Initially known as audio blogs, podcasts were rolled out in the 1980s.
However, it wasn’t until late 2004 that they gained global popularity.
Now, there are over 383 million podcast listeners worldwide. Judging from the soaring popularity of podcasts, this figure is estimated to exceed 420 million by the end of the year.
So, if you plan to host podcasts or you’re already in the podcast industry, you’re in luck. There are millions of potential listeners waiting to hear from you.
But there’s a downside: to get through to these listeners, you need to get past your competitors first. This means you have to stand out from the competition. To do this, you need lots of reviews on your podcasts.
In this article, we’ll tell you how to get more podcast reviews. But first, let’s discuss the amazing benefits of having more reviews.
Why Do You Need More Podcast Reviews?
Whether you’re running a business online, or you’re a brand influencer, you need social proof. It is the best way to get people to trust your brand. Podcasts are no different. If you want to make your podcasts credible in the eyes of your audience, you need to accumulate plenty of reviews.
New listeners depend on reviews to decide whether or not your podcast is worth their time. So, if your podcast doesn’t have enough reviews to convince a potential new listener, they will easily scroll past your podcast. On the other hand, if you have a massive collection of reviews, everyone will be curious to know what the fuss is about.
And, with reviews, you don’t need to sing your own praises. The reviews on your podcast will do all the work for you.
How to Get More Podcast Reviews
Reviews are a safe and effective way to enhance your credibility and boost your social proof. Getting plenty of reviews might be tricky, but by following this guide, you will be able to increase the number of reviews on your podcast by using the best strategies.
1. Use the Right Platform
Some podcast hosting platforms do not allow listeners to leave a review. So, if you host a podcast on such platforms, it will be almost impossible to boost your credibility and build social proof.
Therefore, it is not recommended that you launch a podcast on such platforms. Just by hosting your podcast on a platform where reviews are allowed, you will be increasing your chances of getting more reviews.
2. Ask for Reviews
This might seem like an easy step, but most podcasters struggle with asking for reviews. However, this shouldn’t be the case. Studies have shown that asking for reviews is a surefire way to get more reviews.
You can request reviews when hosting a live episode. But if you don’t feel comfortable enough to do this, you can write your request in the description section of your podcast. And if you want to maximise your chances of getting more reviews, you can use both channels.
3. Reply to Each Review
When people see that you care about your listeners, they will be motivated to share their feedback and suggestions. One way you can do this is by responding to each review.
This portrays you as humble and approachable, both of which are relevant traits when building a social media presence. When you respond to each review, your viewers will feel valued and will be moved to leave a review on your future podcasts.
4. Promote Your Podcast on Social Media
If you want to get more podcast reviews, then you need to get more podcast views first. This doesn’t come easy, so you need to aggressively promote your podcast.
You can do this for free by posting your podcast link on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or even on YouTube. Be sure to use relevant hashtags, as this will maximise your chances of getting discovered by the right audience.
5. Reach Out to Influencers
This is one of the most effective ways to create awareness about your podcast. Influencers have thousands, or even millions, of loyal followers. So, getting an influencer to share your podcast link is a great way to gain tons of listeners, which ultimately translates to more reviews.
You can contact an influencer in your niche and kindly ask them to promote your podcast on their social media page. This usually involves money, as it’s rare to find an influencer who would want to promote your show for free.
6. Offer Rewards
People love rewards. You can rack up podcast reviews by offering a certain reward for each review. This will make your listeners feel loved and valued, giving them a strong reason to write a review.
The reward can be anything you want, but for this strategy to be effective, the reward must be valuable to your listeners. So, think of something your listeners cannot resist, and offer it to them in exchange for an honest review.
7. Create Quality Content
Quality can never be overestimated. If you want to compel your listeners to leave a review, then you need to wow them. When they are wowed, leaving a review comes naturally. Sometimes, you don’t even need to ask.
Find out what your customers like and build your podcast around these things. You should also ensure that the sound quality of your microphone is excellent. This will keep your customers hooked throughout the podcast.
8. Buy Podcast Reviews
This is the fastest and easiest way to get more reviews and get more followers. While there are many social media marketing platforms that offer this service, only a few of them are credible and authentic.
UseViral is the best on the internet. With us, you have the option to write custom reviews, making your podcast reviews as authentic as organic reviews.
However, whether you opt for random reviews or custom reviews, each review will be relevant to your podcast and indistinguishable from organic reviews.