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Social Media Decoded
How to Grow a Podcast Audience from Scratch: The 2025 Playbook
00:09:12
Want to build a loyal podcast audience in 2025—starting from zero? In this episode, Michelle Thames breaks down her proven podcast growth playbook, covering exactly how to get your first 1,000 downloads, the biggest mistakes most podcasters make, and easy visibility hacks that work for anyone, no matter your experience or following. If you want to get found, get shared, and turn your show into a thriving community, this episode is for you.
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Michelle Thames
Hey, welcome back to Social Media Decoded. I'm Michelle Thames and today I'm pulling back the curtain on one of the most asked questions in my DMs, emails and real life conversations. How do I actually grow a podcast audience from scratch in 2025? Whether you're just dreaming about starting your own show, you've already hit record, but feel like you're talking to the void, or you want to revive a podcast that's gone cold, this episode is for you now. No gatekeeping, no generic post everywhere tips. Just the real strategy and actionable steps I use with clients and my own show to build an audience that actually listens, shares, and comes back for more. And by the way, if you want a custom step by step plan for your podcast, my Power Hour strategy sessions, well, they're actually 90 minutes are open. You'll leave with clarity, confidence and a growth map tailored for your voice, your audience and your goals. The link is available in the show notes. All right, let's build your podcast audience the real way. Now, here's the truth behind podcasting in 2025. Podcasting is no longer the new kid on the block. In 2025, everybody and their cousin has a podcast. And most don't make it past 10 episodes and even fewer. Build a loyal community. Why? Because growth takes more than just hitting publish and hoping for the best. You need consistency, a clear message, and let's be honest, a strategy that that plays to your strengths. And let's bust this myth right here. You do not have to be famous, have a huge audience, or be an extrovert to grow a successful podcast. In fact, being a little underdog can be your secret weapon. People are tired of hearing from only the big names. They want someone real, relatable, and willing to answer the questions they're actually asking. The 2025 podcast growth playbook. Let's get into it. The first step is to nail your podcast niche. Okay, Nail down your podcast promise. Ask yourself, who is my podcast for? What do they get when they listen and what transformation can I help them? With example, maybe you're a mom juggling business and life and you want to show other moms how to grow a side hustle. Or maybe you're obsessed with tech and want to help total beginners not feel lost. If you're not clear on this, don't. Neither are your listeners. Here's a tip. Write down one sentence. My podcast helps who do what so they can result. STEP 2. Create searchable, binge worthy content. I mean, this is what I absolutely love to do. I am like 500 plus episodes in and this is so fun y'. All. Every episode is so fun. But every episode that you do should the title should be a question or a pain point that your audience is googling. Yes, it should be. Use language that they they use. SEO matters how to get your first A thousand podcast downloads will always outperform Michelle's podcast journey episode 14 because nobody cares about that. I look for things that people are searching. Have a few pillar episodes that you reference over and over again. Like maybe start here guys Examples. My top episodes are the one with how to step by step or biggest mistakes in the title and I like to repurpose content. If I see that people are gravitating towards specific episodes like Instagram topics, I'm going to continue to post about Instagram topics and ideas. Step 3 Consistency is everything. Now you don't have to post daily like me. I know I'm crazy. If you've been listening to this podcast, you're like, wow, Michelle's been posting a daily episode. Yep. But one thing is you do have to be consistent weekly. Great. Every Tuesday and Thursday. Even better, make your show a part of their routine. I love how you all make this show part of your routine. Maybe it's part of your morning routine where you're getting the kids ready for school or maybe even listening to it late at night. I love this and thank you for your support. Here's a pro tip. Batch Record Right now I am batch recording episodes. Yep. Gonna do maybe five in a day so that I can have at least five recorded. Because if I'm posting every single day, I have to batch. But you all know my episodes are very short, sweet and to the point, which helps me even more. Having episodes ready means that you'll never ghost your audience. Step 4 Make every episode shareable. Start here in every show with a call to action. If this helps, you screenshot and share it to your Instagram stories and tag me. That is a call to action. Give listeners a reason to share shout outs to their stories or simply being so helpful they want their friends to hear it. Share quick wins, practical advice, and aha moments. Here's an example. When a listener dm's you a takeaway or win, mention them on the show. It makes them feel like part of the community and encourages others to engage too. Step 5 Tap into other people's audiences. What I like to call opa. Pitch yourself as a guest to other podcasts in your niche. I do this all the time. It's one of my strategies. Do episode swaps where you mention each other's shows. I do this too. Collaborate on a mere Collaborate on a miniseries or challenge when you're focused. When you're featured, always mention your show and give people a reason to check it out. Here's some real talk Some of my biggest spikes in downloads have come after a guest spot on someone else's podcast or even a mention in their newsletter. Step 6 Repurpose like a pro. Clip your episodes into reels, shorts, or audiograms for Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Turn your show notes into LinkedIn posts or carousels. Take your best podcast tips and build an email series. Keep your name in their inbox and in their earbuds. Example. One episode can become a week's worth of social posts. Work smart and not hard. You already know how I feel about that. Step 7 Build community off the mic Invite listeners to your email list or Instagram channel. Go ahead and follow me over on Instagram at Michelle lthames to stay connected with me. Okay, now that's inviting you to the community. Start a Facebook group or broadcast channel where listeners can talk to you and each other. Do listener question and answers Ask me anything episodes or even virtual meetups, which I totally want to do y'. All. So if you down for a virtual meetup, hit me up. Okay, I'm in Chicago and I know most of you who listen to the podcast are in Chicago and I plan to do some virtual meetups in the future. If you're listening right now and have a question, DM me on Instagram ichellelthames or drop it in the comments on Spotify. I would love to help. Now let's talk about the biggest mistakes to avoid. The first one is focusing only on numbers. Your first 50, 100 or 1,000 downloads are real people. Treat them like gold. The second mistake is trying to be everywhere. Pick one to two platforms that you actually enjoy and show up there. The third mistake is not having a call to action every episode. Tell listeners what to do, subscribe, share dm, book a power hour. Whatever moves your vision forward. Now let's talk about some easy visibility hacks for 2025 and beyond. Leverage the new features. YouTube shorts, Instagram Reels, and even LinkedIn audio events are great for quick visibility. Feature listeners read out a listener review or a question at the start of each episode. People love hearing hearing their name. Tap into trends. Don't ignore trending topics in your niche, but always make it your own. So there's your 2025 playbook for growing your podcast from scratch. No magic, just clarity, strategy and consistency. And if you want a tailor growth plan for your podcast, My Power Hour strategy sessions, well, they're actually 90 minutes are open. Okay, for 90 minutes, I'll help you identify your next best steps, clarify your message, and help you set up a growth plan that's fun and effective. The link is in the show Notes or DM me on Instagram Power Hour and I will send you the link. If you enjoyed this episode, share to your Instagram stories, tag me or drop your thoughts over on Spotify in the comments section or tag me on Threads. I want to hear what you're working on, what's holding you back, or even your biggest podcast dreams. Thank you so much for tuning in. Keep creating, keep connecting and I'll see you in the next episode. Peace.