{"id":3804,"date":"2026-04-13T20:57:50","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T20:57:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/?p=3804"},"modified":"2026-04-13T21:48:13","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T21:48:13","slug":"podcast-analytics-grow-monetize","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/","title":{"rendered":"Use Podcast Analytics to Grow Followers &#038; Make Money"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your podcast&#8217;s analytics are an invaluable tool to help you better understand your listeners, gain more followers and make money podcasting (potential sponsors will want to see your analytics!).&nbsp;<br><br><a href=\"https:\/\/iabtechlab.com\/compliance-programs\/compliant-companies\/#podcast-compliance\">As an IAB Tech Lab certified company, RSS.com<\/a> provides podcasters with reliable data to make informed decisions about audience insights, sponsorships, and content strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let\u2019s dive into what metrics and insights are offered <a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/understanding-your-podcast-analytics\/\">in RSS.com&#8217;s Podcast Analytics<\/a> and how to use them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"sllv-video -type_vimeo\" data-provider=\"vimeo\" data-video=\"1007749175\"><a class=\"sllv-video__link\" href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1007749175?share=copy\" rel=\"external noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sllv-video__media lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Video\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i.vimeocdn.com\/video\/1924734718-566e2724f74e1545f66cd6e6f9f26df4aa09b83c7a0060c994ae15a360c7c159-d_640?region=us\"><\/a><button class=\"sllv-video__button\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Play Video\"><svg width=\"76\" height=\"43\" viewBox=\"0 0 76 43\"><path class=\"sllv-video__button-shape\" d=\"M5 0h65.5a5.3 5.3 0 015.333 5v33a5.3 5.3 0 01-5.333 5H5a5 5 0 01-5-5V5a5 5 0 015-5z\"\/><path class=\"sllv-video__button-icon\" d=\"M31.034 30.98L31 31V12l15.834 9.456z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-podcast-analytics-what-we-measure\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"podcast-analytics-what-we-measure\"><\/span>Podcast Analytics: What We Measure<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"podcast analytics RSS.com\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/tracking-podcast-analytics-dashboard-graphs-e1638554821611.jpg\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you sign up for an <a href=\"https:\/\/dashboard.rss.com\/auth\/sign-up\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">RSS.com podcast hosting account<\/a>, you get instant access to a robust analytics dashboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you have started uploading your episodes, you\u2019ll be able to see the following metrics:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your downloads for the last 7, 14, 30, 90, or 180 days (or &#8220;all time&#8221; for users with the Podcast Networks plan): refreshed every 24 hours.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>With the <strong>Free Local and Niche Plan<\/strong> you get 30 days worth of analytics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>All in One Podcasting<\/strong> includes 180 days of analytics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Podcast Networks <\/strong>plans include total downloads. This &#8220;all time&#8221; data helps you see how your shows are growing year-over-year (YOY): updated daily.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rolling Average Subscribers (RAS): Refreshed every 24 hours following the release of a new episode.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Note<\/strong>: This metric requires a minimum of 3 published episodes to be measured. Once 24 hours have passed since the publication of a new episode, this value ceases to update until another episode is released.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Learn more about RAS and get a better understanding of all the metrics we measure in our <a href=\"https:\/\/help.rss.com\/en\/support\/solutions\/articles\/44002013700\">RSS.com Analytics Overview<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Downloads (trend): refreshed on a daily basis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Top episodes (5 episodes and all episodes): updated daily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Top 5 locations and all geolocations: updated daily. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Download distribution by location (World map): updated daily<s>.<\/s><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Download time and Day of the Week heatmap: updated daily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Devices, platforms, client apps: updated daily<s>.<\/s><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Comparison tab: compare two episodes from your podcast catalog to see how they stack up against each other.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Episodes tab: Get individual insights for each of your episodes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With <a href=\"https:\/\/compliance.iabtechnologylab.com\/compliant-companies-certs\/1742847207020-RSS.com_-_IAB_Podcast_Measurement_3.18.2025.pdf\">RSS.com\u2019s IAB-certified analytics<\/a>, you can trust that your data meets industry standards, giving you the confidence to make data-driven decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We take data accuracy seriously. Our analytics system automatically filters out bot traffic, spam downloads, and other non-genuine listener activity to ensure your numbers reflect real audience engagement. This means you can trust that your download counts represent actual people choosing to listen to your content, not artificial inflation from automated systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To access your <a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/features\/podcast-analytics\/\">Podcast Analytics<\/a>, simply log in to your RSS.com account, and select \u201cAnalytics\u201d in the top menu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/how_to_use_rss.com_podcast_analytics-1024x844.png\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-your-podcast-analytics-matter\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"why-your-podcast-analytics-matter\"><\/span>Why Your Podcast Analytics Matter<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The metrics in your analytics will provide you with critical information that you can use to determine how your show is performing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, suppose you start uploading episodes with a new theme or layout, and want to track whether or not the changes are <a style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); background-color: #ffffff;\" href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcasters-share-tips-building-audience\/\">resonating with your audience<\/a>. You could send an email asking your audience how they feel about your new direction, but they might not want to tell you their actual thoughts. <b style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size );\">Numbers on the other hand don\u2019t lie<\/b>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the number of downloads decrease compared with previous episodes you\u2019ve loaded, it\u2019s a clear indicator that your audience isn\u2019t as excited with your new direction. However, if you start seeing a massive uptick in downloads, it\u2019s a pretty good bet that your listeners are enjoying the change and you should keep going on your current path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Podcast analytics also helps you understand whether or not your marketing is working.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"podcast analytics RSS.com\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/tracking-podcast-analytics-dashboard-top-5.jpg\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Assume for a moment that <a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/help-your-guests-promote-your-podcast\/\">you\u2019re heavily promoting your show on social media<\/a> one month. If your subscriber numbers and downloads go up, it\u2019s highly probable that your marketing efforts are doing what you want them to.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the flip-side, if you\u2019re not seeing any changes in the number of subscribers and\/or downloads, perhaps social media is not the right place to be promoting your show. Then again, it could mean you need a different strategy if you want to continue using social media for your promotions. At this point, you could attempt paid advertising on social media and see if that moves the needle. The more information you can gather, the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps next month, your focus could be on <a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/score-big-guest-interviews\/\">securing better podcast guests<\/a>. Or you could try getting booked on other podcasters\u2019 shows in an effort to promote your own show. Every change you make should be examined through the lens of your podcast analytics so that you know what is working and what isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"podcast episode downloads by country and city RSS.com\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Screen-Shot-2022-04-21-at-09.56.41-1024x440.png\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>Note: Podcast analytics may not explain outlier events such as an episode suddenly going viral. <\/b>The good news is, that while it\u2019s true your show could randomly take off without a clear indication of what caused it to surge in popularity, your analytics can give you a lot of information under normal circumstances. In other words, if you start examining your analytics as you are working on your promotion efforts, you should be able to clearly see what worked and what didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Numbers going up means your efforts are working, while numbers staying stagnant or going down means your efforts have room for improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>\ud83d\udca1 Pro Tip<\/b>: Only make one change at a time as you are monitoring your analytics so that you know which change caused the movement in your numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you start making a bunch of changes to your podcast all at once, it will be harder to tell which changes positively or negatively impacted your analytics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can analyze click throughs from social media of course, but if you stick to making one significant change per month, it\u2019s easier to determine what is most likely moving the needle for your show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" class=\"lazyload\" data-src=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/tracking-podcast-analytics-day-time.jpg\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-podcast-analytics-sponsors-want-to-see-them\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"podcast-analytics-sponsors-want-to-see-them\"><\/span>Podcast Analytics: Sponsors Want to See Them!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One final thing you should know about your podcast analytics is that they can be <a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-sponsorships-podcorn\/\">your ticket to sponsorships<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because your analytics tell potential sponsors how popular your show is, that is what they use to determine if they want to invest with you. As your numbers increase, it\u2019s a good idea to include your downloads per month in your media kit and\/or advertising page <a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/website-for-my-podcast\/\">on your podcast\u2019s website<\/a>. To paint an even better picture of your audience, you can also look at the analytics on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These platforms can give you information about the demographics of your listeners such as the countries\/regions they live in, the age ranges, and their gender. This information can help you hone in on specific sponsors you would like to pitch for your show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-speaking-of-sponsorships-have-you-heard-about-paid\">Speaking of sponsorships &#8211; have you heard about PAID?