With a staggering 460 million listeners worldwide, podcasting empowers businesses and entrepreneurs to enhance brand awareness, establish authority, build communities, and maximize impact.
However, with these opportunities comes intensified competition.
At PodWritten, we created Mics to Millions, a podcast aimed to help up-and-coming podcasters stand out from the crowd, grow their show, and generate revenue. Drawing from insightful interviews with top-ranking hosts, we’ve compiled a list of 14 game-changing lessons that you can implement right away. Let’s explore them together.
Stepping up your professionalism is essential for podcast success
Kelly Smith, the host of Mindful In Minutes, boasts an impressive 600k monthly downloads.
As her show surged in popularity, she decided to take a strategic step and “level up her professionalism.” For her, this meant exploring different platforms that could allow her to get more detailed reporting, upgrade her ad strategy, and put out some of her own promos.
Thanks to this shift, Kelly could use dynamic ads to announce upcoming initiatives throughout her episode library. As a result, her listeners can learn about the latest news and stay engaged with fresh content rather than hear about a retreat that took place three years ago.
🎧Check out the episode here: Achieving 20 million podcast downloads with Kelly Smith
Leverage podcast SEO to boost visibility
Michele Riechman, host of Healthy Beyond 40, launched the show in March 2023 and has managed to monetize it in less than a year – all without relying on a large social media following.
To put this into perspective, a report shows that success in podcasting often starts after hitting the 100-episode milestone. At the time of our recording, Michele had only produced 71 episodes.
Her strategy? Search engine optimization (SEO).
By diligently conducting keyword research and strategically incorporating them into her show notes and titles, Michele ensured that her content resonated with users’ search queries, thus improving podcast visibility and discoverability.
🎧Check out the episode here: Using SEO for fast podcast growth with Michele Riechman
Book the right people for your show
Scott Gazzoli, the creator of Causing The Effect, has seen remarkable success with the show, boasting 55k monthly listeners. What began as a passion project is now earning him thousands of dollars.
According to Scott, the key to crafting a successful podcast lies in selecting the right guests. When he started to ask himself, “How could I have the most authentic conversations that add value to people’s lives? That’s when everything started clicking.”
For Scott, the guest’s follower count takes a backseat to authenticity and shared values. He seeks out guests who are willing to open up about their vulnerabilities and share their journey through adversity. The ability to forge a deep connection with guests is what fuels Scott’s passion and underscores his commitment to providing meaningful content for his audience.
🎧Check out the episode here: Tapping into multiple revenue streams to monetize your podcast with Scott Gazzoli
Podcast guesting is the secret to bringing in new listeners
Scott has another tip that has helped him grow his podcast: being a podcast guest.
He says this has proven to be one of the most effective strategies he’s used to grow his show because, unlike other avenues to reach new audiences, you already know that these audiences are listening to podcasts.
He mentions he previously made the mistake of throwing money at Instagram ads, hoping to gain traction for the podcast. But as Scott says, “Some people on Instagram aren’t listening to podcasts. If you get on other people’s shows, you already have people that are listening. They’re people that are open to podcasting.”
🚀Explore our podcast guesting services designed to empower you to grow your podcast.
Hiring a podcast expert early on can make a significant difference
Omar Cumberbatch is the host of the Health Coach Academy and the co-host of This Podcast Burns Fat.
He acknowledges that in the information age, podcasters can learn how to grow and monetize their show by watching YouTube videos, listening to podcasts, or reading blogs. However, these resources are often scattered, and joining forces with an expert who has already experienced success can help new podcasters get better results.
That’s why Omar says, “If I had the chance to start my podcasting journey, I would choose to invest upfront in a mentor to guide me through certain aspects, rather than just languishing without direction. This is particularly important for individuals who have a passion for podcasting but may easily get discouraged.”
🎧Check out the episode here: Monetizing your podcast through affiliate marketing with Omar Cumberbatch
Get inspired by the successful shows in your niche
If you’re new to podcasting or struggling to meet your monthly download goals, it’s worth taking a step back and observing what successful podcasters in your niche are doing.
Lisa Smith is the host of Pretty Well, and has managed to bring in clients to her brick-and-mortar practice with her podcast. And her secret sauce for podcast success was drawing inspiration from accomplished podcasters and innovating their methods.
She states, “Before launching Pretty Well, I started doing lots of research and paying attention to what other podcasters were doing. I looked at their description, listened to their intro, and jingles, and tried to model after their successful practices.”
🎧Check out the episode here: Using QR codes for podcast promotion with Lisa Smith
QR code postcards can help you promote your podcast
Lisa leverages QR code postcards to get more podcast listeners. The brilliance of this strategy lies in its simplicity and accessibility.
“I was driving in the car, and my kids were with me, and I said, I’m going to make business cards. And then I was like, wait a minute. We always throw business cards away, but you don’t throw postcards away.”
Given that many local coffee shops allow you to display QR code postcards on their bulletin boards, people can effortlessly scan the QR code with their smartphone and instantly connect with your podcast on their preferred platform.
🎧Check out the episode here: Using QR codes for podcast promotion with Lisa Smith
Having a clear interview format can help you become a better host
As a business owner and multiple podcast host, Michael Stein, host of Long Shot Leaders and The Stein Time Show, has a lot on his to-do list.
