Episode 48: The Strategy Behind 120% Podcast Growth and a 77% Course Revenue Jump (with Savannah Gilbo)
How Fiction Writer Savannah Gilbo Used Her Podcast and Quiz Funnel to Grow 77%
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In this episode of Podcast Growth Tools, I sit down with Savannah Gilbo, writing coach, course creator, and host of The Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast. Savannah helps aspiring fiction authors plan, write, and finish their novels — guiding thousands of writers through both the craft and mindset of storytelling.
We worked together for six months to optimize her podcast and build a podcast-centric quiz funnel that transformed how she attracts, nurtures, and converts her audience. The results? A 77% increase in her digital course sales, a 38k-download week, and a content ecosystem that now runs with clarity and ease.
This episode is packed with data-backed insights, funnel lessons, and strategic takeaways for established podcasters who want to turn their show into a growth engine.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode
How Savannah grew her podcast from 10k to 17k+ weekly downloads
The 6-month process that led to a 77% launch increase
How a podcast-first quiz funnel became her top revenue driver
The behind-the-scenes of identifying audience “buckets”
Why simplicity is the secret to sustainable podcast growth
How to connect your podcast, quiz, and course ecosystem
Timestamps:
2:10 - Savannah discusses her podcast's impact on course revenue
8:40 - Importance of SEO and discoverability in podcasting
12:05 - Launching a successful podcast-centric quiz funnel
15:30 - Insights on audience segmentation and content strategy
23:10- Treating a podcast like a product for better results
27:35 - Creating engaging content and connecting with the audience
31:50 - Savannah's advice for aspiring podcasters and closing thoughts
The Story Behind Fiction Writing Made Easy
Savannah began her podcast as a way to serve fiction writers who were struggling to finish their books. Her audience includes both first-time novelists and experienced authors who want to improve their craft.
“I wanted to give writers a way to learn and improve their writing without having to spend a ton of money,” she explains. “The podcast became a love letter to the people who felt stuck or frustrated in the writing process.”
As an introvert, Savannah found podcasting the perfect medium — a way to connect deeply with her audience without feeling drained by constant visibility.
The Growth Journey: From 9k to 38k Downloads
When Savannah and I began working together, her podcast was already performing well with roughly 9–10k weekly downloads. But she knew there was more potential. Over six months, we built out systems, optimized her titles, and clarified her content strategy.
The results speak for themselves: her weekly downloads now average 16–17k, with spikes as high as 38,000 downloads in a single week.
Savannah attributes this growth to focusing on long-term consistency over instant results. “It didn’t happen overnight,” she says. “It took about six months for the changes to really show up, but once they did, everything compounded.”
Creating the Podcast-Centric Quiz Funnel
A major turning point came when Savannah launched her Podcast-First Quiz Funnel, designed to identify which stage of writing her audience was in.
The quiz segmented users into four “buckets”:
Beginners just starting their novels
Writers who started but got stuck
Editors refining their drafts
Publishing-focused writers preparing to release
Through thousands of quiz completions, Savannah discovered her biggest audience segment was actually the “stuck” writers — not the beginners she had originally focused on.
This data completely shifted her marketing, copy, and offers. “We realized we were speaking mostly to the beginners,” she shares, “but our largest group were people who’d already started and hit a wall. That insight alone was huge.”
The 77% Course Growth and Quiz Conversion Data
The quiz didn’t just reveal insights — it drove sales.
When Savannah analyzed her September course launch, she found that 86 out of 148 students (nearly 60%) had first discovered her through the quiz. Overall, this led to a 77% increase in course sales compared to the previous launch.
By tailoring her launch strategy to speak to her two largest quiz segments (“beginners” and “stuck” writers), Savannah created more relevant messaging and event structures. She ran a three-day bootcamp for beginners and a masterclass for those stuck mid-draft — both leading into her signature course, Notes to Novel.
“It worked so well because we weren’t trying to speak to everyone at once,” she says. “We customized the messaging for each audience segment, and it made all the difference.”
Lessons in Simplicity and Sustainability
One of the biggest shifts Savannah made was simplifying her ecosystem.
“Before, I had too many moving parts,” she admits. “Now, my business runs on three main pillars: the podcast, the course, and the membership. If something doesn’t support one of those, I don’t do it.”
That clarity has not only streamlined her operations but reduced burnout. “Simple doesn’t mean you’re playing small,” she says. “It means you’re focused.”
The Importance of Tracking and Iteration
Savannah also emphasizes the importance of tracking data consistently — something she admits she avoided before.
“Kylee really pushed me to get my tracking systems in place,” she laughs. “It’s not glamorous, but it’s the only way to make smart decisions. Now I can see exactly what’s working instead of guessing.”
She continues to test and refine her quiz funnel between launches, updating freebies, language, and automations based on ongoing insights.
Your Next Steps
Join my weekly newsletter for tips on podcast growth, email marketing, monetization strategies, and behind-the-scenes support for growing your audience and business.
→ www.podcastmarketinghub.com/subscribe
Join the 2026 Podcast Success Blueprint workshop happening 12/4: https://www.momfriendsmedia.com/2026-workshop-kylee-chandler
Resources & Links
Connect with Savannah Gilbo
Podcast: Fiction Writing Made Easy
Website: savannahgilbo.com
Instagram: @savannah.gilbo
Course: Notes to Novel
Connect with Kylee
Website: podcastmarketinghub.com
Podcast: Podcast Growth Tools
Instagram: @kyleejchandler
Let’s Connect!
Share your favorite trend from this episode or ask questions by DMing me on Instagram at @thepodcastmarketinghub.
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