How to Promote The Heck out of Your Podcast

Want to increase the numbers of people who subscribe to your podcast? Try these promotional tactics!

• Create a business card for your podcast. This is SO important. Business cards are inexpensive, and there are some really fun designs online. If you just can't wait, you can get a professional business card in minutes from Staples for about $40. Put the URL for your podcast on the card and take it with you everywhere.
• This one is so obvious I almost forgot it...Join DC Podcast Alliance!
• Design a t-shirt for your podcast and wear it. Or at least a button. You can make a t-shirt with transfers from a craft store, or create one on CafePress.com for about $20. People will ask you about your podcast, then whip out your card!
• Post the link to your podcast on your e-mail signature. And on your blog.
• Write an article for "E-zine" on a topic related to your podcast, and include a link to your podcast. I received quite a few subscribers that way.
• When replying to blogs, forum posts, or Yahoo Answers, include a link to your podcast if it is relevant to the subject.
• When you network at business functions and conferences, mention your podcast in conversation.
• Tell people you will buy them a drink if they listen to your podcast. Okay, I am just kidding about that one.
• Post keywords related to your topic in your podcast description and show notes, so that the search engines will pick it up. Don't forget to include the title of your podcast!
• Get an embeddable player (in HTML code) or badge for your podcast. Mine is on Podomatic. You can put that embeddable player on your blog, on MySpace, and on your website.
• Post an ad for your podcast on Craig's List. It's free and it gets me plenty of subscribers. You can also embed a player in your Craig's List ad, so people can just click and listen.
• Post the link for your podcast on all your profiles. If you don't have profiles on LinkedIn, Flickr, MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, Yahoo, etc. then what are you waiting for? It's free, and there's space to post links to your podcast.
• List your podcast in podcast directories. Mine is listed on about 45, maybe 50, directories.
• Share the love! Use your podcasting talents for the greater good. Help other people learn about podcasting, or volunteer to create a podcast for a nonprofit organization. Podcast about a worthy cause, or about something that makes life more beautiful. Think positive, and podcast that positive energy. Good stuff comes back. :)