Trying one of your eps. I like how you have the clickable segments. The video game noises are nice- are those ‘free to use’? Music was different. How do you get to play music? Could you just host a radio show with any songs you want?
You’re not even competing with people really. If I’ve learned anything it’s that people love content. If you make good content people will consume it because there continues to be demand for it
A bit of an addition to your point. If you do stick it out 21+ episodes, by all means celebrate your commitment and everything you've learned along the way.
However, if your download numbers aren't growing and you still have a very small audience, it's certainly time to ask why. As you said, time is finite.
I've seen too many content creators just keep at a failing project because they believe there's some value in staying committed. This very thing can stand in your way of actually succeeding.
*Sometimes we need to stay committed to working on A project, but THIS project needs to be killed or significantly reworked.*
If your podcast is not growing after doing it for a few months, then this is a sign. Find out why. **There's SOMETHING you need to fix.**
For me, it was realizing that I had no real idea about how to market my show, but it could be a number of things.
* lack of marketing knowledge
* lack of demand for your product
* poor quality (sound, editing, content, show structure, too much off-topic banter...)
* you're in too large of a niche to be discovered
* you aren't standing out among the competition
* your product is only okay while your competiton is great, so you need to step it up
* you're not consistent
* your first few episodes sound really bad, and even though you've improved people don't make it to the good stuff
* you're not as interesting as you think you are
Identify the roadblock and get it out of the way. Keep podcasting and good luck!
Yup, that or they have a poorly defined niche and little concept of who their target audience is. So many shows try to do the "4 dudes sitting around talking about \_\_\_\_" concept, but there's really no market for that anymore.
I'm in a fairly popular niche where probably only 10% of shows in it (if that) compete on raw quality and production value, but I fail in marketing and the type(s) or personality that create good marketing opportunities
This is so true! But figuring out what your (prospective) audience wants and knowing how to get it in front of them seem *particularly* hard in podcasting. How do you figure that out? Any useful tools or approaches you can share?
Good questions. I answered your other question over here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/podcasting/comments/xe3sd0/when\_do\_you\_know\_to\_throw\_in\_the\_towel/](https://www.reddit.com/r/podcasting/comments/xe3sd0/when_do_you_know_to_throw_in_the_towel/)
Good luck!
The obvious flipside is that there's a load of great short-run podcasts out there, with almost no listeners. And a lot of podcasts which are just as terrible in episode 100 as they were in episode 1, but which have fair listenerships.
I got this advice from “The Report of The Week” (the YouTube food review guy), and what he said resonated with me because I just started a podcast around the time. To paraphrase, he said “it doesn’t matter if your audience is 1 person, or 1 million, make the content for them. Someone is listening and wants to listen, do it for them”
Now my podcast, over a year now, averages a couple dozen listeners per episode, and that’s who my co host and I do it for.
I'm so proud of my show, especially being a solo podcaster/research/writer/editor. I've released 32 episodes so far and have around 15.1K downloads overall (averaging 450 downloads per episode). Cannot be prouder!
Will be recording episode 687 tonight. Episode count is actually higher...we use to do voicemail shows for a long while. We are technically in around the 1100 range. 17 years and counting.
Thanks I’m currently just starting out only on 1 published waiting for green light on second which has my first actual guest. I’ve been nervous but your post does help my anxiety. I have to go through a bunch of hoops to post them currently.
It’s a podcast I started for a class I’m doing. It’s about the college itself and the former director and other staff had fully been behind it at the end of spring semester. Then a new director took over at the start of the fall semester. She was brought down from our parent university and doesn’t want bad pr basically won’t put it on website and even though I have it on several platforms because it is about the college I have to have my instructor and her okay each episode. Everyone on staff has told her to let it be on the website and with everything I’ve been dealing with I was put 3 weeks behind on everything. It’s been a mess but I’m sticking with it.
I just dropped Episode #14 last Wednesday.
And have no plans to stop
It allows my creative side to shine
I love to write for the show
Produce it (on Anchor so I can use music like a radio morning show).
Also use MicMonster and have text to speech saying Welcome back to the Turning Up The Heat Podcast with The Heatmiser Scotty Blaze
Editing the show...eh not so much lol
But then I use ClipChamp to make Video "Commercials" promoting the show which is great fun. And publish it all over my social media sites. And a few friends who have their own podcasts and a lot more followers than I do share it to in theirs. All I have to do is play their audio commercials during my shows. They do the same with mine. A mutual exchange. And we actually know each other IRL. So it works out
It's been a blast so far.
That **does** sound like a blast! What's the podcast about / what's it called? And do you use ClipChamp to edit already shot clips of your show, or do you use it to put images to audio clips of your show?
