Episode 322 | Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast | Courtney Elmer

0:45 - Why Download Numbers Deceive You About Your Podcast’s Success
2:18 - 4 Signs That Prove Your Podcast Is Resonating With Listeners
5:27 - The Retention Benchmark That Shows Whether Listeners Are Hooked or Bored
8:03 - The Surprising Reason Listeners Skip Your Show (And How to Stop It)
13:24 - The Listener Feedback That Proves Your Podcast Is Changing Lives

Is Your Podcast Engaging Listeners? 4 Signs to Watch

What if downloads don’t mean what you think they do?

Most podcasters assume more downloads = podcast success. If your numbers are going up, that must mean your audience is growing, right?

Not necessarily.

Podcast platforms count a download even if someone only listens for two seconds. That means your "growth" could actually be nothing more than a revolving door—listeners tuning in, then tuning out just as fast.

So before you assume your podcast is doing fine just because the numbers are increasing, ask yourself a more important question: Are listeners staying?

If they’re skipping episodes or tuning out early, your content isn’t strong enough to hold them. And that means you don’t have an audience growth problem—you have an engagement problem.

And all the downloads in the world won’t grow your show—or your business—if listeners aren’t hooked.

So how do you know if your podcast is actually resonating?

Here are four key signs that prove your content is landing—and what to look for in your podcast analytics to make sure you’re on the right track.

Why Downloads Are Deceiving You About Your Podcast’s Success

So if downloads don’t tell the whole story, what does?

Engagement.

That’s what separates a show people casually check out from one they can’t stop listening to.

Because here’s the reality: Great content alone doesn’t guarantee engagement.

Think about it—how many books have you started but never finished? How many shows have you abandoned mid-season? It’s not because they were bad. It’s because they didn’t hold your attention long enough to make an impact.

Your podcast works the same way. Your show isn’t just competing with other podcasts—it’s competing with everything else your listener could be doing. Scrolling. Working. Watching Netflix. Listening to something else.

If they’re skipping episodes or tuning out early, your content isn’t strong enough to hold them. And that means you don’t have an audience growth problem—you have an engagement problem.

And more listeners won’t fix it. Because even if you had a million downloads, if listeners press play and lose interest a few minutes in, those numbers aren’t just meaningless—they’re misleading.

A high download count tricks you into thinking your podcast is working, when in reality, it’s leaking listeners at every turn. And if they’re not staying, they’re not engaging. If they’re not engaging, they’re not coming back. And if they’re not coming back, your podcast isn’t growing—it’s churning.

4 Signs That Prove Your Podcast Is Resonating With Listeners

Sign 1: Listener Retention: Are People Sticking Around?

Unlike downloads, listener retention isn’t a vanity metric—it’s the foundation of a show that actually grows. Because does it matter if 1,000 people press play if 800 of them tune out in the first five minutes?

A download without engagement is an empty stat. And if listeners aren't actually listening, your podcast isn’t actually working.

Imagine spending hours filling a bucket with water—only to realize there are holes in the bottom.

That’s exactly what happens when you chase downloads but ignore listener retention.

People might press play, but if they’re dropping off within minutes, those listeners aren’t coming back. And a podcast that can’t hold attention won’t grow.

So before you focus on getting more listeners, make sure you're keeping the ones you already have.

How to Check Listener Retention in Your Podcast Analytics

Checking your retention rate isn’t optional—it’s the fastest way to tell if your podcast is actually working.

My good friend Seth Silvers, podcast strategist for the Hormozis and founder of Story On Media, has a simple way to track this:

100% – [Average Episode Length] = Your Retention Benchmark

• Example:

• If your episodes are 30 minutes, aim for at least 70% retention.
• If your episodes are 10 minutes, aim for closer to 90%.

Now that you know where your listener retention should be, it’s time to check where it actually is—and why that gap matters.

1. Log into Apple Podcasts Connect.
2. Calculate your average episode length across your last 10 episodes
3. Calculate your average consumption rate across your last 10 episodes.
4. Compare your actual retention to your target retention to see if you’re on track.

If your actual retention is lower than your target retention rate, it means listeners aren’t engaged, aren’t staying, and aren’t taking action.

And if they’re not staying, they’re not hitting ‘follow’, sharing, or invested in your show.

Sign 2: Are Listeners Taking Action?

Retention tells you who’s listening until the end—but the real test of listener engagement? What they do next.

Engaged listeners don’t just press play. They take action.

• Are they following you on social media?
• Are they joining your email list?
• Are they booking calls, downloading resources, or sharing your episodes?

If your podcast is truly resonating, listeners will do more than just listen. They’ll start conversations, apply what they’ve learned, and come back for more.

How to Track Listener Actions (And Why It Matters)

Your podcast analytics won’t tell you who’s taking action—but that doesn’t mean you can’t measure it. Here’s where to look:

1. Custom Tracking Links & UTM Parameters – If you offer a free resource or lead magnet, you also need to track to see if listeners are actually signing up. Unique tracking links tell you whether your podcast is driving results.
   
