Relaunching your podcast can have so many benefits for your show. This week, I spoke with Monica Tanner, host of On The Brighter Side Of Marriage, about the super successful relaunch of her podcast.
Her relaunch was done in such a smart way and the strategy really paid off as she ended up ranking 4th in her category on Apple podcasts afterwards. Today I want to break down some of her tips so that you get the most out of your relaunch. Let’s dive in!
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How to take advantage of your podcast’s relaunch
Whether you took an unexpected break, a co-host left the show, or you are shifting your podcast to a new niche, relaunching your podcast is a great way to get a whole lot of new ears to your show. You can even relaunch your podcast when you have a new season (another reason why I love to work in seasons).
One of the benefits of a big launch is that you build up a lot of buzz and can get large download numbers right away. The same goes with relaunches. In addition to driving your audience to your new episodes, you should also ask them to leave a review. The ranking algorithm puts a lot of weight on reviews. The more positive reviews you have, especially in a short time frame, will boost your show in the rankings. This is particularly true with Apple.
Just like with a first-time launch, you should release several episodes on relaunch day. This gives your listeners the ability to binge several episodes and learn what’s to come in the season. It also means getting peak download numbers. Since Monica’s podcast was shifting in a new direction, she decided to release nine episodes on her relaunch day, which gave her huge download numbers and was a big part of the reason she ranked so high so quickly.
The other reason Monica ranked so high was because of the large number of reviews she got on the first day. When Monica relaunched, she reached out to her long-time supporters and asked them if they would be willing to leave a review. The high number of reviews and downloads gave her a significant boost in the rankings. As a side note, Apple Podcasts has about 70% of the market share so it’s worth the effort to take advantage of the ranking algorithm by asking for reviews.
Why you should have a relaunch partner
Another way to build the buzz around your relaunch is to have launch partners. There are a couple of ways you can do this. First, you can reach out to guest hosts and see if they’d be interested in doing an episode for your launch day and in turn, they would promote your podcast to their audience.
Another way is to “partner” with your fans by creating a Facebook group. Create some incentive by offering a giveaway or early access to your relaunch episodes. You could also involve them in the podcast process by asking them to vote on artwork or episode topics. Your group members are now even more invested in your podcast and it’s the perfect time to ask them to leave a review.
Just like the original launch, relaunches can be overwhelming if you’re doing them in a big way to drive a lot of traffic to your show. If you’re looking for some tips on how to navigate a relaunch, take a listen to Episode 16 of this season, How To Stay Sane During Your Podcast Launch.
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Are you thinking about relaunching your podcast? Would you like some help determining what is going to work best for you and your show? I’m offering FREE 15-minute strategy calls to help you with all your burning podcast questions. I open only a few spots every month, book your spot now. Can’t wait to chat!