Episode benchmark
An episode benchmark is a reference figure, drawn from your own back catalogue, that you measure new episodes against. It replaces meaningless industry averages with a standard tuned to your specific show and audience.
For example, if your typical episode reaches 1,000 downloads in 30 days with a 70 percent listen-through rate, those numbers become the benchmark each new episode is judged against.
Why it matters: benchmarking against your own history tells you which topics, guests, and formats genuinely outperform, so you can double down on what actually moves buyers rather than guessing.
A good benchmark is your own show's rolling baseline - your typical episode's downloads, completion and engagement - that you measure new episodes against, not someone else's numbers.
- Benchmarking against unrelated shows in different niches or categories.
- Setting the baseline on too few episodes to be reliable.
- Chasing the benchmark on vanity metrics instead of engagement and pipeline.
What is an episode benchmark?
An episode benchmark is a reference figure, drawn from your own back catalogue, that you measure new episodes against. It replaces meaningless industry averages with a standard tuned to your specific show and audience.
Why benchmark against yourself rather than the industry?
Published industry averages mix wildly different shows and audiences. Your own catalogue is the only fair, like-for-like comparison for what normal looks like for you.
Which metrics should an episode benchmark include?
Combine a reach metric such as 30-day downloads with an engagement metric like listen-through rate, so you judge both audience size and quality.