Today we are talking about your show that just won't grow. It's time for a podcast experiment. I often say "You podcast is a recipe - not a statue." Well here is the good news. You know how to build a podcast to the current level you are at. The bad news is you've been here for a bit and it's time to try something to break you out of your plateau.
You Either Win Or You Learn
When you try something new with your podcast we often feel like everyone will leave immediately, and that just doesn't happen. Have you ever gone to a concert of a band you grew up listening to? They say "Here is one from our new album!" and half the theater goes for a beer, but most of them stay because they like the band.
What If My Numbers Goes Down?
So if you previously had 200 downloads an episode, and now you have 180 you learned something not to do. You've know how to grow a show to 200, so do that and try again.
Start With a Survey
Speaking of mistakes, I once did a survey that I talked about bear the end of my show. One of the questions was, "Do you think the show is too long?" Well, if you think about it (being near the end of the show) anyone who thought it was too long had already left.
Announce the survey, and really push it and explain how the audience will benefit. It could be as simple as:
- Did you listen to the end of the episode?
- If not where did you stop and why?
- How likely are you to share it with a friend on a scale form 1-10?
You can use the built in survey with Podpage, or something like Tally forms.
Smart Experiments: One Step at a Time
When you test new parts of your show, change ONE thing only. If you change three things and one of them works, you won't know which one.
I would start with your episode titles, your opening two minutes (have a good hook), and get to the content ASAP.
My Current Experiment: Podcasting in Six Weeks
I tried this class about six months ago, and only told my email list. That was a dumb idea, but I learned to use ALL of my outlets when promoting a product or service.
The course starting June 3rd will be once a week covering the following topics:
Week 1: Concept & Planning Define your unique angle and target audience Choose your format and episode structure Create your content calendar for the first 10 episodes Develop your show name and description
Week 2: Equipment & Setup Essential equipment recommendations for every budget. Recording space optimization (even in noisy environments). Software setup and configuration Audio quality testing and troubleshooting
Week 3: Recording Techniques Professional recording techniques. Interview skills and guest management. Solo episode strategies. Overcoming "mic fright" and speaking naturally.
Week 4: Editing & Post-Production Editing basics that save time and sound professional. Intro/outro creation and music selection File management and organization systems Quality control checklists
Week 5: Hosting & Distribution Choosing and setting up your podcast host Submitting to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms RSS feeds and technical requirements Show artwork and metadata optimization
Week 6: Marketing & Growth Launch strategies that actually get listeners. Social media promotion and repurposing content Building relationships with other podcasters Long-term growth strategies and monetization
EXCLUSIVE BONUSES:
BONUS #1: "Podcast Equipment Starter Kit Guide" (Value: $97) No more confusion about what to buy. Get our curated equipment list with specific product recommendations for three different budgets – beginner, intermediate, and professional.
BONUS #2: "First 10 Episodes Content Planner" (Value: $67) Never stare at a blank screen wondering what to talk about. This detailed planner gives you proven episode templates and topic ideas to keep your content engaging from day one.
BONUS #3: "Podcast Launch Checklist" (Value: $47) A step-by-step checklist ensuring you don't miss any crucial steps during your launch. From technical setup to promotional tasks – it's all cover
Six hours of consulting with me would be $1200, but as we try this experiment it's only $1.
Why not free? Because we wanted people who would at least believe in themselves enough to spend $1 to help improve themselves.
In full transparency we hope you join the School of Podcasting when the class is over, but it is a free standing class. The sessions will be recorded.
Sign Up For the Class TODAY!
Got Feedback On This Episode?
I'd love to hear what you thought about this episode. If you have a minute or two, it's less than five questions and works great on your phone or computer.
Share Your Thoughts
Resources Mentioned in Episode 1034
School of Podcasting
Pod SEO use sop10 to save 10%
Ausha SEO
Pod Analyist
Research Links
Mentioned in this episode:
Where Will I Be?
I love meeting you when I'm out at events. Here are some of my next events:
Podcast Movement September 17-18
Podindy November 7th (use the coupon pacer at podindy.com)
Where Will I Be?
Question of the Month: The Smallest Amount of Downloads
We all want a bigger audience. We all put a lot of work into our shows. With this in mind, what is the smallest amount of downloads you would do the show for? If it drops below a number would you stop, or put effort into finding out why?
Does the size of your audience matter?
Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/question by August 28th (and don't forget to say a little bit about your show and your website address so I can link to it in the notes)
School of Podcasting
Unlock Exclusive Insights: Subscribe to 'Podcasting Observations' Newsletter!
Get a look into the world of podcasting like never before with "Podcasting Observations," your go-to source for trends, tips, and transformative insights tailored just for podcasters. You also get "behind the scenes" info from the School of Podcasting
Don't miss out on staying ahead of the game—join the 1700+ people who are already reading Podcasting Observations today!
Podcasting Observations
Have You Heard About the Podpage Assistant?
Here's what it can do:
Identify the best search keyphrase to target — The Assistant analyzes your episode and finds the keyphrase most likely to drive organic traffic.
Generate optimized SEO titles and descriptions — Get search-friendly titles and meta descriptions written for each episode automatically.
Expand your show notes — Turn brief show notes into detailed, search-friendly content that helps Google understand what your episode is about.
Create SEO schema — Automatically generate structured data including FAQs and key takeaways, giving search engines even more context about your content.
Generate episode transcriptions — If your podcast host doesn't provide transcripts, the Assistant can create them for you.
Create companion blog posts — Each episode can get a dedicated blog post that supports your episode's SEO and gives listeners another way to find you.
Automatically categorize episodes — Keep your episode library organized without lifting a finger.
Start your 14 day trial at www.podpage.com/preview
Podpage
