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You started a podcast, that’s great! Now comes the real challenge: getting people to listen. You could cross your fingers and hope it catches on, but that’s not exactly a plan.
The good news? You don’t need to go viral or spend a fortune on ads. With a few smart tactics like SEO, social media, and collaborations, you can grow your podcast naturally. Here’s how to do it without losing your mind.
Building a podcast is one thing, but getting people to listen is another. If you’re tired of talking into the void, here are 11 organic ways to attract listeners and keep them coming back.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helps your podcast get discovered by making it easier for search engines like Google and podcast directories to understand what your content is about. If your podcast is well-optimized, it has a better chance of appearing in search results when people look for topics related to your episodes. In short, good SEO = more organic listeners.
A great place to start is with keyword-rich titles and descriptions. Podcast directories like Apple Podcasts and Spotify use these to categorize your show. Consider what terms your ideal listener might search for and use those naturally in your podcast title, episode titles, and descriptions.
Your episode descriptions should summarize what podcast listeners can expect while including essential keywords. If your podcast is about fitness, for example, phrases like "best home workouts" or "strength training for beginners" can help your episodes appear in relevant searches.
Another way to improve your SEO is by creating show notes, blog posts, or transcriptions for each episode. Search engines can’t “listen” to audio but can crawl text. By providing a written version of your content, you give search engines more information to index—making it easier for people to find your podcast through Google.
A well-structured blog post with timestamps, quotes, and additional resources can keep visitors engaged and drive traffic to your episodes. Remember, SEO takes time, but consistency pays off.
If you're unfamiliar with SEO, tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and Ubersuggest can help you find relevant keywords for your niche. For podcast-specific SEO, Podpage and Chartable offer insights on optimizing your show for search. If you want to automate transcriptions, Otter.ai and Descript are great options.
Social media is one of the best ways to grow your podcast audience, but to use it effectively, you need to know who your target audience is and where they spend their time. Different platforms attract different demographics, so choosing the right one can make a huge difference.
For example, Instagram is most used by Gen Z and Millennials, with over 60% of users aged between 18 and 34. If your podcast targets younger audiences, platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat are great for sharing short, engaging clips. Choose the platform where your community is hanging out.
Regardless of the platform, your content should do more than promote episodes. Keep your audience engaged by sharing behind-the-scenes content, sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, and short audio or video snippets. Polls, Q&A sessions, and interactive posts help spark conversations while repurposing key takeaways from your episodes into shareable posts or reels can extend your reach.
Above all else, consistency is key. At first, it might feel like you’re talking to yourself, that’s normal. Keep showing up, posting regularly, and engaging with your audience. Over time, people will start noticing, and engagement will grow.
💡 Pro Tip: If you're just starting, focus on mastering one platform before expanding to others. Social media can be overwhelming, especially if you’re handling everything alone. Pick the platform where your audience is most active, build momentum there, and then branch out.
Whether it’s a Facebook group, a subreddit, or a Discord server, being active in the right spaces helps you connect with listeners and fellow podcasters.
But here’s the key: don’t just drop links to your episodes and disappear. That’s spammy, and it won’t get you anywhere. Instead, participate in discussions, answer questions, and offer insights about your podcast’s niche. Over time, people will naturally become interested in what you do.
Some great places to start include:
Once you’ve built relationships and people recognize you as a valuable contributor, collaborations will happen more naturally.
Once you’ve built relationships in the podcasting space, the next step is to work together on deeper collaborations. Creating content that benefits both shows are more effective than quick shoutouts.
Some of the best ways to collaborate include:
Speaking of collaboration, not every partnership requires recording an episode together. Sometimes, a simple promotion swap can help you reach new listeners without extra production work, which leads us to our next tip.
Instead of trying to reach new listeners on your own, why not team up with another podcaster to share audiences? It’s a win-win. Both podcasts get exposure to a fresh group of listeners already interested in similar content.
But here’s the key: it’s a two-way street. You can’t just ask someone to promote your show without offering something in return. Instead, find a way to make it beneficial for both of you.
Some great ways to cross-promote include:
If you have a small audience (or no audience yet), bigger podcasters won’t be eager to cross-promote, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start building connections.
Email is one of the best ways to grow your podcast audience. Unlike social media, where algorithms control who sees your content, your email list is yours. No middleman, no surprises. And really, when was the last time you changed your email address? Exactly. If someone gives you their email, you have a direct connection to them, and that’s powerful.
