Why Your Podcast Isn’t Growing—and How to Fix It | Ep 80

Tired of seeing the same listener numbers in your host account? Wondering how to get NEW listeners to tune in?   Most podcast hosts think people discover shows through search, but only 19% do. The truth is, your titles and content need to tap straight into what your audience is worried about—not jargon or textbook answers, but real-life problems and curiosity, especially when it comes to financial content.   "Financial professionals can't rely on algorithmic discovery the way that entertainment podcasters do. Think about it. Most people are not typing in something like ‘Fiduciary Advisor near me’ or ‘how to optimize my tax strategy’ into Spotify. They're searching for what hurts." - Virginia Elder    Get Noticed & Attract New Clients Using Discovery Strategies That Work  Focus on catchy, emotional titles, use the language your listeners use, and share your message in short, attention-grabbing videos. And remember, visibility is about being found by the right people, not getting lost chasing vanity metrics. If you want to be discovered, it all starts with strategy.  After working with hundreds of finance professionals, I can tell you: if you’re counting on algorithms to do the heavy lifting, you’re missing out on your best prospects.    The Podcast SEO Blueprint Every Financial Advisor Needs  Speak How They Search (Not How You Think): People aren’t typing “Fiduciary Advisor Near Me” into Spotify—they’re searching for solutions to real, everyday problems, like “how to handle pop-up expenses” or “how to manage financial stress.” Make sure your episode titles and hooks mirror these pain points and everyday language. Get Specific, Get Noticed: Broad topics blend into the background. Instead, get hyper-relevant! Look at Joe Curry’s podcast: When he pivoted from general retirement topics to “Retirement for Canadians Only” and zeroed in on issues like brain health or prepaying for a funeral, his engagement skyrocketed. Master Emotionally-Compelling Titles: A great title works like a movie trailer. Try “How to retire without fear when your financial plan falls apart,” or “Why most families never reach financial freedom.” Give listeners the instant “that’s me!” moment. Optimize for Search—Podcast SEO Matters: Use phrases your listeners would type, not just industry jargon. Instead of “Understanding Indexed Universal Life Insurance,” consider “Is life insurance a smart investment or a trap?” This is the language people use in YouTube or Google—and your show will start popping up exactly where you want it. Don’t Sleep on Video: Text is out, video is in. Just a quick clip repurposed from your episode (no Hollywood production needed!) increases reach and authority more than ever.   Podcast Discovery for Financial Pros: How to Get Found When Algorithms Don’t Work  Rather than crossing your fingers for your content to be found – EVEN IF you and I know it’s great – and relying on hope, the algorithm, and asking folks to share it, it’s time to take matters into your own hands. By structuring your content based on thoughts (especially the fearful ones) your ideal client already has and titling your episodes using language THEY use, you’re teaching the algorithm to work for you.   Here’s 5 simple steps to execute this beautifully:  Start with your listener’s thought pattern, not your service offering.  Create emotionally compelling, curiosity-driven titles.  Use podcast SEO in your descriptions/show notes—write the way listeners speak.  Add video, even short-form, for expanded reach and connection.  Repeat consistently—it’s a long game, but it works.    Discovery is a long game, but it’s about being found by the right people—the ones already primed for your message and ready for your help.    Shows & Financial Professionals mentioned in this episode:   Your Retirement Planning Simplified by Joe Curry Social Impact Level Up by Wendie Veloz Loan with Jen by Jennifer Hernandez   Ready to attract more listeners?  Download my free Attraction Messaging Blueprint—it’ll help you nail intros, outros, and trailers so every episode speaks right to what your audience is searching for (and desperate to hear).    This podcast is edited and managed by the team at PodcastAbundance.com and we’d love to produce your podcast too! To discuss working together, book a Discovery call with me at www.talktoVirginia.com