How To Get Your First 100 Podcast Listeners

How do you go from 0 to 100 podcast listeners? In today’s digital, fast-paced life, too much communication is going on. People’s minds are constantly being bombarded with a wide array of concepts and messages from content creators, brands, and social media. For those who have just started a podcast, it can be very difficult to break through the noise.

But difficult doesn’t mean impossible. And with the right mindset, building early momentum and visibility for your podcast can be enjoyable and rewarding. 

So how do you get people to listen to your podcast and gain a loyal following for your show?

Creating an engaging and high-quality podcast episode is just the tip of the iceberg. You must put in all the hard work and investment — of both time and money — to reach the 100-listener milestone. 

You don’t need to break the bank just to get the word about your podcast. What you need to do is lay a strong foundation and have a solid strategy to widen your reach.

Here are some of the best tips to help you make sure that your podcast resonates with your target audience. Learn more about how these tactics can get 100 people (or more) to always press play on your episodes.

Know Your Audience

The first thing to do when starting a new podcast is to look at your “who,” not the “how” or “what.” Ask yourself: who is your ideal listener and what value can your podcast bring to them? You won’t be able to grow your podcast and attract more listeners if you don’t know exactly who you’re going to reach.

That said, not everyone can be part of your podcast audience. Identify a niche audience and zone in on them. Here’s where a listener persona comes in handy. Put yourself in your audience’s shoes like you would a friend. Learn more about their hobbies and habits, their paint points, their struggles, fears, problems, and desires.

Get Personal and Engage Your Audience

Having a deeper understanding of your niche audience will give you a better shot at capturing and keeping their attention. Immerse in their world and find out which topics generate the most discussions among them. What questions do they need answered and how can you solve your listener’s problems?

The best way to understand your niche audience is by talking to them. Meet them where they are and engage with them through today’s most popular platforms — SMS, email or Google, and social media. 

Ask and respond to questions on Facebook groups so you can build your reputation as a trustworthy person on your topic. Send a text message or email your listeners to get their feedback and insights about what you can do to improve your podcast. 

Dig Deep Into Your Topic and Consistently Release Episodes

Chances are, the theme and overarching topic of your podcast is something that has been talked about before. How do you offer something authentic?

The key is to create a show that you would want to listen to. Embrace your niche and figure out whether you want your podcast to be useful, interesting, or entertaining — or a mix of all three. Be genuinely and deeply curious about your topic so you can develop a deeper knowledge base than your competition. If your audience feels that you truly care about your topic, they will listen and they will stay.

Plus, consistency is the name of the game when it comes to podcasting. But this doesn’t mean that you should release ten episodes from the get-go. Starting with about three to five high-quality episodes to launch your podcast is best practice. 

Create content that will excite your audience and make them want to binge your next episodes. Plan your episodes and have a consistent release schedule that works for you.

Leverage SEO and Promote Your Podcast

Never underestimate the power of good SEO to attract listeners searching for your niche or topics. Keyword-rich titles, descriptions, and tags will help your podcast rank high in search engine results. Make sure that your episode titles and descriptions are clear, concise, and actionable. You may also include transcripts or show notes to optimize your visibility online. 

Social media can be your biggest asset for promoting your podcast even if you don’t have a huge following. It would surely help if you can generate buzz for your show on all social media platforms, but this isn’t always the case. You can start with a few platforms first to connect with people who share your interests. 

Spur your audience’s excitement by giving them 30-60 second teasers in the form of audiograms, soundbites, and video content just days before the release of your episode. Sustain the momentum you’ve built by rewarding them with quote highlights or behind-the-scenes pictures and videos.

You can also expand your reach by inviting guests to your show or by being a guest on other podcasts. This is a win-win for you and your guests. When you invite guests to your show, you’ll be able to enrich your content and tap into your guests’ loyal following. And when you guest on other podcasts, you’ll have massive opportunities to share your expertise and introduce your unique brand to potential listeners. 

Getting your first 100 listeners is no easy feat, but remember that all podcasts started from scratch. With a strong growth strategy, patience, determination, and grit, all your hard work will pay off in the long run and you’ll be able to nurture a loyal group of listeners who can’t wait to hear your next episodes.