What if My Podcast doesn’t last very long?
It’s a real possibility that if you start a podcast you will record and release less than 100 episodes. There I said it. The dirty truth about podcasting ha! Feels good. Still, Let’s go through that worst case scenario for a moment and let’s look at the upside and the downside to not letting podcasting be a forever thing.
According to an interview of 1,076 podcasters by Improvepodcast.com 90% of podcast never post more than 100 episodes. Depending on your background you might see 100 as a lot or just a drop in the bucket. Regardless of your view on 100 episodes, that’s a lot of work! Around half of the shows we work on have 100 plus episodes.
For the sake of this article I’m going to write from the perspectives, conversations, and post show results of those shows that have stopped sub 100 episodes. Some of these shows only recorded around 10 episodes.
The Bad About Stopping A Podcast.
Not sure if I’m the only one, but I often feel like I’ve failed when I stop ANYTHING! It’s a terrible way to live ha! Still, quitting a show can be the right move. Sometimes you find yourself too busy, disinterested, or just not finding the time worth it financially. Whatever the reason, it’s normal to feel like you’ve dropped the ball when you do your final sign off. Just part of starting anything. It has to end too.
Not monetizing your show, or not monetizing quick enough can also be a bummer. Maybe you couldn’t get the right sponsor, the sponsors weren’t paying enough, or just not buying the bigger packages. Whatever the reason, monetization can often leave you with a feeling of missing out on an opportunity.
If you started your show under a different monicker than your business or your name, it can be difficult to know what to do with those assets. In essence you’ve built a brand - what now? This is why we encourage new shows to start under their business name or personal name if possible.
The Good About Stopping A Podcast.
In most cases the opportunities, connections, and meaningful relationships founded by podcasting lead to greener pastures. To access new opportunities it often requires us to say no to good opportunities. This is the most typical reason I’ve seen hosts stop their shows. Because of their hard work, they have landed that dream job or the business has exploded because of the trust they’ve built in the market place. Not a bad reason to stop your show.
In every situation the relationships build through podcasting and the platform that was established remains in tact. At the end of the day, that’s what’s important. Sometimes podcasting can be a means to an end, instead of an end in itself.
The last one has been surprising to me, but dormant shows still get listens. One show in particular continues to be the gift that keeps on giving for this client. While their active listeners have dropped off, each month their show gets hundreds of listens. Allowing them hundreds of touch points with potential clients.
So no, podcasting isn’t always a forever endeavor for most. But it can still be helpful in creating meaningful results for you and your business. Thankfully, the hard work you put in making great content can live on, long after you’ve put down the microphone.