The real way to grow a podcast in 2024 | Podcast tips 2024

Jade Beason
12 Nov 202311:06

TLDRThe speaker shares their journey of transforming a struggling podcast into a successful one with over 880,000 downloads. They attribute this growth to five key changes: adopting a multi-channel marketing strategy, including email promotion and hosting events; rebranding and diversifying content with industry interviews; improving audio quality with Squadcast by Descript; refining presenting style; and gathering audience feedback through surveys to tailor the podcast to their preferences.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 Started with a personal anecdote of growing podcast downloads significantly within a year.
  • 🔄 Transitioned from a single-channel to a multi-channel marketing strategy, utilizing various platforms for promotion.
  • 📧 Leveraged an email list of over 16,000 subscribers for targeted podcast promotion through monthly wrap-ups and dedicated emails.
  • 🎤 Hosted events as part of a media company, using them as opportunities to promote the podcast to a relevant audience.
  • 🎵 Rebranded the podcast with a new name and content format, introducing industry interviews to attract a broader audience.
  • 🤝 Gained exposure through interviewed guests sharing the podcast with their audiences, emphasizing the importance of targeted guest selection.
  • 🎥 Suggested video recording interviews for content diversity and repurposing on social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.
  • 🎧 Emphasized the importance of high-quality audio using Squadcast by Descript for professional remote recording.
  • 🎤 Reviewed and refined the presenting style to better connect with the audience and improve the podcast experience.
  • 📊 Conducted a survey with the audience to gather feedback and preferences for the podcast, guiding future content decisions.

Q & A

  • What was the initial struggle faced by the podcast creator in the first year?

    -The podcast creator struggled to get more than a 100 downloads per episode in the first year.

  • How many downloads has the podcast accumulated after a year?

    -After a year, the podcast has accumulated over 880,000 downloads.

  • What was the first change implemented to boost the podcast's growth?

    -The first change was launching a multi-channel strategy, which involved utilizing various marketing channels instead of just promoting the podcast on social media偶尔.

  • How did the podcast creator use their email list to promote the podcast?

    -The creator used their email list to send end-of-month wrap-ups with direct links to episodes and dedicated emails highlighting key learnings from particularly interesting episodes.

  • What events did the creator host to promote the podcast?

    -The creator hosted events for creators and entrepreneurs as part of their media company, The Creator Project, and included a popup on the screen during breaks to promote the podcast.

  • What was the significance of the podcast's rebrand and refresh?

    -The rebrand and refresh included a new name, a change in the format of solo episodes, and the addition of industry interviews, which helped gain access to a new audience and contributed to the podcast's growth.

  • How did interviewing industry figures impact the podcast's reach?

    -Interviewing industry figures allowed the podcast to reach new audiences as each guest would share the interview with their followers, thus expanding the podcast's exposure.

  • What tool did the creator use for remote recording to ensure high-quality audio?

    -The creator used Squadcast by Descript for remote recording to ensure studio-quality audio, even when recording from different locations.

  • What are some features of Squadcast by Descript?

    -Squadcast by Descript offers features like 4K quality audio and video recording, easy guest session joining, automatic transcription, AI-enhanced editing tools, and the ability to create social clips and templates.

  • Why is the podcast creator still in the process of reviewing and tweaking their presenting style?

    -The creator is continuously reviewing and tweaking their presenting style to improve the podcast's quality and to better connect with the audience, as the style should align with the content and the intended audience's preferences.

  • What was the purpose of the survey shared with the audience before rebranding the podcast?

    -The survey aimed to gather feedback from the audience to understand their preferences and remove guesswork in podcast planning, ensuring that the changes made were in line with what the audience wanted.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Growth Strategies for a Successful Podcast

The speaker shares their journey of launching a podcast that initially struggled to gain traction but eventually accumulated over 880,000 downloads, primarily in the last six months. They attribute this success to five key changes, which they will detail in the video. The first change involves a multi-channel marketing strategy, moving beyond just social media promotion. The speaker emphasizes the importance of an email list for direct promotion and hosting events to engage with the audience and promote the podcast. They also discuss the benefits of interviewing industry figures to gain access to new audiences and the strategic use of guest speakers tailored to their audience's interests.

05:00

🎧 Enhancing Podcast Quality with Squadcast by Descript

The speaker discusses the importance of high-quality audio in podcasts and shares their experience with Squadcast by Descript for recording remote episodes. They highlight the ease of use, the ability to record from anywhere, and the platform's robust editing tools. The speaker also mentions the AI features that allow for automatic transcription, removal of filler words, background noise reduction, and voice cloning for corrections without re-recording. They suggest that these tools not only improve the podcast but also aid in marketing efforts by enabling the creation of content for various platforms.

