Build Audience Engagement(Part 1 of Growth Guide)

Was watching a new client’s video podcast the other day and they were craving ways to build audience engagement in their video podcast.

Solid content, great production, but they were missing the fundamental key to build audience engagement in your video podcast – authentic connection.

Here’s what hit me: Everyone’s focused on the tools, the tech, and the tactics of video podcasting. But they’re missing what actually makes a show work – the proven strategies to build audience engagement in your video podcast that turn listeners into advocates.

After helping over 1,100 businesses build their podcasts and reaching more than 5.1 million listeners across 133 countries, I’ve learned something crucial. The difference between a video podcast that fades and one that grows isn’t about having the perfect mic or the latest AI tools. It’s about knowing exactly how to build audience engagement in your video podcast that creates lasting impact.

This is part 1 of what I’ve learned works: 25 Proven Ways to Build Audience Engagement in Your Video Podcast. And yes, there’s more coming – we’ll dive into Content Strategy, Monetisation, and Distribution in the following guides. But let’s start with what matters most – the real, tested methods to build audience engagement in your video podcast that creates genuine connections.

1. Start by Actually Solving Problems You know what’s funny? Everyone’s so focused on download numbers that they forget why people listen in the first place. They want solutions. In one of my favourite episodes with Ed Dale, we broke down why this matters. When you consistently solve real problems, people don’t just listen – they become advocates. It’s not rocket science, but you’d be surprised how many miss this. (We Are Podcast: 129. Rebroadcast: How Do I Make Money from My Podcast with Ed Dale).
2. Quick Wins Are Your Secret Weapon This one changed everything for my clients. People don’t need another hour of theory – they need to get from A to B. When Ed Dale and I discussed this, it clicked: if your episode helps someone take even a small step forward, they’ll be back for more. That’s just human nature. (We Are Podcast: 129. Rebroadcast: How Do I Make Money from My Podcast with Ed Dale).
3. Build a Proper Tribe (Not Just Numbers) Spencer Lodge nailed this in his episode – it’s not about random content that might get views. It’s about strategically creating content that makes meaningful connections. Think about it: would you rather have 10,000 passive listeners or 1,000 engaged fans who actually implement what you share? (We Are Podcast: Converting Podcast Guests into Clients: Insights from Spencer Lodge)
4. Here’s the Part Most Miss About Engagement The magic doesn’t just happen during your episode. Jeff Mains shared this gem: respond to comments, emails, and messages. Even a simple reply makes listeners feel heard. I’ve seen podcasts grow purely through this kind of genuine interaction. (344. The power of niching down in entrepreneurship feat. Jeff Mains –).
5. Create an Actual Community Space One thing that’s worked brilliantly for us – we created a Facebook group where podcast business owners share tactics. Ken Okazaki and I discussed this approach. It’s not just another social media group – it’s a space where your audience can interact with you and each other. That’s when real engagement happens. (We Are Podcast: Mastering video and podcasting for top engagement feat. Ken Okazaki)
6. Questions Are Gold (When Used Right) Here’s something I learned that changed everything: your listeners’ questions are content goldmines. In one episode, I dedicated an entire segment to answering a listener’s question about Pinterest for podcasting. Why? Because when you feature real questions, two things happen: your show becomes interactive, and other listeners realise you actually care about solving their problems. (We Are Podcast: Grow your podcast audience using Pinterest)
7. Reviews Matter (But Not How You Think) Everyone asks for reviews, but here’s the real deal – with Ken Okazaki, we discovered it’s not just about getting the review. When you acknowledge reviewers in your next episode, something shifts. Others start engaging more because they see you’re actually listening. Simple, but it works. (We Are Podcast: Mastering video and podcasting for top engagement feat. Ken Okazaki)
8. Stop Obsessing Over Download Numbers Byron Dempsey taught me something that hit hard: meaningful feedback and life-changing stories from listeners matter way more than raw numbers. When someone writes to tell you how your episode changed their business – that’s real engagement. Focus there. (We Are Podcast: Rhythms of connection: Podcast strategies for deep engagement)
9. Do Your Research (But Make It Practical) Remember that Pinterest episode? We used platform search data to understand what our audience actually cared about. Don’t guess – look at what your audience is searching for, asking about, or struggling with. Then create content that directly addresses those needs. (297. Grow your podcast audience using Pinterest)
10. The “20-Minute Challenge” Approach Here’s something that works consistently: end episodes with a small, achievable challenge. For example, “Take 20 minutes this week to list out your audience’s top three pain points.” When listeners actually do something with your content, they’re more likely to come back. (300. Make your podcast audience love you)
11. Think “Jobs to Be Done” Ed Dale taught me this framework, and it’s brilliant in its simplicity. What job is your listener trying to get done? What pain are they trying to relieve? When you help them complete that job or relieve that pain, you’ve got them hooked. It’s not about being clever – it’s about being useful. (We Are Podcast: 129. Rebroadcast: How Do I Make Money from My Podcast with Ed Dale)
