Don’t Start a Podcast Without a Plan: How to Launch a Podcast That Grows Your Business in 2025
So, you’re thinking about launching a podcast for your business in 2025? Love that for you. But let me be real—if your plan starts and ends with buying a microphone, you’re already off track.
Your mic doesn’t matter if your podcast has no purpose.
I do free coaching calls every week with business owners who want to start a podcast, and the first thing I ask them is: Why?
- Why are you starting this podcast?
- What do you want your listener to do after they hear your episodes?
- How does this podcast fit into your business strategy?
…And that’s when I get silence.
Or I hear, I just want to get my message out there.
Not good enough.
If your podcast is for your business, it needs to serve your business. Otherwise, you’re wasting time.
Here are the 4 essential steps to making your podcast an asset, not a time suck.
Step 1: Know Your Business First
This should be simple—because if your podcast is a marketing tool for your business, it won’t work if you’re not clear about your business.
Can you answer these questions?
✔ What problem does your business solve?
✔ Who is your ideal client?
✔ What is your listener’s desired outcome?
✔ What do you want your podcast listener to do after each episode?
If you can’t answer these instantly, your podcast is already in trouble. Because if you don’t know what your podcast is supposed to do, how do you expect your listeners to figure it out?
I hate to break it to you, but podcasts don’t sell.
People sell. Clarity sells. Stories sell. Strategy sells.
Your podcast is just a tool. A really powerful one—but only if you use it right.
Step 2: Align Your Podcast With Your Business
Even if you do have clarity on your business, that doesn’t automatically mean your podcast is going to work.
Your podcast needs to be an extension of your brand, not just a fun side project.
That means:
✔ Your podcast name and branding should match your business. (No random inside jokes that only make sense to you.)
✔ Your content should reflect your expertise and attract the right audience.
✔ Your call to action should connect to your offers.
Your podcast isn’t just about getting people to listen—it’s about getting the right people to take the right next step.
And this is where a lot of podcasters mess it up. They create a show with great content, but no clear connection to their business.
So what happens? Tons of effort. Zero ROI.
Step 3: Make Sure Your Podcast Has a Job
Here’s a question: Where does your podcast fit in your business?
If you can’t answer that, you don’t have a podcast strategy—you have a podcast hobby.
Your podcast should have a specific job inside your marketing and sales funnel.
- Is it attracting and nurturing leads?
- Is it positioning you as an authority in your industry?
- Is it answering objections and building trust before a sale?
If your podcast doesn’t have a job, it’s not going to work. It’s just going to be this thing you do every week that doesn’t move the needle.
And that’s how podcasters burn out.
Step 4: Focus on ROI, Not Just Downloads
You do not need a huge audience to get results from your podcast.
I’ll say it again: Downloads don’t pay the bills.
I don’t care if you have 10,000 downloads a month—if your podcast isn’t driving leads and sales, what’s the point?
ROI doesn’t mean lots of listeners. It means that the time, money, and energy you put into your podcast comes back to your business in sales.
If your podcast isn’t serving your business, it’s just another thing on your to-do list. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t have time for that.
So, before you start a podcast in 2025, ask yourself these questions. Being clear on the answers is way more important than what mic or AI editing software you use.
And I hope that’s just the tip you need.
Ready to Launch a Podcast That Works?
If you’re serious about starting a podcast that actually supports your business, you need a plan. And that’s exactly what we help business owners with every day.
If you already have a podcast and it’s not working, check out our Podcast Tune-Up—a done-with-you coaching program that pinpoints what’s off and fixes it.
If you’re starting from scratch and want to do it right from day one, Concept to Casting is for you. This isn’t some DIY online course—it’s 1:1 (one-on-one) coaching where we help you develop, structure, and launch your podcast with a real strategy behind it.
Or, if you just want to talk it through, book a free coaching call and let’s figure out where your podcast fits into your business.
