How Many Podcast Episodes Should You Do Per Week?

Hey Friend!

Here’s a question I get asked all the time: How many podcast episodes should I do each week?

How many do I have to do in order to get the most growth possible? Stef, why do you do so many?

I’ve got all the answers for you and some fun strategies to help you ramp up in certain seasons, plus some tactical suggestions!

Testimonial

I am celebrating! My new client searched ‘organized,’ found my podcast: The Organized Coach, resonated with me, loved how I simplified things, booked a call, and purchased a 6-month, $5k coaching package all within a week. I am so grateful I started a podcast! Stefanie, I am grateful for your programs: Podcast Pro University and Podcast to Profit, which I am in now. Thank you for teaching me all the SEO tips and all the things. It really works! My last three one-on-one clients found and got to know, like, and trust me through my podcast, which I started two months ago. Thank you!

I share that testimony with you because Tracy Hoth did a few very simple things. She invested in herself to learn to follow the method she could trust. Then she actually did the work. She implemented the things I taught her. And her last three clients came straight from her podcast? Amazing!

Podcasting Can Help You Grow Your Audience

Speaking of podcasting as a powerful way for you to grow your own audience and potentially get leads in the door, people knocking on your inbox door asking if you coach. That happened for me and now it’s happening for students, like Tracy and many more. It comes through creating a podcast where people can actually connect and resonate with you. People can know, like, and trust you, and ultimately decide to work with you straight from your podcast, without ever speaking with you.

How Many Podcast Episodes Should You Make to Capitalize on Your Online Presence and Grow as Quickly as Possible?

First, look at what is realistic for you. Inventory your time. Get really clear on how much time you have to run your online business. Do a time audit. If you are spending more than two hours a week on socials, I believe that extra time can be chopped. I actually believe you can spend zero time on social media because I don’t believe it helps grow your audience.

I don’t believe having a presence on social media is even helping the know, like, and trust factor. Set up an account in case someone DMs you, but other than that, bless and release because what you could be doing instead is focusing that extra time on getting your long-form content set up. If you’re with me, it’s podcasting. It’s the fastest method of growth.

I have many podcast episodes on this. Get our podcast episode catalog in our Facebook Community at stefgasscommunity.com. Look for it in the guides. You can search for whatever you’re seeking. I’ve got 640-something episodes to support you in this online journey.

One Podcast Episode Per Week

If you have two hours a week or less, I recommend doing one podcast episode per week. This is a great way to start and is realistic for people who have a job or younger kiddos. I would definitely not do any less than this.

I have done at least one podcast episode per week, without fail, for the last five years. Inside Podcast to Profit, I teach you how to batch so you can take breaks from podcasting. I show you how to batch out your podcast episodes and preschedule them so you can take a vacation or enjoy Christmas break.

The advantage of doing one episode is you can focus on high-quality podcast episodes; making sure your content is landing with your audience and is focused on your person’s pain points, wishes, and desires. I will help you get that mapped out inside Podcast to Profit.

Your listeners appreciate consistency. Think about this: When you go into your podcast app, your favorite podcasts populate at the top. They are consistent and you’re looking for them.

I’m subscribed to about six podcasts and when my two favorites come up to the top, I’m pumped! I know when they release and I’m excited to go listen to the latest podcast episodes. Your listeners are going to feel the same way. They’re going to be looking forward to connecting with you. 

Once a week is critical. If you start skipping, creating inconsistency, people are going to look elsewhere for the answers they need. If your podcast episodes are not popping up to the top weekly, people will start shopping around.

The #1 goal when podcasting is to maintain people’s attention so that when they’re ready to buy, they think of you. You’re always in their ears and front of mind.

Two Podcast Episodes Per Week

The next step is to bump to two podcast episodes. It’s a great way to ramp up. If you’ve let go of social media or decided to go all-in on podcasting you want to grow faster, and have four hours per week, that’s when you really get going. 

I can do three episodes in two hours; including planning content, high-level outlines, recording, editing in real-time, and uploading for my team. That’s five years in, optimized as much as possible. For my students, the average is about one to one and a half hours per podcast episode. When you’re getting started, it takes longer.

If you have availability, do two podcast episodes per week. I would much rather that than try to spend extra time on social or a blog.  Just ramp up the podcast. It’s your house! You’re setting a foundation of stone;  you’re staking your claim. This is where people find you.

It’s better not to diversify and show up everywhere; better to blow up the thing you’re here to do: long-form, you-own-it, no algorithm, and no battle to get seen. You’re already there. The SEO is working and there’s no shelf life.

Pour into two episodes per week until you get where you want to go and have a team. Then you can start playing with all these other vehicles.  That is where I started. I think two podcast episodes per week is fantastic.

Three episodes per week is biting off more than you can chew for most people. The reason I do three is because I’m a podcast coach and I literally do nothing else except show up inside Podcast to Profit and do interviews and PR. Before my team, that would not have been possible.

Two episodes per week is a beautiful pace you can maintain.

Strategies That Add Variety to Your Podcast Episodes

Let’s say you want to do one podcast episode per week because that’s what’s realistic with the time and goals you have. But maybe you want to do two episodes a week sometimes. This is when you bonus up. Bonus episodes are a great way to surprise your audience and boost those numbers a little bit. 

If you have a great conversation with a student or a great coaching session, consider airing that on the podcast. You don’t necessarily need to label them as bonus episodes, but I would say it inside of the content.

The final strategy I want to share is to think about doing a podcast series. We focus on these when we’re ramping up for an urgency offer. Inside Podcast to Profit, my group mastermind program, I teach you how to run different types of urgency offers, like a sale, partnership, or live launch or challenge. A series is a fun way to ramp up that engagement and anticipation when you’re moving into some kind of urgency.

Podcasting Requires Consistency

There are lots of different strategies, but the main thing I want you to take away from this episode is to take a realistic inventory of the time you have. Then get rid of anything that is not – based on data, not emotions – increasing your revenue, business, or leads. Put it to the side. You don’t have to promise never to pick it up again, but I want you to lay it down for a time to build your house.

If your house is podcasting, I want you to be consistent with one podcast episode a week as a minimum, then ramping to two if you have the availability and time for that. Also consider bonus episodes, Q&As, surprise episodes, or a podcast series once in a while. They can help you increase your downloads and visibility.  This will get and keep your people excited and engaged to hang out with you every week. 

We want people hanging with us because they get to know us. They feel like they’re creating a rapport or friendship. They get to know more about what you teach and also about you as a person. The reality is if they begin to like and love you, they’re probably going to buy from you at some point. That’s what we want to create through these podcasting relationships.

Even though you may never meet these people, you become such a light in their lives. You help them alleviate the problem you solve and you become someone they look forward to hanging out with each week. You’re creating a ripple through the words you speak and the podcast you bravely said ‘yes’ to. 

I pray this blesses you!

Xo,

Stef

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Before you go, be sure to watch the free workshop!

This free workshop is for you if you want to grow an online business in less time.

It will teach you how to explode your audience without the social media hustle, make consistent sales using a podcast, and plan, record, and launch a podcast with ease!

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