156. The Truth About Podcasting Reviews (And Why They Don’t Help Your Visibility)

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spk_0 You've heard it a million times.

spk_0 Leave a review, it helps other people find the show.

spk_0 But here's the truth that no one wants to admit.

spk_0 That's actually a myth.

spk_0 Reviews don't help you get discovered, so why are we still asking for them?

spk_0 Hey there, I'm Julia Levine, aka the podcast teacher, and you're listening to podcasting

spk_0 for SoloPrinors, the show that helps online business owners grow their podcast to get more

spk_0 listeners, leads, and sales.

spk_0 Today, we're digging into what reviews actually do for your show and how to get them.

spk_0 Since Spotify only allows ratings, not written reviews, today's conversation will focus

spk_0 on Apple podcast reviews.

spk_0 Reviews are important, but probably not for the reasons that you've been told.

spk_0 I'll explain exactly what I mean in a second.

spk_0 A lot of podcast gurus make reviews out to be the end all, be all metric of podcast success.

spk_0 But that's not quite true, and that's why I don't ask for them in every episode, like most podcasters.

spk_0 Every time I hear the leave a review, it helps others find the show, phrase,

spk_0 I get a little twitchy because that's not technically true.

spk_0 Apple specifically says that reviews do not factor into their algorithm for search results or for chart rankings.

spk_0 And if that surprises you, you're not alone, most of us have heard the exact opposite.

spk_0 And by the way, if you're skeptical, I will drop the official Apple links in the description

spk_0 so that you can fact check me.

spk_0 So if reviews don't boost your show up in the search results or the chart rankings,

spk_0 why should you even bother with them?

spk_0 And that's because while they do not impact your visibility,

spk_0 they do play a critical role in converting curious scrollers into committed listeners.

spk_0 Here's a scenario that might sound familiar.

spk_0 Your podcast pops up in the search results, not because of your reviews,

spk_0 but because you used solid SEO strategies.

spk_0 And now the person is staring at your show page.

spk_0 They're looking at your cover art, your title, they're scrolling through your episode list.

spk_0 But before they hit play, they want a second opinion.

spk_0 So what do they do?

spk_0 They go and check your reviews.

spk_0 When a potential listener reads words from other real people about why they love your content,

spk_0 your voice, your humor, what kind of tips you give, that is when trust starts to build.

spk_0 And of course, this does not just apply to podcasting.

spk_0 Think about the last time you checked reviews before watching a movie,

spk_0 buying a new product, or trying a new restaurant.

spk_0 You weren't just looking for a rating.

spk_0 You were looking for reassurance.

spk_0 You were asking things like, is this for someone like me?

spk_0 Will this be worth my time?

spk_0 What kind of experience can I expect?

spk_0 That is the job of a good review.

spk_0 It answers those questions through the lens of someone who's already experienced it.

spk_0 And so if you look up a podcast and one review says,

spk_0 I love this host's dry sarcastic humor.

spk_0 And you also love that kind of humor.

spk_0 You're probably immediately intrigued.

spk_0 But if you hate sarcasm, you will probably move on.

spk_0 And that's actually a good thing.

spk_0 Podcast reviews help to attract the right audience and to repel the wrong one.

spk_0 They do filtering for you so that you get more aligned loyal listeners

spk_0 who are likely to stick around.

spk_0 So no, podcast reviews are not going to get your show discovered.

spk_0 But they will help you build something far more valuable,

spk_0 which is a loyal and connected audience that sticks around.

spk_0 So how do you get more reviews?

spk_0 Let's break down five different strategies that you can use.

spk_0 Strategy number one is to simply ask.

spk_0 That sounds obvious, but many hosts don't do that or don't do it well.

spk_0 If you can ask in a memorable, fun, or specific way,

spk_0 people are more likely to follow through.

spk_0 So you can get playful, get personal, say something like,

spk_0 if today's tip helps you survive a Monday, leave a review,

spk_0 and tell me which part hit home.

spk_0 This creates a moment of connection and asking for the review

spk_0 feels less formulaic, less of a kind of boring expectation.

spk_0 And it feels more like participating in an inside joke.

spk_0 It also helps to be specific in your ask.

spk_0 Don't just say, leave a review.

spk_0 Ask them to mention their favorite episode,

spk_0 something that they learned,

spk_0 or explain why they keep coming back every week.

spk_0 This makes the request easier for the listener to follow,

spk_0 and it creates more helpful detailed reviews for future listeners.

spk_0 Finally, make it easy.

