I see podcasters ask this in several methods: “Ought to I hold going if I’ve solely 10 listeners?” “Solely 100?”
The query should not be, “Is my viewers large enough?” As an alternative, the higher query is, “Is that this podcast nonetheless fulfilling the explanation I began it?”
Viewers dimension can matter. I’m not going to fake numbers are meaningless. However they aren’t the one measurement of podcast success, and for some podcasts, they won’t even be a very powerful measurement.
So earlier than you let the phrase “solely” discourage you, ask your self these 4 questions.
1. Why did you begin podcasting?
This isn’t an accusation. It’s an invite to recollect.
Why did you begin your podcast within the first place?
Possibly you needed to grow to be identified for one thing. Possibly you needed to construct a enterprise. Possibly you needed to share your experience, join with individuals who care about the identical factor, or just have enjoyable speaking about one thing you’re keen on.
That’s why I typically speak about podcasting P.R.O.F.I.T.—and no, it’s not solely about cash. P.R.O.F.I.T. stands for:
- Recognition
- Relationships
- Alternatives
- Enjoyable
- Earnings
- Tangibles
You and your viewers can achieve any mixture of these out of your podcast. However you don’t want all of them. You is likely to be pursuing just one.
For extra on that framework, hearken to “What Is Podcasting PROFIT?” from episode 320 and “Why You Ought to Put Podcasting P.R.O.F.I.T. First” from episode 388.
For a lot of unbiased podcasters, I feel the R and the F—relationships and enjoyable—matter most. They began as a result of they needed to speak about one thing they love, and so they hoped to attach with different individuals who like it, too.
If that’s your why, then viewers dimension won’t matter as a lot as you assume.
Is it mechanically extra enjoyable to have 1,000 listeners as a substitute of 10 if the standard of engagement is similar? In all probability not. And a smaller viewers doesn’t imply a lesser viewers. It would merely provide you with a greater alternative to go deeper with the people who find themselves already listening.
That’s one purpose I feel depth issues a lot in podcasting. Breadth is straightforward to measure. Downloads, followers, rankings, and chart positions are all seen. However the depth of your relationship together with your viewers is likely to be a greater signal of whether or not your podcast is definitely doing what you hoped it will do.
So earlier than you ask whether or not your viewers is large enough, ask why you began. Then let that “why” drive your content material, presentation, manufacturing, and promotion.
2. Are you reaching your “why”?
When you bear in mind why you began, the subsequent query is whether or not you’re really reaching it.
In case your aim was enjoyable, are you having enjoyable?
In case your aim was relationships, are you constructing relationships?
In case your aim was earnings, alternatives, reputation, or one thing tangible, are you transferring towards that?
My first podcast was a clear comedy podcast referred to as The Ramen Noodle. Its major aim was easy: have enjoyable. I had humorous tales I needed to share, and I assumed different individuals may get pleasure from them, too.
That was it.
Sure, I experimented with the present. Sure, I checked out doable methods to monetize it. However the primary aim was enjoyable. And since we have been having enjoyable, the podcast was succeeding at what it was created to do.
That is the place you’ll want to be trustworthy about your individual podcast. Don’t decide a relationship-and-fun podcast by the requirements of a media empire. And don’t decide an income-focused podcast solely by whether or not it was satisfying to document.
Totally different objectives want totally different measurements.
In case your podcast is a part of your small business, you in all probability do want to judge whether or not it’s serving to your small business. But when your aim was to benefit from the matter and construct significant connections, then a “small” viewers may already be sufficient to meet that aim.
Particular thanks
Talking of deeper engagement, I need to thank a few individuals who not too long ago supported The Audacity to Podcast by means of Podcasting 2.0 streaming funds.
Particular because of Lyceum, who streamed 1,219 § after which 1,776 § on episode 433, “4 Forms of Podcast Niches—It’s Not Simply Your Matter!” Lyceum stated:
“I’ll share this episode with two co-hosts for a forthcoming podcast that we’re planning. Now we have recorded materials for 4 episodes to date, and we’ll launch it within the close to future. I’ll speak about this episode as I’m celebrating 20 years as a podcaster, and I plan to publish some new episodes for EGO NetCast, Pluck the Day, Swing That Gig!, and Tea Get together Media, on my birthday, on Could 25.”
