- Podfest Messenger
- Posts
- Is Your Podcast Attention Worthy? What Makes Listeners Hit Play
Is Your Podcast Attention Worthy? What Makes Listeners Hit Play
Podcasting is a long game, but you’ve got 10 seconds to prove you’re worth it.
And let’s be honest: those 10 seconds aren’t happening in a soundproof vacuum. They’re competing with Slack pings, Spotify autoplay, and the dopamine drip of short-form video. Attention isn’t something listeners hand over. It’s something your podcast has to earn.
Audiences aren’t inherited; they’re earned. People don’t press play because your logo is familiar; they do it because the content looks interesting and keeps its promises. They stay because it sounds like it was made for them, not by you. And they come back because it delivers, episode over episode.
So, skip the assumption that listeners will show up simply because you did. If you want their time, your content has to warrant it, and that means making something so good, people want to tell their friends about it.
Your podcast isn’t just competing with other podcasts anymore. It’s fighting for airtime against Instagram Reels, a new TV series, and GIFs in the group chat. And in an attention economy where time is limited and distractions are infinite, listeners are making choices in milliseconds. Read More
Article originally written by Tianna Marinucci and published on CoHost.
Algorithms. Video. Spotify. YouTube. The very definition of what a podcast even is. No doubt about it: Podcasting is changing fast. And what it takes to market, grow, and profit from podcasting is too. This report exists to get to the bottom of that simple question.
Based on a survey of 311 podcasters who shared 12 months of month-by-month download data, the report breaks down these shows according to both growth rate and show size and compares and contrasts their approaches to creating and marketing their shows, as well as updating the marketing benchmarks established by the 2023 and 2024 reports, and introducing two new segments, including data on how podcasters are approaching and utilizing video podcasting, in particular, on YouTube. Read More
Article originally published on Podcast Marketing Academy.
With over 5 million podcasts out there, most creators never really break through the noise. In his video, Patrick Bet-David from Valuetainment lays it out clearly: the top 10 podcasts pull in 35% of all listens, and everyone else is left scrambling for attention. If you’re thinking of starting a podcast just to make money, don’t bother. What really matters is having something to say, enjoying the process, and bringing your unique voice to the table. Pick a topic you genuinely care about, something you can dive deep into, and build from there.
Podcasting saw a huge boom during COVID when everyone was stuck at home and content was everywhere. But now? A lot of shows have disappeared as people realize it’s not as easy as it looks. Patrick shares 20 practical tips on how to grow a podcast the right way. It starts with being yourself, starting small, and sticking with it. Whether you're talking to your neighborhood pizza guy or chatting with your barber, the point is to show up, be real, and keep going. The growth comes with time. Watch Now
he first smart speaker – the Amazon Echo – debuted a little more than a decade ago. I remember hearing quite a bit of excitement in the podcasting community because many saw these new speakers as a boon for the medium. By 2021 the devices were in a third of US households, fueling more enthusiasm. In 2022 Edison Research and NPR teamed up for the third edition of “The Smart Audio Report,” which found 47% of those with a smart speaker purchased it, in part, to listen to podcasts.
That was also the last edition of the report. And, today, we don’t hear so much about them.
What Happened to Smart Speakers?
Since then, adoption has pretty much plateaued, increasing by only two points – from 33% to 35% of Americans aged 12+ – from 2021 to 2025, according to Edison’s Infinite Dial. Read More
Article originally written by Paul Riismandel and published on Signal Hill Insights.
🎤 🎧 Join us on Mind Over Matter, with Aanya the podcast where mental toughness meets real-life solutions. Explore the intersection of psychology, self-improvement, and personal growth with our expert hosts and inspiring guests. Each episode delivers actionable strategies, cutting-edge research, and transformative stories to help you overcome obstacles, build resilience, and unlock your full potential.
🎤 🎧 Join Pete (former host of Pete Cornerstore) and his brand new podcast called Pete vs Anxiety as he talks about mental health and breaks the stigma that mental health is being talked about enough
🎤🎧 Join host Nic Nierras on a raw and introspective journey as she explores the depths of self-worth and existentialism on You’re Worthless. Through personal anecdotes, expert interviews, and thought-provoking discussions, this podcast challenges societal norms, delving into the delicate balance between self-doubt and self-discovery. Uncover the hidden layers of your being, confront insecurities, and embrace your true potential. Let the juxtaposition of your very soul guide you towards self-acceptance and profound transformation.
🎤🎧 Bringing you stories of top entrepreneurs, savvy business owners, leading digital marketers, and trendsetters. Want to start your own financial literacy journey? Join us on the Financial Freedom Podcast with Christopher H Loo. MD-PhD.
Morgan James Publishing has revolutionized book publishing—from the author’s standpoint.
Morgan James teaches authors strategies to leverage their books and grow their businesses—adding value while staying out of the way.
Ranked by Publishers Weekly as one of the fastest-growing publishers in the nation ten times in our short history. Morgan James is reported to be “the future of publishing.”