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June 13, 2025 15 mins

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The Podcast Traffic Playbook: Step-by-Step Guide to Building Your Audience

Grab a Copy of the Build Your Audience Book: https://platformgrowthbooks.com

In this episode of The Market Your Message Show, hosted by Jonathan Milligan, we explore the transformative power of podcasting. Starting with a historical overview of Guglielmo Marconi's groundbreaking invention of the radio in 1895, the episode transitions into practical advice for aspiring podcasters. 

Jonathan discusses the seven essential steps for launching a successful podcast, from choosing a podcast host to creating engaging content and strategies for turning listeners into subscribers. The episode also outlines common mistakes to avoid and provides actionable exercises to help listeners kickstart their own podcast journey. Tune in to learn how to simplify the podcasting process, build a loyal audience, and use podcasting as a powerful tool to share your message with the world.

00:00 The Birth of Wireless Communication
00:30 Introduction to Podcasting
01:28 The Podcast Traffic Playbook
04:18 Avoid Common Podcasting Mistakes
05:57 Simplify Your Podcasting Process
07:04 Your Podcast Playbook: Seven Steps to Audio Stardom
12:31 Today's Exercise: Your Podcast Launch Blueprint
14:55 Key Takeaways for Successful Podcasting

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 25 (00:00):
It's 1895 in a dusty attic in Italy.
A young Marconi sends a messagethrough the air, and the world
is never the same.
That moment sparked acommunication revolution.
Fast forward 130 years, and nowyou have the power to broadcast
your voice around the globe.
No wires, no permission, just amicrophone, an idea and a

(00:23):
connection to someone's earswhile they drive.
Cook.
Or walk their dog.
That's the power of podcasting.
And today we're gonna tap intoit.
Hi, I am Jonathan Milligan.
I'm the host of The Market YourMessage Show.
We're currently going through aseries from book number four
called Build Your Audience.

(00:44):
Now, this is a six book seriescalled Your Message Matters,
helps you go from discoveringyour message all the way to
building multiple streams ofincome with your message.
And so we're gonna dive into.
Podcasting today.
So this is chapter 12 in thebook, and if you would like to
have a copy of the book, just goto platform growth books.com.

(01:08):
Again, that's platform GrowthBooks.
Com.
You can also find the link inthe show notes, but we are
releasing one chapter at a timeof the audio book that you can
go purchase or you can justlisten on this podcast for free.
It's a way of saying thank youfor being a subscriber of the
show.

(01:28):
So without further ado, let'sjump into chapter 12, the
podcast Traffic Playbook.

Speaker 24 (01:34):
Chapter 12, the Podcast Traffic Playbook.
It's 1895, and a young Italianinventor named Guglielmo Marconi
is tinkering in his attic.
He's obsessed with an almostmagical idea, sending messages
through the air without wires.
Most people think he's crazy.
After all, how could invisiblewaves possibly carry information
across vast distances?

(01:56):
But Marconi isn't deterred.
He keeps experimenting, refininghis apparatus, pushing the
boundaries of what's possible.
And then one day it happens, hesuccessfully transmits a radio
signal over a distance of twomiles.
It's a small step at thebeginning of a revolution.
Fast forward a few years.
Marconis invention has grown byleaps and bounds.

(02:19):
In 1901, he achieved what manythought Impossible transmitting
a radio signal across theAtlantic Ocean.
Suddenly the world seems a wholelot smaller.
News, entertainment, andinformation can travel at the
speed of light.
Marconis Radio laid thefoundation for a new era of
communication from those firstcrackling transmissions.

(02:40):
We've evolved to crystal cleardigital broadcasts, and now
we're in the age of podcastingwhere anyone with a microphone
and an internet connection canreach listeners around the
globe.
It's a far cry from marconisattic experiments, but the core
principle is the same usingtechnology.

(03:01):
To share ideas and connect withan audience just as Marconis
Radio revolutionizedcommunication in his time.
Podcasting is transforming howwe build audiences and share
knowledge Today.
The power of podcasting isn'tjust in its reach, it's in its
intimacy.
When someone listens to yourpodcast, it's like you're

(03:21):
speaking directly to them.
You are in their car, theirliving room, their workout
routine.
You're building a connectionthat goes beyond words on a page
or images on a screen.
That's why podcasting has becomesuch a potent tool for building
an audience.
It's not just about broadcastinginformation, it's about creating
a relationship with yourlisteners.

(03:42):
It's about being a trusted voicein your field.
Do this by sharing businessinsights, telling great stories
or exploring niche topics.
In this chapter, we'll explorehow you can harness the power of
podcasting to build your ownaudience.
We'll cover the steps to set upand launch a podcast.
We'll also explore strategies tocreate a show that resonates

(04:05):
with listeners and keeps themcoming back.
So are you ready to follow inMarconis footsteps and start
your own broadcastingrevolution?
Let's dive in and discover howyou can use podcasting to build
your audience and amplify yourvoice.
Avoid these common podcastingmistakes.
Many aspiring hosts fall intothe same traps when it comes to
podcasting.

