The Secret to Podcast Growth? Setting the Right Goals
Is your podcast full of potential but not delivering the results you hoped for? When you set clear, actionable goals, every piece of content you create becomes a step toward meaningful impact. Whether you’re looking to grow your email list, increase engagement, or drive more clients to your services, this episode will help you craft a roadmap that works for you.
In this episode, I’m diving into the transformative power of goal setting and how it can align your podcast with your broader business vision. I’ll guide you through my heart and strategy framework to ensure your podcast not only resonates with your audience but also supports your business objectives.
Why Goal Setting Matters for Podcasters
Many podcasters start with passion, and that’s a beautiful thing. But passion without direction can lead to burnout or frustration when your efforts don’t translate into measurable results. That’s where goal setting comes in.
Goals give your podcast a purpose beyond just showing up. Whether you’re aiming to grow your audience, drive traffic to your website, or position yourself as an industry thought leader, setting clear goals ensures that your podcast becomes a strategic tool, not just a creative outlet.
Introducing the Heart and Strategy Framework
I like to think of goal setting as a blend of heart and strategy. Here’s what I mean:
Heart: This is your passion and purpose. It’s why you started your podcast in the first place. What message are you here to share? How do you want your audience to feel?
Strategy: This is the practical side—setting measurable outcomes that align with your business goals. What specific results do you want to achieve?
When you combine heart and strategy, you create a powerful framework that keeps your content aligned, impactful, and purpose-driven.
Examples of Aligned Podcast Goals
Not sure where to start with your podcast goals? Here are some examples to get you thinking:
Grow your email list: Create episodes that lead listeners to sign up for a valuable freebie.
Drive traffic to a product or service: Use your podcast as a platform to showcase your offerings, sharing real-life success stories from your clients.
Increase audience engagement: Encourage listeners to interact with you on social media, leave reviews, or join a community space.
Position yourself as a thought leader: Share insightful, high-value content that establishes your authority in your niche.
Each of these goals aligns with a bigger business objective, making your podcast an integral part of your growth strategy.
Planning with Purpose
Once you’ve set your goals, it’s time to plan your content with purpose. This is where the magic happens. When you know what you’re working toward, your content flows more naturally, and the stress of “what should I talk about next?” fades away.
Intentional planning saves time, reduces overwhelm, and maximizes your podcast’s impact. It helps you stay consistent while keeping your audience engaged and excited.
Join the Annual Podcast Planning Workshop
If you’re ready to take your podcast to the next level, I’d love to invite you to my Strategic Podcast Planning Workshop on December 11th. This workshop is designed to help you:
Set clear, actionable podcast goals that align with your business vision
Map out a content strategy for the upcoming year
Feel confident and excited about your podcast’s direction
Let’s take the guesswork out of podcasting and turn your passion into a strategic powerhouse.
Click here to learn more and reserve your spot! wildhomepodcasting.com/plan
Your podcast is more than just a collection of episodes—it’s a bridge that connects your audience to your mission. When you take the time to set clear goals and align your content with those goals, your podcast becomes a powerful tool for growth, impact, and connection.
Let’s make the upcoming year your most intentional and impactful yet. 🎙️✨
The Transcript for Share, Strategize, & Shine:
203: The Secret to Podcast Growth? Setting the Right Goals
[00:00:00] Have you ever felt like your podcast is full of potential, but just isn't delivering the results you hoped for. Today, we're going to talk about the magic of intention. When you set clear meaningful goals for your podcast, everything starts to fall into place. A lot of people don't believe me when I say this, but it is so powerful. By the end of this episode, you're going to know exactly how to set goals that align with your business. And feel deeply fulfilling and help you really clarify your messaging.
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[00:00:31] [00:01:00]
[00:01:10] Hi, everyone.
[00:01:11] Welcome back to share strategize and shine. It is Friday. I I'm looking at my calendar and I'm thinking, holy moly. It's almost Thanksgiving. How did that happen? And I actually have a little bit of time. So today I am going to batch record my podcast episodes, which I don't normally do. And the thing about batch recording. The reason why I don't love to do it is because I get tired.
[00:01:41] I'm an, IMFJ talking a lot. Makes me tired. Um, you know, it, I just don't function as well and create as well when I'm batching. However. I have actually sat and planned out all of November. All of December. And into some of January's podcast [00:02:00] episodes and I've scripted all of them. They are all in my amazing notion board. And they are ready to go. So the fact that I have a little bit of time right now makes it really wonderful that I can sit here and batch record a couple of episodes.
[00:02:14] And so that's what I'm going to do. So I can get ahead for the next couple of weeks leading into the holiday. I'm actually going to be going out of town for a week, but I wanted to have episodes keeping still coming out because. I am going to be running a pretty exciting black Friday deal. And so I wanted to make sure that I had content being pushed out. So the problem that I am solving today is having a flexible schedule while also creating the opportunity to batch record when possible.