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In July 2025, RSS.com launched its PAID feature that automatically places ads in your episodes through dynamic insertion, requiring zero manual setup or advertiser outreach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With just 10 downloads per month, you qualify to start earning revenue immediately. It&#8217;s truly a &#8220;set it and forget it&#8221; solution that lets you focus on what you do best: creating amazing content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/rss-com-launches-paid-easy-programmatic-ads-for-podcast-monetization\/\">Learn more about PAID<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-help-your-podcast-grow-with-stats\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"help-your-podcast-grow-with-stats\"><\/span>Help Your Podcast Grow with Stats<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Are you a visual learner? If so, check out the short video below for a full walk-through of our new analytics!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-vimeo wp-block-embed-vimeo\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"sllv-video -type_vimeo\" data-provider=\"vimeo\" data-video=\"1007749175\"><a class=\"sllv-video__link\" href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/1007749175?share=copy\" rel=\"external noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sllv-video__media lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" alt=\"Video\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i.vimeocdn.com\/video\/1924734718-566e2724f74e1545f66cd6e6f9f26df4aa09b83c7a0060c994ae15a360c7c159-d_640?region=us\"><\/a><button class=\"sllv-video__button\" type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Play Video\"><svg width=\"76\" height=\"43\" viewBox=\"0 0 76 43\"><path class=\"sllv-video__button-shape\" d=\"M5 0h65.5a5.3 5.3 0 015.333 5v33a5.3 5.3 0 01-5.333 5H5a5 5 0 01-5-5V5a5 5 0 015-5z\"\/><path class=\"sllv-video__button-icon\" d=\"M31.034 30.98L31 31V12l15.834 9.456z\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-putting-your-podcast-analytics-into-action\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"putting-your-podcast-analytics-into-action\"><\/span>Putting Your Podcast Analytics into Action<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This section is going to cover the immediate next steps you should take so that you can level up your podcast that much faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-listener-demographics-are-your-best-friend\">1. Listener Demographics Are Your Best Friend<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Listener demographics are the features that set your listeners apart from the general public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider factors like age, gender, and geological location (country and city), and you\u2019ll be that much closer to connecting with your audience,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How do <a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/nYhhWyhYhGU\">podcast analytics capture this data<\/a>? Don\u2019t worry, listener information is safe. Instead of giving you individual user data, platforms like Spotify will supply general trend data about your entire podcast listenership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you understand who your audience members are, you have a much better idea of how to relate to them. This relatability and mutual understanding goes a long way when it comes to being a sensational podcaster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding your listener demographic applies to more than just your podcast content. When formatting campaigns or other marketing strategies, these analytics will sway you towards making the most informed choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, if you have a particularly strong following in one city \u2013 use that to your advantage! Consider adding a guest to your podcast with strong roots from that city. Or, maybe you could host a meet-and-greet hangout with your fans in a nearby area too. The sky becomes the limit when you understand your listener demographics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-improve-your-podcast-by-analyzing-episode-download-time\">2. Improve Your Podcast By Analyzing Episode Download Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the easiest ways to improve your podcast is to analyze download time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This metric gives you a bird\u2019s eye view of when listeners are downloading your episodes by time and day of the week.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How will this help you ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you know the time and day your listeners are most likely to be downloading episodes, you can capitalize on that by releasing of scheduling your episodes, and sharing social media updates <b>at those specific times.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It may also help you determine when is the best time to release additional episodes if you choose to increase how frequently you release new content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-plan-your-future-content-around-your-previous-hits\">3. Plan Your Future Content Around Your Previous Hits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not all podcasts are created equal. In fact, not all episodes of a single show are created equal either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While you should be proud of all the content you produce, certain episodes will naturally garner more views and engagement than others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The top 5 episodes and downloads metric will reveal the episodes that have received the most love and attention. If you mirror the duration and type of content as your previous hits, your listeners will be that much more likely to love your future content as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s another way to think about it. Pretend you manage your own grocery store. At the end of the day, you always run out of milk but always have pretzels left over. Which would you prioritize? Because the milk \u2014 aka your previous hits \u2014 are in demand, you would buy more for customers to consume.