“I get overwhelmed with what I should be focusing on to grow my podcast. What do you suggest?”

Totally fair. There are a lot of podcast growth strategies out there, and not all of them are right for where you are. Podcast growth isn’t a perfect science, but one thing to consider is this: the best strategy depends on your current stage. Here’s a simple way to think about it:

Stage 1: 0-100 Downloads

Focus: Build your foundation and activate your existing network

At this stage, growth comes from people who already know, like, and trust you.

• Repurposing system: create a sustainable system to share your podcast on social, email, and your website/blog.

• 1:1 outreach: Text, DM, or email people you know who would genuinely enjoy the episode.

• Network with your ideal listener: Join communities, attend events, and participate in conversations.

• Clear positioning: Make it obvious who your podcast is for and why it matters. If it’s unclear, growth will stall.

Stage 2: 100-1,000 Downloads

Focus: Get in front of new people

Now that you have something worth sharing, it's time to get in front of new people.

• Podcast guesting : Appear on shows your ideal audience already listens to.

• Speaking (virtual & in-person): Webinars, workshops, events where you can share ideas and point back to your podcast.

• Collaborations: Newsletter swaps, social media collabs, co-created content.

• Light SEO & discoverability: Titles, descriptions, and keywords start to matter more here.

• Refine your niche: The more specific your content, the easier it is to grow.

Stage 3: 1,000+ Downloads

Focus: Scale what’s working and amplify reach

Now it’s about leverage:

• High-impact guesting: Larger, more targeted podcasts with real audience overlap.

• Partnerships & integrations: Ongoing relationships with brands, communities, or creators who consistently share your content.

• Owned audience flywheel: Strong newsletter → drives podcast → drives deeper engagement → repeat.

• Paid ads: Experiment with paid promotion tools like podcast banner ads.

• Killer content: Signature series, repeatable formats, or themes people come back for.