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What's new at the Podcast Collaborative!  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Hi Newsletter Subscribers, This week we talk analytics! This week, let's talk about something most creators skip… Not downloads, but what they really mean.   🧠 The Problem: Downloads ≠ Insight Most podcasters still judge their show by one number: downloads. But downloads don't tell you: if your listeners stayed to the end, which segments they skipped, or why one episode gets shared more than another.   According to Sounds Profitable's 2024 Creator Report, 64% of indie podcasters say they don't know how to act on their analytics—even when they check them weekly. And Edison Research recently found that completion rate and average listen time are now top indicators of podcast success for both creators and advertisers.   The good news? You don't need new tools. You just need better questions. ✅ 5 Questions That Actually Improve Your Next Episode Pull up your podcast host dashboard (Spotify for Podcasters, Apple, Buzzsprout, etc.). Then ask:   1. Which episode had the highest completion rate? ➤ What made it work? Was it the topic, structure, guest, or energy? 2. Where do people usually drop off? ➤ Is your intro too long? Are transitions clunky? Does a segment drag? 3. What do your best-performing episodes have in common? ➤ Topic? Format? Length? Hook? Look for patterns, not just outliers. 4. Where are your listeners located—and can you lean into that? ➤ Could a regional reference, guest, or niche make the show feel more “for them”? 5. Which platforms send the most new listeners? ➤ Double down on the top one. Ignore the ones that don't move the needle. 🔁 Your 3-Episode Deep Dive (Data + Gut = Clarity) Pick your last 3 episodes. Then fill this out (or do it in a notebook): Question:                                                                    Which one felt best to record?   Which had the best data (listen time / retention)?   What surprised you about listener behavior?   What would you try differently next time?     Then ask a peer or listener: “Which part did you enjoy most?”   “Was there a moment you zoned out?”   “Would you recommend this episode to someone?”   The goal? Combine data + gut + audience signal into your next content move. 📝 Want to Track This Week's Takeaways? We've put together a clean, printable template so you can analyze your past 3 episodes side-by-side—without tech overwhelm.   ✅ Compare listen time, retention, drop-off ✅ Reflect on what felt good to create ✅ Gather listener feedback with 3 simple questions ✅ Decide what to repeat, drop, or test next   👉 Download the Weekly Analytics & Gut Debrief Template (Free from The Podcast Collaborative – feel free to share!) 💡 Expert Backing for the Metrics You Should Care About 🎙️ Bryan Barletta (Sounds Profitable): “Completion rate is one of the few metrics that tells you if you're making good content. Not just content that got clicked.”   📊 Tom Webster (Edison Research): “Podcasters who make decisions based on how much of their episode is heard are the ones who grow—not just in downloads, but in loyalty.”   📈 Spotify for Podcasters (2024): Episodes with high early retention (first 5 minutes) are 3x more likely to be saved or shared. 📣 Community Prompt What's one metric (besides downloads) that changed how you approach your show? Reply to this email or comment on the post in the group. I'll share a roundup of the best “aha moments” in next week's issue. ☀️ Stay visible this summer—without burning out. Want help applying these insights and showing up more? Inside the Podcast Collab Club, you'll: ✅ Get featured in guest/host matchups ✅ Stay discoverable with searchable profiles ✅ Keep momentum—even when your schedule slows down   With appreciation, The Podcast Collaborative Team  P.S. Your podcasting journey doesn't have to be lonely. We're here to help you connect with the people who can help you grow. Come check out the Podcast Collab Club! Ready to start taking the guesswork out of finding great guests and the legwork out of landing aligned interviews? Come check out the Podcast Collab Club! The Podcast Collaborative Mansfield, CT 06268, USA Unsubscribe