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-so-what-s-everyone-listening-on\">4. So, What\u2019s Everyone Listening On?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ever consider this question? Well, the answer\u2019s within your grasp with podcast analytics! The listening platform section of your RSS.com analytics can tell you which apps and devices people use to listen to your podcast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With this insight, you can plan accordingly. If a majority of your viewers are on mobile platforms, for example, you may choose to make your episodes on the shorter side because you know your listeners are on the go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, if most viewers are on desktop, you might want to consider podcast episodes that are on the longer side. Listening on a desktop often means the listener is going to remain in one location until the episode is over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This can also be an indicator that it\u2019s a good idea to start creating video podcast episodes as desktop listeners tend to enjoy visual stimuli as they listen as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>\ud83d\udcd8 Related Reading:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/start-podcast-on-youtube\/\">Learn how to start a podcast on YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-interpret-podcast-analytics-from-different-platforms\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how-to-interpret-podcast-analytics-from-different-platforms\"><\/span>How to Interpret Podcast Analytics from Different Platforms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many podcasters will notice differences between the numbers we provide in our analytics vs the numbers being reported by Spotify and Apple Podcasts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This inconsistency is due to two main reasons:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>1. Terminology<\/b> &#8211; These apps and platforms use similar labels that often represent different calculations. For instance, we estimate \u201cFollowers\u201d by calculating the average of the first 24 hours unique downloads for your last 3 episodes, whereas Spotify \u201cFollowers\u201d indicate the number of people who click the \u201cFollow\u201d button on a podcast in the Spotify app.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b>2. Caching<\/b> &#8211;&nbsp;Some podcast apps may cache i.e. store your episode in their servers or locally. Platforms that cache your content typically don\u2019t disclose how and when they do so. Spotify, for instance, is well known for caching your episodes, and in some cases, this may result in discrepancies in the number of downloads and followers being reported in RSS.com&#8217;s Analytics and Spotify\u2019s Insights.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, if one of your episodes is downloaded once via Spotify and it gets cached, it&#8217;s possible that multiple listeners streaming it in Spotify will result in only 1 download displayed in our Analytics.&nbsp;This is a common problem for all podcast hosting services that requires more collaboration across the industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-understanding-listener-engagement-metrics-that-are-specific-to-apple-podcasts-amp-spotify\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"understanding-listener-engagement-metrics-that-are-specific-to-apple-podcasts-spotify\"><\/span>Understanding Listener Engagement: Metrics That Are Specific to Apple Podcasts &amp; Spotify<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While RSS.com provides the most comprehensive view of your podcast\u2019s performance across all platforms, there\u2019s one key metric that only Apple Podcasts and Spotify can provide: <strong>consumption rate<\/strong> (also called engagement rate).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This data shows not just who downloaded your episode, but how much of it they actually listened to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Consumption Rate Matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consumption rate is arguably the most actionable piece of data you can get about your podcast.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It tells you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Where listeners typically drop off in your episodes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whether your intro is too long or engaging enough<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If certain segments consistently lose audience attention<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How your episode length affects listener retention<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finding Consumption Data on Apple Podcasts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To access consumption data on Apple Podcasts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to Apple Podcasts for Creators (not Apple Podcasts Connect)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to Analytics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select your podcast from the list of shows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to the Episodes tab<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for the &#8220;Average Consumption&#8221; column, which shows the percentage of each episode that listeners played on average<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You can also view &#8220;Engaged Listeners&#8221; (those who listened to at least 20 minutes or 40% of an episode) in both the Overview and Episodes sections<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Apple Podcasts shows you the percentage of your episode that listeners consume on average, plus detailed graphs showing where drop-offs typically occur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Note: Apple Podcasts shows average consumption as a percentage per episode. If the percentage is above 100%, it means listeners have played that episode more than once on average. You can also view overall engagement trends in the Overview tab and compare episode performance using the Performance tab.