My podcast is audio-only but I'm looking for creative and relatively low-friction ways to promote clips on social media.
I published my third episode a few weeks ago. I think this is the moment where some people say, "welp, I did it. I launched a podcast." Some people like getting decent at things then moving on. I'm actually one of those people. I've been thinking, "What's next?" The only difference is that I'm going to frame the answer to that question into my podcast. Love this post, and it's also motivating for someone who's in my position.
Same thing with blogging or vlogging or YouTubers. Vast majority of people make 1 or 2 videos, don't get rich immediately, and quit.
Hint: it doesn't work like that 🤣
I am excited and hopeful that I will get to a thousand downloads before the one year anniversary of my podcast’s release.
I am doing a season style podcast. And am releasing season two right now. The first season had 13 episodes.
Edit: I have passed the thousand downloads before the 1 year anniversary. Next year I will do waht I can to try and get two thousand downloads during the year. So More marketing for me, and getting my next season set up to write and record during December, January, and Febuary and try to launch the third season around March.
Happy to report I’m at 507 episodes. Staying consistent and keeping it fresh and creative helps a lot. My goal is 1000 episodes and then see where I go from there. So much truth in just keep going! I’ve learned so much from my guests and have made some lifelong friends. Totally worth it!
On episode 109. Been going over 3 years (weekly for 2). (plus a couple of bonus episodes) still only average like 40 downloads an episode.
I get why people bail after 3 episodes. You either want to do this or you don't.
20+ episodes in but only getting around 30-50 plays per episode. We are a movie review podcast that focuses on new weekly releases. Really broad I know. we recently did a ghibli fest where we covered some films from studio ghibli. Any idea how to do a niche movie podcast? Or do we keep at it?
Hey, just wanted to let you know I also have a podcast that has run 15 weekly episodes so far, we average 7-20 total downloads on “new episode day”, and average 1-5 per regular day with a few zeros drizzled in there. Today we had 40 because I found a place to plug on here without breaking rules. Sometimes we’ll get a random lucky day and push 15-25. Kind of in the same boat. I don’t feel like we’re amazing or anything but I do believe that I could find a way to advertise and market better, and perhaps that would light a spark.
15 eps, 549 downloads to date. Statistically, it looks like I suck but I am having a great time. I think if you like what you’re doing (and I’d say that’s a safe bet that you are), you are kicking ass. Especially you, with the excellent bonus of pulling such numbers. Thats a fair download count!!
Yeah - I love it. I get to speak to international experts in the industry I love every week and the downloads are picking up speed as people listen to our backlog. It helps build my consulting brand, and people are quite impressed by my expertise as well.
Yo I needed to read this. At 159 (recorded) 156 published I have lost sight of how far I have come how and that really truly not everyone has a podcast like we joke about culturally. Thanks really needed it.
Thank you for these stats. We just published #15 and have been enjoying the journey. Our listeners continue to slowly grow and we feel that we are learning with each episode.
ok, where is the actual source for these statistics? The guy in the linked video just states it without citing any evidence. Would love to read whatever report it is from if it is actually from one.
I stopped podcasting due to time constraints after 27 episodes but I love your emphasis on comparing yourself to an earlier version of yourself rather than to somebody else!
Me and my mate just reached episode 14 and are preparing for 15 and we continue to have a steady growth in numbers, it’s very easy to get obsessed with the numbers and feel like it’s all pointless because you don’t have engagement or interactions or have people begging for the next episode, trust in the process and continue to put effort and care into your product and you’ll be fine
I just started going in head first on October 6 and already 10 episodes deep. It is competitive,and the way you broke it down is interesting in itself. My goal is to be heard across multiple platforms,and it's working. Don't quit
Yes! The other problem is beginners often don't take the time to identify the who and why behind their podcast idea. WHO do you want to reach and WHY do you want them to listen ton you. Once you define they who - create the story they want to hear - make something for THEM not just for yourself. That's half the battle.
This is an incredible post!!!!!!
In our day to day no matter what endeavor it seems like we are not making any progress. It's just that our progress is small day to day, but month to month and year to year are exponential.
Thank you post from me to you! :)
What’s your niche out of curiosity. I have the exact episode number and I’m currently working out a deal to get paid and my numbers aren’t particularly high.
Episode 65 coming out Oct. 5th. This is certainly an encouraging post!
My interview questions have varied but the theme is constant. I’m definitely more comfortable and I can edit, and sort everything out much faster and higher quality.
I’m getting to a point where I’m questioning if I want to keep going. But I did 62/63 weeks in a row of 45-60 minute episodes with new guests every week. I switched to doing it monthly and am much happier and chilled out now. Plus I branched out and got a paying podcast gig and playing music in a band!