(04:25):
They overcomplicate the process,turning what should be an
exciting venture into a dauntingordeal.
They obsess over every technicaldetail, agonizing over
microphone, specs and editingsoftware hours are spent
tweaking audio levels andresearching the perfect intro
music.
Meanwhile, the actual content oftheir show takes a backseat.

(04:45):
These would be podcasters oftenfail to plan their content
effectively.
They might have a vague idea ofwhat they wanna discuss, but no
clear structure or long-termvision.
They wing it episode by episode,hoping inspiration will strike
when they hit the record button.
Here's the problem.
This approach doesn't work.
It's a recipe for burnout.

(05:06):
In inconsistent publishing, it'shard to stick to a publishing
schedule.
When you are always fightingtechnical issues or scrambling
for content ideas, yourlisteners never know when to
expect new episodes.
Making it challenging to build aloyal following, getting bogged
down in the technical detailsoften results in poor audio
quality and a subpar listenerexperience.

(05:28):
Obsessing over the perfect soundcan be a trap.
It leads to endless tinkeringand second guessing the result
recordings that never meet yourimpossibly high standards.
Perhaps most importantly, thisapproach fails to build a loyal
audience without consistentengaging content.
Listeners have no reason tostick around.

(05:49):
They might tune in for anepisode or two, but they won't
become the dedicated fans you'rehoping for.
So what should you do instead?
The key is to simplify thepodcasting process, strip it
down to its essentials.
Focus on what matters.
Create high quality, consistentcontent that resonates with your
audience.
Instead of getting lost intechnical minutia, develop a

(06:12):
clear, compelling voice for yourshow.
Plan your content in advance,creating a roadmap for future
episodes that aligns with youroverall goals.
Your listeners want yourinsights, personality, and
value.
They don't care about perfectaudio or fancy production
tricks.
It's vital to make your showsound professional, but don't

(06:32):
let tech issues overshadow yourpodcast's heart the content.
Finally, strategies for audiencegrowth should be implemented
from day one.
Don't obsess over downloadnumbers.
Focus on making a show thattruly serves your listeners.
Engage your audience.
Encourage feedback, refine yourapproach based on what resonates

(06:53):
with them.
Simplify your process.
Focus on content.
Keep your audience in mind.
Do this, and you'll build asuccessful podcast with a loyal,
engaged audience.
Your podcast playbook.
Seven steps to audio stardom.
Step one, choose your podcasthome base.
Choosing a podcast host is likeselecting a home base for your

(07:15):
audio content.
It's where your episodes willlive and be distributed
worldwide.
You want a host that's reliable,easy to use, and capable of
getting your show onto all themajor podcast platforms For
beginners, buzz Sprout standsout as a user friendly option.
It's like the Swiss Army knifeof podcast hosting, simple

(07:35):
enough for newbies, but packedwith features to grow with them.
With Buzz Buzzsprout, you canupload your audio files, fill
out your show details, and hitpublish all without breaking a
sweat.
Remember, your hosting platformis the foundation of your
podcast.
Choose wisely and you'll setyourself up for smooth sailing
as your show grows.
Step two, map out your contentjourney.

(07:58):
If you fail to plan, you plan tofail.
This old adage rings especiallytrue in podcasting.
As Joe Rogan, a top podcasterputs it.
The key is to prepare as much asyou can, but be willing to throw
it all away and go with theflow.
Start by nailing down your coretopic.
What unique perspective can youbring to the table?

(08:20):
Then decide on your episodeformat.
Will you do solo shows,interviews, or a mix of both?
Finally, create a contentcalendar.
Plan out your episodes inadvance, ensuring a steady
stream of engaging content.
Consistency and quality are thedynamic duo of podcast success.
By planning ahead, you'll ensureyou always have something

(08:42):
valuable to share with youraudience, keeping them coming
back for more.
Step three, bring your voice tolife.
On Christmas Eve 1906, ReginaldFessenden made history.
He conducted the first radiobroadcast reading Bible verses
and playing oh Holy Night on hisviolin, expecting the Morse
code.

(09:02):
Listeners on ships at sea wereastonished to hear a human voice
coming through their receivers.
Your first podcast episode maynot make history.
But the principle remains createclear, engaging audio content
that will captivate yourlisteners.
Invest in a decent microphoneand find a quiet space to
record, but don't get boggeddown in technical perfection.

