Stop Announcing, Start Promoting Your Podcast

Episode Summary: In this episode of Beyond the Post, hosts Robb Dunwood and Bodie Grimm break down what podcast promotion actually looks like — and why most creators are getting it wrong. Drawing on nearly two decades of podcasting experience and listener research, they explain the critical difference between announcing an episode and promoting a show. The conversation centers around three practical, low-effort strategies that directly align with how real listeners discover podcasts today. From leveraging personal recommendations, to making your show searchable with keyword-rich titles, to using social media effectively instead of just dropping links, this episode delivers tactical guidance podcasters can apply immediately — without changing their format, gear, or publishing schedule. Key Takeaways: The #1 way people discover podcasts is direct personal recommendation — not ads or algorithms. Most podcasters don’t talk about their own show enough in everyday conversations. Clear, keyword-rich podcast titles dramatically improve discoverability in podcast apps. A 10–12 word descriptive subtitle can outperform clever or vague show names. Social media works best when it includes a hook, context, and a clear call to action — not just “new episode out.” Making it easy to listen (Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube links) removes friction and boosts conversions. Quote Pull-Outs “A lot of people think they’re doing podcast marketing — but they really aren’t.” “Don’t just announce. Promotion requires context and intent.” “It requires you to change nothing about your show — just tell people it exists.” “If someone can’t tell what your podcast is about from the title, they won’t search for it.” Gear / Tools Mentioned Podcast listening platforms: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Podcast hosting & workflow references: Auphonic Riverside (listener discovery survey referenced) Links & Resources Mentioned Beyond the Post — https://beyondthepost.fm Podcast app search & recommendation charts Listener discovery research referenced from Riverside Call to Action If you found this episode helpful, tell someone about it — that’s literally the point of this episode. Visit Beyond the Post: https://beyondthepost.fm Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/beyondthepost Your recommendation is the most powerful marketing tool this podcast has.