When you’re passionate about something, it becomes infectious. Just like sharing an exciting story with your friends, if you’re excited about your message, your audience will feel your enthusiasm. You’ll share a connection, almost as if you were sitting side by side.
1. Be authentic
Building a connection with an audience will require authenticity. People don’t like being sold or told what to do. Your voice should be genuine, as if you’re having a conversation with a friend. There should be an ease and warmth to your voice. Someone out there is ready and excited to hear what you have to say, so say it in a way that feels heart-centered rather than like you have an agenda. Some of my favorite podcasts to learn from are Yogaland, Highest Self, Wabi Sabi, Earn Your Happy, and Free Cookies. See also The Power of Self-Inquiry for Uncovering the Real You
2. Listen to your audience
Always invite your listeners to connect with you. Share your email address or your social handles so your audience can ask you questions and share their own stories and feedback. Podcasting is about building a relationship with your community, and it can’t be one-sided. You get to decide what to do (or not do) with feedback, but your audience will appreciate feeling acknowledged when they have strong opinions about certain topics or a particular type of guest. Engaged listeners are the people who will tell their friends how thoughtful you were in responding to their comments. Create an info@ email address solely for listener inquiries.
3. Keep titles truthful
Don’t create an episode called “How to Make Donuts” and then start talking about how to make soup. People don’t like to be baited. It might initially help you attract listeners, but it doesn’t set the foundation for a lasting relationship. You want your audience to know what they are getting so they begin to build a connection with you. You don’t need to get fancy with your titles, but definitely put some thought into them. See also Practice Embodying the Prana Vayus to Cultivate Greater Clarity & Authenticity
4. Ask the experts
Part of what really helped me build an audience was connecting with authors and leaders on topics I wanted to cover. At first, you must build your own credibility—even if you have expertise on your topic of choice—and consulting experts is a great way to do it. It drives me crazy when I listen to podcasts and the host constantly interrupts the guest. People will tune in to your podcast because they’re interested in learning, so take a journey with them and learn something new.