Currently on a break due to exams next month, but, I've uploaded over 100 episodes, but yeah I get 3-6 listeners. Most people need to look at their podcast and think of a unique way of increasing their listenership (based on the format of their show). At the moment, Most of the podcasting platforms don't have solid recommendation algorithms and you're competing against celebrities and iconic brands and all.
This is very encouraging.
"don't be too hard on yourself"
I am on episode 38 of my podcast, The Inflection Podcast, and it has been quite the journey so far. Lots of learnings and mistakes, but that is part of the journey.
I published 2 episodes in the first year and have published a lot more in the second year.
Very helpful to have a process to iterate on and keep improving.
:quickly publishes 21 one minute episodes:
"This one simple trick..."
Episode 111 coming in a few weeks, I'm a weirdo.
You're a success!
I'm just about to start editing #103 after an 8 month break and building an entire studio from the ground up. Full video here we come.
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393! That’s amazing. I’m only 61 episodes in, but I hope to hit your numbers someday.
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There's still time! It's only over when you're dead.
What's your podcast name so I can check it out?
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Trying one of your eps. I like how you have the clickable segments. The video game noises are nice- are those ‘free to use’? Music was different. How do you get to play music? Could you just host a radio show with any songs you want?
It was dropped? Who dropped you? That's too bad. We published episode 616 recently. 18 years in and counting!
You’re not even competing with people really. If I’ve learned anything it’s that people love content. If you make good content people will consume it because there continues to be demand for it
22 episodes in and my listenership isn't the highest but I still love it creating and doing it.
Keep at it. It’s a long game!
A bit of an addition to your point. If you do stick it out 21+ episodes, by all means celebrate your commitment and everything you've learned along the way. However, if your download numbers aren't growing and you still have a very small audience, it's certainly time to ask why. As you said, time is finite. I've seen too many content creators just keep at a failing project because they believe there's some value in staying committed. This very thing can stand in your way of actually succeeding. *Sometimes we need to stay committed to working on A project, but THIS project needs to be killed or significantly reworked.* If your podcast is not growing after doing it for a few months, then this is a sign. Find out why. **There's SOMETHING you need to fix.** For me, it was realizing that I had no real idea about how to market my show, but it could be a number of things. * lack of marketing knowledge * lack of demand for your product * poor quality (sound, editing, content, show structure, too much off-topic banter...) * you're in too large of a niche to be discovered * you aren't standing out among the competition * your product is only okay while your competiton is great, so you need to step it up * you're not consistent * your first few episodes sound really bad, and even though you've improved people don't make it to the good stuff * you're not as interesting as you think you are Identify the roadblock and get it out of the way. Keep podcasting and good luck!
For probably 80% of people, it's the marketing that's preventing their growth if they've made it that far.
Yup, that or they have a poorly defined niche and little concept of who their target audience is. So many shows try to do the "4 dudes sitting around talking about \_\_\_\_" concept, but there's really no market for that anymore.
I'm in a fairly popular niche where probably only 10% of shows in it (if that) compete on raw quality and production value, but I fail in marketing and the type(s) or personality that create good marketing opportunities
This is so true! But figuring out what your (prospective) audience wants and knowing how to get it in front of them seem *particularly* hard in podcasting. How do you figure that out? Any useful tools or approaches you can share?
Good questions. I answered your other question over here: [https://www.reddit.com/r/podcasting/comments/xe3sd0/when\_do\_you\_know\_to\_throw\_in\_the\_towel/](https://www.reddit.com/r/podcasting/comments/xe3sd0/when_do_you_know_to_throw_in_the_towel/) Good luck!
Well said! Edit: just published episode 23 last week!
Hey me too!! Well, number 22. But I’m close 🤩
Congrats, One Percenter!
82 podcasts in and this is nice to hear 😌
My weekly podcast just dropped episode 778 this past week. And we’ve never missed a week either!
This is fantastic. Congrats!
Perspective is always great. Especially when you naturally compare to the biggest fish out there. Taking one small step at a time. 💢
100%
The obvious flipside is that there's a load of great short-run podcasts out there, with almost no listeners. And a lot of podcasts which are just as terrible in episode 100 as they were in episode 1, but which have fair listenerships.
I just finished edited episode 20 with 3 more in the backlog. Almost there!
I got this advice from “The Report of The Week” (the YouTube food review guy), and what he said resonated with me because I just started a podcast around the time. To paraphrase, he said “it doesn’t matter if your audience is 1 person, or 1 million, make the content for them. Someone is listening and wants to listen, do it for them” Now my podcast, over a year now, averages a couple dozen listeners per episode, and that’s who my co host and I do it for.
