Growing a podcast on social media
If you don't promote your podcast on social media, you are not giving it the best chance of being discovered. Using Social Media is an excellent free tool for raising awareness of a Podcast. There are more eyes on socials than ever right now.
Social Media can be time-consuming. However, it's also essential for the promotion of all modern media content including podcasts. Here are some easy to implement tips on how to grow a podcast on social media.
Use social media management and help tools
If time is an obstacle for you, don't worry, as there are tools that you can use to pre-schedule posts in advance that can post to multiple platforms for you.
Help with content is also available. A number of tools provide help with content ideas that will make an impact.
Find your Podcast Audience
If you have followed our previous advice on starting a Podcast as a beginner, you should already have a good idea of your audience and where they hang out so make sure you target those places. We always recommend you cover the absolute musts when it comes to social media platforms:
LinkedIn (Especially if your Podcast is business-focused)
We have noticed many podcasts being absent from Instagram. There is a huge opportunity to share Podcast related content across Instagram.
It helps you build a relationship between you & your social community, allowing you to get personable.
Many of your guests will be on Instagram, and you can enhance by tagging them in upcoming posts and on your stories.
You will get access to analytics that reveals excellent insights.
You can connect Instagram to Facebook. So that if you share an impromptu story on Instagram, it will give you an option to share it on Facebook as well.
Take advantage of Hashtags
Adding hashtags to your grid posts and stories is a great way to allow new listeners to discover your content. Try and target your niche and your local network. You can’t have enough hashtags, 15-30 is what you should be aiming for with any social media post.
For example, here are some suggestions on hashtags you could use if you had an Irish Business Podcast:
#IrishBusinessPodcast
#PeopleInBusiness
#IrishPodcast
#IrishPodcaster
#BusinessPodcast
#BusinessStartUp
#MyBusinessJourney
#IrishBusinessNetwork
#BusinessAdvice
#IrishEntrepreneur
#SmallBusinessEssentials
Be personable
You may be thinking that I can set up my social media channels, but will I have enough content to keep the pages ticking? The answer to this is yes. Not everything needs to be directly related to your Podcast.
We always tell people to be personable and real when they host Podcasts. The same rules apply to social media. Sharing simple, everyday things can be social media content. Remember, people connect to others they feel are like them. So being yourself and sharing things you do or have done can be a gateway to an audience that is just like you.
Your social media channels will be an incredible pedestal for you to build up a stronger relationship with your listener by engaging with them. It will let the audience get to know you a bit better. Here are some tips that anyone can use for social media content:
Take a snap of your morning coffee from a new local start-up truck (make sure you tag the business)
Throwback pictures that reveal your career progression
Your pet companion who loves to be by your side whilst you work (#dogsofinstagram and #catsofinstagram is hugely followed)
What podcast/book you are currently enjoying.
A weekly work or career tip. (Remember, something that could be so obvious to you could be a golden nugget to a follower.)
Listener call-outs - Ask your listeners what new businesses they find exciting, who they would like on future podcasts, etc.
Get interactive. With Instagram stories, you have a Question feature. This allows you to put up a question box for your followers. They can then submit questions that you can answer.
All of this stuff not only generates content but gives you the chance to connect with new audiences and followers of other accounts.
Share Podcast clips on Social Media
You may feel that social media platforms are heavily for visuals/video, which is correct, but you can tie in your audio work perfectly here. Here are some of the things you can share a Podcast on social media:
Podcast episode promo visual
This can be a really simple graphic to announce the release of a new episode. You can use a photo of your guest, your podcast logo, a quote or anything else you feel will hook a listeners interest.
Audiograms
Audiograms are pretty much a must in 2021 for promoting a Podcast. They are short snippets of your episode, repurposed into a video that you can share on social media.
For more info on Audiograms, check out our guide to creating Podcast Audiograms
A graphic with a transcribed quote from a guest
Take something that your guest said that impressed or inspired you and use it to sell your Podcast episode.
A listener review graphic
If you have any reviews or feedback that can make for great social media content. Again, this can be really simple in terms of design.
If you need help with growing your Podcast on social media, we offer assets and help at an affordable price. Check out our podcast production services or get in touch.