Audience Swap Launch Checklist
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A start-to-finish checklist for one podcast or newsletter swap, from vetting the partner to reading the results a few weeks later.

[ ] Partner shortlisted on audience fit, after reading their last ten issues or listening to their last five episodes, not on headline size
[ ] Their audience engages visibly: replies, reviews, comments, or a community that is active rather than dormant
[ ] You have engaged with their work at least once before pitching, so the outreach is not the first time they hear your name
[ ] Outreach sent in a short message that names their specific content, explains why the audiences overlap, and proposes a concrete format
[ ] Both sides have shared honest active numbers: deliverable subscribers or 30-day downloads, plus recent open or listen-through rates where available
[ ] The exchange has been balanced against those numbers, with the smaller side offering extra placements or a more prominent slot if needed
[ ] Format on each side is written down: host-read promo, feed drop, dedicated send, recommendation blurb, or show-notes mention
[ ] Placement on each side is written down: pre-roll, mid-roll, top of issue, above or below the main content
[ ] Dates or issue and episode numbers for both placements are fixed and on both calendars
[ ] The exact copy or talking points for each side have been exchanged and approved, including how to pronounce names and what the show or newsletter is about
[ ] Each side has a unique tracking link or landing page, tested end to end, that leads somewhere relevant rather than a generic homepage
[ ] A baseline of your normal daily signups or follows for the previous two weeks is recorded so the swap bump can be seen against it
[ ] Your promo sounds like a genuine recommendation: who it is for, one specific reason to try it, and a clear next step
[ ] Your side has run on the agreed date in the agreed slot, with no quiet downgrade to a smaller mention
[ ] Your partner has been sent a link to the issue or episode where their promo ran, the same day it went out
[ ] Their side has been checked when it ran, and any missing link, wrong name, or changed placement has been raised politely and promptly
[ ] Results counted over the right window: at least two weeks for newsletters and longer for podcasts, where episodes are heard well after release
[ ] Net new subscribers or followers recorded after early unsubscribes, alongside how many are still opening or listening a month later
[ ] Results shared with the partner honestly, whichever way they went, with an offer to rerun in a better slot if your side underperformed
[ ] A short thank-you sent, and a note made of whether this partner is worth repeating, rebalancing, or thanking and moving on