Listeners dwindling on your radio station? Thoughts just for you!

Hey Loudcasters and Station owners, 

Getting listeners is taxing, and maintaining them is just as much so.  So I thought it appropriate to post a list of thoughts and tips about getting and keeping people coming back.  PLEASE feel free to add your comments and thoughts and I’ll update the post with them.

Also, any listeners out there reading this, we LOVE your feedback too!

Tip #1 Keep it Fresh

Oh stagnation stagnation stagnation, my how you are the single greatest enemy of quality content!  For some genres and stations this is simple.  Adding recently released tracks to your library, having guests on talk shows that are relevant in the news, and updating your station IDs or PSAs.  For “classic” stations of any genre this can be harder as newly released content is not by nature classic.  Sure there are occasions content will spring up that was previously recorded but not released until now, but thats not frequent enough to make a big difference on your station.  

Tip #2 Engage Your Audience

If you find that you’re in the position of not having or losing your audience, the music or spoken word content just might not be enough, since listeners have so many choices.  So engage with them! People respond to personal connections, so take advantage of that and make some.  Chat with them (this is easy in Loudcaster since all stations have a chat room), talk about them on your shows, and respond to their email.

Tip #3 Get Social

Social media is time consuming (believe me I get it) and sometimes hard to keep up with.  But if you can set aside a little time your day, or only respond to direct style messaging it will do wonders.  Advertising may bring in your widest or initial audience, but word of mouth will usually be your most targeted and interested listeners.   Take advantage of the fact that people are already talking and sharing with their friends by letting them know how to talk or share about you.  Post more than just your currently playing tracks and respond to posts in Facebook and Twitter.

Tip #4 Help Each Other To Interact

Remember junior high (secondary school) dances where music is playing and all the kids are standing around the edge of the room in little groups whispering to each other?  Then a group of friends hit the floor and suddenly everyone is out there bopping away?  The same is true of a radio station.  If you have an empty chat room, a request email that no one is using, a twitter account with 3 follower it’s easy to ask yourself why you’re still bothering.  Don’t get discouraged, ask for help!  Post a message in the forums and invite other DJs to your channel.  Take a look at the Loudcaster twitter list (Loudcaster Stations) These are fellow Loudcaster’s who would probably be happy to follow you.  (Note, if you do not see yourself in this list you probably don’t have your twitter handle set up in your channel profile, but if you send @loudcaster a message, we’ll add you :) ).

(Source: loudcaster.com)