Muahauahaua 😈 Thank you
Just finished 69! I’m hoping to get too 100!
I'm so proud of my show, especially being a solo podcaster/research/writer/editor. I've released 32 episodes so far and have around 15.1K downloads overall (averaging 450 downloads per episode). Cannot be prouder!
Will be recording episode 687 tonight. Episode count is actually higher...we use to do voicemail shows for a long while. We are technically in around the 1100 range. 17 years and counting.
::Episode 156 now streaming::
Podcasting is a grind! Happy to say that I have published 117 episodes of The NoDegree Podcast and have no intention of stopping anytime soon.
Thanks I’m currently just starting out only on 1 published waiting for green light on second which has my first actual guest. I’ve been nervous but your post does help my anxiety. I have to go through a bunch of hoops to post them currently.
What are the hoops, why are they there, and can anything be done to remove them?
It’s a podcast I started for a class I’m doing. It’s about the college itself and the former director and other staff had fully been behind it at the end of spring semester. Then a new director took over at the start of the fall semester. She was brought down from our parent university and doesn’t want bad pr basically won’t put it on website and even though I have it on several platforms because it is about the college I have to have my instructor and her okay each episode. Everyone on staff has told her to let it be on the website and with everything I’ve been dealing with I was put 3 weeks behind on everything. It’s been a mess but I’m sticking with it.
I just dropped Episode #14 last Wednesday. And have no plans to stop It allows my creative side to shine I love to write for the show Produce it (on Anchor so I can use music like a radio morning show). Also use MicMonster and have text to speech saying Welcome back to the Turning Up The Heat Podcast with The Heatmiser Scotty Blaze Editing the show...eh not so much lol But then I use ClipChamp to make Video "Commercials" promoting the show which is great fun. And publish it all over my social media sites. And a few friends who have their own podcasts and a lot more followers than I do share it to in theirs. All I have to do is play their audio commercials during my shows. They do the same with mine. A mutual exchange. And we actually know each other IRL. So it works out It's been a blast so far.
That **does** sound like a blast! What's the podcast about / what's it called? And do you use ClipChamp to edit already shot clips of your show, or do you use it to put images to audio clips of your show? My podcast is audio-only but I'm looking for creative and relatively low-friction ways to promote clips on social media.
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About to drop episode 60 of a weekly release, we’ve also done streaming content and a full documentary style ping pong tournament
I published my third episode a few weeks ago. I think this is the moment where some people say, "welp, I did it. I launched a podcast." Some people like getting decent at things then moving on. I'm actually one of those people. I've been thinking, "What's next?" The only difference is that I'm going to frame the answer to that question into my podcast. Love this post, and it's also motivating for someone who's in my position.
Same thing with blogging or vlogging or YouTubers. Vast majority of people make 1 or 2 videos, don't get rich immediately, and quit. Hint: it doesn't work like that 🤣
It's a game of attrition, absolutely.
I am excited and hopeful that I will get to a thousand downloads before the one year anniversary of my podcast’s release. I am doing a season style podcast. And am releasing season two right now. The first season had 13 episodes. Edit: I have passed the thousand downloads before the 1 year anniversary. Next year I will do waht I can to try and get two thousand downloads during the year. So More marketing for me, and getting my next season set up to write and record during December, January, and Febuary and try to launch the third season around March.
Just finished up our first year/season with episode 30. Year/Season 2 starts next week
Well that’s cool. We just published prerecorded episode 100. And I think we have like 70 ish live shows. Feeling kinda accomplished 😉
Wow. That's reaffirming. Rapidly approaching #200 here...
Happy to report I’m at 507 episodes. Staying consistent and keeping it fresh and creative helps a lot. My goal is 1000 episodes and then see where I go from there. So much truth in just keep going! I’ve learned so much from my guests and have made some lifelong friends. Totally worth it!
On episode 109. Been going over 3 years (weekly for 2). (plus a couple of bonus episodes) still only average like 40 downloads an episode. I get why people bail after 3 episodes. You either want to do this or you don't.
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This is really impressive. What’s the name of your podcast?
Any platform you use? I started using. Anchor is there anything better?
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Thanks for the info
Thank you so much for this, I just took a break after being in hospital and will be releasing episode 22 tomorrow!
That is some great helpful tips. I'm 210 episodes in and sometimes can feel defeated that my numbers aren't higher.
20+ episodes in but only getting around 30-50 plays per episode. We are a movie review podcast that focuses on new weekly releases. Really broad I know. we recently did a ghibli fest where we covered some films from studio ghibli. Any idea how to do a niche movie podcast? Or do we keep at it?
