Posting a link to your podcast on Twitter or Instagram has a terrible conversion rate. Why? Because you are asking the user to stop scrolling, leave their current app, open a totally different app, and commit to 45 minutes of audio. The friction is simply too high. If you want to acquire real podcast listeners, you need to market to people who are already listening to podcasts. In this episode, Mark breaks down the mechanics of Podcast Cross-Promotion. Learn the critical difference between a "Promo Swap," a "Guest Swap," and the holy grail of podcast growth: The "Feed Drop." We will cover exactly how to find shows of a similar size in your niche and how to pitch a mutually beneficial collaboration.

Show Notes

The Conversion Friction Problem:

Understanding why social media followers rarely translate to podcast subscribers.

The psychological barrier of switching apps (from visual scrolling to audio listening).

The "Target Audience" Revelation:

The easiest person to convert into a podcast listener is someone who is currently wearing headphones and listening to a podcast.

Why competing with other podcasters in your niche is a myth—audiences listen to multiple shows about their favorite topics.

Tier 1: The Guest Swap:

The easiest entry-level networking. You interview them, they interview you.

Why you must explicitly ask the host to link your show in their top show notes.

Tier 2: The Promo Swap (Trailer Swap):

Exchanging 60-second audio trailers to play during the mid-roll ad breaks of each other's shows.

Why host-read endorsements perform 10x better than playing a pre-recorded trailer.

Tier 3: The Feed Drop (The Holy Grail):

Publishing a full episode of their show on your RSS feed, and vice versa.

How to frame a Feed Drop as a "Bonus Episode" so your audience doesn't feel alienated.

Action Step: * Identify three podcasts in your exact niche that have a similar download number to yours, and send a collaboration pitch today.

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Also In Season 1