Categories
Podcast

Five Ways to Market Your Podcast

podcast plan schedule for marketing written on the notebook
Photo by Mikael Blomkvist on Pexels.com

Podcasting is taking this digital world by storm; it feels like every day, a new podcast is out on the market. This is because podcasting is a powerful way to connect with your audience. However, publishing your podcast is only the first step in the podcasting cycle; once your episode is published, it’s time to market the podcast! 

When one hears the word marketing nowadays, social media are the first two words that come to mind, but we can market our podcast in other ways besides social media. Now, I’m not saying don’t use social media for marketing; I want to give you five additional marketing tools to utilize for your podcast journey! 

Whether you’re a seasoned podcaster or just starting, these marketing strategies will help you with insights to broaden your podcast reach and gain listeners. 

Let’s begin!

Collaborate With Other Podcasters

One of the best ways to reach new listeners is to be a guest on podcasts like yours. By being a guest on other podcasts, you’ll share your experience, expertise, and information at the end of the episode so listeners can subscribe to your show and connect with you. 

There are plenty of groups on Facebook for podcasters who are looking for guests and guests who are looking for shows to appear on. Another way to be a guest is to pitch yourself directly to podcast shows you’d like to be a guest on. 

The next three all go together.

Create a Website for Your Podcast

Where you host your podcast depends on whether there is a page included, but you can always buy your domain and create a website exclusively for your podcast. For example, I host my podcast on Spotify for Podcasters, and they include this page for my podcast. The page shows the description of my show, the episodes, the shownotes, the cover art, and the apps where people can listen; however, this isn’t a website per se. 

If you’d like to create a website for your podcast, you’ll need to choose where to host it – like 

  • WordPress
  • Squarespace
  • Wix
  • GoDaddy

Buy your domain, and from there, you can add all the content of your podcast.

Start a Blog

Within your website, you can blog about your podcast episodes, which is another way to market your podcast. However, each blog post has to be optimized for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) so it can rank on Google, Yahoo, Bing, etc. 

By turning each podcast episode into SEO-optimized blog posts, you’ll reach organic listeners to your website and your show. But fair warning, this marketing strategy is a long-term commitment in order to see results. In another post, I’ll share the pros and cons of this approach. 
I do offer this service to seasoned podcasters, especially those who don’t feel like they are good writers or writing can take them longer to finish. Send me an email at heidy@heidydelacruz.com to discuss details.

Email Marketing or Creating a Newsletter

Within your website and blog, you can integrate an email list and have your audience subscribe to your newsletter. Another way you can have people sign up is by including a link to your newsletter on the shownotes of each podcast episode. Lastly, when you are a guest on other podcasts, you can tell their listeners to join your newsletter. 

One great way to encourage your listeners to sign up for the newsletter is to provide them with a freebie. A free guide, list, or resource that’s exclusive for those who join. Within the newsletter, you can send your subscribers exclusive content, special announcements, promotional codes, and updates about new episodes.

You may like: 3 Reasons Why Small Business Owners Should Have an Email List

Attend Networking Events

What better way to find listeners than to meet them in person? Get right in front of your audience at networking events. Find business networking opportunities in your community to attend. There are also events specifically for podcasters; that’s an option. Or, if you’re feeling bold enough, you can host your own networking event. 

These are only a few of the many ways one can market their podcast. If you would like a list of 30 different ways you can market your podcast, you can download the list here. As a podcast coach, I can help you set up a marketing plan for whichever strategy you choose. 

With Love, Heidy

Is a personal development newsletter an interest of yours? With a little bit of poetry? A little of opinion pieces? And some faith-based encouragement? Sign up for my Substack newsletter, “Into My Thoughts.”

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Categories
Podcast

Becoming a Podcaster Was the Best Choice

Podcaster Heidy standing under light with black tank top and red dress pants
Podcaster Heidy De La Cruz

It was in 2019 when God put it in my heart to start a podcast. Although I initially thought I would be sharing and celebrating the good things, my friends are doing in their lives on the podcast. The concept of sharing immigrant stories didn’t come until about a month before I started researching how to launch a podcast. Now, it’s been almost two years since I became a podcaster, and looking back, it’s the best choice I’ve made. Here are a few reasons why.

Share Immigrant Stories

When I first got the tug to start a podcast, the vision was to have a co-host, and we would give our opinions about various topics. I tried to get my husband to do it, but he wasn’t interested. I then thought I would highlight my friends and talk about the great things they are doing in their lives, but after I read an article on Medium about an immigrant from Kenya and how each culture shock she experienced in the United States diminished her confidence, I thought how these types of stories aren’t shared or talked about. 

The concept of immigrants sharing their journey coming to the United States and what they experienced after they arrived was foreign to me. I had not heard of podcasts or a space that shared these types of stories. Although this is just a part of their stories, not all of it, I still think it’s an important part and will continue to highlight them.

Since starting The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast, I’ve heard so many incredible, inspiring, and sad stories. I said I want to share the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to the podcast because everyone has a different experience, and that shapes their perspectives and their opinions. Their truths are their truths; neither I nor anyone else can take that away from them. I’m just using a medium to host their stories.

Live My Mission While Spreading the Gospel

The mission of my podcast is to change the narrative of immigration to a more compassionate and empathetic approach – like a Jesus approach. And the best way to achieve that goal is by sharing stories of immigrants. As I am sharing these stories, I’m also spreading the gospel and showing my audience that even though we may disagree with policies, we can still extend compassion to God’s people. 

At the end of the day, we should treat everyone as they are all made in the image of God. And there are plenty of Bible verses that talk about how we should treat immigrants and refugees. 

And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Deuteronomy 10:19 NIV

“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ Zechariah 7:9-10 NIV

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40 NIV

This last verse is a reminder that how we treat others is how we treat Jesus himself.

Teaching Others to Podcast

In September of 2022, I posted on Facebook how I wanted to help others launch their own podcast, and in August of 2023, I hosted my first “How to Launch a Podcast Masterclass.” I’ve created a six-week course where I walk people through the process of launching a podcast step by step. 

I’ve realized that initially, the process can be overwhelming. However, if you break it down step by step, it’s easier to manage and not feel discourage. I want to be the person I needed when I started my podcast.

Teaching others to do podcasts is a love I didn’t even know I had until I started. I’ve always been generous with my knowledge and sharing my process of whatever project I’m working on. So, now I’m sharing the knowledge of launching a podcast and helping those who wish to have their own. It’s such an amazing feeling!

You may like: I’ve Had These Opportunities Since I Started Podcasting

Becoming a Podcaster Was Clearly the Best Choice

Sometimes, we don’t realize we like something until we try it. When I first started podcasting, I didn’t know I would help others launch theirs, and once I started, I realized I absolutely love it. I’ve tried many things in my life, and some of them I didn’t like, so I shifted, but I wouldn’t have known that it wasn’t for me if I hadn’t tried. 

Becoming a podcaster is one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life, and I’m so glad I took that huge leap of faith. I’m excited to continue on this path and share the journey with you along the way! 

With Love, Heidy

Is a personal development newsletter an interest of yours? With a little bit of poetry? A little of opinion pieces? And some faith-based encouragement? Sign up for my Substack newsletter, “Into My Thoughts.”

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