Category

Growing Your Podcast

Podcasts tend to get the audiences they deserve. And while you shouldn't try scammy ways to artificially grow your show, there are some solid best practices you should put in place to help your podcast reach as many of your target audience as possible.

Listen everywhere

Podcast Pontifications Is No More

But Evo does have a new weekly newsletter called The End shines a light back on audio fiction shows when they've reached the—or at least a—conclusion. Check it out!

Podcast Pontifications on...

Growing Your Podcast

Podcasts tend to get the audiences they deserve. And while you shouldn't try scammy ways to artificially grow your show, there are some solid best practices you should put in place to help your podcast reach as many of your target audience as possible.

Changing The Minds Of Non-Podcast Listeners One IHNI At A Time
July 6, 2022
Changing The Minds Of Non-Podcast Listeners One IHNI At A Time
Podcasters have a lot of jobs. One we don't often think of is being ambassadors for podcasting. But it's an important job if we're to grow the entire podcasting pie. Start by having some IHNIs at the ready.
Podcast Growth & Monetization With Buzzsprout Ads
June 8, 2022
Podcast Growth & Monetization With Buzzsprout Ads
Growth and monetization are at the top of every podcaster's wish list. At least every podcaster who's yet to achieve those two things. Or perhaps not at the level said podcaster is happy with for their own show.
Can You Still Make A Really Big Podcast In 2022?
May 18, 2022
Can You Still Make A Really Big Podcast In 2022?
Today's podcast landscape is busy. So is it still possible to grow a really big podcast? Yes, but you can't rely on just good content and luck. You have to address these five realities. (And get a little lucky.)
The Ugly Math Of Podcast Cross-Promotion
April 6, 2022
The Ugly Math Of Podcast Cross-Promotion
Fishing where the fish are is a solid strategy, so using similar podcasts to promote your podcast is obviously a good idea, right? You bet! But like any marketing effort, what you put in determines what you get out.
4 Questions To Becoming A Better Podcast Interviewee
March 9, 2022
4 Questions To Becoming A Better Podcast Interviewee
Figuring out what type of podcaster you want to be is important to establishing your podcast. But have you thought about and established what kind of interviewee or guest you want to be on other podcasts?
Writing Your Way To A Successful Podcast
January 6, 2022
Writing Your Way To A Successful Podcast
Your podcast is more than just your audio file. And as podcasting continues to mature, the not-just-audio parts of your show will become more important factors that influence your podcasting success.
Facebook Ads for Podcasts: Good Money After Bad Math
November 4, 2021
Facebook Ads for Podcasts: Good Money After Bad Math
It’s said that money can’t buy happiness. Well...it can’t buy podcast listeners either, according to the data generated from a Facebook Ad experiment I funded for 76 days and have just terminated.
Authentic Podcasting Is The Best Self Care
October 18, 2021
Authentic Podcasting Is The Best Self Care
Worrying about growth, new tech, and other podcasting distractions can cause you to forget that your audience is your audience, not a nameless pool you have to fight for week after week. Lean into them.
Podcasts Tend To Get The Audience They Deserve
September 29, 2021
Podcasts Tend To Get The Audience They Deserve
Podcasting is easy. For like five minutes. Then reality sets in. The reality of making great content that people can’t help but share. Podcasting doesn’t come with guarantees. So is it worth it?
Celebrate Your Podcast's Reviews Like A Boss!
September 1, 2021
Celebrate Your Podcast's Reviews Like A Boss!
Glowing podcast reviews feel really, really good. Getting any benefits from them beyond a warm, fuzzy feeling is questionable. Unless you have a plan for celebrating reviews for your podcast, that is.
Time For Podcast Advertising To Put Up Or Shut Up
August 16, 2021
Time For Podcast Advertising To Put Up Or Shut Up
Can spending $5 a day on ads really add 10,000 or more new listeners to your podcast? I highly doubt it. But I am crazy enough to put up the money to see if I’m right or if I have 10,000 new listeners.
Mastering Your Way To Podcast Growth
August 12, 2021
Mastering Your Way To Podcast Growth
I’ve never heard a podcast listener say: I wish my favorite podcaster cared less about their show. Instead, they tend to be appreciative and reward those podcasters who work to master their craft.
The Easy Way To Get People To Recommend Your Podcast
August 11, 2021
The Easy Way To Get People To Recommend Your Podcast
In reality, it’s hard for podcast listeners to recommend podcasts. If your show’s growth has stalled, there are some steps you can take to make it easier for your most loyal fans to recommend your show.
The Surprising & Delightful Way To Grow Your Podcast
August 10, 2021
The Surprising & Delightful Way To Grow Your Podcast
