Big Podcast Playbook - Grow Your Podcast. Build Your Audience.

Most podcast listeners are passive. That means two things:

1. They will never contact you or interact with the community you've built around your podcast.
2. They aren't taking action on what you talk about.

When it comes to #2, a big reason for this is listeners don't know how to take action. Most don't know what you want them to do and those who do know have no idea where to start – they're overwhelmed with options.

You can solve these issues by being clear with listeners about what you want them to do and how you want them to do it. And that's the subject of this episode of The 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge.

To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.

Looking for sponsors for your podcast? You better know how to tell a story and sell stuff if you want to keep them happy.

How do you do it? That's what I talk about here. You'll learn how to go beyond the generic talking points most advertisers give you and how to inject your personality into your ad reads so listeners buy and sponsors keep coming back.

To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.

One of the top qualities you can have as a podcast host is approachability. When listeners think you're relatable and they'd have an easy time saying hello if they ever see you out, you will be very attractive to them.

You can help your approachability by talking about topics and sharing stories that listeners can relate to. And one of the types of stories we can all relate to is that of a "missed opportunity."

You have a missed opportunity story – you're thinking about it now.

On this episode of the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge, I talk about my own missed opportunity related to radio and podcasting and give you a formula for sharing your own missed opportunity story that will instantly improve your connection with listeners.

To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.

Yesterday, we talked about how to use jargon in podcasting. Today's episode builds on that as far as clarifying things for listeners...

You can't assume listeners know what you do or what you want from them. Because of this, it's a good idea to embed certain things into the stories you tell on your podcast. When you do this, you'll not only educate listeners and get them more engaged with your podcast, you'll also attract more (and better) clients for yourself and the business behind your podcast.

That's what this episode of the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge is about.

To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.

Jargon is "special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand."

And it's a great opportunity to better connect with your podcast listeners, if you know how to use it...

To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.

You're officially 50% done with the 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge.

How does it feel? Tougher than you thought? Welcome to the club. Remember, I'm right here with you.

But keep going! This is how good podcasters become great and great podcasters become even better!

This episode talks about another opportunity for you to share something about yourself or about the people listening to you. "Surprise" stories can show your human side, but are also a great way to reinforce the benefits of listening to your podcast to listeners.

The story you share doesn't have to be big or flashy. I share a story that only podcasters will be able to fully appreciate.

To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.

Everybody has a "weird" story. You know, something that happened to you that was outside the mainstream, or a fluke, or maybe just funny.

Your listeners have these kinds of stories as well. Again, everybody has these stories.

If you've been podcasting for a while, you probably have one related to your podcast. In this episode, I share a podcasting-related story that will blow your mind. I also talk about a podcaster I know who shares "weird" stories on his podcast, which recently his 10,000,000 downloads.

There is money (and listeners) in weird stories.

To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.

Over the last couple of days, you've talked about some of the common misconceptions and hurdles that are holding your listeners back. Now it's time to talk about the results of what happens when your listeners don't take the action necessary to work through these misconceptions and hurdles.

You're not a nameless, faceless "host." If people wanted that, they can get it all day (and night) long on broadcast radio. So we're going to look at the issues your listeners are facing in a very real, human, and emotional way...

Mentioned:

• How Podcasting Is Helping Me Embrace My Stutter (James Hayden)
• My Stuttering Life (Pedro Pena)
• The Perfect Podcaster Isn't Perfect

To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.

Your podcast listeners, like all people, have a few misconceptions. And these misconceptions are getting in the way of them getting where they need to go.

But these misconceptions can be a great opportunity when it comes to listeners getting really connected with you as a podcast host...

To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.

If you want a BIG podcast, whether your format is solo, co-hosted, or interview, you need to know your listeners. I encourage all hosts do set up one-on-one meetings with listeners on a regular basis to keep in touch with where they are and what they're looking for.

When you do this, you'll start to notice patterns. One of those patterns is specific "hurdles" your listeners are dealing with that keep them where they are if not handled properly.

This episode is about those listener hurdles and how to go over them, under them, around them, and through them.

To make sure you don't miss any of these special 30-Day Solo Podcast Challenge episodes, go to bigpodcast.com/subscribe and subscribe now.