Mastering the Art of Podcast Growth: Secrets to Extraordinary Success during Sabbaticals

A sabbatical - an extended break or hiatus - is a concept most of us are familiar with. In academia, it's a well-established practice. In the corporate world, it's gaining recognition. But have you ever thought about taking a sabbatical from your podcast?

In this podcast episode, I’m sharing my recent experience of taking a 5-week sabbatical from my podcast and business. I’ll be updating you on the unexpected journey, the lessons learned, and tips for other podcasters considering a break. I’ll also break down how I prepared for my time away, and how I took my knowledge in content strategy and listener behavior to craft a plan that worked for my podcast while I was gone.

Embarking on a Podcast Sabbatical

My sabbatical was an opportunity to reconnect with myself, friends and family, taking time from the week-to-week rut of publishing podcast content, but also to think bigger picture about what truly lights me up.

By scaling back on social media and emails, I’ve opted for a "post and ghost" strategy, expecting it to be a viable option to provide educational content to my audience while I was away. However, this tactic confirmed what I expected, causing a noticeable decrease in my social media reach, especially on Instagram. Engagement matters, and if you're planning a sabbatical, consider how you'll maintain audience interaction- in my case, Instagram will be off the books.

The Unexpected Surge in Podcast Popularity

While away, I’ve noticed something unusual. My podcast downloads surged by a staggering 1200% over the month, catapulting The Podcast Space into the top 15 Marketing charts in Portugal and Sweden. Initially, I’ve suspected bot activity but realized that this unexpected popularity had more to it - at least in the organic aspect of it. The engagement on Spotify and Apple Podcasts also grew, and I’ve received several positive messages from listeners, revealing that the content was being appreciated and consumed heavily even during my absence.

My sabbatical proved that taking a break doesn't necessarily mean losing your audience or your business momentum. Instead, it can result in unexpected benefits, like a surprising surge in podcast popularity or listener appreciation.

Planning for a Podcast Sabbatical

A sabbatical doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing proposition. There are three types of sabbaticals: one where you do absolutely nothing, one where you focus on learning something new, and a hybrid of both.

During my break, I chose the hybrid approach, taking the time to upskill by reading and learning new things, speaking a few different languages (I’m multilingual after all) while also disconnecting from work.

The Aftermath of a Podcast Sabbatical

In conclusion, a podcast sabbatical, when planned and executed correctly, can be a beneficial move. Not only can it provide the much-needed break for the host, but it can also lead to unexpected growth and engagement for the podcast.

If you're considering a sabbatical, this podcast episode is a must-listen, packed with practical insights, personal experiences, and invaluable tips to ensure your podcast doesn't just survive your break, but thrives.

Takeaways from this episode:

• Scaling back on social media activity and email during a sabbatical can impact the reach of your content.

• Planning for a sabbatical is essential to ensure the continued operation of your podcast and business.

• A sabbatical can provide an opportunity for personal and professional growth.

• An unexpected surge in downloads can be caused by many different reasons - including features on industry newsletters or podcast platforms.

• The concept of 'post and ghost' strategy, where you schedule content and don't engage with your community, can have a negative impact on your audience engagement.

  Resources mentioned in the episode:

Feeling stuck? Book a Podcast Power Hour: https://thepodcastspace.ck.page/products/pod-power-hour

Episode 12: Is video podcasting for you? 15 key considerations before you decide: https://www.thepodcastspace.com/podcast/12-is-video-podcasting-for-you-15-things-to-consider-before-you-decide

Episode 6: How to Sound like the ‘real’ you: https://www.thepodcastspace.com/podcast/6-how-to-sound-more-like-the-real-you-with-voice-coach-nic-redman

Episode 11: How to talk your way to a #1 Amazon best-seller book, with Nic Redman: https://www.thepodcastspace.com/podcast/11-how-a-podcast-can-birth-a-bestseller-book-with-nic-redman

Captivate’s affiliate link: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=thepodcastspace

Captivate’s article on how to ‘read’ your analytics like a pro: https://www.captivate.fm/podcast-expert-advice/guest-post/how-to-analyze-and-track-podcast-analytics

Apple Podcasts Connect, to access Apple specific analytics: https://podcastsconnect.apple.com/

Book recommendations:

The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/615570.The_Arti

st_s_Way?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=pNmWTbPXz2&rank=1

The Compound Effect, by Darren Hardy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9420697-the-compound-effect?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=vmFZVrEL2c&rank=1

On The Mic, by Nic Redman: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123199764-on-the-mic?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=X5eZGJycWo&rank=1

Learn more about our Maximize Your Podcast Content course: https://bit.ly/3TesQwc

Enroll in our Podcast Friends and Trends Membership: https://bit.ly/3Y9on0C

Subscribe to the Podcast on Audio Platforms: https://bit.ly/3Y4bF2c

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