Beyond download numbers - podcast stats you need to track

Summary

This video script emphasizes the importance of tracking comprehensive metrics for a podcast beyond just download numbers. It suggests monitoring episode performance over time, category trends, average consumption rates, and social media engagement. The speaker advocates for repurposing podcast content across platforms like LinkedIn, Medium, and YouTube to track audience interaction and sales. They also highlight the value of tracking newsletter click-through rates and utilizing tools like PodCoach for detailed feedback and improvement over a three-month period.

Takeaways

• 📈 Track more than just download numbers for your podcast to understand its true impact.
• 🕒 Use podcast hosting platforms like Captivate, OmniStudio, and Buzzsprout to analyze download trends over different time frames.
• 📊 Monitor seven-day, thirty-day, and ninety-day downloads to gauge content consistency and episode performance over time.
• 🗂 Categorize your podcast episodes to compare performance and identify which topics resonate most with your audience.
• 🎧 Pay attention to the average consumption rate on platforms like Apple Podcasts to understand listener engagement and retention.
• 📊 Track social media growth and engagement to see how sharing podcast content affects your online presence.
• 🔗 Ensure your podcast serves as a marketing channel by tracking how it drives activity on other platforms and contributes to business growth.
• 📝 Repurposing podcast content for platforms like LinkedIn, Medium, and YouTube can expand your audience and provide additional data on performance.
• 📧 Utilize email newsletters to drive traffic to your podcast and track click-through rates to measure effectiveness.
• 🎥 Consider creating video versions of your podcast for YouTube to access more detailed analytics and engage a different audience demographic.
• 📋 Use tracking tools and spreadsheets to monitor various metrics over time and make data-driven improvements to your podcast strategy.

Q & A

Why are download numbers not the only metric to track for podcast performance?

Download numbers are just one aspect of podcast performance. To understand the actual impact of a podcast, it’s important to also track audience engagement, episode consumption rates, social media activity, and other metrics that show how people are interacting with the content.

What are the benefits of using different podcast hosts like Captivate, OmniStudio, and Buzzsprout?

Each podcast host offers different features. OmniStudio provides detailed hourly data and is effective for dynamic ad insertion, although it can be expensive. Captivate is preferred for its affordability and robust tracking options for seven-day, 30-day, and 90-day downloads, which help analyze audience consistency and episode longevity.

How can tracking episode downloads over different time periods help podcasters?

Tracking downloads over seven, 30, and 90 days helps podcasters understand immediate audience engagement, longer-term interest, and how episodes perform over time. This data can indicate which content remains relevant and continues to attract listeners.

What is the significance of categorizing podcast content into pillars?

Categorizing content into pillars, such as mental health, physical health, and nutrition for a health podcast, helps track how different types of episodes perform. This allows podcasters to see which topics resonate most with their audience and tailor their content strategy accordingly.

Why is it important to track the average consumption rate of podcast episodes?

The average consumption rate indicates how long listeners stay engaged with an episode. A low consumption rate could mean that listeners lose interest or feel satisfied before the episode ends, while a high rate suggests strong engagement. This data helps podcasters improve content to maintain listener interest throughout episodes.

What should podcasters track regarding their social media presence?

Podcasters should track their social media following, engagement with posts, comments, shares, and DMs. Monitoring these metrics helps understand the broader impact of the podcast on social channels and how repurposing content influences audience growth and engagement.

How can newsletters be used to drive podcast engagement?

Newsletters can effectively drive podcast engagement by including a clear, singular call-to-action, such as a link to read the full transcript on the website. Tracking click-through rates and engagement with these links helps measure the newsletter's effectiveness in promoting the podcast.

Why should podcasters consider publishing on YouTube, and what should they track there?

Publishing on YouTube helps reach a different audience who may prefer video content. Podcasters should track views, watch time, retention rates, and engagement metrics like likes and comments. YouTube analytics provide valuable insights into how people discover and interact with the content.

What role does audience feedback play in podcast growth?

Audience feedback is crucial for identifying areas of improvement. Regularly critiquing and adjusting content based on listener responses helps refine the podcast, making it more appealing and engaging, which ultimately contributes to growth.

How can tracking discovery call bookings help measure podcast success?

Tracking discovery call bookings from specific links associated with the podcast helps measure direct business outcomes from the podcast. It indicates how many listeners are engaging with the podcast and taking steps to learn more or work with the podcaster, providing a tangible metric of podcast impact.