How Do I Get More Downloads for My Podcast?

Podtalk Team
Apr 1, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Jan 30

How Do I Get More Downloads on My Podcast?

It's the question we hear more than any other: "How do I get more downloads for my podcast?"

You've put in the work. The mic is on, the content is strong, and your passion is clear. So where are all the listeners?

Podcast growth doesn't happen by accident. It takes more than posting soundbites and hoping they'll go viral. But there are proven strategies that work, and they don't require a huge marketing budget or celebrity guests.

Let's start with the most powerful (yet most overlooked) strategies:

1. Stop Promoting Your Podcast. Start Promoting the Value of Your Episodes.

This one's a mindset shift. Instead of saying "Check out my latest episode," start telling people why they should care. What will they learn? What problem are you solving? What insight, emotion, or story are you delivering?

Listeners don't tune in because you have a podcast. They tune in because your content matters to them.

So flip your messaging. Lead with the hook, the transformation, the takeaway, and make the title, description, and social posts reflect that. Every episode should feel like a must-listen moment.

2. Make Your Podcast Bingeable (or Sticky)

Think Netflix. Think YouTube rabbit holes. The most successful podcasts don't just attract listeners, they keep them coming back for more.

Listeners consume an average of 5 to 6 podcast episodes weekly, and over 70% finish the majority or entirety of each episode Statista. If someone finishes your episode, they're ready for the next one. Make it easy for them.

Here's how:

Link your episodes thematically. Make each one flow into the next.

Use open loops. Tease upcoming topics at the end of your episodes. "Next week, I'm sharing the etc etc"

Create mini series. Break big topics into multi-part episodes. Series perform better because listeners commit to the journey, not just one episode.

Keep a consistent tone and style. Listeners know what they're getting and trust you'll deliver.

The goal? When someone finds you, they don't stop at one episode. They hit play on the next, and the next, and the next.

3. Treat Your Show Notes Like Landing Pages

Most podcasters write show notes as an afterthought. That's a massive missed opportunity.

Your show notes are where Google sends people searching for solutions you talk about. They're where potential listeners decide whether to press play. They need to sell the episode.

What great show notes include:

A compelling headline that promises value, not just a topic

Timestamps so people can jump to the parts they care about

SEO keywords that match what your ideal listener is searching for

A clear call to action (subscribe, download a resource, book a call)

Guest links and mentions so they share it with their audience

We've been there before with clients whose download numbers doubled just by optimising their show notes for search. It's not glamorous, but it works.

4. Turn One Episode Into 15 Pieces of Content

If you're recording an episode and only publishing the audio, you're leaving 90% of the value on the table.

One episode should become:

Blog post (SEO optimised, 800 to 1,200 words)
6 to 10 social media graphics (quote cards, stats, key takeaways)
3 to 5 video clips for Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube Shorts
Email newsletter content
LinkedIn article
Audiograms for Twitter and Facebook
Guest collaboration pack (so they can easily share)

Most podcasters don't grow because they're not promoting enough. And they're not promoting enough because they think it means creating new content from scratch. It doesn't. Repurpose ruthlessly.

5. Leverage Your Guests' Networks (Properly)

Here's the truth: most guests won't share your episode unless you make it incredibly easy and appealing for them.

Don't just:

Tag them in a generic post
Send them the episode link and hope

Do this instead:

Create a custom share pack with ready-to-post graphics, captions, and clips
Write the social copy for them
Send it within 24 hours of publishing
Make them look good (not just you)
Follow up with a thank you and gentle reminder

77% of listeners are more likely to trust a brand they hear about on a podcast Statista. When your guest shares to their network, it's an endorsement. That's marketing gold, but only if you make it happen.

6. Understand How People Actually Discover Podcasts

Listeners consume an average of 5 to 6 podcast episodes weekly, but how do they find new shows?

The reality:

Word of mouth and recommendations (not algorithms)
Google searches for specific topics
Guest appearances on other podcasts
Social media content that delivers value first, promotes second

Very few people browse podcast apps hoping to stumble on something good. They search for solutions to problems, then find your podcast. Or a friend tells them about you. Or they see a clip that hooks them.

That's why spray-and-pray social posting doesn't work. You need strategic, value-first content that makes people want to find your show.

Want the Rest of the Strategy?

These are just the starting blocks. The real growth comes when you align content strategy, branding, promotion, and audience engagement into a system that works consistently.

We help podcasters turn great shows into discovered shows. We craft the messaging, shape the content, sharpen the strategy, and help you stand out in a sea of sameness.

Because there's no one size fits all formula for growth. But there is a strategy that's right for you, and we've been there before with podcasters who were doing everything except the things that actually drive downloads.