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. Data-driven podcast growth is a topic I never get bored with. We dive look 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:
You can see how many Apple followers you have, and how far they are listening (and compare episodes to median and best numbers.
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.
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 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).
That's Too Many Data Sources!
I get it, you see all these sources of Podcast Data and you might think, “I don't want to have to check all of these!” (and you don't – start with the end in mind and get the data you need to show to get what you are aiming for). But think of the grocery store. We need milk, eggs, green beans, and some soda. When you enter the store, those items are in different aisles, and if you want them all, you have to go to each aisle. As eating is important, we all go to each aisle. If you want your show to grow, you NEED to know what is working.
Please Quit Saying “Find Me Wherever You Find Your Podcasts!”
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.
