
But that’s not all. Individuals and companies also use podcasts to market new products or services.
The platforms provide an excellent way to reach the millions of listeners who tune in daily. Marketers can get excellent leads and conversions with the right message.
But, the success of any platform depends on the ability to attract listeners. That is why podcast marketing is so crucial. We will show you how to do it in our article below by sharing some of the best strategies.
1. Start by Creating A Home for Your Podcast
Your podcast home is a page or site where you curate all your content. Everything should be available in one place allowing for better streamlining of processes.
Let’s say you offer free music marketing. Have a dedicated site with all the relevant information about what you offer. The strongest selling point would be the opportunity for artists to get visibility. All this happens without them needing to spend a cent.
Also, show who can benefit from the services. Such include independent artists, producers, songwriters, and vocalists.
Include a section on why they should join your platform. It could be due to a large listenership, meaning they get their work out there. The combination of different artists could be an opportunity for collaboration.
For listeners, the draw would be the chance to discover new music and artists.
Remember the idea is to make your podcast attractive by showing the benefits to the target audience. You want them to subscribe so that you grow your listener base.
2. Podcast Marketing by Choosing the Right Guests
Creating interest in your podcast depends on the type of guests you bring in. If you can, rope in a few celebrities, influencers, or industry leaders. It is going to increase the number of listeners by using their fame as a promotion tool.
Before coming to the show, they will probably ask their followers to tune in. But, just to be sure, don’t be shy about asking them to share the information on all their networking platforms.
You must also do your part to hype up the show everywhere you can, including social media. This brings us to the next point.
3. Promote Your Podcast on Social Media
Social media networks are an excellent avenue for podcast marketing. Some benefits that immediately stand out include a broad audience base. There is also the fact that there are so many channels available.
There is no limit to the amount of creativity you can apply in your marketing strategies. Sound bites, images, videos, and rich media are engaging and will get you traction. Keep up with updates so that your audience is always in the know.
4. Make the Listeners a Part of Your Shows
Making listeners a part of the show is a common practice among radio stations. The presenters will invite audiences to ask questions or give opinions on specific issues. The strategy keeps audiences engaged through active interaction.
Do the same for your podcast. Encourage audiences to send in feedback and read them out during the podcasting shows. With the right tools, you can take live calls during the sessions.
Another idea is to introduce gaming elements. It could be something like solving puzzles or suggesting solutions to an issue. Also, consider promotional campaigns like giveaways to generate hype and excitement.
You get to achieve two critical things. First, the shows become more interesting. And, the listeners will feel that you appreciate their input. Remember to ask audiences to share and subscribe.
5. Content Remains King
Content is king, is a phrase marketers use a lot, especially when developing material for websites. Well, content remains king when thinking of the material for your podcast.
Yes, please take time to ensure whatever you put out is engaging. But, also ask yourself the following. Is it adding any value to the listeners? You may need to do serious research to identify what your target audiences need.
Providing solutions to identified issues is one way to go about it. Use the feedback you get from listeners to address specific concerns. Also, have a unique offering that differentiates your podcast from the competitors.
Finally, study and learn from successful podcasters to see what they are doing right? Pay attention to their formats, structure, and content.
6. Utilize Podcasting Platforms
Do not limit yourself to your podcasting platform only. There are so many other platforms you can distribute your podcast to. Such avenues include Spotify, Stitcher, Apple iTunes, and SoundCloud. They provide a fantastic way to reach more listeners, thus greater visibility for your podcast.
The process is as easy as creating accounts and submitting RSS feeds to the platforms. The feed allows for the automatic publication of every new episode you put out.
7. Join Podcasting Networking Communities
A successful podcaster must be up-to-date with the latest trends, ideas, or news. Podcast networking communities are a fantastic source of such information. A cursory internet search will show you tons of options to consider. They include Podcast Support Group on Facebook /r/Podcasts on Reddit.
You can also get support and ideas on how to grow your platform. The podcasters can also push listeners your way through mentions on their platforms. You can offer the same courtesy resulting in cross-promotions.
Seek out opportunities to be a guest on some podcasting shows. Be relevant and engaging to build curiosity about what more you have to offer. In that way, they will look up your platform and subscribe.
Final Thoughts
Starting a podcast is as easy as recording audio on your preferred device. The challenge is in getting people to tune in to what you have to say. That is why podcast marketing strategies are crucial to the success of your platform.
We have shared 7 podcast marketing strategies you can try out. Pay attention to the content and type of guests you invite. Social media and distribution platforms are excellent for creating visibility.
Engage and interact with audiences by encouraging feedback. Finally, join networking communities to fraternize with like-minded individuals. Such are critical sources of information on what is happening. They also provide cross-promotion opportunities.
