Whether 1000 downloads per month is good for a podcast depends on your goals and expectations for your show. For some podcasters, 1000 downloads per month would be an amazing accomplishment, while for others with higher hopes, it may seem disappointing. There are many factors to consider when evaluating podcast download numbers, so it’s impossible to make a blanket statement about what constitutes a “good” number of downloads. However, here we’ll explore the pros and cons of having 1000 monthly listeners and provide tips for growing your podcast audience.
The Positives of 1000 Downloads Per Month
While 1000 monthly downloads may seem small compared to the most popular podcasts, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Here are some of the positives of having 1000 loyal monthly listeners:
– It’s more than most new podcasts ever achieve. The average new podcast gets 141 downloads per episode, so having 1000 listeners puts you well above average right off the bat.
– It shows you have an engaged audience. Assuming you produce 4 episodes per month, 1000 downloads would be around 250 downloads per episode. This shows a decent number of people are not just subscribing but actually listening to each show.
– It’s a great start for attracting sponsors. Many podcast advertisers look for shows with at least 1000-2500 listeners. This gives you a baseline to start bringing in revenue.
– Your audience will grow through word of mouth. 1000 dedicated listeners means you have a base of fans who can help spread the word about your show to their friends and social media followers.
– You’re building name recognition and authority. The more episodes you publish, the more your podcast name will circulate, establishing you as an expert voice in your niche.
– You’re accumulating a back catalog of content. This gives new listeners plenty of show options to dive into, rather than just a handful of episodes for them to try.
In short, while 1000 downloads per month is small compared to the podcasting elite, it’s an admirable starting point for a new show. Having four-figure listenership out of the gate puts you leaps and bounds ahead of most amateur podcasters.
The Cons of 1000 Downloads Per Month
While hitting the 1000 download mark is certainly an achievement, relying on only 1000 monthly listeners does have some drawbacks to be aware of:
– Limited revenue potential. Most podcast ad deals require several thousand downloads per episode. With 1000 total downloads per month, monetization options are restricted.
– Difficulty attracting sponsors. Like we mentioned above, many advertisers look for a download number in the 1000s before considering a sponsorship deal. But 1000 total downloads can be a tougher sell.
– Less data for feedback. With a smaller listener base, you’ll get less user feedback to understand what’s resonating with your audience and what could be improved.
– Constraints on marketing budget. Promoting a podcast takes an investment. With limited revenue potential from 1000 downloads, your budget for paid marketing may be constrained.
– Constrained growth potential. While possible, it’s challenging to scale a podcast dramatically when starting from 1000 monthly downloads versus shows with tens of thousands of existing listeners.
– Not enough for “full-time” podcasting. For hosts looking to podcast as their main job, 1000 monthly downloads likely won’t generate enough income to quit your day job. Most full-time podcasters need 10,000+ downloads per episode.
So while 1000 listeners is impressive for a new show, hosts with big plans for their podcast may eventually find this monthly download figure limiting, both financially and for continued growth. Additional promotion and optimization will be needed to expand beyond 1000.
Is 1000 Downloads Per Month “Good”?
Given the pros and cons, is 1000 monthly downloads ultimately a “good” number? Here are a few ways to look at it:
– For a brand new podcast, 1000 downloads per month is excellent. Many shows never make it out of the triple digits when starting out. But 1000 downloads likely won’t “feel” successful if your expectations are much higher.
– For a hobby or passion project, 1000 is awesome. If you’re just podcasting for fun or to share your passion with others, 1000 dedicated listeners is something to be proud of and provides enough of an audience to feel heard.
– For part-time income goals, 1000 may work. While full-time podcasting is out of reach with this size audience, you can likely generate some side income through ads and affiliate marketing. Enough to cover costs and possibly make a small profit.
– For growing a major media brand long-term, 1000 is just the start. If your aims are high, like leaving your career to be a professional podcaster, a 4-figure audience won’t get you there on its own. But it provides a strong foundation to build from.
How to Know if 1000 Downloads Per Month is “Good For You”
Rather than a one-size-fits all answer about whether 1000 downloads is “good”, the best way to evaluate is based on your own podcasting goals and expectations. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
– What growth expectations did you have when starting your podcast? Did you hit your targets?
– Are you able to monetize your show at the download level you have now? Does current revenue meet your needs?
– How does your download number compare to other shows in your niche? Are you above or below competitors?
