Case Study No.6 – Growing a Podcast to 10k Downloads

Intro:

Completing and managing this project for clients is always a great pleasure of mine. Each client has their individual needs and requires a personal touch so that their Podcast business can thrive! Here I will go into the process I used, the research I’ve conducted, what I helped them with, and how it benefited and created real value.

The clients: 

Due to the nature of this case study, I will cover an amalgamation of clients all of whom are successful podcast hosts in different fields – from leadership and business to discussing and de-stigmatizing addiction and mental health. Despite the variety of content, the same core structure and approach work across all of their podcast businesses.

What I help with:

  • Research

With any project, the due diligence one puts into the research has a huge impact on the outcome. To begin with, I conduct in-depth research into my client and look into guests relevant to them, referring back to guests that they have already had on the podcast and discussing where they see their podcast going in the following 6 months, year, and 5 years time. 

The main benefit I have from doing this numerous times is not only a seamless process but by knowing exactly what to look for on each website/ LinkedIn profile my clients will find the perfect guests for them.

Another key area of focus during my research process is compiling a list of PR companies. From this, I will contact these companies regarding specific clients who align with the podcast subject matter. Thus simultaneously benefiting the guest who is able to promote their latest work and also expanding the podcast audience to their audience too.  

  • Set up a clear CTA

A clear call to action is paramount. I have various approaches I use for my clients. 

Invite listeners to sign up for the newsletter to access a handout relevant to the episode. 

Increase listeners by giving current listeners incentives to share and review through a rewards system. Within this, setting up a clear Merch list or exclusive content that is appealing to the listener. Ie. If the listener leaves a review on Apple podcast or shares the episode with 5 friends or more then they get free merch stickers or £5 off their first order.

Have the transcript and all the resources mentioned in the episode on the website and create a clear landing page on the website that encourages them to sign up for the newsletter and gain exclusive content.

  • Emails out to listeners and guests.

I’ve recognized the importance of creating a community in the podcast world – having a weekly newsletter sent out to listeners is a simple and effective way to achieve this. Their can even be multiple emails sent out throughout the week. For example, the first email is to build up excitement and anticipation for the episode. The second email could have the transcript- or link to the transcript that draws them to the website and/or a handout with relevant information on the episode just released.

The secondary layer to this is emailing the guest of the episode. The day after the interview the guest is sent an email encouraging them to promote the episode by providing a template and social media content that they can share with their own listeners on their various social media platforms. 

  • Social Listing Plan

This work is expensive and continues to evolve as the podcast grows. To begin with, I discuss with the client the current social media platforms that they have running for the podcast, and what they want to keep, change or add to this list. For example, having a TikTok account is a great way to put out teaser trailers for episodes. 

Produce the client with a complete social listening plan. This includes proven hacks and strategies that work. One method for their YouTube channel is engaging and commenting on other channels’ videos.

Keep track of the engagement per day on each social media site via excel so that the client can check whenever they see fit. This will compile all of the following areas: Likes, shares, subscribers, signups, clicks, scrolls, conversions, followers, and sentiment analysis.

A final aspect of this is creating a podcast gimmick. This is subject to the client whether or not they want this. Often clients have found it increases people’s desire to listen to the show purely for the gimmick moment and how each guest will respond to it. Alongside introducing the gimmick, carrying out audience polls on social media sites to see if they enjoy the gimmick section is a great way to see if the strategy is working or needs some adjustments. 

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Overall, I want this process to be as smooth and as easy as possible – so the client can focus purely on doing the best possible podcast episode with each guest they bring on and leave the background work to me. With all the above strategies, each aspect is reviewed on a quarterly basis to see if the audience growth is where we expect it to be. 

How what I do helps them: 

– Time 

My client’s time is precious, carrying out this work for them gives them breathing space. Most importantly, they can focus on what truly matters. Such as researching for a podcast episode, creating content, filming personalized videos, and doing what they want to do the most! Connecting with inspiring people!

– Repeated work 

From completing this project numerous times I know the ins and outs of making sure nothing is missed. I can focus on purely giving you the tailored guests and a clear strategy that guarantees growth! As I learn more about the client I can even begin to make higher-level recommendations that boost their business!

– Personal interest 

I absolutely love seeing clients reap the rewards from the work I do for them. I feel a strong sense of satisfaction to see what strategies work, implement changes and adapt to what each client needs. Of course, there are similarities, but each client has their own pace, own style, and more importantly their individual podcast idea that makes them stand out. This is where the real fun happens – by leveraging my knowledge of the industry I can create a truly bespoke package that I can fully get behind and be excited by!

– Nature of the role 

Being in this position allows me to have a significant amount of knowledge for me to use from one client to another. I can often find best practices, and suggest alternative approaches that the client hasn’t thought of thus allowing me more time to review my work and make sure it is in line with the client’s expectations.

Further to this, coming from an account management background means that I’m well versed in keeping track of multiple clients and tailoring to all their individual needs. When it comes to After Care I’m fully confident in supporting everyone 100%.

– My analytic background 

In my previous role, I was often referred to as a data scientist because of my analysis technique and unique interpretations of data. I can apply my own opinion to the findings that the clients can review. This both saves them time and provides an alternate perspective on their podcast business.

As you can see, I really enjoy working on this type of project for clients. If you feel like I could help you with your podcast or would like some advice from someone with my extensive experience please feel free to reach out on LinkedIn or send me an email via oliver@olivera28.sg-host.com 

P.S All my client’s details will be confidential as they are not always comfortable with their customers knowing they sometimes require additional help.

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