Once you’ve started your podcast, you’ve conquered the first step in taking your business to the next level – and following that, many entrepreneurs’ next question is how to take their podcast to the next level.

I’ve compiled three key ways to take your podcast to the next level for you to use as a blueprint for taking your podcast from a passion project to a valuable promotional tool for your business!

1. Focus on the community.

Podcasts are such a wildly successful promotional tool because of the intimacy they offer between the podcaster and listener. However, a type of connection that often goes overlooked by the podcaster is the potential relationships between listeners themselves.

Fostering a vibrant community is a great way to uplevel your podcast, because by doing so, you’re providing your listeners with not only advice and entertainment, but a sense of belonging and friendship, as well. 

Not only does this distinguish your podcast and its community from others and encourage listeners to return, it also creates excitement among your listeners that will pay off tenfold when it comes to free advertising and promotion.

You can build community by offering discussion forums, a Facebook group, virtual live events where listeners can meet one another – plus so much more! Anything that allows listeners to interact with each other instead of just you will help you take your podcast to the next level.

2. Pod swap strategically.

Pod swapping is a win-win for podcast hosts. Partnering with someone who has a similar following and niche to guest feature on one another’s shows is a great way to gain exposure without paying for advertising. (Plus, you’re providing more value to your listeners by allowing them to hear the perspective of another expert in your industry!)

When you do this, it’s likely that both podcast hosts will end up gaining more listeners following the interviews, and it allows you to network with another podcast host in your industry at the same time!

The key here is ensuring that the podcaster you’re swapping with has an audience that would find your content helpful, and can provide useful, engaging content to your listeners. If your niches have no overlap, it might not convert as well for either of you.

3. Work with a network of other podcasters.

You aren’t alone in your podcasting journey! There are thousands of other podcasts out there, some of which are likely directly related to your niche. Don’t be afraid to reach out and form relationships with other podcasters in your niche to help you gain perspective, learn the ropes, and help one another out when it comes to recommendations. 

If you feel ready to really take your podcast to the next level, there are SO many more tips provided in my new course, The Pod Course. It’s designed to help you build a successful podcast from start to finish, covering everything from pitching your podcast to branding your show. Plus, it has a built-in network of other podcasters you can collaborate with, and we provide tools for you to monetize your show immediately! Sign up here if you’re ready to take your biz and podcast to the next level.