Podcast Analytics You Should Track & What They Actually Mean

Whether you are just getting started in the podcasting world or have been running your show for years, understanding podcast analytics is crucial for any show’s success. However, navigating the world of podcast metrics can be a daunting task, especially with the many different hosting platforms—each with its unique set of analytics.

In this blog, we dive into some of the most important podcast analytics you should track and how you can utilize them to grow your podcast.

Downloads

Downloads reflect the number of times an episode has been downloaded by your audience. This can help show you the general reach of your podcast and how large your dedicated audience is.

However, it isn’t always the most accurate measure of engagement as it can be influenced by automatic downloads and bots. With this in mind, it’s important to consider download trends rather than simply focusing on the downloads of one episode on its own. See if there are any spikes or lows in downloads over time and consider what may have caused the change.

Plus, just because your episode has been downloaded doesn’t mean it has been listened to. That’s why it’s important to consider other metrics as well.

Streams

Streams refer to instances where listeners stream episodes rather than downloading them onto their devices. You can combine this number with your downloads to get a better idea of how many people are accessing your episodes. Streams as a metric are only available on some podcast platforms, such as Spotify.

Listens

Both downloads and streams lack one key element: who is actually listening? The listens metric fills in this gap by analyzing how many times an episode has been played. What this means depends on the podcast platform, but traditionally it reflects each time someone clicks play on an episode—which includes each time a person relistens or takes multiple visits to finish an episode.

By combining the downloads, streams, and listens analytics, you can gain a better understanding of the reach and popularity of your podcast.

Average Consumption

This metric dives deeper into how people are consuming your content. Also known as a listen-through rate, average consumption shows you what percentage of your episode your audience, on average, has listened to.

This helps you understand what type of content your audience wants to engage with more. A high average consumption rate means your content is retaining listeners throughout more of your episode. Conversely, a lower rate suggests that an episode was not as engaging.

With this in mind, comparing the average consumption rates of different episodes will help you narrow down what your audience wants more of. Maybe there is a topic they are interested in or a specific episode setup they find more interesting. Whatever the difference is, uncovering it can lead you to create content your audience wants to engage with.

Audience Demographics

Understanding your audience's demographics provides valuable insights into your listener base. Podcast platforms and host sites often provide audience demographic information such as age, gender, location, and what device they use to listen in.

Understanding this data allows you to know whether or not your target audience is being reached and, if not, what audience you are reaching instead. It helps you tailor content to match your audience’s preferences and allows for more effective audience targeting in marketing efforts.

User Interactions

There are other ways for your audience to engage with your podcast besides just tuning in. User interactions such as likes and comments on social media or reviews on your podcast hosting platforms can indicate how engaged your audience is with your show.

These interactions can also make or break your podcast. Positive interactions can boost your visibility and credibility, however, negative interactions can do the opposite. Regardless, they provide you with feedback on what your audience enjoys and what they’d like to see improved.

Podcast analytics provide valuable insights into your show’s performance, audience engagement, and the effectiveness of your marketing efforts. Be sure to continuously monitor your chosen metrics, experiment with different approaches, and adjust your strategies accordingly.

By doing so, you'll not only uncover the true potential of your podcast but also forge a stronger connection with your audience, ensuring that your podcast remains a relevant and influential voice in the ever-expanding world of audio content.

At Honest Podcasts, we strive to help value-driven companies launch successful podcasts because we have the drive to help others succeed.

Connect with our team to learn how we can help you easily create strategic content that generates strong leads, develops loyal customers, and makes a positive impact.

Have an idea for a future podcast episode (or a guest in mind that you think would be a great fit)? Send us an email at hello@honestpodcasts.com. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.