That’s why Michael confesses that he often doesn’t review his guest’s bio until just five minutes before the call. While this might not seem ideal to some podcasters who prioritize thorough guest preparation, Michael has honed his own unique strategy.
He explains, “My story structure is: What’s the origin story? What’s the ghost of the person’s past? What’s the inciting incident? What was their moral need as they were coming up? What led to that? What was their dark night of the soul?” He aims to pick out “the major milestones and cut out the fat, that doesn’t matter, while seeking out the thumbprint of each person, of who they are.”
With this structured approach in mind and his knack for improvisation during interviews, Michael delivers insightful conversations without the need for extensive pre-research.
🎧Check out the episode here: Optimizing your podcasting process for maximum efficiency with Michael Stein
Create content and adapt it for various platforms
Wendy Valentine, host of The Midlife Makeover Show, has a big social media presence and knows how to use it to grow her podcast.
She advocates that it is nearly impossible to know on which platform a piece of content might go viral. So when it comes to creating content that reaches thousands of people across the world, she leverages the “Spaghetti Theory.”
“I’ll create one piece of content and I throw it everywhere and see what sticks. So I post it on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Threads, Pinterest, Twitter.” She emphasizes that the success of one piece of content can vary dramatically between platforms. “It’s wild because something might go viral on YouTube, but it’s a dud on Instagram.”
🎧Check out the episode here: Getting more podcast listeners from social media Wendy Valentine
Promoting your podcast doesn’t always come naturally
It’s common to feel hesitant about not having enough knowledge and experience in effective promotion. The fear of potential criticism might also be holding you back from shining a spotlight on your podcast. Or you might be experiencing fatigue from promoting your show without seeing the desired results.
Give yourself time and patience to adapt, and recognize that it’s a process that will get smoother in time.
Elizabeth Cush, host of Awaken Your Wise Woman, wasn’t passionate about promoting her show in the beginning. But it didn’t hinder her ability to attract clients to her business and expand her audience.
She says, “I think I’ve gotten better systems in place to promote it, but I would say I’m still probably not the best marketer. I think I’m more comfortable with talking about it myself now because I do feel somewhat like a veteran after doing it for so long, so it’s gotten easier to talk about it.”
🎧Check out the episode here: Marketing your podcast might not be your forte; and it’s ok with Elizabeth Cush
Guesting on other podcasts can introduce you to new audiences and keep podcasting fun
Elizabeth is a strong believer that podcast guesting can be a great way of getting you in front of new audiences and have some fun in the process.
“The people listening to a podcast that I’m guesting on may not know anything about me or may just have a whole different interest. But then hearing me talk about my work or whatever topic we’ve picked for the conversation broadens my reach for one.”
She continues, “Each conversation is different. I know what I want to talk about in my episodes. But to enter into someone else’s realm and whatever the focus of their podcast is, it’s great! I enjoy having that experience and being the guest versus having to control the conversation in some way.”
🚀Explore our podcast guesting services designed to empower you to grow your podcast.
Seeking feedback can help you improve your skills as a host
Dr. Ben, host of the Designed To Heal Podcast, has recorded 300+ episodes and the show receives 19,000 monthly listeners. One important factor contributing to the show’s success has been Dr. Ben’s proactive approach to seeking feedback.
A specific turning point was when a friend shared his opinion on Dr. Ben’s interviewing style. “There was a hard piece of feedback that a friend told me. He said,’You know, I love you, I’ve known you forever, but you talk too much when you have guests on, and some of your questions are rambling. And I don’t even know by the end of it what you asked.’”
Encouraged by this feedback, Dr. Ben reconsidered his approach to interviewing, enabling him to sharpen his skills. “I should have maybe taken more feedback earlier. I should have put myself out there a little more and asked for it, like,’Hey, what do you think of the show? What do you think about this?.’”
🎧Check out the episode here: Teaming up with a podcast producer can impact your show’s success with Dr. Ben Rall
Providing value to your listeners is a non-negotiable
Danielle Collins, host of The Face Yoga Expert, has helped more than 1 million followers across various platforms.
“I’ve not done ads. It’s all been organic growth, and I really just believe it’s being consistent. But the other thing I really believe is I’ve always tried not to make it about me, but make it about how I can add value to people,” says Danielle.
If you’re aiming to expand your audience, the fundamental questions to ask yourself are: How can I improve someone’s life? How can I provide value?
For example, if you’re teaching yoga in the Maldives, rather than simply sharing stunning photos of the location on your social media, consider filming a video that allows your audience to follow along with a yoga sequence, experience the benefits firsthand, and feel better.
🎧Check out the episode here: Ditching the self-centered narrative is key to growing your audience organically with Danielle Collins
Paid interns and virtual assistants can be a great first step to bringing in help for your podcast
Joe Sanok, host of The Practice of the Practice Podcast, has been running the show since 2013, which now receives roughly 60,000-100,000 monthly listeners.
In his early podcasting journey, Joe wanted to outsource work but he had a limited budget. However, he found a creative solution by tapping into his local community college’s sound engineering program.
He shares, “When I first got started, I realized that our local community college has a sound engineering program.” This allowed him to bring on budding young professionals at a price that didn’t break the bank.
“Some of my sound engineers now work in Nashville or on Broadway. I had them when they were interns, and they got paid for their internship, unlike most other internships. And then they’d stay with me for a couple of years and do audio engineering,” he adds.
🎧Check out the episode here: Converting listeners into clients using the 3P method with