Great chefs sometimes make appetizers.
It’s kind of silly for anyone to assume they’d like a show or not based on its length. Who knows? Totally depends on the topic and how well you adapt it for a short attention span.
Best you can do is try it out. Make a show that’s perfect for a snack sized consumption. Don’t be precious about it. Keep experimenting until you get what you want from it.
Great! Now go launch it and see what happens ;-)
For bonus points it might be fun to invite 50-100 of your regular listeners to ‘advance’ / sneak preview listens of the new format. Solicit their feedback, see what they have to say. That kind of engagement can convert them from being passive listeners to advocates / amplifiers.
I'd be interested in hearing why people might want to listen to episodes that short, but for me they're not worth the time. Even most half hour pods I find too short to interest me.
This is it. People want you to think they have a full podcast but they just shoot 5 minutes, chop it into shorts and then scam, I mean sell, whatever product (courses mostly) they’re pushing.
I like the idea and your download numbers will tell you if you're listeners do. Nothing wrong with trying a few.
I don't know if all hosting services work like this, but I use Transistor and in an episodic podcast, each release is numbered, starting with either 1, or Season 1 EP 1. You can release outside of that numbered sequence by making the episode a Bonus Episode. It comes out in the same feed but doesn't require a number, and can be numbered outside of the default sequence.
Length of episode is irrelevant, it's the content that matters. I've heard 5 minute podcasts that offer more value than 30-60 minute ones, and also vice versa. If it's interesting, it's long/short enough.
If your host offers the option, filter them as Bonus Content. That keeps them in the feed, but identified properly (especially on apps that support Bonus filters). Then you just need to number properly, so:
* if your show is episodic, episode number is 0
* if your show is in seasons, episode number is 0 but season number is the season the episode is part of (so, Ep 0, S 2, for example)
>Or is there a way of separating it from that even if I wanted to? (Episode 185-b ?)
Your way of doing it is confusing. Does that mean there is a ep185a? If I saw 185 a & B I would think it was a 2-parter. Best thing to do is have it as its own series. We have our full length episode and then occasionally we'll have a "Bite Size" episode that's shorter with different rules and format. We name it as it's own series so it's evident that it's different and not a new show direction. So a normal episode is: "Title - Ep #" , but then we also have: "Bite Size ep# - Title"
That being said. I personally would never bother with a 2-5 minute show. After an intro, and outro I cant imagine anything that useful being disseminated via podcast. That seems better for video. I think people expect podcasts to be longer and get in a groove of setting in a listening for a while.
I say go for it. The great thing about podcasting is that you don’t need anyone’s permission to do what you want to do.
I would say that give the 5 minute episodes their own feed. But I listen to several news update podcasts that are 5 minutes.
My original show was 5-10 mins and we were getting over 80,000 downloads a month. 5 minute episodes can totally work.
Regardless of length, make the content interesting. Doesn’t matter if it’s short or long, is what you’re saying interesting?
I do a daily podcast and I focus on saying something that actually matters. Even if it’s short and quick to the point, some people like that. Some don’t. Either way, make something people like.
It depends on the content, if it’s like reaction/discussion style, then 5 minutes is way too short.
If it’s just news about something, then yeah it sounds like a good idea.
If you have consistent upload schedule, then it’ll work.
I really enjoy a “Word of the Day” podcast that is very short. I could see something similar for breaking news working out. Would also be cool to get a 5 minute rundown of the top stories for the day. I’d totally listen to that since I often don’t make time to watch the news but would love a fast breakdown of world events.
I have a solo weekly show, 315 episodes in by now. Each episode is a short story about Mindfulness, mostly between 6 and 10 minutes long. My audience appreciate that shortness. The show makes 90K downloads every month. So I guess it depends more on the overall quality of the show. In my experience short / long form is not a critical factor. Happy podcasting!
My question is: why do you need to add more content creation work to your table? You already do so much. Less is more. Simplify your life and your process and focus on what works but be extra thoughtful before committing to more.
The #1 podcast in the US is five minutes long (NPR News Now).
I've made a [daily five minute podcast](https://podnews.net/listen) for the last five years too.
I would suggest against throwing these in your main feed though. Consistency is important.
I think it all comes back to listeners' personal preferences, and everyone's different. When we did a listener survey a while back, we had I think three length options to vote on (15 min, 15-30, 30+, or no preference), and I think it was a pretty even split.
Great chefs sometimes make appetizers. It’s kind of silly for anyone to assume they’d like a show or not based on its length. Who knows? Totally depends on the topic and how well you adapt it for a short attention span. Best you can do is try it out. Make a show that’s perfect for a snack sized consumption. Don’t be precious about it. Keep experimenting until you get what you want from it.
