The Podcasting Success Timeline: Which phase are YOU in?

Hey Pod Pals!

This newsletter was lovingly curated (without the use of any AI) in real time on Thursday morning at 8:42 am CST. 

I was pleasantly surprised this morning when I logged in to type up this newsletter.....

👉 We are now at over 3,000 subscribers!

I've sent out a newsletter every single week since 2018 ....when I had SEVEN people on my list.

Thanks to all of YOU, my Pod Pals, who have trusted me enough to let me into your email inbox each and every week!

Let's jump into this week's deep dive!

 

⭐️ This week we are going to talk about a framework that I created that I call The Podcasting Success Timeline.

In this deep dive I will be covering:

✔️ The four phases of the Podcasting Success Timeline.

✔️ The specific symptoms of each phase.

✔️ The specific action steps you need to take to progress to the NEXT phase in your journey.

Most podcasters learn early on that their podcasting journey is going to be a LOT harder than they had initially thought it was going to be.

In the beginning we are just excited to hit that record button and share our message to the world!

Usually around episode 8-10....podcasting reality kicks in!

I developed this framework that I call The Podcasting Success Timeline because I saw a lot of confusion and frustration from podcasters that were actually in a very normal position with their podcasting journey....they just didn't understand that clearly. 

I wanted to add some clarity to a space where the journey tends to be really unclear.

I felt like I was qualified to take a shot at creating this framework based off of the fact that:

✔️ I've been podcasting for 9 years.

✔️ I've got 1.1 million downloads at the time of this newsletter going out.

✔️ I've recorded over 1,000 total podcast episodes.

✔️ I've earned over 1 million dollars with my show.

So let's dive into the four phases of the Podcasting Success Timeline.

 

Phase One: The POD-crastination Zone.

These are the people that have had a podcast idea living in their head for the last year or so....but have yet to hit the record button.

📌 Here are the symptoms of someone that is in this phase:

1. FOMO: They feel the pressure to launch a podcast because they don't want to miss out on the business/brand growth and freedom that it could potentially bring to them.

2. Perfectionism: They have 17 ideas for the name and the logo....but none of them are THE ONE...so they can't get started yet.

3. Tech frustration: They understand that they need to create good content but the tech is getting in the way.

They ask questions like:

Do I really need a $500 microphone??

Do I need a fancy podcast lair to record in?

How do I get my audio onto Apple and Spotify???

✅ Action Step Checklist to move forward into Phase Two:

1. You need to get really clear about who your show will serve.

2. Learn about SEO and Organic Discovery and apply those principles as you create your podcast name, host description, and episode titles.

3. Set up your 52 week content list. Map out potential episode topics and guest episodes.

4. Pick FOUR episodes to launch with.

5. Have a Ready, FIRE, Aim mindset. Stop waiting for perfect and just get your show out there!

 

Phase Two: The Post Launch Frustration Zone.

You have launched your show and the new show smell has started to wear off...and things are getting tougher than you had expected them to be.

📌 Here are the symptoms of someone that is in this phase:

1. Your show is averaging less than 125 downloads per episode.

2. You are feeling frustrated about the lack of growth.

3. You are not making any meaningful income yet.

4. You are feeling pressure around releasing consistent content and taking time to promote it correctly.

5. You have considered quitting.

✅ Action Step Checklist to move forward into Phase Three:

1. Double check to make sure you are leveraging SEO/Organic Discovery to attract your ideal listeners. MOST podcasters need to do a rebrand at this point.

2. Use my 72 Hour Marketing Window Strategy. Promote each new episode with 3-5 unique assets within 72 hours of each new episode release. 

3. Start developing and testing Start Anytime Offers that serve your ideal listeners. Simple coaching/consulting packages work really well here!

4. Start building expert positioning with solo and coaching episodes.

5. Start setting aside some funds each month to invest in podcast player app ads like Overcast FM. 

6. Start building your email list! At this point you should have at least one lead magnet or a high value newsletter that can be a lead magnet.

 

Phase Three: The Growth & Monetization Traction Zone

Only about 20% of podcasters get to sniff the sweet smell of growth and monetization....hopefully this percentage improves after this newsletter!

📌 Here are the symptoms of someone that is in this phase: 

1. Getting over 500 downloads per episode.

2. Meaningful income is being produced.

3. Your content creation flow is getting really consistent each week.

4. Your content marketing systems are in place and seem to be actually working!

5. Collaboration opportunities like speaking engagements and podcast guesting opportunities are starting to pop up.

✅ Action Step Checklist to move forward into Phase Four:

1. Double down on building expert positioning with solo/coaching episodes. These should now be 2/3 of your total content that you release.

2. Triple down on your efforts to build relationships with your podcast listeners and potential ideal clients. You should be doing a lot of free trainings like coaching episodes, group trainings, etc.....but also a lot of discovery calls with potential clients.

3. Before you create a new offer consider improving the offer that is already working and then raising prices.

4. Continue to invest in podcast marketing and growth strategies.

5. Consider paid marketing opportunities to help build your email list like running FB/IG ads to your newsletter, etc. 

 

Phase Four: The E.L.F. Zone

This is where your podcasting journey feels Easy, Lucrative, and FUN! This is the goal Pod Pals!