(09:26):
Remember, content is king.
Your listeners are tuning in foryour ideas and personality, not
studio quality audio.
Step four, craft your show'sdigital storefront.
Think of your show notes andmetadata as your podcast digital
storefront.
They're what potential listenerssee when browsing podcast

(09:47):
directories.
A study from the University ofTexas found that podcasts with
good keyword rich show notes sawa 35% rise in new listeners.
This was compared to those withminimal descriptions.
Write compelling episode titlesand descriptions include
relevant keywords to boost yourSEO.

(10:09):
Add timestamps for keydiscussion points, making it
easy for listeners to navigateyour content.
Good show notes help newlisteners find you.
They also improve the experiencefor your current audience.
They add value and boostengagement.
Step five, make a grandentrance.
Launching a podcast is likeopening a new restaurant.

(10:31):
You wouldn't open your doorswith just one dish on the menu,
would you?
Similarly, don't launch yourpodcast with just a single
episode.
Aim to have three to fiveepisodes ready at launch.
This allows new listeners tobinge and get hooked on your
content.
It also raises your chances oflanding an Apple Podcast new and
noteworthy section that cangreatly boost your show's

(10:54):
visibility.
Remember first impressionscount.
Make sure your launch lineupshowcases the best of what your
podcast has to offer.
Step six.
Embrace the power of batching,never touch paper twice.
Popularized by productivityexpert David Allen.
This principle appliesbeautifully to podcasting.

(11:14):
Instead of scrambling to produceepisodes week by week, try batch
recording set aside one day amonth to record multiple
episodes.
This approach allows you to getinto a flow state resulting in
more consistent higher qualitycontent.
It also gives you a bufferreducing stress and ensuring you
always have content ready to go.

(11:36):
By batching your podcastproduction, you'll free up time
and mental energy to focus ongrowing your audience and
improving your craft.
Step seven, turn listeners intosubscribers.
Your podcast is more than just acontent platform.
It's a powerful tool for growingyour email list.
Take inspiration from John LeeDumas, host of Entrepreneurs on

(11:56):
Fire.
By promoting a lead magnet atthe start and end of each
episode, he grew his email listfrom zero to over 100,000
subscribers in two years, createa lead magnet that provides
additional value related to yourpodcast content.
It could be a checklist, anebook, or exclusive bonus
content.

(12:16):
Promote it consistently in yourepisodes, making it easy for
listeners to access.
Turning listeners into emailsubscribers creates a direct
link to your audience.
It helps you buildrelationships, promote content,
and grow your business.
Today's exercise, your podcastLaunch Blueprint, let's map out
the core elements of yourpodcast launch.

(12:38):
This exercise will help youclarify your concept, plan
content, and consider thepractical aspects of creating
your show.
Remember, the goal isn'tperfection.
It's to get you started andbuild momentum.
Step one podcast concept.
Begin by defining your podcastconcept.
Write down your podcast name andcraft a single sentence that

(12:59):
describes what your podcast isabout.
This will serve as your show'smission statement.
Next list three key topics youplan to cover in your episodes.
This will help you stay focusedand give potential listeners a
clear idea of what to expect.
Step two, your first threeepisodes.
Now let's plan your first threeepisodes.
Quickly outline each topic andjot down two or three key points

(13:22):
you want to cover.
This initial content plan willgive you a solid starting point
and help you avoid the blankpage syndrome.
When it's time to record.
Step three, your tech setup.
Consider your technical setup.
Choose a podcast hostingplatform that fits your needs
and budget.
Choose your recording equipment.
It could be as simple as yourcomputer's built in mic or as

(13:45):
advanced as a dedicated podcastmic.
Remember, you can always upgradeyour equipment as your podcast
grows.
Step four, your recordingschedule.
Establishing a recordingschedule is crucial for
consistency.
Pick a date to record your firstepisode and choose a regular
recording day and time forfuture episodes.

(14:06):
This routine will help you stayon track and give your listeners
a reliable schedule to lookforward to.
Step five, your podcast launchpromotion.
Finally, think about how you'llpromote your podcast launch List
three ways you'll spread theword.
This could include leveragingsocial media, your email list,
or your personal network.

(14:26):
Write a short engaging blurb oftwo to three sentences for your
launch.
Use it across platforms togenerate buzz.
Once you've completed thesesteps, review what you've
written.
You now have a basic blueprintfor your podcast launch.
You've taken concrete stepstowards turning your podcast
idea into reality.

(14:47):
Remember, you can continuallyrefine these ideas later.
The important thing is thatyou've begun the journey of
launching your podcast.
Key takeaways, simplify yourpodcasting process with
user-friendly tools andconsistent practices.
Launch strategically withmultiple episodes and optimize
for discoverability.

(15:07):
Use your podcast to grow youremail list by promoting your
lead magnet.
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