Business
Episode Summary:
In this episode of The Podcaster’s Journey, Kaleb tackles one of the biggest questions new podcasters face: Is paying for podcast ads worth it — or is organic growth the smarter move? Drawing from Reddit case studies, ad platform results, and expert data, he breaks down the true ROI of paid ads, outlines key organic growth strategies, and offers a hybrid plan that balances both speed and sustainability.
You’ll walk away with a clearer understanding of where to focus your energy — and what to avoid — so your podcast growth is real, sustainable, and rooted in strategy.
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Key Points & Highlights:
• Only 7% of podcast listeners discover new shows via paid ads (Edison Research)
• Case studies show $14–$27 per subscriber via paid ads — with poor retention
• Organic methods (SEO, repurposing, email lists) dominate discovery and trust-building
• Paid ads only make sense when organic systems are already converting
• Hybrid growth = 80% organic effort, 20% strategic paid amplification
• Under $100/mo on ads? Likely a waste — aim for $250–$500+ with tracking
• Key success metric: listener retention and engagement, not just downloads
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Notable Quotes:
“Paid ads might give you visibility, but without the follow-through, it’s just noise.”
“Organic growth can feel slow — but each episode is a drop in the bucket. Give it 100 episodes, and it starts to overflow.”
“You can pour gas on a fire — but if the fire isn’t lit yet, nothing’s going to happen.”
“Paid is the accelerant. Organic is the long-burning fuel.”
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⏱️ Episode Timestamps:
00:02 — Welcome + Episode Setup
02:03 — The Appeal (and Reality) of Paid Ads
02:32 — Real Examples of Ad Spend Results
03:48 — Why Paid Ads Often Don’t Convert
04:38 — Prerequisites Before Running Ads
05:07 — Step-by-Step Ad Prep (Ideal Listener, Tracking, Platform)
08:51 — The Power of Organic Growth
09:49 — Organic Tactics: SEO, Repurposing, Community
13:00 — Each Episode is a Drop in the Bucket
14:00 — SEO & YouTube Discovery Importance
15:14 — When Paid Ads Can Work
16:49 — The Hybrid Strategy
19:36 — Time & Budget Considerations for Ads
22:50 — Tracking Metrics that Matter
24:56 — Final Reflection + Weekly Challenge
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Call to Action:
What’s one small organic growth experiment you could try this week?
Maybe it’s optimizing your titles, sharing a quote, or finally starting your email list.
I’d love to hear what you come up with — and even better, I’d love for you to share it inside our Facebook group:
The Podcaster’s Journey Community (https://www.facebook.com/groups/thepodcastersjourney)
It’s a space for podcasters who are building shows that matter and figuring out how to grow with clarity and confidence.
And if this episode gave you clarity, send it to one other podcaster who’s been wondering the same thing. We grow better together.
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Optional Links & Resources:
Website: https://www.podcastbuilders.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleb.stock/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalebstock/
Audio-Only Podcast Feed: https://bit.ly/3XGRmte
Leave a Voicemail: https://www.speakpipe.com/The_Podcasters_Journey