This is Virtual Paul with something I’ve been thinking about lately — a simple but powerful shift that could change how your Podcast builds impact and audience: Stop trying to impress other podcasters. Start serving your audience.
In the world of podcasting, it’s easy to fall into the trap of performing for your peers. Chasing praise from other hosts, mimicking formats that win awards, or obsessing over clever audio effects that only audio geeks notice. I get it — we crave acknowledgement from people who ‘get’ what we’re building.
But here’s the thing: other podcasters aren’t your audience. Your audience is out there living their lives, looking for content that solves a problem, entertains them, or speaks directly to what they need right now.
Law #2: First Rule Of Podcasting — Serve Your Audience
Before you click record (let alone publish), you need to know how the episode is going to serve your audience. If you aren’t serving your audience, stop.
Instead of wondering what your fellow creators will say, start asking:
Podcast audiences care about connection and relevance. According to recent engagement trends, personalized interaction — like reading listener comments, responding on social, or building community spaces — offers far more impact than high-tech production tricks.
“Including your listeners is what turns them into fans.” — Podnews Community Insights
Remember: your Podcast hits when it speaks directly to your audience — often quite literally in their ears during a commute, walk, or workout. That’s powerful. That’s leverage.
If you’re designing your show to serve industry insiders, you’re likely missing the opportunity to connect where impact actually lives: inside your listener’s life and mind. And if your episode only sounds good to someone who already has a podcast, it might not reach someone who actually needs what you have to share.
Here’s a wild idea — buck the industry trends. Make a show that’s so focused on serving your target audience that it doesn’t need validation from the podcasting elite. It just needs one listener to say “this episode helped me.” Do that consistently, and you won’t just gain downloads — you’ll earn loyalty.
Because in podcasting, as in business, the best growth strategy is to put the listener first, and let the rest follow.
For more ideas on building a podcast that serves, not impresses, visit PodcastPartnership.com
What’s your take? Have you ever caught yourself creating for your peers instead of your audience?