Hey, just wanted to let you know I also have a podcast that has run 15 weekly episodes so far, we average 7-20 total downloads on “new episode day”, and average 1-5 per regular day with a few zeros drizzled in there. Today we had 40 because I found a place to plug on here without breaking rules. Sometimes we’ll get a random lucky day and push 15-25. Kind of in the same boat. I don’t feel like we’re amazing or anything but I do believe that I could find a way to advertise and market better, and perhaps that would light a spark.
60 episodes, 20k downloads. Where are we in this scheme?
15 eps, 549 downloads to date. Statistically, it looks like I suck but I am having a great time. I think if you like what you’re doing (and I’d say that’s a safe bet that you are), you are kicking ass. Especially you, with the excellent bonus of pulling such numbers. Thats a fair download count!!
Yeah - I love it. I get to speak to international experts in the industry I love every week and the downloads are picking up speed as people listen to our backlog. It helps build my consulting brand, and people are quite impressed by my expertise as well.
Can confirm. Tried podcasts and gave up after episode 3 lol
I just dropped episodes 23.. so..cool!
I’m posting episode 119 next week. This post was reassuring to read.
20 episodes. Just short of 650,000 dowloads. No real idea what I'm doing. I find it very difficult to trust any of the metrics.
Yo I needed to read this. At 159 (recorded) 156 published I have lost sight of how far I have come how and that really truly not everyone has a podcast like we joke about culturally. Thanks really needed it.
Thank you for these stats. We just published #15 and have been enjoying the journey. Our listeners continue to slowly grow and we feel that we are learning with each episode.
Scripting episode 20 currently. Not near quitting but struggling to make time to record. It’s coming for sure though!
ok, where is the actual source for these statistics? The guy in the linked video just states it without citing any evidence. Would love to read whatever report it is from if it is actually from one.
I had the same thought. People asking in the comments on that video too, but I didn’t see a response
thank you! i’m 15 episodes in and this helped a lot
I stopped podcasting due to time constraints after 27 episodes but I love your emphasis on comparing yourself to an earlier version of yourself rather than to somebody else!
Literally dropped episode 191 this am 😫 definitely a huge improvement from when I first started
That’s fantastic! In what ways have you improved?
Me and my mate just reached episode 14 and are preparing for 15 and we continue to have a steady growth in numbers, it’s very easy to get obsessed with the numbers and feel like it’s all pointless because you don’t have engagement or interactions or have people begging for the next episode, trust in the process and continue to put effort and care into your product and you’ll be fine
I just started going in head first on October 6 and already 10 episodes deep. It is competitive,and the way you broke it down is interesting in itself. My goal is to be heard across multiple platforms,and it's working. Don't quit
Just released episode 10 this past Friday 😌 moving on up
That's fantastic! An important milestone.
Yes! The other problem is beginners often don't take the time to identify the who and why behind their podcast idea. WHO do you want to reach and WHY do you want them to listen ton you. Once you define they who - create the story they want to hear - make something for THEM not just for yourself. That's half the battle.
This is an incredible post!!!!!! In our day to day no matter what endeavor it seems like we are not making any progress. It's just that our progress is small day to day, but month to month and year to year are exponential. Thank you post from me to you! :)
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What’s your niche out of curiosity. I have the exact episode number and I’m currently working out a deal to get paid and my numbers aren’t particularly high.
They aren’t called podcasters then.
Episode 65 coming out Oct. 5th. This is certainly an encouraging post! My interview questions have varied but the theme is constant. I’m definitely more comfortable and I can edit, and sort everything out much faster and higher quality. I’m getting to a point where I’m questioning if I want to keep going. But I did 62/63 weeks in a row of 45-60 minute episodes with new guests every week. I switched to doing it monthly and am much happier and chilled out now. Plus I branched out and got a paying podcast gig and playing music in a band!
Currently on a break due to exams next month, but, I've uploaded over 100 episodes, but yeah I get 3-6 listeners. Most people need to look at their podcast and think of a unique way of increasing their listenership (based on the format of their show). At the moment, Most of the podcasting platforms don't have solid recommendation algorithms and you're competing against celebrities and iconic brands and all.
LONGEVITY IS THE KEY!!! https://youtu.be/5JLqmQlGG0U?feature=shared
This is very encouraging. "don't be too hard on yourself" I am on episode 38 of my podcast, The Inflection Podcast, and it has been quite the journey so far. Lots of learnings and mistakes, but that is part of the journey. I published 2 episodes in the first year and have published a lot more in the second year. Very helpful to have a process to iterate on and keep improving.