Begging your listeners to tell others about your podcast will only get you so far. Getting more people to do it starts by understanding what people love about your podcast and why they keep listening.
Blame Your Podcast's Audience For Slow Growth
August 9, 2021
Blame Your Podcast's Audience For Slow Growth
Sustaining podcast growth week after week is really hard. And while there are plenty of consultants, plans, or methods that promise to fix it for you, the root cause may be something frustratingly simple.
Will You Create or Steal Your Next Podcast's Listeners?
July 20, 2021
Will You Create or Steal Your Next Podcast's Listeners?
On your next podcast, will you follow a trend and take your fair share? Or do you have an idea that’s never or barely been tried before? Both have their rewards and challenges, so which is right for you?
Tapping Into The Power Of Podfaded Podcasts
April 29, 2021
Tapping Into The Power Of Podfaded Podcasts
Podfaded or inactive shows are seen by some as a drain on podcasting, cluttering up indexes, and frustrating listeners. But in reality, they could be used as a material resource for podcast growth.
Is A Top Placement In Spotify's Podcast Charts Worth The Price?
April 15, 2021
Is A Top Placement In Spotify's Podcast Charts Worth The Price?
The most popular podcasts on Spotify are now on public display. Getting your show ranked on that page could be a huge boon. But are you willing to pay the steep price?
5 Boring Ways To Keep Your Podcast Fresh
March 31, 2021
5 Boring Ways To Keep Your Podcast Fresh
Podcasting is a great creative exercise. But with more shows than ever, a smart podcaster finds time to do the less exciting things required to keep their show fresh and attract new listeners.
Reality Checking Account For Your Big Podcasting Dreams
March 22, 2021
Reality Checking Account For Your Big Podcasting Dreams
Low startup costs get people as excited today about podcasting as was the case 15 years ago. But with the rise in some podcasts’ popularity, are you considering the real costs to compete at the top?
Accepting Podcast Listeners' Interest vs Desire Conflict
October 21, 2020
Accepting Podcast Listeners' Interest vs Desire Conflict
Market research & analytics show interest in your podcast’s topic is huge, but your audience growth is modest at best. Before you blame your content or marketing, the problem may be a lack of desire.
Boost Your Podcast Monetization With A Business Manager
September 29, 2020
Boost Your Podcast Monetization With A Business Manager
Congrats! Your podcast is starting to earn real money. Or has the promise of doing so. Before you rush to hire for a sales or content position, consider picking up a business manager first.
Are Podcasters To Blame For Podcasting’s Slow Growth?
September 17, 2020
Are Podcasters To Blame For Podcasting’s Slow Growth?
It doesn’t take much looking to find podcasters grumbling about how hard it is to grow the audience of their shows. Most of the time, that’s an internal, not external, problem.
The Importance Of The Unimportant Parts Of Podcasting
September 9, 2020
The Importance Of The Unimportant Parts Of Podcasting
If nominations for “busiest podcaster” or “most stressed out podcaster” awards opened, we’d all probably want one. Or a vacation from our podcast. But are these extremes healthy for us or our shows?
3 Things To Master Before Promoting Your Podcast
April 21, 2020
3 Things To Master Before Promoting Your Podcast
After 16 years, the amount of misinformation - some intentional, some misguided - around podcast promotion continues to grow. Before you spend any money or effort promoting your podcast, make sure your house is in order.
Yes, Indie Podcasters Can Compete... And Win!
March 12, 2020
Yes, Indie Podcasters Can Compete... And Win!
Don’t stop podcasting because you feel you can’t compete with big media podcasts. You can. Maybe not on marketing dollars. Maybe not on talent acquisition. But the only thing stopping you from competing on sound quality is you.
Your Podcast Is #1. Now What?
March 11, 2020
Your Podcast Is #1. Now What?
What term do you want your show to rank #1 for? OK, other than “podcast”. Business podcast? Political Podcast? Hey, someone has to do it, so why not you? But are you ready for the realities of life at the top of the list?
Growing Your Podcast By Solving Someone's Pain
March 10, 2020
Growing Your Podcast By Solving Someone's Pain
Never underestimate the power of helping people fix what’s broken in their lives or their business. Not only is it the right thing to do, it’s a heck of a way to grow your podcast.
The Primary Politics of Podcasting
March 4, 2020
The Primary Politics of Podcasting
Even if you’re turned off by the whole affair, podcasting can learn valuable lessons from America’s political primary process. When you swap out “voters” with “listeners”, the similarities snap into focus.
Solving Future Podcast Discovery Problems
September 16, 2019
Solving Future Podcast Discovery Problems
The future of podcast discovery is bright; but only because the present of podcast discovery really sucks. But before you cheer too much for the future of podcast discovery, it might be a bit more dystopian than you want.