12. Make Success Stories Part of Your DNA Byron Dempsey showed me the power of this: when you highlight how other listeners implemented your advice and succeeded, two things happen. First, it validates your content. Second, it inspires others to take action. Plus, it makes everyone feel part of something bigger. (We Are Podcast: Rhythms of connection: Podcast strategies for deep engagement).
13. Here’s What Actually Works in Delivery Cat Matson showed me something crucial – speaking with authority doesn’t mean speaking like a robot. Your confidence in your voice (not arrogance) keeps people engaged. Think about it: would you rather listen to someone who sounds like they’re reading a script or someone who’s genuinely sharing their expertise? (341. Speaking with authority and authenticity feat. Cat Matson).
14. Don’t Be Afraid to Add Some Life Look, business podcasts don’t have to be dry. Dan Ilic proved this perfectly – you can tackle serious topics while keeping it engaging. Sometimes a relevant story or even a bit of humor helps complex ideas stick. It’s not about being a comedian – it’s about being human. (351. Fighting ignorance with humour feat. Dan Ilic).
15. The Feedback Loop That Actually Works Instead of generic “like and subscribe” calls, try this: Use Twitter polls or Instagram Q&As to ask specific questions about what your audience wants to learn next. When people feel like they’re helping shape your content, they stay invested. (Podcast Episodes – We Are Podcast).
16. The Interview Skills Nobody Talks About Here’s what I learned behind the mic: great conversations create great content. But it’s not just about asking questions – it’s about active listening and following interesting threads. Practice catching those moments when your guest says something unexpected, and dig deeper there. (We Are Podcast: Behind the mic: The art of podcast creation).
17. Make It Personal (But Not Too Personal) Try this: “One of our listeners, Jane, tried this approach and shared her results…” When Byron mentions specific feedback from his audience, it hits differently. People feel seen. Just make sure you have permission to share. (We Are Podcast: Rhythms of connection: Podcast strategies for deep engagement)
18. Create Direct Lines of Communication This works wonders: Give people an easy way to reach you – email, social handle, whatever works. In our podcast community, we’ve seen how direct communication builds stronger connections. You don’t need to respond to everything, but being accessible matters. (We Are Podcast: Converting Podcast Guests into Clients: Insights from Spencer Lodge)
19. The Power of Live Interaction Consider this: after a valuable episode, host a quick Instagram Live “after-show” where listeners can ask questions. Spencer Lodge showed us how this extended engagement encourages people to catch the full episode first. (We Are Podcast: Converting Podcast Guests into Clients: Insights from Spencer Lodge)
20. Celebrate Milestones Together Ken Okazaki taught me this: When you hit episode milestones, share that success with your listeners. Thank them specifically. Make them feel part of the journey. It builds goodwill and makes people proud to be part of your community. (We Are Podcast: Mastering video and podcasting for top engagement feat. Ken Okazaki).
21. The Empathy Factor This one’s crucial: Let your listeners know you understand their challenges. As Ed Dale says, truly get what keeps them up at night. Something as simple as “I know many of you, like me, struggle with this…” creates an instant connection. (We Are Podcast: 129. Rebroadcast: How Do I Make Money from My Podcast with Ed Dale)
22. The Format That Keeps Them Coming Back Joey Coleman had it right – people engage more when they know what to expect. Set clear boundaries for your show’s structure. When listeners know what’s coming, they’re more likely to make your podcast part of their routine. 323. What you don’t know about experiences feat. Joey Coleman)
23. The Time Factor Quick tip from Joey: If your target audience is busy CEOs, a 20-minute episode might engage them better than a one-hour deep dive. Know your audience’s schedule and respect it. (323. What you don’t know about experiences feat. Joey Coleman)
24. The Personal Touch That Scales Here’s what works: Address listeners directly (“you”), and mention community members by name when appropriate. Byron’s approach of personally acknowledging feedback makes people feel part of something bigger. (We Are Podcast: Rhythms of connection: Podcast strategies for deep engagement)
25. Building Trust Through Consistency Last but crucial: Regular cadence in your engagement matters more than perfect content. When listeners know they can count on you showing up, they’re more likely to show up too. (We Are Podcast: Mastering video and podcasting for top engagement feat. Ken Okazaki) Tease What’s Next. End episodes with a teaser or preview of the next episode. Ronsley often ends with “Stay tuned next week when we talk about X”

Here’s the thing – this is just the beginning. While these 25 engagement strategies will transform how you connect with your audience, they’re just one piece of the puzzle.

Coming up next:

→ Part 2: 25 Content Strategy Techniques That Actually Work (hint: it’s not what most “experts” tell you)

→ Part 3: 25 Ways to Monetize Your Podcast Without Losing Your Soul

→ Part 4: 25 Distribution Tactics That Get Real Results

But start here. Master these engagement strategies first. Because without engaged listeners, none of the other stuff matters.

This post is for me. To remember that in a world obsessed with metrics and algorithms, real engagement still wins.

And most importantly, to focus on building connections before chasing numbers.

See you at work.