#14 How do podcasters build community? | PodCentral Update
Strategies to build community for growth. Big details on PodCentral.
I believe the best strategy podcasters can use to grow their show is to build a community. Today, there is a different definition of community. We used to need the local or in-person aspect for a group of people to be considered a community. Now, it’s all about people connecting. That can be done virtually or in person!
So how do podcasters build community? I want to share some of the strategies I’ve been using that have worked very well for me.
A Place to Connect
One thing I learned is your people need a place to connect with each other and build their own relationships. Most communities start on Facebook. But you want to get off of there as soon as possible. Meta is just too distracting and limiting.
By the way, the free PodCentral community is already open! Join over 100 podcasters and podcast agency owners focused on growth and revenue. Get access here.
There are tons of options for creating your own community hub online. You have Mighty Networks, Circle and even most course platforms like Thinkific and Teachable have community tools available.
I suggest creating spaces for your members to display more about themselves. Think of these as different segments within your community. For example, PodCentral has spaces for podcast hosts and podcast agencies. That way different types of content, events, and even products are delivered based on the interests of members.
Lastly, you want a place to invite the people you connect with online and in person. When I run into people at the library or in the grocery store, I can invite them to my community hub. Create your own world and you can continuously bring in members that will eventually be huge supporters.
Purpose over Profit
Should you charge for access to your community? Well, it really depends. I suggest keeping the community free as long as you have products for sale on the backend. (This ties into your value ladder, products, and services. Let me know if you want to get into this!)
Communities can be a great way to get paid. A small fee of $10 per month can really add up. If you had 100 members and charged them $10 per month, you’d have $1,000 in recurring revenue. That’s not bad at all.
But I think we should focus on building products and services as the main priority. Personally, I’d rather have a large community and focus on converting those members to long-time customers. Some customers don’t buy soon. But if I keep them in my community, when they’re ready for the next step I’ll be there!
You can charge for your community if you want but I’ve decided to keep things free and focus on providing the solutions to my audience. Build trust over everything!
Handshakes and Hugs
In-person events and meetups are still valuable. We can easily build relationships when people are in our space and we greet them with handshakes and hugs. Before COVID took off in 2020, I was doing workshops locally in Seattle. It was great to connect with podcasters in my city. I’ve gone back to hosting these workshops because it works great to build relationships.
This process IS NOT complicated. Here’s how I hosted local events for free AND connected with a ton of my ideal podcast listeners.
Use the library. Most libraries have small event rooms that you can use. Connect with some of the employees and book the space. It’s usually free and they have whiteboards that you can use.
Meetup to attract visitors. Once you set up your Meetup account, create an event and you’ll be able to attract a ton of people in your area that you don’t even know!
Have a plan. Even if you’re show is about comedy or sports, have a topic that you want to cover. An agenda gives you a roadmap for the conversation and something that people can expect.
Local events will help you connect with at least 100 people in less than two months. Then, those people will promote your podcast for you!
Start working on your community-building aspect. Then you can build a real audience with ease and consistency.
PodCentral Update
We’re launching PodCentral beta on February 8th. Before then, we’re adding one more amazing feature, the PRM. The PRM is a podcast relationship manager. It’s a great way to keep track of your podcast biggest supporters and guests. These will be people who promote your show AND your brand.