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finding Consumption Data on Spotify<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To access engagement data on Spotify:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to Spotify for Creators<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to Analytics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select your podcast from the overview<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for these key engagement metrics:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Consumption Hours: <\/strong>Total hours users spent listening to your episodes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consumption Hours per person:<\/strong> Average hours each user spends with your content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plays: <\/strong>Number of times users actively listened to your episodes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Streams: <\/strong>Times listened for at least 60 seconds (closest to traditional &#8220;downloads&#8221;)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can also view episode-specific data by going to the Episodes page and selecting individual episodes for detailed performance insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Note: <\/strong>Spotify shifted from \u201cdownloads\u201d to \u201cplays\u201d in May 2025, which affects how they report consumption metrics. Plays are determined by multiple proprietary signals that capture active engagement, while streams require at least 60 seconds of listening.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Spotify, this shift toward more sophisticated engagement tracking gives creators better insights into genuine listener behavior. Truth be told though, it can make direct comparisons with traditional download metrics more complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Making Consumption Data Actionable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s how to use consumption rate insights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If people drop off early (0-5 minutes):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your intro might be too long or not engaging enough<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider shortening your intro or making it more compelling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get to your main content faster<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If people drop off mid-episode:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Look for patterns in your content structure<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You might be losing momentum or going off on tangents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider breaking up longer segments with more dynamic elements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If people drop off near the end:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your outros might be too long<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider ending with a stronger call-to-action earlier in the episode<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Evaluate if your content maintains quality throughout<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Real-World Example<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">RSS.com evangelist Joe Casabona discovered through Apple Podcasts analytics that listeners were dropping off before the 5-minute mark on his episodes. This data revealed his intro was too long. After shortening it, his consumption rate improved significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Complete Picture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Remember: RSS.com analytics remain your primary source of truth for overall performance, reach, and audience insights. Our IAB-certified data aggregates information from all platforms and provides the most comprehensive view of your podcast\u2019s success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Use platform-specific consumption data as a supplement to understand how your audience engages with your content, while relying on RSS.com for the complete picture of who is listening and where they\u2019re coming from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The combination of RSS.com\u2019s comprehensive analytics and platform-specific engagement data gives you everything you need to optimize your content and grow your audience effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2728&nbsp;To learn more about the specific features of RSS.com&#8217;s podcast analytics, including how downloads and subscribers are calculated,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/help.rss.com\/en\/support\/solutions\/articles\/44002259146-how-do-you-calculate-downloads-and-other-metrics-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-good-reading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"more-good-reading-%f0%9f%93%98\"><\/span>More Good Reading \ud83d\udcd8<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/podnews.net\/article\/understanding-podcast-statistics\">How to Understand Podcast Stats<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/bestfriendsclub.ca\/the-difference-between-streams-listeners-on-spotify\/\">The Difference Between Streams &amp; Listeners on Spotify<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/podcasters.spotify.com\/blog\/a-quick-guide-to-spotifys-podcast-metrics\">Quick Guide to Spotify\u2019s Podcast Metrics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/podcasters.spotify.com\/blog\/a-quick-guide-to-spotifys-podcast-metrics\">Apple Podcasts: Measure Your Podcast&#8217;s Performance<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/how-to-upload-a-podcast-to-spotify\/\">How to Submit Your Podcast to Spotify<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/itunespartner.apple.com\/podcasts\/whats-new\/100002358\">Accessing iTunes Podcast Analytics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/how-to-submit-your-rss-feed-to-itunes\/\">How to Submit Your RSS Feed to iTunes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/googleplay\/podcasts\/answer\/6260344?hl=en\">Viewing Your Google Podcast Reports<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/how-to-submit-podcast-to-google-podcasts\/\">How to Get Your Podcast on Google Podcasts and Google Home<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thepodcasthost.com\/promotion\/how-to-make-a-podcast-media-kit\/\">How To Make A Podcast Media Kit<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/how-to-start-a-podcast\/\">How to Start a Podcast: A Step-By-Step Guide<br><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tracking your podcast analytics is a great way to see how your show is performing. Learn how your show&#8217;s analytics can help you grow your follower base and make money!