The Podcast Growth Formula
Hey Pod Pals!
This newsletter was lovingly curated (without the use of any AI) in real time on Thursday morning at 8:25am CST.
It's been a productive morning so far!
✅ Family breakfast
✅ Kids off to school
✅ Morning walk and red light therapy
✅ Answering questions on Threads and inside my Skool community.
Speaking of my Skool community....
Just a quick heads up that you can join for free, but if you've been considering upgrading to the Premium Tier to get weekly group coaching and ALL of my courses for growth/monetization the price is increasing next week.
On October 15th the premium tier price will increase from $19/month to $29/month.
It's a great time to lock in the lower rate!
📈 Today we are going to talk about something I created that I'm calling the Podcast Growth Formula.
I feel like one of the biggest problems that podcasters face is that we are staying really busy with things that aren't actually helping us grow our audience!
Podcasters are burning themselves out by spending too much time on things like:
-Creating/Teaching an AI bot how to be our podcast manager.
-Messing around on Canva.
-Over editing our episodes.
So I created this formula to help you all become a little more efficient and effective with your limited time that you have to invest in your podcast growth.
First things first.....this isn't a real math formula.
I was born in Indiana.....math isn't our strong suit!
I think the best way for you to use this formula is to look at my explanation and then think about how many ZEROES you are putting into it....as in.....you aren't doing that thing!
So here is the Podcast Growth Formula:
Podcast Download Growth =
CV x (SEO + $ + PGF + (SMPF + sk x as))
So there you have it.....see you all next week! 😆
Ok...just kidding....let's unpack each component.
CV = Content Value
If your content isn't valuable to your audience, none of the rest of the formula matters at all.
How do we increase the value of your content?
➡️ 1. Get in your reps.
I tell people all the time that they should NOT listen to my first 100 episodes.....but the most recent 1,000 or so are pretty good!
➡️ 2. Communicate and connect with your audience members.
Ask them what they are struggling with and what type of content they want from you.
SEO = Search Engine Optimization
I'm specifically talking about podcast SEO here. This is the most powerful factor in organically growing your show.
When I read the name of your show I want to see four things:
🎯 1. I want to know what the show is about.
🎯 2. I want to know who the show is for.
🎯 3. I want to see at least one highly searched keyword for your niche.
🎯 4. I want the first word in the name of your show to be a keyword for your niche.
If you have a show with a name like Fun Times with Marty...go ahead and put a ZERO in for SEO.
If you want to improve your SEO, here is an episode that has helped hundreds of my audience members 2x-4x their downloads.
$ = Your budget for paid ads.
I realize that not everyone has a budget for paid marketing, but this is still a really effective way to grow your audience.
I invest on banner ads on platforms like Overcast FM almost every single month.
I also run ads in other newsletters every single week!
If you aren't investing in a paid ad strategy then put a ZERO for $.
If you want to learn about some of my low budget paid ad strategies here is an episode for you to dive into.
PGF = Podcast Guesting Frequency.
One of the fastest ways to grow your audience is to be on other podcasts.
For my consulting clients that hire me for podcast growth we shoot for 1-4 guest appearances per month at a minimum.
If you aren't doing any podcast guesting go ahead and put in a ZERO for PGF.
Here are a few ways to get booked on more podcasts as a guest:
✔️ 1. Hang out and connect with more podcasters by attending live and virtual events.
✔️ 2. Invite podcasters to be on your show first, add value, and many times they will ask you to come on their show.
✔️ 3. Join my Skool community and participate in our collaboration days.
SMPF + sk x as = Social Media Posting Frequency + Skill + Audience Size.
One of the biggest realizations I've had over the last month or so is that a lot of you are not promoting your episodes...like hardly at all!
If you aren't promoting your episodes give yourself a ZERO for this part of the formula.
The posting frequency I recommend for my clients is to post 3-5 social media assets that will add value AND promote your episode.
I like to have all 3-5 posts live within 72 hours of the episode being live.
The more experience you have with creating/posting the more your SKILL will increase.
When you increase your frequency and skill....it leads to audience growth on social.
Now here's the great big problem I'm seeing out on the streets of Podcaster City....
I'm hearing excuses like:
😭 I don't want to change my podcast name because it's catchy and I already paid for the trademark.
😭 I'm not making any money with my show so I don't have a budget for paid ads.
😭 I don't have time to be a guest on other podcasts.
😭 I hate social media.
And these same people are complaining about how their audience isn't growing! 😭😭😭
Again, I'm from Indiana but even I know that 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 = ZERO!
So I hope that this newsletter has been a bit of a wake up call for at least a few of you.
Here's one last tip....If you are a card carrying member of the Multiple Zero Club...don't beat yourself up about it.
Also, don't try to do all of the things all at once.
Start with the ONE component of the formula that you feel like you are most likely to follow through with consistently and just start building momentum!
Talk to you next week!
Your Pod Pal,
Adam
⭐️ P.S. Here's the scoop on my podcast episode this week!
🎙️ Podcasting Business School EP 642: Should you quit making Youtube videos?
One of my Skool community members came to me all stressed out because she wanted to quit posting content on Youtube.
In this coaching episode we talk through her options and we found some nice middle ground!
If posting content on Youtube is stressing you out....this episode is for YOU!