3 Foolproof Ways to Build a Loyal Podcast Audience
You want to increase your Podcast's listenership, and you feel that you are stuck in your head, trying to figure out how to land bigger names as guests on your Podcast.
You know someone famous would not jump to be a guest on your next episode because you may have not yet reached the visibility they need, so they'd say one big 'YES' to your invitation.
Let me tell you a secret.
In the vast realm of podcasting, where content is King, it's not just about landing the biggest names as guests but rather about delivering content that resonates with YOUR audience.
In this blog post, I will walk you through the process of selecting podcast topics that truly matter to your listeners so you can build a consistent and loyal audience.
So, let's get to it.
1. Get to know your Avatar.
Think of who your avatar is and what do THEY want to hear.
Your Podcast's avatar, often referred to as a listener persona, is your ideal listener.
Think of them as a single person that you are speaking to EVERY time you sit down to record your episode. You know everything about them, their age, their personality type, what they like, where they are coming from, and what their struggles are. Heck, give them a name.
Opposing to the rest of the world, maybe you can name your podcast avatar Karen! LOL
Here is a list of questions you will have to answer in order to create your avatar after you give them a name:
After you've answered all these questions, you can keep digging as deep as finding out what their goals are and how you can help them.
Trust me when I tell you this is worth a thousand times more than bringing one celebrity persona to your Podcast!
2. Sit for a While with Your Previous Episodes.
Your treasure trove of insights lies within your previous episodes.
What were most listened to and completed? You will find your listeners' desires and needs in those episodes. You can examine the subtopics you discussed in those episodes and expand each subtopic, or a few altogether, into a new episode.
There's something I like to call "a game of patterns". You can play this game by identifying patterns in your most listened episodes - themes, styles, and format.
Replicating successful elements will help you to consistently engage with your listeners!
There are three more ways to find out your audience's needs.
1) To find topics that your audience is actively searching for, you can use tools like Answer the Public. It's a FREE instrument for obtaining immediate, unprocessed search insights directly from your customers' thoughts.
2) You can type potential topics into search engines – the auto-suggestions can guide you toward popular and relevant searches.
3) And, of course, my favorite one - encourage your listeners to share what they'd like you to talk about and what guests they'd be interested to listen to through your social media posts when closing the podcast episode saying your final words, and in the show notes.
3. Brainstorm with Purpose and Visualize Your Episodes.
If you are one of those people who REALLY need structure in developing episode ideas, I have prepared something just for you!
You can download my Consistency Worksheet, which will be your guiding light, helping you brainstorm episodes that align with your podcast's core themes.
The Consistency Worksheet will help you to consider different angles and perspectives, formats, and key takeaways for each episode.
It's a tool specifically created to help you envision what your episode will look like and how that episode will go.
Your podcast's success hinges on delivering valuable content to your audience.
Remember, it's the topics, not just the guests, that truly matter.
By understanding your ideal listener, analyzing your previous most successful episodes, exploring public queries, and using tools like the Consistency Worksheet, you'll be equipped to create episodes that resonate deeply with your audience.
Craft each episode with care by creating episodes that are the perfect mix of educational content and entertainment, and you'll forge a strong bond with your listeners that goes beyond any celebrity being a guest on your Podcast!
Your podcast journey toward meaningful engagement starts with choosing the right topics and ends with delivering these topics to your audience in a way they'd truly LOVE it.
