What’s the Real Advantage of a Small Podcast Audience? | 020

Hey, amplifiers, welcome back to the podcast

playbook. I hope that you've all been enjoying our episodes on

the best practices of podcasting, and they really do

appreciate those of you that keep coming back week after week

to learn more on how to amp up your podcasting journey. There

may not be a lot of you, but it's with heartfelt appreciation

that I see you keep coming back, which really brings me to my

topic today. Whether you're just starting out your podcasting

journey or you've been doing it for many years, we all start to

look at the big shows, you know, the ones hitting the crazy

download numbers, the Joe rogans, the Seth, godins and all

those other giants that we look up to, they are the ones that

are posting about milestones and getting press that we want, and

suddenly we're wondering, is this enough? Are we doing

enough? Is this worth it? But here's the truth, smaller

doesn't mean weaker. If you've got a fewer than 1000 downloads

per episode, you're not falling behind. You've actually got a

huge advantage. So the reason you can't compare yourself to

those giant shows is because they're not playing the same

game as you. These guys are built on big budgets, big teams

with big reach, and with that size comes distance. They can't

talk to every listener, they can't answer every email. They

can't make every episode feel personal, but you can. That's

the beauty of being small. You're speaking directly to the

people who care about what you're saying, and that's what

makes your show powerful. Those big numbers, they don't always

equal real success. Sure, we all want that number download to say

that we're hitting reaching so many people, but does reaching

so many people it really matter if they're not truly paying

attention, if we're influencing the journeys of a few, then

we're making the impact that is far more meaningful than chasing

numbers, because those Few aren't just listeners. Those are

the people whose lives, businesses or decisions are

being shaped by what you share, and that kind of impact is

lasting. A small audience gives you room to do things that big

shows simply can't you can build real trust because people feel

like you're talking straight to them. You can focus your content

so solve specific problems instead of watering it down for

a larger group, and you create real loyalty when listeners feel

connected, not just entertained, of course, they want both, but

connections more important. Think about it, even if a few

100 people are consistently listening and applying what you

share, that's huge. Those are the people who recommend you,

who will become clients, who bring others along. That's the

long term impact of this. And here's where it gets even more

interesting, if your audience is small and specific, so you've

got your niche, say, midlife entrepreneurs, first time real

estate investors, or wellness coaches, you can really lean

into that. They're not looking for the broad, generic advice.

They want content that speaks directly to their challenges.

That's where you can shine. By narrowing your focus, you're

making your podcast feel like it was made just for them, and when

people feel understood, they stick around. So how do we serve

these micro audiences? Well? Well, first off, ask for

feedback, use polls or emails and shape episodes around what

they want. Second, acknowledge your listeners. Mention them by

name. Thank them for the reviews. Highlight their wins

that they've shared with you. Third, create small extras. A

one page checklist tied to an episode can feel like a big

value add. So if you're giving specific information, give them

something downloadable, so that they don't need to come back in

and, you know, re listen to the podcast over and over to catch

everything you're saying. Give them a checklist. Build a

community, even a small Facebook group or a circle space keeps

that conversation going after the episode is over. Do live

sessions, 10 people on a zoom call can create stronger bonds

than 1000s of downloads ever could share the listener

stories. Make your show collaborative instead of a one

way, celebrate milestones together. Essentially your wins

are also their wins be trans. Parent share behind the scene

moments, the ups and the downs. People connect with the real,

not that polished look. Help them connect with each other.

Give them reasons to bond beyond just listening to you, and this

is where it all pays off. Loyal listeners. Don't just consume

your content. They act on it. They hire you, they recommend

you. They become the foundation for growth you can actually

sustain. That's the true fans idea in action. You don't need

millions of downloads. You need the right group of committed

people who believe in your message. So if you've been

looking at your stats and feeling discouraged, stop

comparing yourself to the Giants. That's not the path

you're on. Your job is to take care of the people who are

already showing up for you, because when you focus on

connection and loyalty, your podcast becomes more than just

another show, it becomes a trusted voice in someone's life,

and that's what really matters. So until next time, happy

podcasting.