spk_0 The Apple Podcasts review process isn't the most intuitive,

spk_0 so reduce the friction by recording a short video showing how to do it,

spk_0 or linking to written instructions in your show notes.

spk_0 You can make this ask in every episode if you want to.

spk_0 I would just vary the language that you use

spk_0 and when you do it within the episode,

spk_0 so it doesn't become something that people tune out.

spk_0 Or you can choose to do it just here and there in episodes,

spk_0 which is what I choose to do.

spk_0 So real quick, I'm going to practice what I preach

spk_0 and say that if you have been enjoying podcasting for solo pernors,

spk_0 would you please take 60 seconds to go leave a review

spk_0 and tell me what your favorite episode has been so far?

spk_0 That feedback, of course, is going to help new listeners,

spk_0 and honestly, it helps me to know what content is hitting home for you.

spk_0 So thanks in advance.

spk_0 Now on to strategy number two, which is to ask specific individuals.

spk_0 Unfortunately, when you put out the request on your podcast,

spk_0 it's pretty easy for most people to ignore it.

spk_0 But there's one small shift that makes a massive difference,

spk_0 and that's asking individuals, personally and directly asking specific people.

spk_0 Start with your warm circle, people like friends, family, your busy besties,

spk_0 even if they're not your ideal listeners, they can still help.

spk_0 And yes, it might feel awkward at first to be asking them,

spk_0 but explain to your friend or family member how this is going to help you,

spk_0 and that will give them extra incentive to do it.

spk_0 They like you, they want to help you out, this is not a huge lift.

spk_0 You can also ask this of individuals that you may be talking with one-on-one,

spk_0 particularly if they give you a compliment about your show.

spk_0 I'll get compliments via email that say things like,

spk_0 oh, I really like this episode, or sometimes in a Facebook group

spk_0 or a membership that I'm a part of, it's a smaller intimate community,

spk_0 and so someone will say something like, oh, I caught your recent episode, it was great.

spk_0 And those things can be an opportunity for you to say, oh, thank you so much.

spk_0 That means a lot. If you haven't had a chance to write a review yet, that would be amazing.

spk_0 So you can ask that individual.

spk_0 People are much, much, much more likely to follow through and do something

spk_0 when you specifically ask them individually, rather than giving just a generic call to action.

spk_0 So if you were to say, hey, Julia, will you do this?

spk_0 Then I feel that responsibility as opposed to, hey, anyone out there, can you do this?

spk_0 I feel much less obligation to participate in that kind of ask.

spk_0 All right, so in terms of individuals, you can also ask this of your guests

spk_0 if you have them on your show. You can say, hey, I'm loving having you on the show.

spk_0 This is a great episode we're about to air. Have you had a chance to write a review yet?

spk_0 And generally, if a guest is coming onto your show, it's because they see value

spk_0 in what kind of content that you're creating and providing to your audience.

spk_0 And therefore, they are going to naturally have something positive to say.

spk_0 Okay, moving on to strategy number three, which is to run a giveaway.

spk_0 Sometimes people need more than just a good reason.

spk_0 They need a little extra motivation.

spk_0 And that's where a good old fashioned giveaway comes in.

spk_0 One way that I like to do this is to celebrate a milestone.

spk_0 So this can be a big milestone, a small milestone, or anything in between.

spk_0 This could be for publishing a certain number of episodes.

spk_0 Maybe when you publish your 25th episode or your 100th episode,

spk_0 it could also be for a number of downloads.

spk_0 So when you hit 1000 downloads, that is an amazing accomplishment.

spk_0 And you can celebrate with a giveaway.

spk_0 During any kind of giveaway, you want to make sure to give some kind of grand prize away.

spk_0 And it really doesn't matter what specifically it is.

spk_0 The key is just to make it something that your audience wants.

spk_0 So it could be a scholarship to one of your programs.

spk_0 It could be a one-on-one session with you.

spk_0 Those are great options if you don't really have a marketing advertising budget.

spk_0 But it could also be something like an Amazon gift card or an industry specific gift card.

spk_0 Whatever it is, just make sure that it's something your audience actually wants.

spk_0 Make it desirable so that they're going to want to complete the action of writing a review in order to win the prize.

spk_0 And then I always love whenever possible to kind of go above and beyond and give something,

spk_0 obviously something much smaller, give something away to everyone who enters.

spk_0 So every single person who writes a review and enters the giveaway,

spk_0 they get something in return.

spk_0 This can be something like bonus content.

spk_0 And maybe they get access to a special training or a PDF that's usually reserved for inside your program.

spk_0 Or it could be something fun like a blooper reel or an ask me anything session with you.

