Bigger isn’t always better…
“How long should my podcast be?” is a question that stumps almost every podcaster.
And it’s one people spend way too much time worrying about because the answer is simple…
The ideal length of your podcast is the ideal length for your content.
There should be no fluff, no additional crap, no rabbiting on for 20 minutes before you get to the good stuff.
You need to be respectful of your listener’s time and only include the best of the best.
And that often means the sweet spot for your podcast will be a lot shorter than you think.
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Remember, there are no rules in podcasting
In radio, you’ve got strict rules about how long you can talk because you’ve got to play music and get to the ad breaks.
And while this often feels restrictive it develops serious discipline and a skill for getting to the point quickly.
In podcasting, you don’t have any of those restrictions or parameters.
And while that freedom is amazing, if you don’t have the self-control to reign it in, it can mean your podcast can go on for way longer than it should.
So what are some things you should take into consideration when coming up with the ideal length for your podcast?
What suits your audience?
If you know who your podcast is for, decisions about the structure, format and length will become much easier.
For example, if you’re ideal listeners are working mums, they’re definitely going to prefer quick 15 minute episodes to meandering hour-long ones.
If you’re doing a podcast for travellers, they’ll probably prefer longer episodes because they’ll have the time to consume it.
Whatever length you choose, you always want to leave your listeners wanting more.
And ideally, your podcast should finish at a point that leaves them thinking “I can’t wait for the next one!”
It’s also important to note that length is no measure of professionalism.
A 15-minute episode packed with awesome content doesn’t say “I’ve got my training wheels on and can’t come up with any more content to fill this episode.”
It says “I know my audience doesn’t have a lot of time so I’m only giving them the best of the best.”
What suits your content?
If your show is an in-depth deep dive on a complex topic you’re not going to be able to do that justice in under ten minutes.
Conversely, if you can get your content out quickly there’s no reason to pad your show out for 45 minutes just because you think that’s how long a podcast should be.
Here’s some of the lengths I’ve gone with on my personal podcasts…
You’ve Gotta Start Somewhere – these episodes were an hour or longer because I was sitting down with a media personality dissecting their entire career so you needed some time to get that story out.
Me And My Tiny Human – this podcast is me unpacking whatever solo-parenting conundrum that’s top of my mind that week so I don’t need to talk for an hour and most of my eps are around 15 minutes.
PodSchool – this podcast is all about sharing short, actionable tips to help listeners build a successful podcast so sometimes the episodes are less than 10 minutes if the tip I’m talking about can be covered off that quickly.
Whatever length you decide on, remember editing is non-negotiable if you want your show to sound professional.
It takes time, but it’s one of the most important things you can do to keep your audience engaged because you’re making sure they’re only getting the best bits of your content.
What’s REALLY achievable?
When you’re starting out it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of longer episodes only to realise it’s not sustainable.
Delivering content consistently is one of the most important factors if you want your show to be a success so you need to settle on a length you can maintain.
Filling 40 minutes to an hour is easy when you’re standing at the starting line, flush with ideas.
But you need to think about what’s going to be doable seven months or even seven years down the track.
If you’re not sure how easy it’s going to be to fill a longer show, try practising before you go live so you know how much work goes into releasing longer episodes and you can find your sweet spot.
And if you’re thinking about doing long episodes, don’t forget to factor in the time it takes to edit.
If you’re recording 90 minutes of audio to cut down to 45, it’s going to take you 90 minutes just to LISTEN to that episode before you’ve changed anything.
Editing a long show properly means going through your content multiple times and that can be a huge weekly commitment.
What’s your motivation?
If you start thinking “I need to fill an hour because most of the shows I listen to are an hour,” it’s going to be a painful ride for both you and your listener.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking your show should be the same length as the podcasts you love but what works for (insert your favourite show here) isn’t necessarily what’s right for your audience (or you).
Trying to copy someone else’s format can lead to burnout, inconsistent delivery, or a show that doesn’t feel like yours.
So keep your focus on your own show and what you can realistically sustain because there’s no one way to do a podcast and longer definitely doesn’t mean better.
Especially since people often don’t make it all the way through a podcast episode.
When you’re coming up with the right length focus on your show, your audience, and your schedule rather than comparing yourself to others because what’s right for them might not be right for you.
Think about what your listeners expect
One thing about an audience is once they’re checking in on your content every week and they know what to expect they won’t like it if things change.
That doesn’t mean they won’t be responsive to the show evolving and improving but one thing that doesn’t look like an improvement is when you significantly shorten the length of your episodes.
This doesn’t mean you have to deliver the same length every week to the millisecond.
But if you start out at 30 minutes it’s always good to keep it as close as possible to that time.
If you start with shorter or more manageable episodes you can always surprise your audience with bonus episodes.
Ultimately, it’s much better to give them something they weren’t expecting than take something away.
Remember: There’s no magic number
The perfect podcast length doesn’t come from an algorithm or a study.
It comes from knowing your audience, being clear on your content, and committing to a format you can deliver consistently.
That might be five minutes or it might be fifty, but either way, it needs to work for you AND your listeners.
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One Response
Good advice! Although, it still leaves me wondering how long to make my podcast. lol. And I’m not even sure what to make my show about. I think I just want to interview interesting people, like Marc Maron and Joe Rogan too. But maybe I’d be nuts to record an hour and a half daily. I did interview an actor last week and we chatted for 90 minute. But I don’t know if anyone would want to listen to it. I could send you the file to see what you think! Or I could interview you for the show!