– How much time and effort are you able to invest in growing your audience? Does your life allow you to scale up?
– Do you want podcasting to be a hobby or a higher commitment career? Your desired involvement level matters.
– Are you creating your show to make money or to share a passion? Your motivation affects how you evaluate success.
The “right” number of downloads varies drastically for each podcaster. The best gauge of success is determining whether your current downloads meet your own podcasting goals and desires — rather than getting caught up in arbitrary numeric targets.
While 1000 listens per month is great for a new show, decide for yourself whether it’s “good” based on your aims for your podcast and how it fits into your lifestyle. For some, 1000 will be plenty. For others, it’s just a first step in building a podcast empire.
Tips for Growing Your Audience
If your goal is to scale your podcast beyond 1000 monthly downloads, here are some proven strategies to help expand your listenership:
– Analyze your analytics to see how people are finding your show. Identify avenues for more promotion.
– Run targeted ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Paying to promote to your niche can be highly effective.
– Pitch yourself as a guest on similar podcasts. Crossover episodes expose you to new audiences.
– Make sure you’re on all major podcast platforms. The more directories your show is listed in, the more findable you’ll be.
– Claim your podcast on services like Chartable to increase visibility in rankings.
– Post video clips on YouTube and social media to offer previews. Audio alone limits discovery.
– Reach out to bloggers and influencers in your industry to request coverage. Look for brand partnerships too.
– Interact with listeners and have them engage on your website and social media feeds. Community builds loyalty.
– Monitor SEO keywords and optimize episode titles, descriptions and transcripts accordingly. Improving discovery in search is key.
– Feature special guests and relevant expert interviews. Collaborations get more attention.
– Stay consistent with episode releases. Predictable new content keeps listeners engaged and returning.
– Ask for reviews on Apple Podcasts and other directories. Ratings and written feedback help with rankings.
– Run giveaways and contests for merchandise or other free perks. Incentives get fans excited.
With persistence and a smart promotion strategy tailored to your niche, a podcast with 1000 downloads can realistically grow into several thousand. But be ready to put in the work – growing an audience requires an ongoing investment of time, effort and marketing budget.
Benchmarks for Podcast Audience Size
To give you a better sense of the spectrum, here are some download range benchmarks for podcasts at different stages:
– Amateur Podcast: <500 downloads per episode - Growing Podcast: 500-1500 downloads per episode - Established Podcast: 1500-5000 downloads per episode - Popular Podcast: 5000-50,000 downloads per episode - Mega Hit Podcast: 50,000+ downloads per episode Of course, these vary broadly across niches and genres. But it gives rough estimates for podcasts in the early stages compared to mature, professional shows. With 1000 total downloads per month, assuming 4 episodes, you’re likely in the “growing” podcast range. Nothing to scoff at for a new show, but with big goals you’d likely aim to level up from there. Again, these benchmarks are just generalizations. Look at shows in your specific category to compare accurately. Research competitors in your field to see what download ranges they achieve. This will give you real data on what good podcast numbers look like in your niche.
Other Podcast Metrics Beyond Downloads
While downloads are the most cited podcast metric, there are other factors that also indicate an engaged, growing audience:
– Listens per episode – High listen-through rates show content that resonates.
– Average listen duration – Long average listens signify an attentive audience.
– Followers and subscribers – Shows how many want to hear more episodes.
– Ratings and reviews – Favorable feedback helps with algorithms.
– Social media followers – These signal an active fanbase.
– Email list members – Direct access to loyal listeners.
– Website visitors – Indicates interested inbound traffic.
– Money earned – Revenue-per-download demonstrates monetization effectiveness.
So don’t get singularly focused on monthly download totals. Having 1000 engaged subscribers active on social media or a 20% conversion rate on products mentioned on your show also show types of podcast success beyond pure listener numbers.
Conclusion
Is 1000 podcast downloads per month a “good” number? The answer depends on context: expectations when starting out, benchmarks for similar shows, goals for future growth and more.
For a new podcast, 1000 downloads per month is impressive. But for hosts with aspirations beyond the hobby level, it likely marks just the beginning.
Rather than put too much stock in any particular number as a metric for success, judge your podcast by whether it’s achieving your aims. 1000 listeners could be fully satisfying for some, while others require much more to consider their show a hit.
Set your goals, benchmark against your niche, and implement promotions focused on expanding your audience. With time and effort, a consistent, high-quality podcast can build listenership well beyond the 1000 download mark.
