What a Debut Novel Can Teach You About Growing a Podcast
A podcast isn’t just content. It can become:
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an audience builder
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proof of expertise
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credibility for publishers
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a marketing engine before something is launched, like a book.
This is what happened to Caro Claire Burke for her debut novel, Yesteryear.
In an earlier post, I shared what I learned from Burke’s literary agent.
The literary agent notes three reasons the book succeeded:
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strong hook
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existing audience
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charismatic speaker
That is almost identical to how successful podcasts grow.
The audience usually comes before the product succeeds, not after.
We go over a few of those points, but here, I want to go over their first point.
Hook them fast
Having a strong, clear hook applies to podcasting. It applies to several parts, like:
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episode titles
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show concepts
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guest pitches
If people don’t understand the hook in ten seconds, they move on.
Think Evergreen
While there was no way to know that social media influencers and tradwives would be of interest, the real theme was the idea of whether women have it all, or the troubles of being a woman, being a mother, being a wife. That is a common and timeless topic.
This is probably the biggest lesson for podcasters:
Don’t build a show around trends. Build around timeless questions.
The three ingredients behind many successful podcasts tend to be the same for authors:
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A compelling premise.
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An audience before launch.
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A host people enjoy listening to.
Those are often more predictive of success than expensive production or celebrity guests.
If you’re building a podcast around a bigger goal, don’t just ask: “What should we talk about?” Ask: “What will make people care?”
Your next episode, guest pitch, or show concept needs a clear hook—and that hook should connect to a question your audience will care about long after the trend disappears.
Want to find the hook your podcast can build an audience around? Book a Podcast Growth Strategy Intensive