To celebrate more than a full year of episodes for The Mind Your Business Podcast, James and Phoebe share what did, and didn’t work for them. Launching your podcast is a big deal, and today they give you 8 simple (but effective) strategies to help you launch your very own show!
A common mistake made by podcasters is not launching their show sooner. Both James and Phoebe admit this was the case for them, as they recorded the first episodes in September 2015, but waited until January of the following year to air them.
For James, podcasting was a transition as he was used to filming YouTube videos, in a much different style than used in the podcast medium. Like anything, it takes a little bit to hit your stride and podcasting is no different. After 10 to 12 episodes the recording process becomes more natural, but the key is to just start and launch it!
8 Strategies For Launching Your Podcast:
1. Strive to get into iTunes “New & Noteworthy”
Higher exposure on iTunes will help get your name out to more people. Over the first 8 weeks, maximize both the amount of episodes you have as well as the downloads by listeners, many who will “binge listen” to your new podcast content.
It’s a good idea to do your research to know what category to list your show in, as well as for what title, keywords and images you should use. Looking at what other podcasters are doing is one way to verify that you’re on the right track when it comes to these details.
2. Batch as many episodes as possible
Batching many episodes right from the start allows you to launch with a good amount of content for new listeners (minimum 5 to 10 episodes) and to have plenty to release over the following weeks. This will allow you to build a strong following going forward and it gives you a better chance of having the iTunes algorithm recognize your efforts over those first critical weeks and months.
3. Have a pre-launch promotion
Like a product launch, with a new podcast you need to get the word out! Build anticipation for your upcoming launch and let future listeners know what they can expect.
If you need to decide between multiple tag lines or images, you can put it out to your Facebook community and ask followers to vote for which ones they prefer. The pre-launch will not only get others excited, but it will get you excited and give you momentum for the launch. You can do many other things like emailing surveys to your list about what topics they would like to see covered, as well as investing in paid ads to promote your show. You can also retarget visitors to your website and even create a Facebook group specifically for listeners.
You don’t to have all of your promotion strategies planned out in the beginning, and just as your podcast will evolve, your strategies will too.
4. Include a “call to action” download in every episode
Having clickable links in the show notes to resources mentioned during the episode can be valuable for your listeners, and including opt-ins can build an email list for you to communicate with regarding the podcast.
Listing past, and future episodes (once planned out), in the show notes can boost your downloads as well as the anticipation for upcoming content you’ll be releasing.
5. Hire a podcast editor
It can be a lot of work to do all the post-production tasks associated with your podcast, like editing, mixing, uploading and show notes. By outsourcing these tasks, you’ll free up more time to devote to other things like the promotion of your podcast. Just make sure you have an upfront discussion with the person you hire about your expectations to ensure the show notes are written in the style you want, as every show can be different.
6. Set a schedule and be consistent
To not get overwhelmed, releasing a new episode once a week is a good frequency to start with it. Focus on quality over quantity when it comes to your podcast!
7. Repurpose your show on other platforms
With a podcast, you have a powerful opportunity to leverage your content using different channels, such as reposting audio to YouTube as video. Look at all of the various options you can use to promote and drive traffic to your podcast.
8. Host a review contest
A contest can provide incentive to your listeners and give you a big boost right out of the gate! The right contest can get you well on the way to 50 to 100 reviews on iTunes, and there are many options out there to help you create an effective giveaway.
If you’re an online brand or influencer, you NEED some sort of way to put your content out to the world. Make sure to listen to Episode 061: Harnessing The Power of Podcasting to hear the various pros and cons, and to see if podcasting is right for you!
LINKS:
Episode 061: Harnessing The Power Of Podcasting