[00:02:48] And for me, that happens by making sure I have a plan in place. Making sure that I'm scripting my episodes ahead of time. So when I sit down, it's all easy peasy and this really ties in today's [00:03:00] into today's episode, because we're going to talk about goals and planning. And I have my annual podcast planning workshop coming up, which is probably my most popular workshop that I do every year. , this is a two hour workshop where we actually plan out our podcast. And so I want to mention that be short too. Head to wild home podcasting.com. Dot com slash plan. So you can grab your spot. And that's a problem that I solve today.
[00:03:28] When I first started podcasting, I thought success was all about showing up consistently sharing great content, getting, you know, getting them downloads.
[00:03:40] But the truth is that podcasting is so much more powerful. When it is anchored in purpose. Without clear goals, it can really feel like you're spinning your wheels. With your podcasts, like putting in the effort, but not seeing the impact. [00:04:00] And that's why today. I wanted to talk about how to create a roadmap that not only drives results. But brings clarity and confidence to your podcasting, your messaging and everything that you're doing. Around this podcasting journey.
[00:04:16] So let's start with talking about why goal setting is so important and how it can be such a game changer for your podcast. Goal setting is really important because it helps you focus your energy and align your podcast. With, like your greater business vision. I want you to think of your podcasts as a bridge.
[00:04:38] It's this amazing piece of long form content that connects your audience to your deeper mission. And it's really difficult to do that unless you have a goal, like when we think about taking your audience over that bridge, the goal is what's on the other side of that bridge. And if you're not a hundred percent sure what's over there. Then it's going to make [00:05:00] it really difficult to.
[00:05:03] To escort them over that bridge, right.
[00:05:05] To take them over that bridge. And so it's really, really important. And that's why this is literally the first piece. Whenever I work with anybody. No matter what container you come into with me, we're going to talk about your goals for your podcast. Because it's going to determine every action that we take around it. So you may be sitting here and you're thinking, well, I do have a goal.
[00:05:28] Like I want to be more visible. I want to get a lot of downloads so I can sell more. But when I'm talking about. Goals. I want to get very, very specific. I want them to be aligned and impactful for not just your podcast, but your business as well. And we're going to start. By asking ourselves, like, what do I want my podcast to do for me and my audit audience? And again, I want you to get very, very specific. So if this is about like, I [00:06:00] want to help my audience do this. And I want to be able to lead them to this specific thing. This is what I want you to do.
[00:06:10] When you think about goal setting for your podcast. I feel like when we set a goal and we just say, I want a thousand downloads. That doesn't help our end game. Because the actions that we're going to take to get a thousand downloads are very, very different than the actions we're going to take. To book more one-on-one clients. Through my podcast episodes.
[00:06:34] Right. So we're going to use this two step approach that I like to call heart and strategy. So the first thing is the heart piece. Like what feels exciting and aligned with your purpose. And when I'm talking about your purpose, I really am talking about like your overarching. Business purpose. If you have not sat down and determine this, I cannot recommend it [00:07:00] enough.
[00:07:00] And this is something that has been such a huge game changer for me this year is really defining. That purpose and I'll, I'll share with you what my purpose is. So you can hear what it is. So maybe you can understand what I'm saying when I say purpose. So my purpose is to empower women, to unleash their voices and help them shine with confidence and influence through podcasting. Like that's my big overarching purpose.
[00:07:25] And my podcast helps me do that by sharing information related to podcasting, right. By helping you learn how to use your podcast in the best way possible for your business and for your goals. So that's really the heart. And that's like, what I get excited about talking about. And when I think about that, and I think about the kind of content I create, it makes it feel really doable, really aligned.
[00:07:50] Like I'm excited to sit down and do it right. But then we have to add in the strategy piece. So we have the heart piece, right. But what [00:08:00] measurable outcomes are going to actually support your business? By determining that, we want to think about, you know, what is your goal this year for your business? So through your purpose, how are you going to be serving your people? And then from there, how can we leave them to that?
[00:08:17] You know, maybe it's, I need to get more people on my email list. And so that's really a big goal for my podcast. Or maybe it's I have a membership and I really want more people. In my membership. And so. That's how we combine purpose, heart, and strategy. Right. So when you're thinking about your podcast goals, remember that heart and strategy approach. I want to give you just a few examples of what some goals for your podcast can be. Because I know this can sound very vague and like, feel very difficult.
[00:08:52] Like, I don't know exactly what I want my podcast to do for me. I just know I want it to work better for my business. So [00:09:00] here's just a couple of examples. So one of them is that you can grow your email list through lead magnets, tied to your episode. So, this is where that strategy piece comes in with a little bit of heart and you're creating content. That really is getting to the heart of your purpose. So. Really creating content that makes your audience feel seen and heard, and then making that lead magnet that often a very easy, yes.
