The Hardest Part About Getting Your Podcast Noticed: Overcoming the Biggest Promotion Challenges

What is the hardest part about getting your podcast noticed? If you're struggling with this, you're not alone. I’ve been there myself, and I’ve talked to countless podcasters who feel the same way. In a recent survey I conducted on my YouTube channel, 50% of respondents said their biggest challenge was promoting their podcast on social media.

I get it—creating a podcast is already a demanding process. You have to plan, record, edit, and publish your content. Adding the pressure of marketing on top of that can feel overwhelming. But I’ve learned that neglecting promotion means your podcast never reaches the audience it deserves. And I don’t want that for you.

My Personal Challenges with Podcast Promotion

When I first started podcasting, I struggled with many of the same things you might be experiencing now. Here are a few of the biggest challenges I faced:

1. Content Overload: I wasn’t sure where to start or which platforms to focus on. I felt like I needed to be everywhere at once—YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, Instagram. It was exhausting.

2. Platform Prioritization: I didn’t know which platform would give me the best results, and I wasted time trying to figure it out instead of taking action.

3. Imbalance Between Production and Promotion: I spent way too much time editing my podcast and not enough time actually telling people about it.

4. Lack of Confidence in Marketing: I didn’t know how to effectively market my podcast. I had a radio background, but digital marketing felt like a different world.

5. Unrealistic Growth Expectations: I expected my podcast to take off quickly, and when it didn’t, I felt discouraged and questioned whether I should keep going.

If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news: there are practical solutions that I’ve learned and implemented that can help you, too.

Two Critical Questions to Consider

Here are two questions that helped me shift my perspective and improve my promotion strategy:

1. What is your current social media strategy, and how well is it working to achieve your podcast goals?

2. How much time do you spend on production versus promotion, and is that balance helping or hurting your podcast growth?

When I took the time to answer these honestly, I realized I needed to make some changes. And once I did, I saw real progress.

The Root Cause of Promotion Challenges

Let me share a quick personal story to illustrate an important point. A few years ago, I developed a habit of eating popcorn before bed. Eventually, I started experiencing throat pain and discomfort. After seeing a doctor, I was diagnosed with GERD. The cause? Eating right before lying down. I had to change my habit to fix the problem.

The lesson? Addressing the root cause of an issue—whether it's health-related or podcast-related—leads to real improvements. If you’re struggling with podcast promotion, the key is to identify what’s truly holding you back and fix that first.

Six Actionable Steps to Improve Podcast Promotion (Based on What Worked for Me)

1. Simplify Your Focus

You don’t have to be on every platform. When I tried that, I burned out fast. Instead, I focused on just a couple of platforms where my audience was most active. For me, that was YouTube and Instagram. Find what works for you and double down on it.

2. Repurpose Content Instead of Starting from Scratch

Early on, I wasted hours creating brand-new content for every social post. Now, I take key quotes and moments from my podcast and turn them into graphics or short clips. Tools like Canva and Adobe Express make this easy.

3. Streamline Editing to Free Up Time

I used to obsess over editing out every little “um” and pause. But I realized that people prefer authenticity over perfection. I started using tools like Descript to speed up the process, and suddenly, I had way more time to focus on promotion.

4. Plan for Promotion While Recording

Now, when I record a podcast episode, I intentionally create sound bites and key moments I know I’ll want to use for social media. This has made promotion much easier because I don’t have to go back and search for content later.

5. Engage Authentically, Not Just for the Algorithm

For a while, I was too focused on SEO, keywords, and algorithms. But I’ve learned that real audience growth comes from genuine engagement. Respond to comments, join niche groups, and ask your listeners questions. Real connections matter more than gaming the algorithm.

6. Utilize Tools for Efficient Promotion

I now automate as much as possible. Scheduling tools like Hootsuite and Agorapulse help me plan content in advance, and tools like TurboScribe and ChatGPT help me create transcripts and blog posts quickly. Find tools that fit your workflow and use them to save time.

Key Questions for Evaluating Your Strategy

1. What is one platform or strategy you could simplify or stop using today?

2. How can you incorporate promotion into your podcast production workflow to save time?

3. What tasks could you delegate or automate?

4. How does your content directly address your audience’s biggest pain points?

5. What one change can you make right now to feel more confident and consistent with social media promotion?

Final Thoughts

Podcast growth doesn’t happen overnight—I’ve learned that the hard way. But if you focus on consistent, strategic promotion instead of trying to do everything at once, you’ll see progress over time.

So, what’s one change you can implement today?