Curious?

Let me tell you where most podcasters get it wrong right from the jump.

It’s that tired cliché “If you build it, they will come.”

This episode is my reality check for you, and if you're honest with yourself, it could save you more disappointment and wasted effort than you realise.

I walk through why just recording a bunch of episodes and putting them online is never going to magically build an audience, no matter how unique your idea feels.

What you’re going to hear is the real work that has to go into positioning, marketing, production, and – above all – earning the right for your audience to come back again and again.

It’s not glamorous, but it works, and I’m breaking down exactly why.

The episode gets into the numbers, the psychology, and the relentless myth that your social media follower count will somehow guarantee instant podcast listeners.

It doesn’t.

You’ll learn why podcasts and radio might share a delivery method (audio) but are incomparable when it comes to how people find and commit to content.

I’m calling out the ‘gurus’ peddling fairytales and laying out instead the importance of actionable strategy.

With thanks to Irina Tudorache - https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-tudorache/ and Michelle J Raymond for their valuable contributions towards this episode.

If you'd like to leave me a message, the voicemail is https://podmastery.co/voicemail

Mentioned in this episode:

A Podknows Production

Podknows helps brands and creators to build their podcasts into virtual sales and marketing teams which get them results even when they're sleeping. Find out more at https://podknows.co.uk/

Every new podcaster does it. You launch your show, then spend the whole week refreshing your hosting dashboard analytics like it’s going to magically change.

And when those first week podcast download numbers trickle in, they feel… embarrassingly small.

Here’s the truth: those numbers don’t matter. Like, at all.

In this episode, I’ll explain why your launch week stats are useless, the psychology behind why we obsess over them (hello, spotlight effect), and the success metrics that actually fuel real podcast growth.

From listener retention to 30-day rolling averages, I’ll show you what’s worth tracking — and what’s just noise.

If you’ve ever felt crushed by your first week’s downloads, this one’s going to reset how you think about podcast success.

Mentioned in this episode:

Free PLOT workbook

A Podknows Production

Podknows helps brands and creators to build their podcasts into virtual sales and marketing teams which get them results even when they're sleeping. Find out more at https://podknows.co.uk/

A painful truth for business podcasters who still think follower counts equal listeners...

Let’s get uncomfortable for a moment.

LinkedIn tells you that bigger is better. Hit that 10,000, 50,000, or even 100,000 follower milestone, and suddenly you’re tempted to believe you’re sitting on a goldmine of eager podcast listeners.

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

I’ve consulted with more than enough LinkedIn 'influencers' to know this: if you’re counting on that social proof to deliver actual podcast results, you’re going to be disappointed.

In fact, if you’re expecting more than a handful of listeners per episode simply because you have a five-figure following, you’re already losing the game.

Here’s the reality.

LinkedIn is a platform designed to serve its own interests, not yours. The algorithm is geared towards creating a false sense of reach and relevance. You post about your new episode, rack up a few dozen likes, maybe a polite comment from that one guy who always chimes in, and screenshot the analytics because they look impressive.

But when it comes to actual podcast listeners—real people pressing play, not bots or random scrollers—the numbers barely register.

And don’t just take my word for it.

I’ve literally done the math for clients.

The entire illusion falls apart once you work through the numbers on how posts convert followers into listeners. You’d be amazed (or horrified) at how small that number is.

Imagine this: 100,000 LinkedIn followers. That’s enough to fill a stadium, right?

So, if you’re chasing followers and bragging about your vanity metrics, you’re fooling yourself.

Want to break this cycle?

Listen to this episode to get the background on the problem.

Then, get the Swipe Files so you can fix it.

Ready to do the math? Get your free files at podmastery.co/math, or reach out for a straightforward audit of your podcast’s real growth potential.

Because your real audience deserves better than a vanity strategy.

00:00 "LinkedIn Followers Don't Equal Success"

03:57 Deceptive Podcast Popularity Tactics

08:59 Boost LinkedIn Engagement Tactics

10:46 "Podcast Growth and Mastery Tips"

Mentioned in this episode:

A Podknows Production

Podknows helps brands and creators to build their podcasts into virtual sales and marketing teams which get them results even when they're sleeping. Find out more at https://podknows.co.uk/

Every August, you'll hear the same noise about everyone disappearing.

Holidays, beaches, the world moving a little slower.

I used to kinda buy into this myth myself, until I watched a client hit pause, just to realise that their audience hadn't gone anywhere.

They'd simply found something else to jam into their earbuds. This latest episode of Podcasting Insights is all about flipping the so-called 'summer slump' on its head.

I’m walking you through three moves you can make right now, literally before the weekend’s over, to keep your download numbers in healthy shape and your listeners coming back for more.

No grand production, no drama, just practical steps you can act on right away.

Mentioned in this episode:

Book your Podmaster audit

Wanna get unstuck from the sub 100 downloads per month doldrums. Fancy getting closer to top 2% podcaster glory? Sounds like you need one of my Podmaster audits. Go to podmastery.co/lite and within 5 business days you’ll get a full video and written report on my findings. That's podmastery.co/lite

Podmaster audit

A Podknows Production

Podknows helps brands and creators to build their podcasts into virtual sales and marketing teams which get them results even when they're sleeping. Find out more at https://podknows.co.uk/

How long should your podcast episodes actually be?

Today, we’re tossing the rulebook out the window and figuring out episode length.

Forget those guru-mandated magic numbers; it’s all about what suits your story and your listeners' needs. Whether you’re aiming for a quick, snappy 15-minute burst or a deep-dive extravaganza of over an hour, we’ll guide you through the pros and cons of each format.

It’s a well-worn scene now, isn’t it: you spend your evenings slicing up episodes, creating what you’re told are “virality-ready” podcast clips, then blowing them out across Instagram and TikTok, all on the promise - usually delivered to you by a LinkedIn “guru” - that social video is the missing link between your pod and the big leagues.

You get a few views, maybe even a flattering comment from someone you’ll never meet.

But, let’s be honest. The podcast stats don’t move.

Maybe there’s the odd outlier, but mostly, you’re banging your head against the same wall every upload cycle. I see it every week with new clients, and it’s always the same confusion: “I’ve got the clips, Neal. I followed the formula. Why is my actual audience not growing?”

There’s a reason for it. And in this episode, I break open exactly why your current approach isn’t moving the needle and what you need to flip around to get real, sustainable listener growth.

Mentioned in this episode:

A Podknows Production

Podknows helps brands and creators to build their podcasts into virtual sales and marketing teams which get them results even when they're sleeping. Find out more at https://podknows.co.uk/

Book your Podmaster audit

Wanna get unstuck from the sub 100 downloads per month doldrums. Fancy getting closer to top 2% podcaster glory? Sounds like you need one of my Podmaster audits. Go to podmastery.co/lite and within 5 business days you’ll get a full video and written report on my findings. That's podmastery.co/lite

Podmaster audit

Welcome to Podcasting Insights with The Podmaster. I’m Neal Veglio, and I’m here to help independent podcasters and small business owners get real results from their shows.

In this episode, I’m sharing my top five strategies for being a better guest on other people’s podcasts.

If you’ve been invited onto shows and want to make a bigger impact, or you’re feeling nervous about coming across well as a guest, I’ve got you covered.

My goal is to help you not just appear as a guest, but become someone hosts want to invite back. If you’re ready to up your podcast guest game and create more opportunities for your brand, this episode is for you.

Mentioned in this episode:

A Podknows Production

Podknows helps brands and creators to build their podcasts into virtual sales and marketing teams which get them results even when they're sleeping. Find out more at https://podknows.co.uk/