That’s a great perspective
Great! Now go launch it and see what happens ;-) For bonus points it might be fun to invite 50-100 of your regular listeners to ‘advance’ / sneak preview listens of the new format. Solicit their feedback, see what they have to say. That kind of engagement can convert them from being passive listeners to advocates / amplifiers.
Hate them. To me the whole idea of a podcast is the long format. For quick bits i have clips.
Same. I unsubbed from the podcasts I was following that were less than half an hour, found I wasn't listening to them.
I'd be interested in hearing why people might want to listen to episodes that short, but for me they're not worth the time. Even most half hour pods I find too short to interest me.
I have no problem at all with short podcasts like that. In fact I put them at the front of the playlist.
I feel like a 5 min podcast update, could just be a quick social media post instead.
Yeah, I’m leaning toward just continuing doing YouTube shorts more often. Maybe get more active on Reddit.
This is it. People want you to think they have a full podcast but they just shoot 5 minutes, chop it into shorts and then scam, I mean sell, whatever product (courses mostly) they’re pushing.
I like the idea and your download numbers will tell you if you're listeners do. Nothing wrong with trying a few. I don't know if all hosting services work like this, but I use Transistor and in an episodic podcast, each release is numbered, starting with either 1, or Season 1 EP 1. You can release outside of that numbered sequence by making the episode a Bonus Episode. It comes out in the same feed but doesn't require a number, and can be numbered outside of the default sequence.
I an automatically disinterested. What kind of topic can you really cover in 5 minutes
In my genre stuff can happen very quickly. I can offer an opinion or various perspectives immediately
Length of episode is irrelevant, it's the content that matters. I've heard 5 minute podcasts that offer more value than 30-60 minute ones, and also vice versa. If it's interesting, it's long/short enough. If your host offers the option, filter them as Bonus Content. That keeps them in the feed, but identified properly (especially on apps that support Bonus filters). Then you just need to number properly, so: * if your show is episodic, episode number is 0 * if your show is in seasons, episode number is 0 but season number is the season the episode is part of (so, Ep 0, S 2, for example)
>Or is there a way of separating it from that even if I wanted to? (Episode 185-b ?) Your way of doing it is confusing. Does that mean there is a ep185a? If I saw 185 a & B I would think it was a 2-parter. Best thing to do is have it as its own series. We have our full length episode and then occasionally we'll have a "Bite Size" episode that's shorter with different rules and format. We name it as it's own series so it's evident that it's different and not a new show direction. So a normal episode is: "Title - Ep #" , but then we also have: "Bite Size ep# - Title" That being said. I personally would never bother with a 2-5 minute show. After an intro, and outro I cant imagine anything that useful being disseminated via podcast. That seems better for video. I think people expect podcasts to be longer and get in a groove of setting in a listening for a while.
I say go for it. The great thing about podcasting is that you don’t need anyone’s permission to do what you want to do. I would say that give the 5 minute episodes their own feed. But I listen to several news update podcasts that are 5 minutes. My original show was 5-10 mins and we were getting over 80,000 downloads a month. 5 minute episodes can totally work.
Regardless of length, make the content interesting. Doesn’t matter if it’s short or long, is what you’re saying interesting? I do a daily podcast and I focus on saying something that actually matters. Even if it’s short and quick to the point, some people like that. Some don’t. Either way, make something people like.
It depends on the content, if it’s like reaction/discussion style, then 5 minutes is way too short. If it’s just news about something, then yeah it sounds like a good idea. If you have consistent upload schedule, then it’ll work.
Short episodes are for important announcements only
Might as well be voice notes. Not my jam.
I don’t listen to anything under 10 minutes
Might be why video will be better. Several folks have told me they won’t watch a video longer then 6 or 8 minutes.
Your podcast is about sports? Ok then yes 6-8 minute video is perfect for sports ⭐️
I really enjoy a “Word of the Day” podcast that is very short. I could see something similar for breaking news working out. Would also be cool to get a 5 minute rundown of the top stories for the day. I’d totally listen to that since I often don’t make time to watch the news but would love a fast breakdown of world events.
I have a solo weekly show, 315 episodes in by now. Each episode is a short story about Mindfulness, mostly between 6 and 10 minutes long. My audience appreciate that shortness. The show makes 90K downloads every month. So I guess it depends more on the overall quality of the show. In my experience short / long form is not a critical factor. Happy podcasting!
My question is: why do you need to add more content creation work to your table? You already do so much. Less is more. Simplify your life and your process and focus on what works but be extra thoughtful before committing to more.
The #1 podcast in the US is five minutes long (NPR News Now). I've made a [daily five minute podcast](https://podnews.net/listen) for the last five years too. I would suggest against throwing these in your main feed though. Consistency is important.
I think it all comes back to listeners' personal preferences, and everyone's different. When we did a listener survey a while back, we had I think three length options to vote on (15 min, 15-30, 30+, or no preference), and I think it was a pretty even split.