Congratulations, Lyceum, on 20 years of podcasting! I’ve been listening to podcasts for 20 years, however I’m “solely” round 18 years into really podcasting. And I nonetheless like it.
And thanks to Bryan Entzminger for streaming 459 §. I vastly recognize that help!
That form of help connects on to this query of success. I didn’t begin The Audacity to Podcast primarily to become profitable. I began it to share issues podcasters ought to contemplate, problem assumptions, educate podcasters, and provide the guts and educate you the instruments to begin and develop your individual podcast for ardour and revenue.
That’s the aim. And I do really feel like I’m reaching it.
Even when I had “solely” 100 listeners, I’d nonetheless contemplate the podcast successful if it helped these 100 individuals podcast higher.
So what about your podcast? Is it reaching the objectives that matter to you?
3. What are you doing to work towards your objectives?
That is the place the query will get extra uncomfortable.
In case your aim is to earn cash out of your podcast, don’t anticipate the “Area of Desires” mannequin to work: “When you publish it, mattress sponsors will come.”
They in all probability gained’t.
If you’d like a bigger viewers, what are you really doing to achieve new individuals? You might publish a incredible podcast in all the best locations and nonetheless not develop a lot in case you are not doing something to deliver individuals to it.
And I’ll be trustworthy: I’m not nice at advertising my very own services and products, like Podgagement and PodChapters. I consider they’re helpful, modern, and genuinely useful for podcasters. The individuals who use them often like them. However extra individuals have to see them, strive them, and perceive how they may also help.
So I’ve to ask myself the identical query: what am I doing to work towards that aim?
I’m studying tips on how to attain the best prospects, talk advantages extra clearly, and make the worth extra apparent. I’m studying books, listening to podcasts, and even utilizing AI to assist me assume by means of concepts and duties.
That’s not magic. That’s work.
And your objectives want work, too.
In case your aim is relationships, are you inviting responses and following up? In case your aim is alternatives, are you making your experience seen and straightforward to behave on? In case your aim is enjoyable, are you defending the components of your workflow that truly make podcasting satisfying?
Some podcasters do nothing to deliver concerning the outcomes they need after which get annoyed when these outcomes don’t arrive.
Let me be blunt: if you happen to’re doing nothing towards the aim, you in all probability shouldn’t be shocked by nothing taking place.
4. How will you spend money on what you’ve gotten proper now?
It’s straightforward to obsess over the subsequent factor: the subsequent milestone, the subsequent sponsor, the subsequent alternative, the subsequent thousand listeners.
However what are you doing with the viewers you have already got?
If 10 individuals hearken to your podcast, are you aware their names? May you be taught why they pay attention? May you ask what they get pleasure from most, what they need extra of, or what downside your podcast helps them resolve?
Do issues now that don’t scale.
When your viewers is small, you may personally reply to messages, ask considerate follow-up questions, point out listeners by identify, learn their feedback, reply their questions, and make them really feel like actual individuals matter to your podcast—as a result of they do.
Sure, a few of which may not scale to 10,000 listeners.
That’s tremendous.
You don’t have to scale what you’re doing for 10 individuals. You should serve the ten individuals you’ve gotten.
And if you make investments deeply in your present viewers, they’re extra possible to assist your podcast develop. They could share it, help it, ship questions, go away suggestions, or just grow to be extra related to the present.
Engagement typically creates extra engagement. When listeners hear another person’s remark learn, query answered, or suggestions mentioned, they typically assume, “Hey, I’d like my message learn, too!”
So don’t focus solely on the individuals who aren’t listening but. Serve the people who find themselves.
When you love The Audacity to Podcast and worth the podcasting inspiration and schooling I present, would you please contemplate giving again what it is price to you?
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Disclosure
This submit might include hyperlinks to services or products with which I’ve an affiliate relationship. I could obtain compensation out of your actions by means of such hyperlinks. Nevertheless, I do not let that corrupt my perspective and I do not suggest solely associates.
