E501 - What is more important - Audience Growth or Audience Retention - Create a Home For Your Listeners - The Daily Dave

Episode 501 - What is more important - Audience Growth or Audience Retention - Create a Home For Your Listeners - The Daily Dave

In this short and insightful “Daily Dave” episode, Dave explores a key question for every podcaster: Is audience growth more important than audience retention? Drawing from his own experiences and frequent conversations with podcasting co-hosts, Dave challenges listeners to reflect on what success really means for their show and how to build a community that truly cares.Audience Growth vs. Retention: The Crucial Question

• Growth brings in new listeners, but retention keeps your podcast “in business.”

• It’s not enough to attract listeners—what makes them come back for more?

• Retention is likened to creating a favorite restaurant or coffee shop—a place your audience loves and never wants to leave.

Lowering the Barrier to Entry, Raising the Barrier to Exit

• Make it easy: Ensure new listeners find and fall in love with your content.

• Make it hard to leave: Consistently deliver valuable, genuine episodes that build loyalty.

• Regularly producing helpful, audience-focused content honors listeners’ time and commitment

Beyond Listener Counts—What Is Podcast Success?

• Numbers are just part of the story. Whether you have one or 1,000 listeners, what matters is building community and connection.

• True success comes from serving your core audience—your “true believers,” not just chasing metrics.

• Dave prompts reflection: What number of listeners feels like success to you? What happens when you reach it?

Building Community and Long-Term Engagement

• Lasting podcast growth results from personal engagement, caring about your listener, and treating your show like a “home” for your audience.

• Leading by example—regular releases and a commitment to show up—encourages audience loyalty.

• Focus on keeping listeners excited, engaged, and feeling valued.

Practical Takeaways

• Challenge for Listeners: Don’t just work to grow your podcast—strategize to retain and serve your current audience.

• Lower entry barriers (easy discovery, accessible content); raise exit barriers (consistent value, genuine connection).

• Reflect on what success means for you and define it on your own terms—not just by download stats.

Get Involved

• Feedback & Questions: Dave welcomes episode ideas and listener thoughts at howtopodcast.ca.

• Stay Connected: Subscribe, follow, and keep listening—more valuable content and fantastic guest episodes are coming up on the How To Podcast Series!

Thank you for listening—let’s build community, encourage one another, and make your podcast a home for listeners who can’t wait to come back.

___

⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TheHowToPodcastSeries⁠

⁠https://howtopodcast.ca/⁠