Settling on your ideal listener is a little different depending on where you’re at in your podcasting so far - have you already started or looking to launch? We’ve divided today’s episode into before and after you’ve gotten your podcast on a roll already.
Today's Hosts: Todd Cochrane and Mike Dell
Whether You’ve Launched Yet or Not (with Help from Blubrry)
✅ If You’ve Already Launched Your Podcast
These strategies help you understand who’s already listening—and how to better serve and grow that audience using Blubrry tools.
1. Review Your Podcast Analytics
Your stats reveal who your audience is and what content they respond to.

How to do it:

Look at top-performing episodes, listening platforms, locations, and device types.

Identify trends: Are shorter episodes performing better? Certain topics? Guest formats?

💡 Blubrry helps: With IAB-certified stats, you get accurate data on downloads, listener geography, and episode performance—all in one clean dashboard.
2. Survey Your Listeners
Even a few responses can give you major insight into your audience’s needs and habits.

How to do it:

Ask: Why do you listen? What do you want more of? How did you find the show?

Share the survey in your show notes, emails, or episode outro.

💡 Blubrry helps: Use your free podcast website or newsletter list (via integrations) to embed surveys and collect feedback easily.
3. Engage on Social Media
Your listeners are likely active in communities tied to your podcast topic—find and connect with them there.

How to do it:

Post polls, ask questions, share audiograms, and watch what content gets engagement.

Tag guests and listeners to spark interactions.

💡 Blubrry helps: Use custom episode URLs from your Blubrry dashboard to link directly to episodes in your posts, helping convert curious browsers into regular listeners.
4. Monitor Episode Trends
Your episode archive is a treasure trove of insights.

How to do it:

Revisit your stats to find your top 5 most listened-to episodes.

Compare content style, title format, and release timing.

💡 Blubrry helps: Your hosting dashboard displays quick-view metrics to help you spot patterns fast—and make smarter content decisions.
5. Use Listener Feedback in Real Time
Create opportunities for direct feedback and interaction.

How to do it:

Ask for DMs, emails, or comments in each episode.

Q&A features if available.

💡 Blubrry helps: Pair your podcast website and show notes with listener prompts and contact links to make feedback frictionless.
🚀 If You Haven’t Launched Your Podcast Yet
These strategies help you define your ideal listener before you even hit record—so you can launch with clarity and purpose.
1. Build a Listener Persona
Create a fictional representation of your dream listener.

How to do it:

Think about demographics, interests, challenges, and listening habits.

Give them a name and motivation—this helps shape your tone, topics, and format.

💡 Blubrry helps: Blubrry’s Getting Started resources and planning tools give you the structure to define your audience before you launch.
2. Research Similar Podcasts
Look at what’s working (or missing) in your niche.

How to do it:

Review reviews, listen to episodes, and observe what topics get traction.

Identify what gaps you can fill.

💡 Blubrry helps: When you’re ready to publish, Blubrry’s distribution tools get your show on all major directories, putting you in the same space as your peers—read...