40K Podcast Listeners & More Clients? Here’s EXACTLY How I Did It!
00:00:00 - The easiest way to grow your podcast audience.
00:00:15 - Inviting podcasters to YOUR to build relationships.
00:01:04 – Creating a compelling lead magnet.
00:02:09 – Avoid this branding mistake.
00:03:09 - Reach out to connect to your ideal audience, no matter your listener count.
Want to grow your podcast audience but not sure where to start? One of the most effective strategies to building a podcast is leveraging other podcasts in your niche. Rather than directly pitching yourself as a guest, start by inviting successful podcasters in your space to appear on your show. This approach helps build genuine relationships while avoiding the saturated pool of guest pitches most hosts receive.
I’m of the opinion that whatever you want someone to do for you, you should do for them. By featuring others first, you create natural opportunities for reciprocal invitations. However, preparation will be crucial to maximizing these guest appearances.
When you secure a guest spot, have a compelling lead magnet ready—a valuable free resource that serves your target audience. This creates a clear path for listeners to join your email list, where they can receive regular updates about your podcast episodes, gradually converting cold leads into engaged followers.
Brand Your Lead Magnet
My appearance on the Smart Passive Income podcast taught me a valuable lesson about branding so I hope you try to avoid this next mistake.
At the time, I was trying to promote my new book, so I kept mentioning “this is something I explain with more detail on the book” throughout the interview. What was my mistake? Instead of making vague references to "my book" or "my show," be specific with titles and names. For instance, I’ll typically mention I’m not related to Hillary Swank to clarity it’s S-W-E.
Reach Out to Your Ideal Audience
Focus on connecting with your ideal audience, regardless of your current listener count. So even if you have just two listeners that watch you regularly and fall under that category of ideal client, reach out to them to start a conversation. Try to understand their businesses, goals, and challenges.
These conversations aren't about immediate sales but about building relationships that could lead to valuable partnerships. Offer to set up a call to see if you can help them out. You’ll get a lot of meetings that way.
Building a Podcast Audience Takes Time…
Remember that building a strong podcast presence typically takes about a year. Success comes from:
Maintaining consistent content delivery
Having polished lead magnets ready
Preparing clear calls to action for guest appearances
Proactively engaging with potential clients
Building genuine relationships within your industry
Stay focused on these fundamentals, and your audience will grow organically over time.