10:01

🎤 Refining Presentation Style for Podcast Success

The speaker talks about the evolution of their podcast presentation style and the process of continuous improvement. They emphasize that podcasting requires a thoughtful approach to hosting, whether it involves conducting interviews or creating solo episodes. The speaker shares their preference for shorter episodes, influenced by their background as a YouTuber, and encourages others to define and refine their unique style. They also stress the value of audience feedback through surveys, which can provide insights into preferences for episode length, guest types, and interview questions.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Podcast

A podcast is a digital audio or video series that a user can download or stream. In the context of the video, the speaker is discussing their journey of growing their podcast from a small number of downloads to a significant amount of listeners. The podcast is the central theme around which the video's advice and strategies revolve.

💡Marketing Strategy

A marketing strategy refers to a set of tactics and actions that a business or individual uses to reach a specific audience and achieve desired goals. In the video, the speaker reviews their initial marketing strategy, which involved sporadic social media posts, and outlines a new multi-channel approach that contributed to their podcast's growth.

💡Email List

An email list is a collection of email addresses from subscribers or followers who have agreed to receive direct communication. In the video, the speaker leveraged their email list of over 16,000 subscribers to promote their podcast through monthly wrap-ups and dedicated emails highlighting key learnings from episodes.

💡Rebrand

Rebranding is the process of changing the appearance and identity of a product or company to achieve a new image. In the video, the speaker talks about rebranding their podcast, which included a name change and a shift in content format, as a key factor in attracting a new audience and increasing downloads.

💡Industry Interviews

Industry interviews are conversations with professionals or experts within a specific field. These interviews provide insights, advice, and knowledge to the audience. In the video, the speaker added industry interviews to their podcast, which not only provided value to listeners but also expanded their audience as interviewees shared the episodes with their followers.

💡Remote Recording

Remote recording refers to the process of recording audio or video content from different locations, often facilitated by technology that allows for high-quality output. In the video, the speaker discusses using Squadcast by Descript for remote recording, ensuring studio-quality audio even when not recording face-to-face.

💡Squadcast by Descript

Squadcast by Descript is a remote recording tool designed for podcast production, offering features like high-quality audio, video recording in 4K, and automatic transcription. In the video, the speaker praises the platform for its robust editing tools and ability to maintain consistent quality during remote recording sessions.

💡Presenting Style

Presenting style refers to the manner in which a host delivers content on a podcast, including their approach to interviews, the pacing of the episode, and the tone of communication. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of refining one's presenting style to align with the podcast's goals and audience preferences.

💡Survey

A survey is a method of collecting data from a sample of people through a series of questions. In the video, the speaker used a survey to gather feedback from their audience before rebranding their podcast, which helped them make informed decisions about the direction and content of their podcast.

💡Content Creation

Content creation refers to the process of producing various forms of content, such as articles, videos, or audio recordings, to communicate information or tell a story. In the context of the video, the speaker discusses the importance of creating engaging and valuable content for their podcast to attract and retain listeners.

Highlights

The podcast creator experienced a significant increase in downloads from 100 per episode to over 880,000 within a year.

Five key changes were implemented to transform the podcast's trajectory.

A multi-channel strategy was adopted, moving beyond reliance on a single social media platform.

An email list of over 16,000 subscribers was utilized to promote the podcast.

Monthly wrap-ups and dedicated emails were sent to subscribers highlighting podcast episodes.

Hosting events for creators and entrepreneurs provided a platform to promote the podcast.

The podcast underwent a rebrand, including a name change and a shift from solo episodes to industry interviews.

Interviewing industry figures allowed access to new audiences as guests shared the podcast with their followers.

The decision to conduct interviews face-to-face, and potentially record them as video content, was a strategic move.

Squadcast by Descript was used for remote recording, ensuring studio-quality audio even when recording remotely.

Descript's editing tools and AI features, such as automatic transcription and the ability to remove filler words, were highlighted.

The presenter's style was reviewed and continuously tweaked to improve the podcast's dynamic.

A survey was shared with the audience to gather feedback and preferences for the podcast.

The importance of understanding the target audience and tailoring content to their interests was emphasized.

The podcast's growth was attributed to a combination of strategic marketing, content diversification, and audience engagement.

The creator's experience serves as a guide for others looking to grow their podcasts and online content.