Want to Increase Podcast Downloads? How Jeannie Grew Her Show Over 17K in Less Than 4 Months

Hey Friend!

Increasing your podcast downloads means increasing the number of superfans you have. And this really means increasing the number of people who are begging to work with you!  In this guest episode, I talk to Jeannie Baldomero, mom of three teenage daughters and host of the ‘Raising Her Confidently’ podcast. In her podcast, she helps moms learn to create open communication with their daughters.  Jeannie shares with us the exciting experience of seeing her podcast download and superfan numbers grow after she joined us in Podcast to Profit.

Life Before Increased Podcast Downloads and Audience Growth

Jeannie: Prior to joining Podcast to Profit, I had already started my business. I had a course, had my website, and was also a network marketing business owner.  All I knew was social media marketing and that’s what I had focused on for the past four years.  I knew something had to be different but I just didn’t know what.  I took a year off to spend time with God. And I remember looking in this journal from when He had first called me to start my business.  In the journal, it said ‘Start a podcast’ which is something that I had totally ignored.  And guess whose name was there?  Your name!  So I knew that it was time to start jumping into what you had to offer.

I started off getting clarity with Clarify Your Calling and then I went through Podcast Pro University.  I rushed Podcast Pro University because I knew I had to get into Podcast to Profit before it opened.

Stef: It is so cool that God prophetically gave that to you!  He is so good. He always gives us exactly what we need.  And then it’s up to us to take that big action in faith.    

Brand Clarity – The First Step to Increased Podcast Downloads 

Stef: So as you were going through the first two courses, was the brand already clear? Or did you go through a lot of clarity work to get there?

Jeannie: I knew who I wanted to serve and what I needed to say.  But I needed more clarity on how to organize it all. I needed to more specific on what my person needed.  And that was the whole goal of the podcast.  I wanted to speak to the person that was actually looking for what I had to say.  I was tired of trying to grab everyone that didn’t really need it.  It was nothing about me but about what I had to offer the person listening.

Stef: I think God had a specific mom-and-daughter combination in mind for you.  And it sounds like getting to the root of that person that you were serving made all the difference to your increased downloads and your growth!

The Investment in Her Podcast Drove Her to Succeed

Stef: As you have mentioned, joining Podcast to Profit was your end goal. You were in a rush to get there!  Did you have any feelings of fear or anxiety or worry about the investment that you needed to make?

Jeannie: Yes, yes, and yes! I knew that I needed to get into Podcast to Profit. But that didn’t dull any feelings of overwhelm or fear or wondering who I thought I was to be doing this. 

And then, of course, there was the investment.  But the investment is what actually pushed me to do it.  I knew that if I invested myself in this podcast, I was going to be willing to do the work and be open.  I think that when you’re moving forward in podcasting, it’s important to be open to something new and a new perspective as well as monetization.

Stef: Yes!  Podcasting is a big deal.  You’re putting yourself out there in this really vulnerable way.  There are going to be thoughts about whether you are enough or if anybody is going to listen.  And that is exactly why you have to push through.  It’s the people who push through all those fears who are the survivors.  They are the ones with the success stories! 

It’s uncomfortable to do something new.  It’s the ultimate act of faith to say yes.  And you did that!

Community, Coaching, and Connection in Podcast to Profit

Stef: Once you had jumped into Podcast to Profit, what was the program like?  Walk us through some of the experiences of the course for people who are curious.

Jeannie: Coming in, it was actually really exciting.  I love community and we had this great community in our cohort-specific Facebook group.  I feel like we can’t do things alone and it can be lonely behind the mic.  Being with like-minded women who have a mission, and who believe in podcasting as a way of reaching people was incredible. We were all in a space where we wanted to learn and be open to making the changes that would allow us to grow.

In the spotlight coaching, I was generally a fly on the wall, often wondering what question I could ask.  But then somebody would ask a question that also applied to me.  This coaching added a lot of value as you offered insight into someone else’s business that I could use in mine. 

The office hours with Lydia were also great. They gave us a second connection point with your team within Podcast to Profit.  It was helpful to be able to ask questions about smaller issues we were struggling with. 

It was also really helpful to get the numbers.  I am not usually a numbers person, more of a feeling person. But it was great to get the tangible numbers. I could then see that my feelings match my actual, concrete numbers and that it’s actually grown!

Stef: Yes, you have to have each piece of the puzzle come together for it to be successful, even the parts you don’t necessarily like! We’re not going to let you get away with slacking off or not showing up. 

When it gets hard, the beauty of Podcast to Profit is that your team and your sisters rally you.  They pull you back out of the trenches and they keep you marching forward.  It is a sprint but it has every component of a sprint that you can actually win.  You can cross the finish line!

