3 Ways to Grow Your Podcast (That Actually Work)

When it comes to podcasting, everyone has one thing in common — we all want to grow our podcast.

No matter what your goal is (more downloads, more impact, or even monetization), growth will always support it. And let’s be real…..growth definitely won’t hurt, LOL.

Over the years of growing my immigration podcast, I’ve tested different strategies, and today I’m sharing three ways to grow your podcast that have worked for me, and can work for you too.

Before we get into this, please keep in mind that podcasting is a long-term, slow-growth game. There’s no “going viral” with podcasting, and each episode is a brick building your foundation. At the end of the day, consistency and time are what will help your podcast grow, but here are some strategies to implement while you stay consistent!

1. Get in Front of Your Audience (In Real Life!)

One of the most effective ways to grow your podcast is simple:
get in front of your audience.

I’ve attended:

Networking events
Conferences
Virtual summits
Even hosted my own event

And every single time, I’ve gained new listeners and new podcast guests.

Let me give you a real example…

Back in January, I attended the Bestie’s Boardroom conference. During a dinner, we went around the table and shared our “one ask.” Mine?

“Please pull out your phone, subscribe to my podcast, listen to at least one episode, and share with a friend.”

A few days later, one of the women left a beautiful review on Apple Podcasts.

That’s the power of showing up.

When people meet you in person:

They connect with your energy
They trust you faster
They’re more likely to support your podcast

And now that we’re years past the pandemic, more communities are leaning into in-person connections again.

If you want to grow your podcast, don’t just hide behind the mic—get in the room.

This might sound obvious… but it’s often overlooked.

You need to tell your listeners to share your podcast. Just like the example above, I told the ladies, after you listen to one episode, please share it with a friend! 🙂

Word-of-mouth is still one of the most powerful ways to grow. People are far more likely to listen to a podcast if someone they trust recommends it. (Think about the last podcast you found – did a friend recommend it to you?)

That’s why your call-to-action (CTA) matters.

At the end of every episode, remind your listeners:
“If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a friend!”

When I work with clients launching their podcasts, I always recommend creating a podcast launch team.

Here’s how it works:

Ask 5 friends to support your launch
Each person shares your podcast with 5 others during launch week.

And yes, it might feel repetitive saying it every episode, but here’s the truth:

If you don’t talk about your podcast, people won’t think to share it. Just like if you don’t talk about your business, no one will know you have a business!

Another quick tip that I’ve been doing lately is when I hop on virtual coffee chats, and people ask, “How can I support you?” I always tell them to listen to one episode and share it with a friend! It’s a free way they can support, and it goes a long way!

Don’t be afraid to repeat your CTA. Growth comes from consistency.

3. Optimize Your Podcast for SEO

If I’m being honest….this is the strategy that changed everything for me.

I won’t say it’s the fastest way (because everyone’s journey is different), but it has been the most effective and sustainable way I’ve grown my podcast.

Once I learned about podcast SEO and started implementing it, I began:

Ranking #1 for keywords like immigration and immigrant stories
Seeing consistent discoverability
Growing my audience organically

The number one way people find my podcast on Spotify is by “search!” That is podcast SEO, right there! 🙂

What is Podcast SEO?

Podcast SEO is all about making your show easier to find when people search for topics you talk about.

Here’s what you need to focus on:

Include keywords in your episode titles
Use those same keywords in your show notes
Align your content with what your audience is actively searching for

For example:
If your episode is about money mindset, your title should include “money mindset”—not something vague.

Real Client Results from Podcast SEO

I recently did an SEO audit for a client who wanted to rank for:

Money Mindset
Podcast for Women
Personal Development

I gave her a few keyword adjustments across her podcast.

Two weeks later?

She saw:

Improved keyword rankings
A spike in downloads

That’s exactly why I stand by podcast SEO, it works!

Want Help With Your Podcast SEO?

If you’re ready to grow your podcast with intention, I offer Podcast SEO Audits where I:

Review your titles and show notes
Identify better keywords
Help position your podcast for discoverability

Final Thoughts: Start With One Strategy to Grow Your Podcast

You don’t have to do everything at once.

Start with one:

Show up in person
Improve your call-to-action
Or optimize your podcast for SEO

Then build from there.

With Love, Heidy

Check out my SEO Guide and Free Podcasting Resources at – https://stan.store/heidydelacruz

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P.S. Do you know what is actually holding you back from starting your podcast? Take the quiz and find out!