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 kindest thing you can do for yourself (and your show) is to keep doing what you’re doing.

Consistency is the most important ingredient 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 everything.

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 a 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.

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

That way your audience will feel like they’re getting something extra between shows.

Don’t let two emails change your whole strategy

Before you make changes, consider the actual size of the feedback you’re getting.

If your show has thousands of listeners and a handful of people are asking for more that’s great, but not necessarily a mandate to change everything.

Think of those messages as high-fives, not demands you need to break yourself to meet.

Your show, your rules

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to give your audience what they want but it’s important to remember they don’t always know what’s best, for you or even for them.

So be proud of creating a show people enjoy, stay consistent and keep showing up.

And if you ever 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.