Podcast ratings are crucial to those who create and produce shows. They can help attract more listeners to your shows and can also attract investors and companies looking for popular podcasts with great ratings to advertise their products and services as well. So you can not only engage your listeners but also make some dough.
The best way to encourage more listeners is by giving your current listeners a great reason to leave a positive rating and providing social proof. The positive experiences from past (and current) listeners always demonstrate to new ones that it’s worth their time to tune in.
These ratings and reviews help to improve your credibility as a podcast host and creator and even assist with a boost in your rankings on platforms like Apple using an algorithm. They offer potential listeners a glimpse into whether or not your content is valuable.
I mean, how else will you attract top talent to your podcast for interviews and appearances if your podcast has little-to-no ratings? It may be an awesome podcast, but without ratings, no one will ever know its existence.
8 Proven Ways to Get More Podcast Ratings
When potential listeners need a nudge in the right direction (toward your podcast), they look to see if others have enjoyed what they’ve heard. With a slew of positive ratings, those listeners won’t need that urging anymore.
Every podcast hosting platform has different standards for promoting certain podcasts, but the one thing they all have in common – they value listener feedback and use ratings to stimulate listenership to your show. These eight proven methods of gaining more podcast ratings are the most effective ways of upping your reputation and expanding your reach.
1. Ask them Directly
The easiest way to skyrocket the number of podcast ratings is just to simply ask for them. Toward the end of each podcast episode, weave “the ask” into your closing and possibly even during your welcome remarks for your listeners – without asking them to leave the podcast for it.
Be open, honest, and authentic about your goals. You’re looking to grow and share your knowledge and gifts with even more listeners, which helps to strengthen your credibility among advertisers, hosting platforms, and of course – your listeners.
2. Create Great Content and Publish Regularly
Positive ratings are the goal. If your content publishing schedule is a bit spotty or if your content just isn’t up to par with what your listeners expect, there’s a great chance that those ratings may hurt your standing instead of improving it. Quality content helps grow your podcast.
When your listeners have been wowed and they’re yearning for more, your regularly published content cures their needs, and they’re more likely to leave a review. Keep your intro capped at about 30 seconds and hit them with the stuff they’ve been waiting for.
Make sure your podcast copy includes SEO keywords to ensure new listeners can find your show via search engines. If they’re looking for true crime podcasts, but you never mention it in your copy, it’s challenging to gain visibility and get people on board.
Make it simple for listeners to tune in and understand your content. Unless your podcast subject is tailored to high-level intellectuals, skip the over-complicated content and just meet your audience where they are with engagement and great content – and they’ll leave reviews.
3. Add Proper Call to Action
Simplify the review process and direct listeners to a rating link that takes them directly to the webpage to leave their 5-star reviews. Add this to every episode’s show notes and to your podcast blogs to gain more Podcast reviews because if they don’t know where to leave one, they won’t.
Consider soliciting influencers with large followings who have a hunger for podcast hosting to review your show with an included rating link on their websites. This call to action by the influencer could expand your reach, attract a new audience, and gain more positive ratings.
4. Utilize Newsletter Effectively
Newsletters aren’t just for PTA members but a great way to update your listeners on what’s to come and some of the best highlights of your most recent podcast episode. It keeps you fresh in their minds, and in turn – they are more apt to tune in.
Use your newsletter as a tool to up your rating numbers. Remind them to leave good reviews, highlight recent reviews, and spotlight your appreciation for your loyal listeners.
5. Utilize Social Media Platforms
If you’re not currently using your following on other social media sites to promote your podcast, you should be, but it’s also a great way to engage your community, entice them to visit your podcast website, and use your posts as “review reminders” consistently (and strategically).
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and even TikTok can showcase small clips of your podcast while encouraging them to leave a great rating by including a direct link to the review page in your post. Don’t overdo it. Instead, consider using comments to lead them in the right direction.
6. Run Contests
Everyone loves to play to win, and this leaves the door wide open to running contests as a method of encouraging more reviews and ratings. Competition is effective at drumming up excitement and encouragement about your upcoming episode. One example is to offer giveaways or a drawing to listeners who leave a review.
Make it fair by asking them to take a screenshot to send your way and offer the winner a branded podcast T-shirt, for instance. Promote the show and gain more ratings. It sounds like a win-win. When they leave a favorable rating or review, it reveals their high level of satisfaction with your content.
7. Create URL for Review Page
Create a custom link that takes your listeners directly to your review page. When you offer them easy access and make it almost effortless to leave a review, you’ll find those numbers growing rather quickly. Include that link anywhere and everywhere you discuss your podcast.
You’ll get more exposure for your show with a custom link, and when they’re impressed by your exceptional content, it leads to an increase in your approval ratings. Consider using your podcast as somewhat of a landing page to the review site to increase your listenership and, in turn, your ranking on podcast platforms like Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Google Play.
8. Buy Podcast Ratings
Purchasing podcast ratings can get you an instant boost in your review numbers which can broaden your listening audience through credibility. Once your new listeners tune in, they’ll be ready to leave their own positive reviews, which will confidently lift your podcast ratings.
The safest and most reliable way to buy podcast ratings that is both easy and simple is through Media Mister – where the ratings are real, have a high retention rate, and are 100% authentic. So you’re on the right side of your podcast hosting platform’s terms of service.
You’ll get an initial rating boost and, in turn, skyrocket your leads. Media Mister is a legit social media service provider featuring secure payment and a money-back guarantee so your reviews can be trusted to help amp your podcast to new levels.
Conclusion
With these tips, you’re bound to grow your audience through the power of positive reviews. Ask your current listeners to leave them and entice them through social media and friendly competition. Do you have any great tips for encouraging your listeners to leave awesome reviews? Let us know in the comments, and share your positive experience with us.
