How to Market a Podcast to Grow Your Audience
Marketing podcasts doesn’t have to be difficult. Use these podcast marketing tips and tricks to grow your podcast audience in no time.
So, you want to improve on your podcast marketing skills. Knowing how to market a podcast effectively is a great way to grow not only your podcast audience, but also your customer base. And we all know that growing your customer base will ultimately improve your sales.
Of course, the first step is to create a good podcast. Once you’ve mastered that skill, and only after you’ve set up an RSS feed for it and posted the podcast on your own website or blog, marketing a podcast is the next step. How do you get your intended audience to listen in? Sure, you could have the most interesting podcast out there, but if you don’t know how to effectively market podcasts, no one will ever see or hear it.
Remember, the secret to increasing your podcast subscribers is good podcast marketing. Marketing podcasts will definitely help you grow your audience, so here are a few things you should keep in mind.
Start Marketing Podcasts with iTunes and Other Directories
By now you may have figured out that iTunes is the king of podcast directories. You’ll be hard-pressed to find someone that doesn’t use iTunes, so you should definitely try to market your podcasts with iTunes. If you aren’t listing your podcasts in iTunes, you are definitely missing out! So, how do you embark on marketing podcasts through iTunes and get your work listed?
The first thing you will need is an iTunes-compatible RSS feed. Additionally, the key to marketing podcasts for iTunes is to ensure that there are appropriate keywords associated with your podcast so that it can be found easily within the directory. (This tip is essential for any podcast directory, not just for iTunes!)
Every podcast directory is a little different, but the principle is very similar. You’ll need to submit your podcast and wait for approval. That can take just a few moments or up to 48 hours. Just remember, marketing podcasts doesn’t mean you’ll get on the front page of iTunes or any other directory – you just have to create a really excellent podcast for that!
While it is important that you market podcasts to iTunes, you really can’t stop there. Make sure you get listed in the other podcast directories as well. Here are some you should take a look at:
- Podcast.com
- Digg
- Podcast Pickle
- Yahoo Audio
- Podcast Alley
Use Social Networks for Additional Podcast Marketing
Podcast directories are very important to podcast marketing, but your plan for marketing podcasts absolutely cannot stop there. Social networks are essential for podcast marketing, especially today. If you think that social networks are exclusively for the kids these days, you are totally off base. In fact, social networks can be effective tools for marketing podcasts.
If you don’t already have a social network account for your podcast business, get signed up right away. Here are some of the social networks you may find to be most beneficial for your podcast marketing efforts:
- Bebo
- MySpace
- Linked In
The key to marketing podcasts through social networks is to build a list of followers and friends. This isn’t as hard as you might think. Become friends with your target audience and they will do most of the work – referring your profile to others that might also be interested. In a sense, social networks really are viral podcast marketing.
Remember, when you use social networks for marketing podcasts, or any product for that matter, you really need to offer something of real value. Don’t just sell to your audience; give them information they can use or want. Offer something so that they have a reason to “like” or follow you. That’s the secret to effective podcast marketing with social networks.
Don’t Forget Email Lists for Marketing Podcasts
Email is one of the first online marketing trends and it continues today. That means that email can be used for effective podcast marketing as well. The secret is to try and grow your email list. Every time you launch a new podcast, send an email out to your audience – this is great for marketing podcasts.
You’ll also want to market podcasts that are coming up – use email lists as an anticipatory tool, not just for announcing new podcasts that have been published.
Market Podcasts with Press Releases
Press releases have been around for years – way before the advent of the Internet. However, they have become an integral part of marketing podcasts. Create a press release about your upcoming podcasts to make important announcements. Then, do a press release once you launch your podcast. You’ll find that this is a very effective way of how to market a podcast quickly and easily. There are a variety of press release services available online.
Are You Using Your Blog for Podcast Marketing?
If you don’t already have a blog to help promote your podcasts, what are you waiting for? This is the perfect podcast marketing technique. Blogs are the perfect vehicle for marketing podcasts and are a great way for viewers to catch a glimpse of what your podcast is all about before having to download the whole thing. Consider it a “sneak peek.”
Get Your Podcast Marketing Plan Going
By now, you probably have a good idea of what you need to be doing in order to successfully market your podcasts. Podcast marketing doesn’t have to be difficult; you just have to know what you’re doing. These podcast marketing techniques will work whether you offer your podcast for free or charge per download.
Oh, and remember – if you want another avenue to sell or offer your podcasts for download, consider getting them listed in an online marketplace. PayLoadz is an online marketplace and payment gateway that allows podcast producers like you to list their digital products for free. It’s easy, effective, and secure. What are you waiting for?
