[FAQ]

I’ve been consistently publishing podcast episodes but growth has been slow. I’m proud of the content and getting great feedback from the few people who listen—but I’d love to get it in front of more people.

I know podcast discovery can be tough, especially without a big platform or ad budget. What’s actually working in 2025 to grow a podcast audience—organically or otherwise?

Appreciate any strategies, tips, or real examples you’ve seen work!

[Jeff Bullas]

Here’s the truth most podcasters learn the hard way: great content alone isn’t enough. In 2025, if you want to grow your podcast audience, you need to treat it like a product launch—every single week.

That means building discoverability into your publishing process—not tacking it on after.

Let’s start with what’s working right now:

1. Don’t just post your podcast—slice it.
One episode can become:

2–3 audiograms for TikTok/Instagram
A text quote graphic or carousel for LinkedIn
A short blog post or newsletter summary
A question or insight post that drives back to the episode
The most successful shows are showing up everywhere, consistently. Not by doing more work—but by repurposing smartly.

2. Use short-form video to spark curiosity.
Clips from your episodes—even if it’s just you speaking into the mic—perform incredibly well when the hook is strong. Focus on a punchy 15–30 seconds that shares a bold takeaway or question.
Then point viewers to the full episode in your bio or comments.

3. Optimize for search, not just streaming.
Most people don’t discover shows in podcast apps—they find them on Google, YouTube, or social media. That’s why your titles, descriptions, and even your show notes matter.
Use tools like ChatGPT or Surfer to help you create keyword-optimized headlines that still sound human.

4. Collaborate—strategically.
Guest swaps, newsletter features, or even shout-outs from similar creators can help you tap into audiences that already care about your topic.
Just make sure your CTA is tight: tell people what your show is about and why they should tune in today.

5. Make your show shareable.
Listeners won’t share your episode unless there’s something in it for their audience—make sure every episode includes a takeaway, quotable idea, or surprising insight that makes someone look smart for sharing it.

And finally, don’t just focus on downloads—focus on depth.
A smaller group of highly engaged listeners who binge your content, respond to your CTAs, and share your episodes is worth far more than passive reach. Build for connection, not just traffic.

If you want a simple podcast growth checklist or content repurposing workflow, I’ve got one I’m happy to pass along.

– Jeff

[Author]

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