How do I grow my podcast and get more listeners?

Most podcasts grow through great episodes and word of mouth, but there's a lot you can do to help. Here are the tips we recommend most.

Quality content: great episodes that people want to hear, and tell their friends about, are the biggest driver of growth. Invite guests whose audience you'd like to reach, and cover topics people are looking for.
Consistency: a regular publishing schedule helps listeners build a habit. Keep a few episodes in reserve so you can stick to your schedule, even over the holidays.
Packaging: make episode artwork that shows your guests' faces, and write episode titles that include your guests' names and your topic. Titles make a big difference in search.
Check your title: search for your podcast's name. Are you at the top of the results, or overshadowed by bigger shows with similar names? You want a name you can own. For more on titles, show notes and other ways to be found in search, see How do I help people find my podcast?

Smart sharing: most listeners find a podcast through a link someone shares, not by searching. Share links that work for everyone, like your podcast website or an episode's sharing page, rather than a link to one app. See How do I share a podcast episode?
The ask: at the end of each episode, ask listeners to share and follow your show. Tell friends and family you're growing your show, and give a shout-out to listeners who recommend it.
Repurposing: share clips of your episodes, and invite your audience to make and share their own, tagging you. Thank them in your next episode.
Distribute wider: make sure your podcast is in as many podcast apps as possible, including large platforms like YouTube. See How do I submit my podcast to Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other directories?

Feature your guests: add your guests to the episode with the People feature, so their names are in your RSS feed and on your website. See How do I add hosts and guests to my podcast? Give them graphics and links that make it easy to share the episode with their own audience.
Be a guest: appear on other podcasts with audiences like yours, or swap shout-outs with them.
Recommend other podcasts: add shows you like to your podroll, and ask them to recommend yours.

Know your audience: your analytics show where your listeners are and which apps and devices they use, which can help you decide where and when to promote your show. We recommend publishing early in the morning, so new episodes reach every podcast app before your audience starts their day.
Time your promotion: the Episode Comparison chart shows how each episode performs over its first 30 days. If downloads drop off after a week or so, that's a good time to share the episode again.

Want personal recommendations for your podcast? Get in touch with our support team on Live Chat.

If you have additional questions please reach out to us:

Updated on: 02/11/2026

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