TikTok for Podcasting: How to Grow Podcast with TikTok
Ultimate tips on how you can use TikTok for a podcast, as well as the overview of a new podcast-specific feature introduced in 2023.
It has recently been announced on X (formerly Twitter) that TikTok now allows creators to link their posts to an episode of their podcast.
It means that now TikTok caters to podcasters as well, so there’s no better time to leverage the full power of this platform to grow your show.
In this article, we’re sharing ultimate tips on how to use TikTok to grow a podcast, but first, let’s quickly overview the new ‘podcasting’ feature the service has recently rolled out.
TikTok podcasting update 2023
This is a novelty that TikTok has introduced only this year—the ability to link your podcast RSS feed to videos and let your followers listen to a podcast episode right on TikTok.
Note that there’s a limit on the length of the episode which shouldn’t be longer than 1.5 hours. You can’t link your podcasts to videos uploaded on TikTok later than 30 days ago, either.
How do I add a podcast RSS feed to TikTok?
To share your podcasts through TikTok, do the following:
- Press the Upload or + button to start a new video as you normally would.
- Find the Link Podcast tab.
- Copy the RSS link of your podcast feed and select a podcast episode.
- Choose a post to which you want to link this episode.
As you do it, your audience that opens this post will be led to your podcast episode page. Users will even be able to listen to an entire podcast episode right on TikTok.
Can you use TikTok for a podcast?
This RSS hack is one thing. Now let's get to the tips that'll help you grow your show with TikTok if the RSS linking isn't yet available to you.
TikTok for podcasting can be an effective medium to reach a younger and engaged audience. But before diving into TikTok, make sure you understand your podcast's niche and target audience. Are you sure your listeners are on TikTok at all? If you get familar with the TikTok audience stats, this will help you create content that resonates with TikTok users who are interested in your podcast's topic, not just gain views for nothing.
If you've done the necessary research, here are some steps and tips for podcasters to use TikTok effectively.
Share teasers & highlights
On TikTok, you can share short clips or teasers from your podcast episodes and highlight the most interesting or thought-provoking moments to grab viewers' attention.
💡 Tip: Respond to comments on your TikToks to build a sense of community and foster engagement and ask questions or create interactive content to encourage viewers to engage with your TikTok.
Post behind-the-scenes
Show the process of creating your podcast. This can include setting up equipment, preparing for interviews, or sharing funny or unexpected moments from your recording sessions.
Upload the whole story told in a minute
If your podcast episode topic allows it, you can tell the whole story in a one-minute video. Remember that the TikTok audience doesn’t like it when they're forced to get the end of the story in another video, so try to tell the whole story in one clip.
🔴 TikTok videos' maximum length is currently 10 minutes long.
Share educational content
If in your show you share something that might be considered as educational content, create TikTok videos that provide additional valuable insights or tips related to your podcast's theme.
💡 Tip: Regularly post new TikToks to keep your audience engaged. Consistency helps you stay relevant on the platform.
Take part in challenges & trends
Participate in TikTok challenges or trends that are relevant to your podcast niche, for this can help you tap into trending topics and gain more visibility. You can even run a contest or hashtag campaign to encourage your listeners to create TikToks related to your podcast.
Use hashtags wisely
Research popular and relevant hashtags in your niche and include them in your TikTok captions. This will increase the discoverability of your content.
Team up
Collaborate with other TikTok creators in your niche to cross-promote each other's content. For that, look for TikTok creators who have an audience that aligns with your podcast's niche or topic and pay attention to creators who have a similar style or tone that complements your podcast's brand.
Once you've reached out to them, brainstorm collaboration ideas that will benefit both parties. For instance, you can co-host a live Q&A session related to your podcast topic, create a duet or stitch video that responds to or adds to each other's content, or collaboratively discuss a topic relevant to your podcast.
Leverage TikTok's features
Use TikTok's editing tools to enhance your videos with music, text, effects, and transitions. And don't forget to exploit the duet and stitch features that we've mentioned above to interact with other TikTok users and leverage their content to create engaging videos.
Promote your podcast
Include a call-to-action in your TikTok captions, encouraging viewers to check out your podcast. Or share an RSS feed with the new TikTok podcasting feature!
You can also mention your podcast and provide a link in your TikTok profile bio.
To build additional buzz, create TikToks that explain the benefits of listening to your podcast or share interesting facts that can only be found in your episodes.
Analyse performance
Keep an eye on TikTok's analytics to see which content is performing well and adjust your strategy accordingly.
TikTok success takes time and experimentation, so never stop adapting your strategy based on what works best for your podcast and audience on the platform. TikTok algorithm can be unpredictable sometimes, so be patient and open to trying different approaches to see what resonates with your viewers.
Why use TikTok to grow a podcast at all
Well, first of all, to reach an audience that you couldn’t reach on other platforms. Gen Z discovers new podcasts two times more than any other age group, and TikTok is where all Gen Zers are gathering.
TikTok, unlike podcast directories, has great recommendation algorithms that will allow people to discover your videos (and thus, podcasts) way better and faster than on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Here some more pros of TikTok for podcasting:
- TikTok offers a sense of community and interaction. By engaging with viewers through comments and challenges, you can build a loyal fan base and foster a sense of connection with your podcast audience.
- TikTok encourages creativity. You can experiment with different video formats, challenges, trends, and creative storytelling techniques to promote your podcast in innovative ways. This creativity can set your content apart and make it more memorable
- Effective use of hashtags and trending topics can make your content more discoverable to a broader audience. Users searching for content related to your podcast's niche may stumble upon your TikToks.
- TikTok provides detailed engagement metrics, such as views, likes, shares, and comments. These metrics can help you track the performance of your content and refine your strategy based on audience feedback.
- Unlike some other advertising platforms, you can gain significant visibility on TikTok without a large marketing budget.
Remember, though, that TikTok is just one part of your podcast promotion strategy, and it can complement your efforts on other social media platforms and marketing channels.
🔴 14 ways to monetise a podcast.
🔴 How to promote a podcast on YouTube.
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