Looking to grow your podcast? Be careful of folks promising to bring you thousands of new listeners overnight!
There’s no hidden strategy or quick-and-easy way to cultivate an audience for your podcast. It takes a fair amount of time and effort to create a great podcast with dedicated listeners. So, if you receive a message from someone promising to help you grow your show quickly, then we recommend approaching with caution, as it may not be exactly as it seems!
Red Flags
The offer to grow your podcast is an enticing one, but it can come at great risk. Some podcast promoters may use policy-breaking tactics to boost the download numbers for your show. This can result in being unable to monetize, or worse, getting your show kicked off RedCircle.
Keep an eye out for these red flags when evaluating potential podcast promoters:
- They offer vague information: They don’t provide details or steps on how they’ll bring you new listeners. A reputable promoter can articulate exactly what strategies they’ll use to grow your show.
- They have no verifiable references or testimonials: Make sure that real folks have used their services before.
- Their communication is off: Be cautious of promoters who offer little information and push you to say ‘yes’ without giving you time to think it over. True podcast promoters will understand your need to weigh your options!
- It seems to good to be true: Go with your gut! If something seems off or strange during initial conversations, then move on.
Real Strategies
Luckily, there are plenty of tried-and-true strategies to help you grow your podcast! Here are some to help get you started.
- Use your network: One of the best ways to reach new audiences is to work with your fellow podcasters. Collaborate through Cross-Promotions to bring your show to new ears!
- Distribute your podcast everywhere: An easy, and oft-forgotten, strategy is to ensure that your show is available on all the major listening platforms and even the more niche ones! Check out our Distribution Section for a list of places to distribute.
- Create accompanying content: Another way to reach new listeners is to diversify the type of content you’re creating. Utilize social media, write related blog posts, or send out a newsletter! Extra content can help reach folks outside of typical podcast listeners!
For more information on this topic, check out our blog post “Podcast Promotion: A Dream Come True or a Real Nightmare?”