Like any other type of content, podcasts need good promotion. There are many high-quality podcasts out there. But, unfortunately, a lot of them don’t get heard because they are not promoted well. In a world where technology is accessible to everyone and when everyone can create online content, it is hard to make yourself seen.
There are numerous ways people promote themselves. Some of them work better than others. To help you spread your word faster and to help you expand your audience, we have prepared six easy ways you can promote your podcasts.
Use Big Platforms
To make your voice heard by as many people as possible, you have to use the biggest platforms out there. iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play are platforms that can definitely make your voice be heard. Many people don’t know how to submit a podcast to places like this, so they end up not even trying. But, it is fairly simple to do so. You just need to do a few registration steps, and, you are one step closer to speaking at the biggest podcast stage in the world.
Promote on Social Media
Social media might be the most powerful advertisement platform today. With millions of users, these platforms can bring miracles when it comes to promotion. When promoting on social media, do it in many different ways. You can share videos, images, soundbites, images, or anything else you can think of. Remember to keep it short and effective, so that you can catch and keep the user’s attention.
Since each platform has different practices, you have to keep that in mind when you create your content. Even though there are no strict rules for these practices, some general rules of thumb apply. For example, if you post on LinkedIn, you will want to keep it more professional. But, if you want to showcase your brand personality, Instagram can be a great place for that.
Make a Website or a Blog
Just because you deliver your content through a podcast, doesn’t mean you don’t need a blog or a website. Having one of these can serve as your hub on the Internet. It can be a place where you can direct the people who are listening to you at the end of each episode. You can post additional resources to your blog or a website, and enable downloads in exchange for an email address. This way, you will be able to keep your audience updated every time your next episode goes live.
Offer Teasers
When you promote your upcoming episode, either via email, or anything else make sure you offer a teaser. Compared to writing about your podcast only, a good teaser can attract a bigger audience. People will rather listen to short audio or a video than read a paragraph of text. You can give an overview of the topic you are covering, or give a backstory on why you choose that particular topic. If you are having a guest on your podcast, give your subscribers a little background about them. But, remember, keep your teasers short and effective. Sometimes it’s better to give less information, but keep the audience’s attention.
Release 3-5 Episodes on Launch Day
A lot of people have gotten complaints after people listened to their first episode. These complaints were not about the quality of their content, but about the fact that there isn’t any more of it. The general recommendation is to publish at least 3 episodes at once, but, the more the merrier.
When you have a few episodes at the start, it will help you focus on growing and marketing your podcast, since your episodes are already scheduled and recorded. Your audience will appreciate that they already know when your next episode is going to be. Remember to follow the schedule you published, since that will help you build trust from your audience.
Make a Giveaway
Giving away free stuff is a known way to attract new followers and listeners. If your budget allows you so, you can make a giveaway of T-shirts, mugs, or give product discounts in exchange for something you want. Have some simple requirements for the giveaway which will be simple for your audience, but effective for you. You can also ask for a review on iTunes as a requirement for a giveaway. This can help you get more reviews and boost the social proof on your podcast.
