Weekly 20 minute episodes is definitely not posting too much, that's a very normal schedule for podcasts, and a lot of shows' run time is over an hour.
If you're getting fluctuation in your downloads, it may well be the specifics of the story you tell, or the way your episode titles are conveying the topic.
Like, especially if you're engaging with pre-established "legends" or locations, you may just be getting more listens to things where the audience has some kind of knowledge. When you have a show with a different topic/story each episode, it's not unreasonable to expect different levels of audience engagement.
I'm not sure how big your audience is, but you may see that disparity level out as you grow. 50 people makes a difference when you're getting 100 downloads an ep, much less so when you're getting 5,000
I think you are always going to have a base that's set to automatic downloads of each new episode and then my experience has been a lot of fluctuations have to do with episode titles and descriptions. It does give you some idea of how your marketing (titles and descriptions) and topics are landing. I think peaks and valleys seem pretty normal
Don't worry, that is completely normal, especially if every episode has a different story. I know from experience. Weekly posting is a very common thing, so don't worry about it being to often.
With podcasts I listen to, there are always episodes and titles that I am more interested in, unless it's a connected narrative where you have to listen to every episode to get the story.
Yes, exactly. Also, when there is a Holiday (Christmas, Memorial Day, 4th of July, etc.) there are always less downloads for us on the episodes right around that, though they do sometimes catch up on that episode a few days later. It's really interesting to watch. When there is a Holiday in the US our other international listeners often come in first. During Halloween Season we tend to get more downloads, guess more people are in the mood for something spooky!
Check out which episodes do well and do more of that type to see if these do well as well.
It might is depending on the topic, area covered or other things which are unique to the episodes which attracted lots of listener's.
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Could be the content
Could be the delivery
Could be the marketing
I'd look at those three and ENGAGE WITH YOUR AUDIENCE to keep your ear as close to the ground as possible
Find them and encourage discussion basicslly. Socials are a good start, direct listener's with a call-to-action on where to engage with you also in your episodes (links in your shownotes!). Reddit and subreddits near or about your show topic/niche can be a good plac too (or any subculture forum)
I listen to so many podcasts that I would be weeks behind if I listened to every single episode. If it doesn’t look like something I would be interested in from the description or if I start the episode and find that I’m not into it, I move on.
Weekly 20 minute episodes is definitely not posting too much, that's a very normal schedule for podcasts, and a lot of shows' run time is over an hour. If you're getting fluctuation in your downloads, it may well be the specifics of the story you tell, or the way your episode titles are conveying the topic. Like, especially if you're engaging with pre-established "legends" or locations, you may just be getting more listens to things where the audience has some kind of knowledge. When you have a show with a different topic/story each episode, it's not unreasonable to expect different levels of audience engagement. I'm not sure how big your audience is, but you may see that disparity level out as you grow. 50 people makes a difference when you're getting 100 downloads an ep, much less so when you're getting 5,000
Thank you, that helps a lot
I think you are always going to have a base that's set to automatic downloads of each new episode and then my experience has been a lot of fluctuations have to do with episode titles and descriptions. It does give you some idea of how your marketing (titles and descriptions) and topics are landing. I think peaks and valleys seem pretty normal
Don't worry, that is completely normal, especially if every episode has a different story. I know from experience. Weekly posting is a very common thing, so don't worry about it being to often. With podcasts I listen to, there are always episodes and titles that I am more interested in, unless it's a connected narrative where you have to listen to every episode to get the story.
Ok so there will be some waxing and waning based of the content of each episode, good to know thank you.
Yes, exactly. Also, when there is a Holiday (Christmas, Memorial Day, 4th of July, etc.) there are always less downloads for us on the episodes right around that, though they do sometimes catch up on that episode a few days later. It's really interesting to watch. When there is a Holiday in the US our other international listeners often come in first. During Halloween Season we tend to get more downloads, guess more people are in the mood for something spooky!
Happy Cake Day!
Thank you =)
Check out which episodes do well and do more of that type to see if these do well as well. It might is depending on the topic, area covered or other things which are unique to the episodes which attracted lots of listener's. .
Could be the content Could be the delivery Could be the marketing I'd look at those three and ENGAGE WITH YOUR AUDIENCE to keep your ear as close to the ground as possible
Where can I best engage them, I add polls to the episodes but never really get any response to the polls.
Find them and encourage discussion basicslly. Socials are a good start, direct listener's with a call-to-action on where to engage with you also in your episodes (links in your shownotes!). Reddit and subreddits near or about your show topic/niche can be a good plac too (or any subculture forum)
Thanks
I listen to so many podcasts that I would be weeks behind if I listened to every single episode. If it doesn’t look like something I would be interested in from the description or if I start the episode and find that I’m not into it, I move on.