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":20086,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-with-sidebar","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[181,162],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3804","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grow-your-podcast","category-tips-for-podcasters"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.7 (Yoast SEO v27.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Use Podcast Analytics to Grow and Monetize Your Podcast | RSS.com Podcast Hosting<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Gain actionable insights into your podcast&#039;s performance using your Podcast Analytics. Learn how analytics can help you grow and monetize your show!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Use Podcast Analytics to Grow Followers &amp; Make Money\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Gain actionable insights into your podcast&#039;s performance using your Podcast Analytics. Learn how analytics can help you grow and monetize your show!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"RSS.com Podcast Hosting\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-13T20:57:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-13T21:48:13+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/663c8bc92c461f7fc874f896_Product-Image-Reviews-p-800-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"450\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Marc\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Marc\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"14 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Use Podcast Analytics to Grow and Monetize Your Podcast | RSS.com Podcast Hosting","description":"Gain actionable insights into your podcast's performance using your Podcast Analytics. Learn how analytics can help you grow and monetize your show!","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Use Podcast Analytics to Grow Followers & Make Money","og_description":"Gain actionable insights into your podcast's performance using your Podcast Analytics. Learn how analytics can help you grow and monetize your show!","og_url":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/","og_site_name":"RSS.com Podcast Hosting","article_published_time":"2026-04-13T20:57:50+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-04-13T21:48:13+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":450,"url":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/663c8bc92c461f7fc874f896_Product-Image-Reviews-p-800-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Marc","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Marc","Est. reading time":"14 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":["Article","BlogPosting"],"@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/"},"author":{"name":"Marc","@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d69140a5910edb694a7d689758ca8b1a"},"headline":"Use Podcast Analytics to Grow Followers &#038; Make Money","datePublished":"2026-04-13T20:57:50+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-13T21:48:13+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/"},"wordCount":2870,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/663c8bc92c461f7fc874f896_Product-Image-Reviews-p-800-1.jpg","articleSection":["Grow your Podcast","Tips for Podcasters"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/","url":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/","name":"Use Podcast Analytics to Grow and Monetize Your Podcast | RSS.com Podcast Hosting","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/663c8bc92c461f7fc874f896_Product-Image-Reviews-p-800-1.jpg","datePublished":"2026-04-13T20:57:50+00:00","dateModified":"2026-04-13T21:48:13+00:00","description":"Gain actionable insights into your podcast's performance using your Podcast Analytics. Learn how analytics can help you grow and monetize your show!","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/663c8bc92c461f7fc874f896_Product-Image-Reviews-p-800-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/663c8bc92c461f7fc874f896_Product-Image-Reviews-p-800-1.jpg","width":800,"height":450},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/podcast-analytics-grow-monetize\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Use Podcast Analytics to Grow Followers &#038; Make Money"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/","name":"RSS.com","description":"Podcasting Tips, Tutorials &amp; Guides","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/#organization"},"alternateName":"RSS\u2024com","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"RSS.com","url":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/dotcomColorWhiteText-512.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/dotcomColorWhiteText-512.png","width":512,"height":117,"caption":"RSS.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d69140a5910edb694a7d689758ca8b1a","name":"Marc"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3804"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3804\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3804"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3804"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rss.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}