Grow Your Podcast Audience: Networking, Guesting, and Social Media Tips brought to you by Pod School

Welcome to How to Start, Grow, and Monetise Your Podcast, hosted by James Burtt and Alex Chisnall. In this episode, we tackle one of the most frequently asked questions: How can you grow your podcast audience? Discover actionable strategies that leverage social media, networking, guest appearances, and SEO to increase your reach and impact.

Leveraging Social Media for Podcast Growth

• Secure Social Media Handles: Learn why claiming handles across platforms is essential and how to creatively adapt if your preferred name is taken.
• Leverage Personal Brands: Use your existing social media following to amplify your podcast content and connect with your audience.
• Platform-Specific Strategies: Discover why LinkedIn might be the best platform for B2B podcasts, while TikTok and YouTube Shorts excel at discoverability.

Networking and Utilizing Your Existing Audience

• Tap Into Your Network: Identify existing connections, forums, and newsletters within your niche to engage your target audience.
• Form Strategic Partnerships: Invite industry leaders or influential figures as guests to attract their followers to your podcast.
• Make Guesting Easy: Provide tools like short clips and social media assets to make it simple for your guests to promote their episode.

Guesting on Other Podcasts

• Be Tactical About Guesting: Guest on shows with established audiences that align with your niche to attract listeners already consuming similar content.
• Pod Swaps and Collaborations: Partner with other podcasters for mutually beneficial audience growth.
• Use Tools to Find Opportunities: Explore platforms like Podbooker and Matchmaker.fm to discover guesting opportunities.

Creating Content That Converts

• Focus on Goals: Tailor your content to align with your podcast’s purpose—whether to educate, entertain, or drive leads.
• Drive Long-Form Engagement: Use short-form content to highlight key takeaways and encourage listeners to dive into full episodes.

• Leverage What You Already Have: Your existing network and personal brand can be powerful tools for growth.
• Be Strategic With Guests: Collaborate with individuals whose audiences align with your target listeners.
• Don’t Overlook Niche Platforms: LinkedIn, newsletters, and industry forums can help you connect with your ideal audience.
• Consistency is Key: Regularly post on the platforms where your audience is most engaged.

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In this episode, hosts Alex Chisnall and James Burtt, co-founders of Pod School, explore the essential podcast formats that can elevate your show’s impact, from interview-based formats and solo episodes to dynamic roundtable discussions and innovative content creation strategies.

This podcast is brought to you by Pod School, a free community for aspiring podcasters. At Pod School, you'll access resources like tactical guides, blueprints, and live webinars. Join hundreds of content creators and learn the strategies to start, grow, and monetize your podcast. Click https://tinyurl.com/joinpodschool to join Pod School now!

Whether you’re aiming to build authority, boost engagement, or use podcasting as a tool for business development, this episode provides practical insights to take your podcast to the next level.

Episode Highlights:

• Choosing the Right Podcast Format: Discover how different formats like solo shows, interviews, and co-hosted episodes can cater to various audience needs and enhance content delivery.
• Benefits of Solo Shows for Authority Building: Learn how solo episodes can establish you as a thought leader, showcase your expertise, and engage your audience deeply.
• Interview Podcasts for Expanding Reach: James and Alex discuss the advantages of interview-based shows, which can increase audience reach by tapping into guest networks.
• Roundtable and True Crime Formats: Explore popular formats like roundtable discussions and niche-specific formats (e.g., true crime), and understand how they can boost audience engagement.
• Podcasting as a Business Tool: James shares insights on using podcasts as a replacement for discovery calls, turning them into valuable live coaching sessions that provide evergreen content.
• Leveraging Podcasting for Content and Relationship Building: Hear examples of companies using podcasts to record client conversations and as an internal communication tool to build company culture.

Key Takeaways:

• Select a Format Aligned with Your Audience Goals: Align your podcast format with your audience’s needs to increase engagement and reach.
• Leverage Podcasts for Authority & Trust: Use solo episodes or business development formats to showcase your expertise, driving trust with listeners.
• Use Interview Podcasts for Broader Reach: Collaborate with guests whose network and insights can broaden your show’s audience.
• Transform Discovery Calls Into Content: Replace traditional calls with recorded coaching sessions, making valuable content for potential clients.
• Experiment with Roundtables & Niche Formats: Boost content diversity and relevance with unique formats like roundtables or audience-specific shows.

In This Show We Cover:

Types of podcast formats, Solo vs. co-hosted podcasts, Business development through podcasting, Audience engagement strategies, Building a podcast audience, Content creation for podcasting, Using podcasts for authority building, Benefits of interview podcasts, Pod School podcast community

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro & Podcast Structure Overview

2:16 - Interview-Based Podcasts & Expanding Reach

4:49 - Solo Shows for Authority Building

5:30 - Exploring Roundtable & Niche Formats

9:42 - Podcasting as a Business Development Tool

11:34 - Using Podcasts Internally & for Onboarding

14:38 - Podcasts for Content Creation & Engagement

14:58 - Audience Engagement & Pod School Community...

Welcome to another episode of How to Start, Grow, and Monetise Your Podcast!

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This episode is packed with actionable insights to help you find the perfect niche for your podcast - whether you're looking to boost your brand, build authority, or simply share your passions with the world.

• Why Finding a Podcast Niche is Essential: Discover why getting specific in your podcast niche can skyrocket your reach and authority, especially in a crowded space.
• Passion vs. Expertise Exercise: Learn a simple, effective exercise to uncover topics that blend your passion with your expertise. Perfect for honing in on a niche that you'll love talking about for years to come.
• Niche of a Niche Strategy: Understand the importance of narrowing down your topic—think "vintage BMWs" instead of just "cars"—to attract a dedicated audience.
• Defining Podcast Success: Explore how to define your unique version of success, whether that's landing consulting gigs, building brand authority, or simply growing a loyal audience.
• Practical Tools & Tips: Leverage tools like Google Trends, AnswerThePublic, and ChatGPT to pinpoint trends and audience needs within your expertise.

Key Takeaways:

• There’s “Riches in Niches”: The more specific your niche, the better your chances of creating meaningful connections with a dedicated audience.
• Match Passion & Expertise: Use our practical exercise to discover topics you’re both passionate and knowledgeable about, ensuring you’ll enjoy creating content long-term.
• Know Your Podcast Goals: Define what success looks like for your podcast to stay focused and evaluate your growth effectively.

Resources Mentioned:

• Pod School: Join the free Pod School community for access to guides, blueprints, and webinars with podcasting experts. Perfect for content creators serious about growth and monetisation. Join Pod School here!

In This Show We Cover:

Podcast niche discovery, How to find podcast topics, Podcast niche ideas, Building a podcast audience, Podcasting tips for beginners, How to monetize a podcast, Podcast for business growth, Starting a podcast for brand authority, Pod School community