Data-Driven Podcast Growth

Data is like your podcasting superpower, folks! If you want to grow your show, you gotta get your hands on the right stats. Seriously, knowing what’s working and what’s not can save you from wasting your time. We dive into the nitty-gritty of how to collect and use data from places like Apple and Spotify to figure out your audience and their habits. Don’t worry, we’ll also have a laugh or two about how confusing all this can be, because who doesn’t love a good irony sandwich? So, buckle up, and let’s turn those numbers into something that actually helps your podcast shine! Data Sources: podcastsconnect.apple.com You can see how many Apple followers you have, and how far they are listening (and compare episodes to median and best numbers. podcasters.spotify.com You can see how many Spotify followers you have as well as demographic data of your audience. You can also see how far people listen. You can also see how often your show was shown, and how that lead to people listening. podcasters.amazon.com You can see how many people on Amazon Music are following you, how many downloads you get and how far people listen Your Media Host This could be Captivate, Buzzsprout, Blubrry, Transistor, Libsyn, etc (I do not recommend Spotify). Here you can see how many downloads you get per episode, and see the location of your audience. Google Analytics Here you can see the top pages of your website, among many other things. You can find it at analytics.google.com YouTube YouTube statistics are impressive and show you an insane amount of detail. The stat I look at is how far people watch. Keep in mind a video on a YouTube short is anything above zero Audience Survey When in doub,t ASK YOUR AUDIENCE. This is the #1 way to get direct feedback from your audience. Check out the book, "The Audience in Listening" by Tom Webster, regarding creating a survey (or use the one built into Podpage). Takeaways: Data is your podcasting superpower; it helps you know what's working and what's not. If you're seeking sponsors, understanding your audience demographics is absolutely essential. Start with the end in mind; knowing your goals helps you get the right data. Don't just hope for feedback; ask your audience directly with surveys for better insights. Using platforms like Google Analytics can reveal hidden gems about your podcast's online performance. Remember, marketing your podcast is as essential as creating it; be strategic about your approach. Links referenced in this episode: Episode 896 on UTMs Book - The Mom Test: How to talk to customers & learn if your business is a good idea when everyone is lying to you Book The Audience is Listening by Tom Webster podcastsconnect.apple.com podcasters.spotify.com podcasters.amazon.com analytics.google.com Google Webmaster Dashboard School of Podcasting Google UTM Creator - Video DISCLAIMER: All opinions are mine. Some links are affiliate links, meaning that if you buy something through a qualifying link, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. Mentioned in this episode: Live Appearances I loved connecting with my audience. Here are the next events I will be at: November 11: Podindy.com (use the coupon code SOP) February 23-26, 2027: National Religious Broadcasters nrb.org I'd love to speak at your event. Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/contact Where Will I Be? Question of the Month: The Smallest Amount of Downloads We all want a bigger audience. We all put a lot of work into our shows. With this in mind, what is the smallest amount of downloads you would do the show for? If it drops below a number would you stop, or put effort into finding out why? Does the size of your audience matter? Go to schoolofpodcasting.com/question by August 28th (and don't forget to say a little bit about your show and your website address so I can link to it in the notes) School of Podcasting You Have A Message That Needs to Be Heard You have a message that needs to be shared. Discover the art of podcasting at the School of Podcasting. We teach you to shine a light on your stories, inspiring others one episode at a time. Let your voice be your legacy. Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/join School of Podcasting Check Out Dave's Newsletter With Behind the Scenes Content In each issue of Podcasting Observations, I share my thoughts on what is happening in the podcasting space, my latest content, and things that have caught my eye. I also may ask for your opinion. Join the free community Podcasting Observations