You can keep listeners engaged and coming back for more with a few simple tweaks...
Happy Saturday,
Yes, I'm a workaholic sending you an email at the weekend!
And I'm sending this to you because this one is pretty important and it was weighing on my mind that I hadn't shared it yet.
Keeping listeners engaged isn’t easy, especially when everyone’s attention span is shrinking by the second.
But here’s my secret for making sure both my client's listeners and my own, are sticking around as long as possible.
Switch Up the Pacing
Have you ever tuned out of a podcast because it felt like it was just… well, dragging?
Pacing can make all the difference.
If you start with a spicy story or a question that grabs attention, listeners are more likely to 'lean in' to listen.
But you can keep that momentum going by varying how you present each section.
Think of it like a playlist you've had designed to fit your mood!
Sometimes it’s upbeat, sometimes chill, but never boring.
And your podcast episode needs to do the same.
Jump between short, punchy tips and slightly longer insights to keep things fresh and engaging.
Pro tip: Try adding a teaser early on about something exciting coming up later in the episode. Something like, “In a bit, I’ll share this one change I made that totally transformed my workflow.” People might stick around just to hear it!
Smash down that fourth wall
One of the easiest ways to make listeners feel involved is to acknowledge them directly.
This could be a subtle tongue in cheek in joke that runs between you and your listeners (but don't overdo it or you'll risk alienating new ones), or it could be as simple as saying, “OMG yeah, you did just hear my dog fart.”
Little moments like this make listeners feel like you’re talking to them, not at them.
Also, don’t be afraid to ask them questions, even rhetorical ones.
Something like, “Has this ever happened to you? Tell me with your comments on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.”
It will instantly make listeners feel connected and like it's more of a two way conversation not a monologue. And it's these small touches that turn passive listeners into active fans.
Bring in LOTS of stories
Seriously, people just can't get enough of stories.
All the best podcasts know this, which is why they seem to be 'oversharing' all the time. They know listeners love other people's drama.
People don’t connect so easily with data or random facts. I'm not saying you shouldn't share that. By all means do. But mix it in with stories.
They connect with stories.
This could be a personal anecdote, a story from one of your listeners, or even an interesting example related to the topic. Stories make ideas 'sticky' and keep your audience engaged, no matter the topic.
Quick Example: If you’re talking about time management, tell a story about that one time you tried to overhaul your schedule and it totally blew up in your face. If it’s funny or embarrassing, it makes you relatable and keeps listeners interested.
Click to learn more about how you can reduce your editing time to a fraction of what you were spending before
Outside unbiased criticism
Sometimes you're just too damn close to what you're making.
And so you might well be failing at connecting with your audience because your content isn't aligned to them.
Or perhaps something's happening with your delivery, structure or even audio quality that is throwing them off base.
Thankfully, you've got access to one of the best analysts and coaches in the whole podcasting world right here.
This is one of the many things I do for my clients.
I check out what they're creating, and then I give them honest, real, useful and actionable feedback that they can apply and get almost instant results from.
Bargain-priced podcast support - for one month only!
If you're struggling to get audience for your podcast and you think you've tried everything (you haven't - trust me!) then stop stressing yourself out over it, and get the answers you need now. I'm offering pick-my-brain calls form just £15 as I want to do my bit to extend my support to the vast numbers of indie podcasters with more limited budgets.
Once you've paid, you'll be presented with a calendar to book your slot.
This will be a 15 minute call initially, but if yours is a more complex challenge that I can't help you solve without a little more in depth investigation, I'll arrange a follow up with you at no extra charge.
Need more in-depth help?
If you want me to help you establish exactly why you're not getting the results you want, then you can get my professional help via an audit for the reduced indie-friendly price of £250 (again just for the month of November) - usual price is £400.