spk_0 Something just to make every single person feel special.

spk_0 Of course, this is kind of an above and beyond tactic.

spk_0 You don't need to do this, but if you can, I think it has a really nice touch.

spk_0 And finally, whenever you're doing a giveaway, make sure it is super easy and you're super clear about what they need to do to enter.

spk_0 So you can say something like write your review, take a screenshot, post it on Instagram and tag me in your post.

spk_0 The fewer steps that you involve, the more likely people are to follow through.

spk_0 Strategy number four is very much along the same lines, although it's centered around a relaunch of your show.

spk_0 So if you update your brand to change your podcast title, maybe you're giving your just cover art or refresh,

spk_0 something new and exciting is happening, you can kind of relaunch your show and generate excitement along with a giveaway to celebrate.

spk_0 So the same things that I just talked about apply here, give away a big prize and make it super simple and clear how to enter.

spk_0 All right, and strategy number five is to participate in genuine review swaps.

spk_0 The idea here with this is simple, I review your podcast, you review mine, but the catch is that it only works well if this is a genuine review swap.

spk_0 Unfortunately, many of the review swaps out there feel sort of transactional.

spk_0 You jump on a Zoom call with a group, you exchange links to your podcasts and every person leaves a quick generic review,

spk_0 often without even listening to the show.

spk_0 So these reviews end up being something like great podcast, keep up the great work.

spk_0 That's not very helpful for new listeners, that review doesn't build trust with your audience.

spk_0 And in my opinion, that's kind of unethical.

spk_0 So when you participate in a review swap, I encourage you to treat it like you're recommending the show to a friend.

spk_0 Actually listen to an episode or two, find something real that you appreciated within the episode.

spk_0 Maybe it's the host's storytelling, their vulnerability, the quality of their questions, or how they explain complex topics.

spk_0 Then when you leave a review, say something specific related to one of those things.

spk_0 So an example might be, I loved how this podcast breaks down social media tips without the fluff.

spk_0 The episode on Instagram captions gave me three ideas I used immediately.

spk_0 That review is honest, it's helpful, and it makes a real impact on the potential listener.

spk_0 Sometimes you're doing a review swap with someone whose show is not one that you'd normally listen to,

spk_0 and that can make things a little bit more challenging.

spk_0 But let me give you an example of how I handled it when I was in this situation.

spk_0 I once did a review swap with a podcast host who had a show about motherhood.

spk_0 Now, spoiler alert, I am not a mother, I am clearly not her target audience.

spk_0 But I listened, I participated in the swap, and what stood out to me when listening to one of her episodes was her transparency.

spk_0 She spoke really candidly about her challenges, which created a feeling of deep authenticity.

spk_0 So I left a review saying, I appreciate how refreshingly honest this podcast is.

spk_0 If you're looking for real conversations about motherhood, give this a listen.

spk_0 That's a genuine review, it's honest, and even though I'm not her ideal listener, it still helps someone who may be reading it, who is her ideal listener.

spk_0 And those are the kind of reviews that help a show grow.

spk_0 Another tip here is that if you're the one initiating the swap, make sure to set the expectations up front,

spk_0 and say something like, let's both listen to at least one full episode and share something specific in the review.

spk_0 That way you avoid confusion and you attract people who value real feedback.

spk_0 If you're open to doing these genuine review swaps, try posting in Facebook groups or other communities that you're a part of,

spk_0 just make sure to specify that you're looking to do these genuine review swaps where you each actually listen and provide real feedback.

spk_0 That will help you to attract other podcasters who are going to respect the process.

spk_0 In conclusion, remember that reviews may not boost your discoverability, but they absolutely influence the right people to press play.

spk_0 And if you want to get more reviews, remember these five strategies.

spk_0 Ask and make it fun and specific whenever possible. Ask individuals directly, run giveaways to celebrate milestones,

spk_0 relaunch with excitement and a giveaway, and you can do genuine review swaps that actually need something.

spk_0 So let me wrap up by practicing what I'm preaching and say that if you've gotten value from this episode,

spk_0 if something I said today sparked a new idea, gave you clarity, or made you feel more empowered as a podcaster,

spk_0 would you please leave a review for podcasting for solo pranors?

spk_0 Your words could be the exact message someone needs to hear before giving this show a chance.

spk_0 And from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

spk_0 Podcasting takes energy, vulnerability, and a lot of unseen hours behind the mic.

spk_0 But every honest review reminds me why I hit record in the first place.

spk_0 Until next time, happy podcasting!

156. The Truth About Podcasting Reviews (And Why They Don’t Help Your Visibility)

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