July 20, 2025

Downloads Jumped 1600%! Too Good to Be True? – Testing Paid Ads, Part 2

28 minutes

What can you expect from using paid ads to promote your podcast?

For Part 2 of our series on paid ads, the platforms I’m examining are Overcast, Podcast Addict, Castro, mowPod, and AudienceLift.

Strategic paid ads can unlock impressive podcast growth. I’ll tell you how we achieved a mind-blowing 1600% INCREASE in downloads and if those numbers remained stable.

We also explore the cost-effectiveness of various advertising platforms, with one emerging as a standout option. Finally, I’ll discuss the necessity of experimenting with different platforms to optimize subscriber acquisition costs and reach the ideal listener base.

Today’s episode includes:

How analyzing past performance data can refine your promotional strategies.

Why choosing unexpected categories for your ads can outperform traditional choices.

How subscriber acquisition costs vary across the platforms tested.

Which platform's self-serve model delivered an impressive spike in downloads and subscribers.

How experimenting with different platforms optimizes marketing approaches for ideal listener base.

Why focusing on long-term subscriber retention is more important than just download numbers.

Why paid podcast promotion may not be suitable for every podcaster.

Are you pouring your heart into your podcast but still not seeing the growth you deserve? Download our free guide to unlock your podcast’s full potential and expand your impact: https://eastcoaststudio.com/5mistakes

Listen to the previous episode about ads on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/we-tested-5-paid-podcast-ad-platforms-to-grow-our-show/id1721838514?i=1000692825464

Listen to the previous episode about ads on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6xxShVZfZKJYiUDaZbGN7u?si=6284dee62bdd4fe8

Our LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/eastcoaststudio/

Our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecpodcaststudio/

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By East Coast Studio