Walk the Dog - A Lesson for Podcasters

A quick post (with plan attached) to show you what to do when somebody subscribes to your podcast, listens for the first time, or joins your mailing list …

But first, a related story …

I have two dogs. It’s difficult to walk them both at the same time.

My schedule right now is crazy. This morning, for example, I was up at 3AM for a live radio show.

I’ve been thinking about options to get my dogs the exercise they need and also get moving a bit more myself.

The American Cancer Society is doing a “30 Mile Dog Walk” in November—one mile a day for 30 days.

It’s a perfect match for what I want, so I signed up.

As you can imagine, a lot of people sign up for this challenge without ever following through on it. Because of this, they take you through a step-by-step process, telling you exactly what they want you to do to kick things off.

Want to donate? Click here.

Want to take part? Do it!

The Podcast Version

Here’s a simple “do this next” list with nine things you can pick from to send to new email subscribers, so they know exactly how to plug in and stick around. These tasks can also be listed on your website or put within a “Start Here” episode.

1. Pick a best episode and press play.

   1. Start here: [Link to one episode that represents your show best]

   2. If you’re short on time: [Link to a 10–15 minute highlight or trailer]

2. This podcast is better with a friend! Tell one friend who would love us.

   1. Forward this email or share this link: [Sharable episode link]

   2. Bonus: Post it in a group or Slack where your people hang out

3. Hit reply and introduce yourself

   1. What brought you here?

   2. What’s one topic you want covered next?

4. Set your listening habit

   1. Subscribe on: [Apple] [Spotify] [YouTube] [RSS]

   2. Add us to your queue now so the next episode is waiting

5. Grab the starter guide or cheat sheet

   1. Free resource: [Link to PDF/guide/checklist]

   2. It pairs with Episode [X] so you can follow along

6. Join the community

   1. Group/chat: [Discord/Facebook/Slack link]

   2. Say hi in the welcome thread and share your favorite episode

7. Vote on what we make next

   1. 30-second survey: [Link]

   2. Choose topics, guests, and formats we should do more of

8. Get reminders at the right cadence

   1. Pick weekly or monthly highlights: [Preference link]

9. Support the show (if you’re into it)

   1. Leave a quick review on [Platform]: [Link]

   2. Tip jar / membership / merch: [Link]

Make it easy: one button per step in your welcome email or on a webpage. The goal is to turn a sign-up into a habit within 48 hours.

Final Thoughts

Bottom line: don’t leave new listeners to figure things out on their own. Give them one clear next step, then another, with zero friction.

A tight welcome flow turns curiosity into commitment, and commitment into community. If you make it simple, fast, and friendly, you won’t just get a download; you’ll get a regular.