[00:09:30] Next step for them. Okay, what do I need to do more of? Yes. That is the thing that I need to do more of that is so, so important. When we're connecting these goals to our content is making sure that the content leads into them. So growing your email list through lead magnets, tied to your episodes is a really great one. Bonus tip. One thing that has worked well for me over the years too, is if I'm doing an episode and as I'm working on it, I'm like, man, this would make a really [00:10:00] great lead magnet.
[00:10:00] I will literally create a quick PDF and have that tied to the episode. And that also helps to drive more people to your email list. I don't recommend doing that for every episode. It's a good every once in a while thing. , but it's definitely has helped me grow my list over the years. So another thing that could be a goal for you and your podcast is that you want to position yourself as a thought leader by securing guest spots on other podcasts.
[00:10:27] So let's say you have a podcast, you have an opt-in, you have a lead magnet and you're like, what is the next step for me? And maybe that is that you want to get in front of more audiences. Actually having a podcast can really help you with this. In fact, I applied for a speaking gig recently and I got it. And one of the things they asked, what on their application was where have you spoken before? And I was able to link to my own podcast and other podcasts I've been on.
[00:10:59] Now in [00:11:00] order to position yourself as a thought leader, one of the things you need to do is create content around those things that make you a thought leader in your industry. And so something that I have been working on is really thinking about, you know, what makes me unique? What is my unique proposition?
[00:11:16] What do I bring to the industry that is different? And how can I talk about that more? And what's really fantastic about this is if you can connect that to all of your other messaging across the board, it's going to become even more impactful.
[00:11:33] Another goal that you could have is that you want to create a deeper connection with your audience by increasing engagement. So let's say that you have a podcast, you feel like your downloads are doing really well, but you feel like you don't know your audience as well as you would like them to know, or you don't have the opportunities to interact with them. And so how do we open up those doors to engagement?
[00:11:58] You know, what are the actions we can [00:12:00] take to create more of that, to create a space for our audience to come feel like they're part of the conversation. And it's not just one sided, you know, that that can definitely be a goal. And then you can even get into goals. Like I want to get more people in my membership.
[00:12:17] This is probably one of the biggest things that I work with business owners on is taking their podcast episodes from episode two, product purchase or service purchase. And it's absolutely definitely possible. And it's a really great goal to have, but there are a few things that you have to do to make that happen.
[00:12:38] But knowing that that's your goal is going to make determining, okay, what do I ask them to opt into? What types of content do I share? You know, all of those questions become really, really important when we think about that. And I've had a lot of clients who have been able to convert more into their programs and services. Because they were putting more [00:13:00] intention into their podcast episodes. And everything that they were doing around their podcasts. So the reason why I talk about all of this is because we are getting towards the end of the year. We are about to start a new year.
[00:13:14] And that's usually the time that people like to sit down and make a plan. And the thing about planning is if you're planning without purpose, sometimes those plans are not going to do for you what you want them to do for you. And I think that that is a really important thing, especially considering the amount of time and energy that we put into podcasting.
[00:13:36] Right? I mean, like this isn't just, I sit down and record a podcast to get a million downloads. Like, I'm having to be intentional about my time. I'm having to find time in my schedule to record, to edit, to do all these things. So I want to make sure that it's working for me. And that is why. Whenever I talk about planning, I also talk about goals in this same context, because you really [00:14:00] cannot have one without the other. And one of my favorite things that I do every year is I do a, an annual podcasting goals and planning workshop.
[00:14:13] And I just want to share a little bit about that real quick before I say goodbye. Because it's ties in really well to what we're talking about. So my strategic podcast planning annual workshop is going to be on December 11th. So this is a live workshop that you can come to and actually get feedback.
[00:14:33] I ask a lot of questions. We go through a lot of exercises. But what this whole workshop is designed to do is to help you set clear, actionable goals for the year ahead, as well as planning content that feels aligned exciting. And something that you're, you know, you're ready to kick out of bed and do every day. And again, it's going to be on December 11th.
[00:14:58] And so I just want to mention [00:15:00] this, you know, if you're thinking about planning and setting goals, this is a really great way to start. We will actually set clear, actionable goals. During the workshop. We're going to align your podcast with your marketing schedule, and then we're going to create a plan for you that resonates. So it really is about putting the whole picture together. And if you're listening to this episode and you're thinking to yourself, you know, I am ready to be more intentional with my podcast. This is where I want you to start today.
[00:15:31] I want you to start. With the framework that I mentioned, the heart and strategy. Behind your podcast. Figure out what goal you want to set for your podcast? It can either be 40 year for the quarter for six months. Whatever makes the most sense for you. And then from there you will be able to make a plan.
[00:15:51] That's really going to have a lot of impact for your business. So again, if you're ready to bring more purpose and strategy to your [00:16:00] podcast, I invite you to join me for my strategic podcasts planning workshop on December 11th. It really like this is the time right now to set your podcasts up for success before the new year, and to create meaningful connections that are going to amplify your voice.
[00:16:18] So head to wild home podcasting.com/plan to learn more. I cannot wait to see you there and help you out. And I'll be back next week with a new episode.