Understanding Your Podcast's Most Important Growth Metric
July 18, 2019
Understanding Your Podcast's Most Important Growth Metric
If you want your podcast to grow, obsessing over downloads, trying to influence social media metrics, or fretting over when people bail on your episodes won’t move the needle much. To track growth, you have to understand your show’s Conversion rate. Here’s how.
Turning Happy Accidents Into A Podcast Audience
July 10, 2019
Turning Happy Accidents Into A Podcast Audience
When podcasters think about random discovery, we assume people are looking specifically for podcasts. But in reality, people are just looking for topics. How do you make sure that your podcast (or better yet, your podcast’s episodes) a part of that discovery set?
Convincing Your Contacts To Listen To Your Podcast
July 9, 2019
Convincing Your Contacts To Listen To Your Podcast
The people who you (or your business) communicate with on a regular basis may be the perfect people to listen to your show. You’d think getting your contacts - business or personal - to listen to your show would be easy. It's not.
Solving Podcast Discovery With Lists & Search
June 5, 2019
Solving Podcast Discovery With Lists & Search
Podcast discovery is getting a shot in the arm. Search results that are actually good for podcasts, and in-app human-curated lists. Neither is fully released, but history can help us understand how these two competing methods of podcast discovery may shake out.
Will The Algorithm Love Your Podcast?
May 22, 2019
Will The Algorithm Love Your Podcast?
Algorithms will soon infect podcasts just as they’ve infected every other digital medium. How “fair” will these algorithms be to your podcast? Or how drastically will you need to change your show to stay relevant?
Making Room For Purposely Tiny Podcasts
May 21, 2019
Making Room For Purposely Tiny Podcasts
Podcasting is the next big revolution. Or is it? Maybe the word big, and all the assumptions that come with that word, is holding more than one podcaster back.
How Facebook's Pivot to Privacy Will Impact Your Podcast
May 2, 2019
How Facebook's Pivot to Privacy Will Impact Your Podcast
Zuck & Co seem committed to killing your Facebook Timeline. That's gonna leave a mark on your podcast promotional efforts.
Focus Collaboration For Focused Audience Growth For Your Podcast
March 11, 2019
Focus Collaboration For Focused Audience Growth For Your Podcast
How to build a "DIY network" to gain more of the right listeners to your podcast.
Stop Not Marketing Your Podcast
February 28, 2019
Stop Not Marketing Your Podcast
Want your podcast to succeed as a business? Treat it like one.
Acute Solutions to Chronic Problems of Podcast Growth
January 28, 2019
Acute Solutions to Chronic Problems of Podcast Growth
Why short-term spikes might do more harm than good for your show.
Exposing Your Business' Podcast To The Public
January 17, 2019
Exposing Your Business' Podcast To The Public
Stop hiding your business' podcasting efforts. Showcase it to your customers and the world!
Will Podcasting Ever Become A Growth Channel?
January 15, 2019
Will Podcasting Ever Become A Growth Channel?
Probably not in the way you think. But there are better ways.
Promoting Your Podcast To The Clueless
January 3, 2019
Promoting Your Podcast To The Clueless
More people don't listen to podcasts than do, so don't think podcasting experts have all the answers.
2-Question Web-Presence Test
December 20, 2018
2-Question Web-Presence Test
Part 4: Know Your Podcast, Know Yourself
Entanglement with Podcasting's Gatekeepers
November 29, 2018
Entanglement with Podcasting's Gatekeepers
Podcast hosting companies didn't mean to become gatekeepers, but here we are.
Merging Your Way To Podcasting Competency
November 7, 2018
Merging Your Way To Podcasting Competency
How companies and producers can join forces to make an instant podcast hit.
Building Community for Your Business Podcast
October 4, 2018
Building Community for Your Business Podcast
Businesses have a built-in community just waiting to be "activated" -- their customers!
Marketing your podcast to the TOP!
September 20, 2018
Marketing your podcast to the TOP!
How can you build your audience to 50,000 listeners?
5 Ways To Quickly Grow Your Business Podcast
July 31, 2018
5 Ways To Quickly Grow Your Business Podcast
Smart ways for business podcasts to grow their audience.
Metrics-Based Subscriber Growth
July 11, 2018
Metrics-Based Subscriber Growth
How to get strategic insights with free tools.
Did Your Podcast Grow In 2019?
January 6, 2020
Did Your Podcast Grow In 2019?
Did your podcast grow in 2019? It’s surprisingly hard to answer that question. And the answer find might be less meaningful than you imagine. Luckily, there’s a way out.
Pitching Your Podcast To Passive People
January 21, 2020
Pitching Your Podcast To Passive People
By now, you’d think it would be easy to find new listeners for your podcast. But it’s anything but easy, even as podcasting approaches its 16th birthday. Maybe we’re going at it all wrong?