Episode 222 | Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast | Courtney Elmer

0:03 - The Dangerous Mistake Most Podcasters Make When Determining Episode Length
2:20 - The Surprising Metric You're Probably Ignoring (But Shouldn't!)
5:24 - How to Nail Your Ideal Episode Length from Day 1
8:16 - Where Your Listener is Tuning in From Matters More than You Think
10:16 - The Easy 2-Step Process to Optimize Episode Length for Maximum Listener Engagement

Finding the Best Podcast Episode Length for Your Audience

Ever wonder what's up with these hosts who love to talk like they're determined to rival Tolstoy with their marathon episodes? (looking at you, Joe Rogan 👀) There's a trend happening right now where 39% of episodes are clocking in over 40 minutes. But that doesn't mean listeners are listening that long. So basing your podcast episode length off some random Google search for "how long should my podcast episodes be" or copying other hosts and making your episodes as long as theirs might actually be causing you to lose listeners.

The perfect podcast episode length ultimately comes down to your listener's specific preferences, which is why I'm going to show you how to figure out exactly how long your episodes should be based on your unique listener data. Ready for your listeners to do the work for a change and tell you exactly what they want? Read on.

How Long Should Your Episodes Be, REALLY? Here's What the Data Says

Want to keep your audience engaged and increase conversions? Of course you do. And the key may lie in your podcast episode length. But when it comes to finding the perfect episode length, here's the thing: there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

Sure, there’s a wide range of podcast episode lengths out there from bite-sized 10-minute episodes to in-depth 90-minute deep dives — but the ideal podcast episode length will ultimately depend on your unique audience and their listening habits. What works for one podcast may not work for another. So, how do you determine the sweet spot for your show? The answer lies in your podcast data.

To figure out your ideal podcast episode length, there are two key metrics you need to look at in your Apple Podcast Connect analytics:

1. Duration: The total length of your episode
2. Average Consumption: The average amount of time listeners spend on each episode

Here's how to calculate your perfect episode length:

1. Calculate the average length of your last 10 episodes by adding up their total duration and dividing by 10.
2. Calculate the average consumption for those same 10 episodes by adding up the average consumption for each and dividing by 10.

The result? You'll immediately see exactly how much of your episodes your audience is actually listening to.

For example, let's say your average episode length is 30 minutes, but your average consumption is only 18 minutes (or 61%). That means your listeners are consistently dropping off before the end of your episodes. No bueno.

Making Data-Driven Adjustments

Armed with this data, you can start making strategic adjustments to your podcast episode length to better serve your audience.

Here are a few things to consider:

1. Experiment with episodes that fit the average amount of time your listeners are listening. If your average consumption is significantly lower than your current podcast episode length, try creating shorter episodes that align with your listeners' attention span.
2. Adjust your calls-to-action: If your CTAs are at the end of your episodes but your listeners aren't making it that far, consider moving them earlier in the episode to help you increase overall conversions.
3. Identify Your Most Popular Episode Topics: Look for episodes with higher-than-average consumption rates to identify topics that resonate with your audience, and consider creating more content around those themes.
   
   

Listen to the Data, Not the Trends

When it comes to podcast episode length, the data doesn't lie. By understanding your audience's listening habits and using metrics like average consumption, you can tailor your content to keep them engaged from start to finish.

Forget about following the latest trends or mimicking what other podcasters are doing. While your listeners may not verbally tell you that your episodes are too long, their behavior will. Pay attention to what the data is telling you and use it to create a better listening experience for your audience. Your audience is unique, and your approach should be too. With the right data-driven strategy, you can find the perfect podcast episode length that keeps your listeners hooked and your conversions climbing.

And if you want more free podcasting advice in your life to help you optimize your show for listener growth and conversions, hit the follow button for Insider Secrets to a Top 100 Podcast on your favorite podcast app so you never miss a new episode.

Or if you’re thinking, “Can you take this off my hands?” Yep we sure can, and we’d love to help. Book a free strategy call with our team to find out if you’re a fit for PodLaunch, so we can give you the blueprint you need to launch your podcast in the Top 100 with bingeworthy content that converts your listeners to clients.

Next Up:

In the next episode, we’re diving into the number one thing platforms like Apple care about when choosing a podcast category, the surprising impact of your podcast category on your show’s growth, and how to determine your ideal podcast category in three simple steps so more people can find your podcast. (So if you’re ready to grow your podcast audience and get discovered by new listeners who have no idea you exist? Don’t miss it).