Turn Podcast Listeners Into a Loyal Community

You can have thousands of downloads and still feel like you're talking to nobody. The difference between a podcast people consume and one they can't stop talking about isn't production quality or a big marketing budget; it's community. And it's something you can build deliberately, from day one.

Jen Cole knows exactly how. A social media strategist with over a decade of experience building loyal fanbases for brands, she co-launched So THIS Happened less than a year ago — and already has listeners texting her when an episode is late, sponsors emerging from her inner circle, and a community called the Sip Squad showing up in the wild to tell her they love the show.

In this episode, Jen breaks down the real difference between an audience and a community, why engagement metrics matter more than follower counts, and the one thing she did a full month before her first episode even aired. She also shares how she named her community, why having a co-host might be the smartest growth strategy you're not thinking about, and the two-and-a-half-minute video move that can start building your community this week.

Whether you're podcast-curious, a few episodes in, or years into a show that still feels quiet, this one's for you.

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Jen Cole believes marketing works best when it feels like something — not just something that performs. A social media strategist with over a decade of experience, she's the Social Media Manager for Archer Hotel Collection, co-host of Making a Marketer and So THIS Happened, and the writer behind the Jenfluenced newsletter. Her work lives at the intersection of brand storytelling, community strategy, and AI in marketing — and she has a particular gift for making all three feel accessible. Based in Wichita, Kansas, Jen is the kind of marketer who thinks like a host: always considering the experience on the other end.

'Strategy Talks: Content Strategy for Small Teams', Season 5, is where content marketing meets real business results. Hosted by hands-on content strategist Dorien Morin-van Dam, each episode delivers a focused conversation with a guest expert who shares a specific, repeatable play. You'll leave with a clear problem definition and a set of steps you can take this week.

No fluff. No theory. Just strategy you can use.

New episodes each week! We stream live on LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook.