What should you do if listeners want longer episodes?

What should you do when your audience wants more?

If listeners are asking for longer episodes, it’s a great sign they love your content.

But before you overhaul your format or double your workload, ask yourself this… Do I actually have the capacity to create longer episodes on a regular basis?

If the honest answer is “no,” the best thing you can do for yourself (and your show) is to leave things as they are.

Consistency is the most important factor in building a successful podcast.

So if longer episodes put that at risk, don’t do it.

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Why saying “no” might be better for your audience

Just because someone asks for more, doesn’t mean they’ll actually consume that additional content.

Sometimes people like knowing they’ve got an hour-long episode waiting in their queue but that doesn’t mean they’ll listen to it.

If you create more content than your audience can realistically keep up with, you risk overwhelming them… or diluting the quality of your show.

What your audience is really telling you

When someone says they want more content, what they’re actually saying is:  “I love what you’re making and I don’t want to wait for the next episode.”

And that’s EXACTLY where you want them to be… hungry for more and excited to hear from you again.

You don’t need to respond by working yourself into the ground.

Instead, take it as a sign you’re doing something right.

What’s the ideal length for a podcast?

Read

How to give your audience more without getting overwhelmed

If you’re keen to give your audience some extra love without burning out, the best way to do that is by dropping bonus episodes.

These can be in any format that works for your show: Q&A’s, behind the scenes updates or a chat about something topical in your niche.

They don’t need to be weekly additions, they can just be extra eps you deliver when you have the bandwidth.

That way your audience feels like they’re getting something extra in between shows.

Don’t let two emails change your whole strategy

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to give your audience what they want.

But if what they want is going to make it difficult for you to keep releasing content, then pleasing them in the short-term might result in them no longer having a show to listen to in the long run.

If you’re getting this kind of feedback, be proud of the fact you’re creating a show people love and focus on how you can keep showing up for them.

If you feel pressured to add more than you can handle, remind yourself…

You don’t have to say yes to every request, especially when “no” is what will keep your podcast alive.