Should You Add a Second Episode to Your Podcasting Schedule?

May 17, 2022

Hey Friend!

Do you have a podcast, and you’re really wondering how often you should release a podcast episode? Establishing a podcasting schedule is a very common question that I get from beginner or even experienced podcasters and it’s for good reason! Will releasing a podcast two times per week or recording a mini-episode help grow your audience or increase downloads? Is the extra work worth it? I’m answering all of these questions and discussing the pros and cons in today’s blog post (and podcast).

Should You Release an Additional Podcast Episode Each Week?

Benefits of adding a second show to your podcasting schedule:

More key phrases and SEO-rich content to help you be found in search engines.
More podcast downloads by your loyal listeners which makes the podcast platforms identify your show in recommendations to others.
Helps you stay front of mind. If you put out two episodes per week, your podcast will regularly appear at the top of the list because of your consistent content.
Builds credibility: The more you put quality, life-changing content out in your niche market, the more you become the expert in that area.
Gives you more content for marketing repurposing.

The cons of adding a second show to your podcasting schedule:

Time: The main con of putting out a second episode per week is the extra time it takes. However, in this blog post, I show you how batch recording your podcast episodes can help you get more done faster!
Expense: It can also be more expensive if you outsource your editing or have team members assist with the show. In this podcast episode, I teach you how you can actually sell more by including calls-to-action (CTA’s) in your show!

Keep in mind, that you don’t even need to outsource any of this if you don’t want to! I recorded this episode on my $100 mic, edited it as I went, and then uploaded it myself. From idea to execution of the show, I do most of it myself, putting in the description, show notes, titling, keywords, and SEO of the podcast. My team takes the episode, republishes it, and repurposes it, but that’s primarily it.

Four Questions to Ask Yourself When Deciding How Often to Release a Podcast

1. Do you have the bandwidth to release another podcast episode each week?

Do you have the time and capacity to release an extra podcast per week? How many hours do you have? Is this your full-time job? Do you have the energy and available focus time each week to plan, record, edit, publish and market another episode? If you do, fantastic!
Adding additional weekly episodes has been an integral part of growing my podcast. BUT this is my full-time job, I have the bandwidth, and I also have a team who helps out.
If you don’t have the bandwidth, adding an extra episode can be detrimental. You will be stretched thin, and the content will lose quality. Be honest with yourself about this!

2. Are you always consistent with your current podcasting schedule?

You’ve got to be entirely consistent airing one show per week before you move on to adding more podcast episodes.

To qualify as consistent, each episode should:
- Air on the same day each week
- Be optimized with an SEO keyword-enriched description
- Have quality content
- Be marketed with the same strategy
If your episodes don’t meet these criteria, work on getting this right before adding a new show each week.

3. Can you release a podcast episode twice per week consistently?

Consider your current life and podcasting schedule. Do you have time to add a second show per week? For example: Do you have the kids some weeks and not other weeks? Do you have childcare for some weeks and not for others?
If these are not a resounding YES, don’t go there yet.

4. Do you have enough content ideas to release a podcast episode twice per week?

Are you already struggling to come up with content for your weekly episode? Don’t move on to two shows if you have difficulty coming up with content for one show.
The goal is for content creation to become effortless. Content ideas should flow instead of being challenging.

If you answered yes to the above questions, then yay! You are ready to expand your podcasting schedule to two episodes per week. Start planning your content to create even more solutions for your podcast listeners. This will also give you more marketing opportunities for your business. If you have not yet monetized your podcast, then my Podcast to Profit Mastermind may be the next step for your business!

If you answered no, look at your process and think about if a few adjustments could make time for another podcast each week. Otherwise, stay with the current podcasting schedule of once per week until your business and life allow for additional episodes consistently.

Consider using bonus podcast episodes

If you cannot be consistent with two episodes per week but would still like to add extra shows when you are able, bonus episodes are a great option. Title them “Bonus” to distinguish them from your regular episodes. This is a great way to transition slowly from one to two or even three episodes per week.

I hope this blog post has helped you decide how often you should be releasing podcast episodes. Adding another episode to your weekly podcasting schedule can be a great way to boost your podcast downloads, engage with your audience and stay front of mind so you become the go-to podcast for your audience. Just remember, it’s critical that you stay consistent and produce amazing content for your listener before making the commitment.

How many podcast episodes do you publish each week? Tell us in the comment section below!

I pray this blesses you,