How Long Will My Podcasts Last? Most TV shows tend to be in the region of 30 minutes or thereabouts, and if you take out the adverts, that takes it down to approximately 25 minutes.
Therefore, this is a sensible average length to aim for, and research shows that the ideal length for a podcast is anywhere between 20 minutes and 50 minutes, while the average adult's attention span is somewhere in the region of 15 to 20 minutes.
How Much Free Time Do You Have?
If you are going to record your podcasts on a daily basis, then it would make sense for them to be shorter than if you are just recording once a week, or even once a month.
You should also consider your spare time - the time that it will take you to plan, record and edit. If your podcasts are too long, taking up too much of your time, they will soon likely become more of a chore than a pleasure, and that is a very steep and slippery slope to overcome.
Substance Over Quantity
Although some podcasts can be short at times, they should always contain some substance, with a length of five to ten minutes being an absolute minimum. However, they can certainly be too long and anything over an hour could be off-putting to potential listeners, who may be reluctant to wade through that much talking and potential waffle.
Many people are simply looking to download your MP3 to listen to in their car as they drive to work.
Keep Your Listeners Listening
Once you have managed to grab people's attention and got them to actually download your podcast, you don't want them to get bored or worse still, turn it off. This is where some old radio broadcasting tricks come in.
Many DJs like to tease their listeners by saying half a story before playing some songs, and then telling the punchline later on after keeping them hanging in anticipation. Similarly, you can say what is coming up later on. This might be - 'Stay tuned for our exciting competition', or, 'In a bit, don't miss out on your chance to win a free Mars bar!'
Ask yourself if you would listen to a 55-minute podcast just to find out a couple of useful tips or titbits?
Most TV shows tend to be in the region of 30 minutes or thereabouts, and if you take out the adverts, that takes it down to approximately 25 minutes.
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