From Crickets to Community: How to Get Your First Listeners (Without a Big Budget)

Podcast Nest
Host Tips
July 9, 2025

So, you finally launched your podcast. You’ve got a few episodes recorded, the branding looks sharp, and your mic is sounding crisp. But when you check your downloads? Crickets.

Don’t worry! you’re not alone. Growing an audience from scratch is one of the biggest challenges new podcasters face. The good news? You don’t need a big budget to get real listeners. You just need the right approach.

Here are 4 organic (and affordable) ways to go from crickets to community:

1. Create Shareable Content From Each Episode Turn every episode into multiple pieces of content:

  • Short quote graphics for Instagram
  • 30-second audio snippets for Twitter/X or LinkedIn
  • A mini blog post with takeaways

This gives your podcast legs outside the audio space and drives people back to listen.

2. Guest Swap with Other New Podcasters You don’t need huge guests. Reach out to podcasters with similar audience sizes and propose a guest swap or episode shoutout.

Cross-promotion is the fastest way to build initial traction and it’s free.

3. Show Up in Communities Be active in Facebook Groups, subreddits, Discord servers, or Slack channels where your audience hangs out. Answer questions, drop insights, and only share your podcast when it’s truly relevant.

Trust builds listenership.

4. Optimize Your Podcast Nest Profile Your Podcast Nest profile is your storefront. Make sure your show description is clear, engaging, and keyword-rich. A strong profile helps guests find you and bring their own value that attracts listeners.

Your first 100 listeners are the hardest to get but also the most loyal. Focus on value, not vanity metrics.