📌 Here are the symptoms of someone that is in this phase: 

1. Averaging over 1,000 downloads per episode.

2. Steadily increasing income from your core offer(s). 

3. You have a clearly defined podcast listener to client conversion process. 

4. You LOVE creating content each week.

5. Your business and brand feel really dialed in and aligned with the content you are creating and the type of audience you are building. 

✅ Action Step Checklist to SOLIDIFY and maintain this position:

1. Don't forget that your #1 focus point is to keep serving your ideal listeners with great content.

2. Avoid chasing shiny objects that will take time away from what is already working.

3. Always challenge the idea when you feel like you want to create a new offer. Most of the time you will be better off with just enhancing what is already in place.

4. Be aware/mindful with your work/life balance. Don't just keep adding things to your entrepreneurial plate because you feel like that is what you are supposed to do.....it's NOT!

 

So...that is the Podcasting Success Timeline. At this point you should be trying to figure out which phase you are currently in and then you should start taking the suggested action steps to move FORWARD!

I know that some of you are thinking "Hey this is a pretty cool framework! How do I create something like this for MY podcast audience?"

Stay tuned for next week's newsletter deep dive where I will teach you exactly how to create your Ideal Listener Journey.

 

BTW...If you are stuck in Phase Two....be sure to listen to this week's podcast episode! ⤵️

 

🎤 Podcasting Business School Episode 560: Double your podcast growth with SEO and Organic Discovery.

 Top Takeaways:

*A BIG misconception about podcasts only being an audience nurturing mecchanism.

*The 3 Buckets of Podcast Growth.

*The 3 Heavy Hitters of Organic Discovery.

 

⭐️ CLICK HERE to listen to the latest episodes of Podcasting Business School 

 

 

 

📈 Download Growth Club question of the week:

"I want to invest in growing my podcast, but I'm on a really tight budget. Where will I get the best use out of my investment?"

This is a great question because most podcasters start off with a really low budget. 

Here are two low cost/no cost ideas for growth that tend to have a nice return on investment:

➡️ 1. I encourage podcasters to have a side account set up where they save money for investing in podcast player app ads or paid ads in newsletters. 

Just set aside a monthly amount that makes sense to you and these funds HAVE TO be spent on paid ads for growth. 

➡️ 2. Record podcast intro promo swaps with your podcast guests and shows that you are a guest on. This is 100% free! 

When you have a guest on your show ask them if they would like to trade out a podcast intro promo swap.

They will record an intro to YOUR show where they get to advertise THEIR show....and vice versa. 

Have them use this template:

"Hi this is XYZ from the XYZ podcast. It's the show where we discuss (insert topics). Be sure to start with episode (insert recommended episode). 

You are listening to (name of YOUR show)...here's your host (YOUR NAME)."

 

🚀 Podcast Launch Tip of the week:

One of the most common mistakes I see new podcasters making is that they only record interview based episodes.

If you are a service provider and you want to sell your programs, products, and services to your audience you need to also do SOLO podcast episodes.

Here are a few quick pro tips for solo podcast episodes:

➡️ Focus on just ONE pain point per episode.

➡️ Do NOT try to make them the same length as your typical interview episodes. They will usually end up in the 15-30 min range.

➡️ Give your audience some easy to implement action steps.

➡️ Early on focus on the education more than the "performance"....you will get better at these as you do more of them!

⭐️ In episode 082 of Podcast Launch Tips I go more in depth on solo episode strategy.

 

 

 🤩 Client testimonial of the week: My client Jessica has a great podcast called Organic Gardening for Beginners.

Check out what she has to say about working with me:

"I joined the Download Growth Club because, as a new show I need all the guidance I can get on individual podcasting topics. I need a forum to chat with and I need answers to the many questions I have. My show is off to a great start! I highly suggest checking out the Download Growth Club."

➡️ If you are ready to get some help with learning how to leverage your podcast to get more clients hop on my Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call calendar. 

 

 

✍🏻What's happening on the Threads app this week: I've been posting three times per day on Threads. Here is a long form post that you might like:

"I'm 44 years old and I'm entering my 10th year as a podcaster. Here are 10 podcasting lessons I know at 44 that I wish I knew at age 34....." Full post HERE

 

 

📌Upcoming Events📌

Here are a few upcoming events that I will be either hosting or speaking at:

🔥This Friday!🔥Podcast Listener To Client Conversion FREE Workshop: Friday March 14th. Get 90 minutes of live training on my best client conversion strategies and participate in live Q&A.

(FINAL CALL) 😱Live Workshop😱 Email List Growth for Podcasters: April 9th & 10th in Nashville, TN. Spend 12 hours with me live and in person as I teach you how to GROW your email list and then leverage it to make consistent sales.

(FINAL CALL) 📈Podcast Growth Coach Certification📈 I'm only doing ONE certification cohort in 2025 and we start on April 1st (not a joke!). Registration is OPEN.

 

I hope that you are enjoying this weekly newsletter!

I'm off to break down all the components of this newsletter and transform them into dozens of social media assets.

Let me know if you think I should do a training or a newsletter deep dive on my Content Flywheel I use for my podcast/newsletter.

 

Your Pod Pal,

Adam

⭐️ P.S. Ready for some help with your podcast launch, growth, or your podcast listener to client conversion strategy?⭐️ 

Sign up for a FREE Podcast Profit Potential Discovery Call.