By esantiago@hubspot.com (Erica Santiago)

Podcasts have become increasingly popular over the years for a variety of reasons. As more people work from home, listening to podcasts helps them feel like they’re a part of a discussion among friends. Podcasts are also easily accessible and can be listened to anywhere, whether you’re on a long commute or a quick jog.

As podcasts become more relevant, more seem to be published every day — so if you’re interested in starting one, you’re probably wondering how to grow your podcast audience and stand out above the rest.

Fortunately, there are many simple steps you can take to expand your podcast’s reach. From leveraging email marketing to networking with other podcasters, growing your podcast doesn’t have to be a challenge. Let’s explore several different tasks you can do to find your audience.

1. Submit your content to every podcast app and directory.
2. Have a target audience.
3. Add video to your podcast.
4. Be active on social media.
5. Network within the podcast community.
6. Share older podcast episodes.
7. Create a podcast trailer.
8. Host a contest or giveaway.
9. Set up and organize a website.
10. Leverage email marketing.
11. Invite guests.
12. Become a guest yourself.
13. Invest money in ads.
14. Use podcast SEO.
15. Build a marketing workflow.
16. Include a Call-to-Action.

How to Grow Your Podcast Audience in 16 Steps

Whether you’re a new podcaster building an audience from scratch or a more established podcaster trying to expand your reach, here are some methods you should include in your marketing strategy:

1. Submit your content to every podcast app and directory.

In order to grow your audience, your podcast needs to be available wherever the listeners are. To get that kind of exposure, submit your podcast’s RSS Feed to every podcast directory you can find.

Start with platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts since they are the most popular platforms — but don’t stop there. There are plenty of smaller podcast platforms listeners use every day, so you need to submit your RSS Feed to those places as well to attract as many listeners as possible.

Though submitting your podcast to all these different places might sound overwhelming, it’s actually very simple. Just open an account and submit your podcast to each show by completing a form. Once you’ve done that, your show will automatically update on each platform every time you post a new episode.

2. Have a target audience.

Creating a podcast you think everyone can enjoy may sound like a good idea, but podcasts without a niche are very difficult to market — especially if they’re brand new. Instead of trying to have mass appeal, find a …read more

Source:: HubSpot Blog

Author: Aaron