Ongoing Encouragement to Finish the Race and See the Results

Stef: Out of all the pieces that we have mentioned, what do you think was your favorite part?

Jeannie: I really enjoyed the spotlight coaching.  It was nice to be able to one, see faces and two, have questions answered that can help you and your business.  You feel less alone and you know that others have the same thoughts and the same mind blocks.  When you are in the middle of it, you have people coaching you through when you feel like stopping.  You have people who don’t allow you to stop but encourage you to keep on going.

Stef: Yes, I think it’s a must, in order to be successful, to be in a room. There’s always a room that God is teasing you with, seeing if you are going to take that big act of faith and give Him that yes.  And when you get around like-minded people who are going where you are going, you can get there a lot faster!

The Results: Increased Podcast Downloads, Subscriptions, and Engagement

Stef: Tell us about your wins coming out of this program, Jeannie. What results did you get after taking part in Podcast to Profit?

Jeannie: For a long time one of my primary goals for even having a podcast and doing the course was to capture an audience.  I wanted to talk to people who were looking for what I was specifically talking about.  Social media feels uncontrollable. It felt uncomfortable sharing things on social media that didn’t apply to the people reading them, including my friends. Something needed to change. I needed to build a specific audience who was looking for what I had to offer.

I started my podcast a few days before I started Podcast to Profit. And at the end of April, I had 16,700 downloads.

Stef: That is really, really good, Jeannie.  Some people honestly take years to pass the 10,000 download mark.

Jeannie:  I had my ‘Mom’ Facebook group for years once I started my original course.  This group was dormant and I was really close to closing it down.  The group has grown to 138 active members where it was literally zero!  And then my email subscriber list has grown to 215 with an average open rate of 53%.

Stef: Wow!  That open rate is industry best!

Jeannie: As far as social media, I don’t really count it anymore. I just use it to announce my episodes.  This is a big relief for me. 

Stef: Such a relief! I know that one of the biggest components of joining for you was ‘How do I get off social media?’

What these numbers tell me is that your person, your avatar, is here and she is avidly listening to your podcast.  She is coming to places where you nurture her – your Facebook group and your email list.  That ultimately leads to her working with you.

Next Step – Increased Sales!

Jeannie: I learned from the course how disconnected I am from the ‘mom’. So I have really been reconnecting with my avatar.  I have had a few people show interest in buying my offer but I am currently revamping my course. I also do have a light offering of one-on-one coaching.  Although it’s not converting yet, I know the potential of it converting. What I like and enjoy seeing is the growth of listeners and superfans that is happening month on month.  I know conversion comes in time. 

Stef: What I love about your perception is that it is not all about making money. Your focus is on the right thing: Am I growing my audience and am I helping her? The money always follows that because she can’t wait to work with you. 

Your current fan base is at 759. This means that when it comes time to convert, you are looking at roughly seven to 10 sales a month.  I know you are going through Podcast to Profit with us again which is so exciting.  We’ve got so much in there around selling.  We’ve got all this cool sales psychology. It’s going to help you close out on all those people who are waiting to buy from you.  As soon as your course is optimized, you can start to lean into your sales!

Jump in to See What’s on the Other Side of Fear

Stef: What do you have to say to anybody who is wondering if they should do Podcast to Profit but may be wondering if it’s worth it or if they are the right person for this?

Jeannie: I have to say that I was in that place.  I waited for four years to act on what God has called me to.  If you are reading this and you feel convicted by the Holy Spirit, maybe He is calling you forward to jump in.  It is scary.  It is an investment.  But if you know, you know.  And if you hesitate on your calling, you don’t know how many people you could be helping but aren’t.

I say jump over that fear. Fear will always be there until you act and go past it to see what is on the other side.  Trust that God is calling you here at this moment for a specific reason. 

Stef: Jeannie, thanks for blessing us today. Where can everybody come and listen to your podcast if they’ve got teenagers or they know of someone who has a teenage daughter? Where can they find you?

Jeannie: Of course, I’d love for you to come and listen. My website is jeanniebaldomero.com. You’ll find the podcast menu and the latest episode of the podcast.

Inspired By Jeannie’s Story?

If Jeannie’s story inspires you, whether you already have a podcast or are thinking of starting one, I would love to help you see the results that she has seen as she has got clarity on her audience and has started serving them. You can go to www.stefaniegass.com/school and see the various courses that Jeannie took with me, including Clarify Your Calling, Podcast Pro University, and Podcast to Profit.

If you are not yet sure if podcasting is for you, visit www.stefaniegass.com/resources for access to a number of free resources that might help get you going!

I pray this blesses you!

Xo,

Stef

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