Growing your email list starts with offering value. A simple way to do this is to create a lead magnet, such as an exclusive bonus episode, a podcast checklist, or early access to content. Promote your email sign-up in every episode and on social media.
Once people subscribe, don’t just spam them with episode links. Make it personal. Share behind-the-scenes stories, extra insights, or even ask for their input on future topics. The more engaging and personal your emails, the more likely people will stick around.
No budget? No problem. Many companies offer free email marketing plans. For example, Kit’s newsletter plan lets you manage up to 10,000 subscribers for free. Other great options include MailerLite and Mailchimp, which offer free tiers for small lists.
Having a home base for your podcast is crucial. A website or landing page keeps everything in one place: your episodes, show notes, and any extras you want to offer. It also helps with SEO, making it easier for people to find your podcast through search engines.
But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be fancy. If building a full website feels overwhelming, start with a simple landing page. A one-page site with your podcast description, links to listen, and an email sign-up form is more than enough to get started. You can always expand later.
If you’re not tech-savvy, plenty of platforms make this easy. Podpage automatically creates a podcast website based on your RSS feed. Carrd is great for simple, one-page sites. Other options like Wix, Squarespace, and WordPress give you more flexibility if you want to grow your site over time.
💡 Pro Tip: Your website doesn’t need to be perfect from day one. Start small, get your podcast out there, and improve as you go.
A strong podcast strategy isn’t just about creating great content—it’s about building a community. The more engaged your listeners are, the more likely they are to share your podcast, leave reviews, and become loyal fans. And that’s a huge factor in how to grow a podcast audience organically.
Encouraging interaction doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some easy ways to get listeners involved:
Making your audience feel part of the conversation strengthens their connection to your show. The stronger that connection, the more likely they are to stick around and bring others with them.
Inviting guests is one of the best ways for growing your podcast audience. A great guest not only brings fresh insights to your show but also introduces your podcast to their followers, leading to podcast audience growth without paid ads or promotions.
Don’t be afraid to aim high. Bigger guests can bring in a wider audience but don’t just send a generic email when reaching out. Make it personal and authentic. Mention why you want them on your show, reference something they’ve done, and explain how the conversation would be valuable for both of you.
Once the episode is live, make it ridiculously easy for them to share it. Put together a media kit with images, short video clips, and captions they can copy-paste. The less effort it takes for them to share, the more likely they’ll do it. You can also tag them in Instagram Stories or posts to increase the chances of engagement.
And if they don’t share it? Let it go. Not every guest will promote the episode, and that’s okay. The real value comes from the conversation and the credibility of having great guests on your show.
💡 Pro Tip: While a well-known guest might bring in listeners, engaging content keeps them around. Focus on making the conversation valuable, not just on getting big names.
If you want to grow your show, you need to get out there and connect with people in your industry. Attending podcasting conferences, networking events, and virtual summits puts you in the same room as other podcasters, potential guests, and sponsors.
Events like Podcast Movement and Podfest Expo are great places to meet like-minded creators, learn from experts, and build relationships that lead to future collaborations.
Even if you’re not attending in person, many events offer virtual sessions and online networking groups. The more you engage with the podcasting community, the more opportunities you create to grow your show organically.
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t just collect contacts—follow up. After an event, a simple email or social media message keeps the connection alive.
A smart growth strategy is about creating more podcast content and getting the most out of what you already have. That’s where repurposing comes in. Instead of letting an episode fade after it’s released, you can break it down into different formats to reach new audiences and keep it working for you.
For example, if you record video podcasts, don’t just post the full episode and forget about it. Clip the best moments into short, engaging snippets and share them on YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and Instagram Reels. These platforms thrive on bite-sized content, and those clips can draw new potential listeners to your full episodes.
Another way to repurpose podcast content is by turning key takeaways into blog posts, social media posts, or email newsletters.
💡 Pro Tip: Not everyone consumes content the same way. Some prefer watching, others love reading, and many stick to audio. Repurposing your content into multiple formats increases your reach without extra effort.
How to build a podcast audience takes time, but with the right approach, you can grow steadily without relying on paid ads. By optimizing your SEO, leveraging social media, collaborating with other podcasters, and repurposing content, you make it easier for new listeners to discover your show. Every new episode is a chance to engage your audience and expand your reach.
If you’ve been wondering how to grow your podcast audience, focus on just one or two strategies from this list. Growth doesn’t happen overnight, but consistency pays off. Keep showing up, delivering valuable content, and building connections—your audience will follow.
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