2. Intake Forms & Sales Conversations – If you run a business, add “How did you hear about us?” to your forms. You’ll quickly see if your podcast is sending leads your way.

The Red Flag to Watch: Not every listener will take action immediately. Some will need time. Some will listen quietly before engaging. And yes, some will drop off and never return. That’s normal.

The problem? If no one is taking action.

If you’re never getting messages, emails, or comments about your episodes (or if listeners aren’t signing up for your free resources, even after multiple mentions) that’s not a sign they need more time. It’s a sign your podcast isn’t giving them a reason to act.

Because while some listeners need time, others should be raising their hands.

The good news? You can fix this. The right content, messaging, and calls to action give listeners a reason to engage (not “one day” but now). 

Sign 3: Are You Getting Specific, Thoughtful Feedback?

We’ve covered listener retention (who’s staying) and listener action (who’s engaging) But if no one is telling you your podcast is making an impact, how do you know it is?

An engaged audience doesn’t just listen—they respond. Not always with dramatic, life-changing messages. But in small, meaningful ways that prove your content is making a difference.

Hearing “Great episode!” is nice. But “I finally took action on XYZ because of what you said in Episode 47”? That’s a sign your content is making an impact.

If listeners are truly engaged, you’ll see it in their responses:

• “Your podcast helped me see [specific problem] in a whole new way.”
• “I’ve been stuck on [issue] for months, but after hearing your episode, I finally did something about it.”

Where to Look for Feedback That Proves Your Podcast Is Resonating

Think listeners will always DM you with praise? Think again. Most won’t. But if your podcast is truly resonating, the signs are there—you just have to know where to look.

1. Podcast Reviews – Not just the star rating, but what’s actually being said. Do people mention specific episodes, insights, or transformations?
   
   
2. Social Media DMs & Comments – Are listeners messaging you about your content? Quoting you? Sharing their biggest takeaways? Engaged listeners repeat your words back to you.
   
   
3. Listener Emails – Are subscribers replying to your emails, referencing things you’ve said on the show?

The Red Flag to Watch: If no one is referencing your episodes, it doesn’t necessarily mean your podcast isn’t working—but it does mean you have no way of knowing what parts of your message are resonating (or being ignored). And if you don’t know what’s working, you can’t double down on it. Because listeners don’t just respond when something is good. They respond when something moves them.

Sign 4: Is Your Podcast Leading to New Opportunities?

Your podcast should do more than attract listeners—it should open doors.

When your podcast reaches the right audience and positions you as an authority, it should create conversations, collaborations, and conversions. Listeners reach out, guests stay in touch, and industry peers take notice.

But if your show isn’t generating new opportunities—think speaking invitations, media features, client inquiries, or referrals—it might not be positioned to create the impact you want.

Where to Look for Signs Your Podcast Is Creating Opportunities

1. Are industry peers engaging with your content?
• Are other experts referencing your episodes, inviting you on their podcasts, or reaching out for collaborations?
• Are you being cited in discussions, articles, or social media conversations?
  
2. Is your podcast generating real-world opportunities?
• If your podcast is part of your business strategy, is it driving leads, sales, or inquiries?
• If you’re using it to build authority, is it leading to speaking invitations, media features, or sponsorships?

The Red Flag to Watch: If your podcast isn’t leading to new opportunities, it’s not necessarily because it’s not valuable—it’s because it’s not positioning you as someone worth knowing, hiring, or collaborating with.

A podcast that opens doors doesn’t just attract listeners—it builds credibility. It establishes authority. It puts you in conversations you wouldn’t otherwise be in.

The First Step to a More Engaging Podcast

If you made it this far, one thing is clear: your downloads aren’t the real measure of success.

What actually matters? Retention. Action. Feedback. Opportunities.

These four signs tell you if your podcast is truly resonating or if it’s just another show that people skim past.

And the best place to start? Listener retention.

Before you focus on growing your audience, make sure you’re keeping the listeners you already have. Because all the marketing in the world won’t help if your podcast isn’t keeping listeners’ attention.

So here’s your next step:

1. Log into Apple Podcasts Connect or Spotify for Podcasters.
2. Check your average listener retention across your last 10 episodes.
3. Compare it to your retention benchmark.

If your retention is lower than where it should be, that’s your first clue on what to fix.

And if you want to dive even deeper into the psychology of attracting engaged listeners from the start, hit “Follow” for Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast on your favorite podcast app so you never miss a new episode.

Or if you’re ready to turn your podcast into a predictable growth engine (and want expert help building the systems that drive results), book a free strategy call with our team to see if you’re a fit for PodLaunch®—it’ll be the smartest move you make for your podcast this year.

Up Next:

You put in the work. You craft your episodes. You build your brand. But what if someone swoops in and steals it—your content, your show name, even your audience—because you didn’t have the right legal protections in place?

In the next episode, we’re breaking down the most overlooked legal protections every podcaster needs to have in place before it’s too late. (Even if you’re just getting started or think your audience is too small for this to matter, waiting until it’s a problem is a mistake you don’t want to make). Don’t miss it!