Summary

In this conversation, Tony Porter discusses the importance of retaining podcast listeners and how to improve completion rates. He emphasizes the need to focus on the listeners you already have and ensure they stick around. Porter explains that the average completion rate is a key metric for podcast health and growth. He advises podcasters to hook their audience in the first few minutes with a compelling intro and to avoid distractions like ads or calls to action. Porter also shares a case study of a podcaster who significantly increased their downloads by improving their intro. He concludes by highlighting the ongoing work required to keep listeners engaged and the importance of having great episodes beyond just the intro.

Takeaways

Focus on retaining the listeners you already have, not just gaining new ones.

The average completion rate is a crucial metric for podcast health and growth.

Hook your audience in the first few minutes with a compelling intro that clearly communicates the value of the episode.

Avoid distractions like ads or calls to action in the intro.

Improving the intro can significantly increase downloads and listener retention.

Continuously work on creating great episodes beyond just the intro to keep listeners engaged.

Sound Bites

"Retention is key to podcast success."

"Hook your audience in the first three to five minutes."

"A good completion rate depends on your podcast format and episode length."

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Listener Retention in Podcasting

01:19 Understanding Completion Rates and Episode Intros

Keywords

podcast, listeners, retention, completion rate, intro, hook, case study