How Many Downloads Does the Average Podcast Get in 7 Days? (feat. Tom Buck)

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How many podcast downloads does the average podcast episode get in the first 7 days? We’ve got the real podcast stats. Guest podcast host and YouTuber Tom Buck joins Alban and Travis to break down fresh, IAB-certified podcast metrics from every active Buzzsprout show in October so you can benchmark your own podcast performance without chasing vanity numbers.

We cover:

• The median episode downloads (28) and what that number of downloads actually means for a successful podcast.
• Which listening apps and podcast platforms dominate (hello Apple Podcasts, Spotify, farewell Google Podcasts) and how that impacts your podcast audience, listenership, and podcast marketing on social media and LinkedIn.
• Mobile-first listening vs. smart speakers, plus how to optimize audio for earbuds and cars.
• Apple’s new embed player vs. platform-agnostic players—and why host-provided hosting platforms matter for growth.
• A chat with Listen Notes founder Wenbin Fang about podcast metrics, podcast download numbers, Listen Score, Global Rank, and why gaming the system backfires—just make great content and attract new listeners.
• Sustainability tips for a weekly podcast, managing multiple shows, and juggling YouTube/video podcasts with a full-time job.

Whether you’re launching a new podcast, refining podcast titles for SEO, or planning to monetize with podcast ads or podcast advertising, this episode gives you practical benchmarks, context on the podcasting industry, and a mindset for long-term podcast growth—no matter your podcast genre.

Links from this episode:

• Subscribe to Tom Buck's YouTube channel
• Buzzsprout Platform Stats for October 2020
• Apple Embed Player
• Listen Notes

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