{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/682f3407fc865cdd04908c36/69b2ca1d6250eadca2c5fdea?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"The #1 Podcast Mistake Entrepreneurs Make","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/682f3407fc865cdd04908c36/1773334984997-a0c132ca-758e-44fa-85c0-301effc7ad59.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>Have you ever opened your podcast dashboard, looked at your downloads, and immediately decided whether your show was a success—or a failure? You’re not alone. Most podcasters are judging their show using numbers they don’t actually understand, and it’s quietly wrecking their confidence and their strategy.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode, I break down what your podcast stats are really telling you, what they’re not telling you, and how to evaluate whether your show is working as a business asset—not just a piece of content.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>In this episode, you’ll learn:</strong></p><ul><li>Why a “download” does <strong>not</strong> equal a listener—and what it actually measures</li><li>How different platforms (your host, Spotify, Apple Podcasts) each tell you a different part of the story</li><li>Why no single dashboard gives you the full picture of your audience behavior</li><li>The three metrics that matter most for entrepreneurs: Listener retention, Completion rate and Subscriber growth</li><li>Why you don’t need thousands of listeners for your podcast to be successful</li><li>How to ask better questions of your analytics: Which episodes spark DMs, shares, or client inquiries?</li><li>Why a small, aligned audience of ideal clients is more powerful than a big, passive audience</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Timestamp:</p><p>00:00 – Why Podcasters Misinterpret Their Analytics</p><p>01:05 – What a Podcast Download Actually Means</p><p>02:20 – Why Podcast Data Comes From Multiple Platforms</p><p>03:20 – The Problem With Relying Only on Downloads</p><p>03:55 – The Metrics That Actually Matter</p><p>04:05 – Listener Retention Explained</p><p>04:25 – Completion Rate and Engagement</p><p>04:45 – Why Subscribers Are Powerful Leads</p><p><br></p><p>The next time you log into your stats, I want you to stop asking, “Are these numbers big enough?” and start asking, “Are the right people listening?” If you’re ready to launch or optimize a podcast that actually supports your business, that’s exactly what we do at Next Step Social. You can learn more at NextStepSocial.com.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Learn more about Katie and Next Step Social &amp; Podcasting:</p><p>Speaking: https://katiebrinkley.com/</p><p>Website: https://www.nextstepsocial.com/</p><p>Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebrinkley</p><p>YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingTrendsNow</p><p>Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkatiebrinkley/</p>","author_name":"Katie Brinkley"}