Elevate Your Podcast: Expert Strategies for Growth Beyond Launch
Launching a podcast is a significant achievement, but the real challenge begins when you attempt to scale and grow your audience. In a recent conversation on The Axel Axe Show, host Axel and podcasting master Olivia Atkin delved into the essential tactics that separate stagnant shows from high-performing, authoritative brands.
““You are not supposed to have thousands and thousands of subscribers because you’re not that good... as an athlete, you’re an expert there. Over here on the podcast world, you’re starting from zero. And it’s okay.””
Phase 1: The Foundations of Organic Growth
Many hosts are so eager to hit "publish" that they overlook the strategic pillars required for long-term discoverability.
Release Cadence and Consistency: Olivia emphasizes that you must set clear expectations for your audience. Whether you release weekly or bi-weekly, it must be the same day and same time to optimize search engine performance on platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.
The Power of Packaging: Your title is the tool that stops the scroll, while your description serves as the hook to bring listeners in. Olivia warns against writing "cliffnotes" versions of episodes; instead, keep descriptions broad enough to create a connection without giving everything away.
Video is Non-Negotiable: Because podcasting is about connection, recording video—even for virtual interviews—is essential. It allows you to repurpose "fire" moments into 10-minute YouTube features or viral social media reels.
““Would you rather have a thousand people subscribed but only three listen to your content... or would you rather have 20 people subscribed but you’re actually getting more than 20 views on each video?””
Phase 2: Moving Beyond Vanity Metrics
A common trap for new creators is obsessing over subscriber counts. However, both Axel and Olivia argue that engagement and authority are far more valuable than "fudged" numbers.
Subscribers vs. Retention: It is better to have 20 dedicated subscribers who watch your entire hour-long video than 1,000 subscribers who only watch for a few seconds.
The Danger of Bots: Purchasing "overnight magic" growth through bots destroys your algorithm. Platforms will begin pushing your content to other bots rather than your target demographic, hurting your brand long-term.
Global Ranking: Olivia prioritizes "Global Ranking," a third-party metric that accounts for average listen time, consistency, and reach across all continents. Being in the top 10% or 5% globally carries more weight in the "authority space" than a YouTube subscriber count.
Axel Arzola on the ring with Tony Mack after a podcast episode
Phase 3: The "Axe" Method for Episode Preparation
Effective preparation ensures a "flow state" during the interview, making the conversation more enjoyable for the listener.
The YouTube Prep Secret
Axel recommends a scientific approach to guest research:
Analyze Top Content: Identify the guest's top three to five performing videos on YouTube to see what themes already resonate with their fans.
Study Cadence: Listen to several of their previous interviews to understand their storytelling style.
Achieve Flow State: Aim for the 15-20 minute mark where "mind-melting chemistry" happens and the conversation becomes a natural "ping-pong game" of ideas.
The Audio Prep Strategy
Olivia utilizes a pre-recording interview:
Gauge Rapport: A 30-minute introductory call ensures the host and guest actually get along before the mics are live.
Uncover Hidden Angles: Guests often reveal deeper story elements during a casual call that weren't available in standard research.
Post-Recording Titles: Olivia waits until after the recording to finalize the title and description to ensure they accurately reflect the most unique keywords and topics actually discussed.
““I can take that episode and not only turn it into a 10-minute video on my YouTube channel, I can also do the reels and that a lot of the times like even in my show I have some clips like that that became more popular than the actual main episode..””
Final Tactics for Maximum Reach
To wrap up, Olivia shared the specific habits of her most successful clients:
In-Episode Challenges: Use a "call to action" at the end of the show to challenge listeners to engage with a specific topic offline.
Strategic Shorts: Leaps and bounds more views often come from shorts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube than the full episodes themselves. These build authenticity even if the viewer never clicks the full link.
Professional Patience: Understand that for the first 3-6 months, you are a "newbie". Even celebrities go through a learning curve as they get used to the podcasting environment.
Message Axel or Olivia on social media and let us know what resonated most with you from this conversation. If you found this helpful, send it to a fellow creator.
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