Follower
A follower opts in to be notified of new episodes on a platform, a lighter commitment than subscribing that still signals ongoing interest.
A follower is someone who has opted in to be notified of your new episodes on a platform like Spotify or YouTube, without necessarily downloading every episode. Following is a lighter commitment than subscribing, and it signals ongoing interest in your show.
For example, a VP of Sales clicks Follow on your B2B podcast in Spotify so your latest episodes surface automatically in their feed each week.
Why it matters: followers are a leading indicator of a show that is sticking, growing followers means you are building a repeatable audience rather than chasing one-off plays, which is exactly the kind of compounding asset that drives pipeline over time.
The median B2B show Fame produces has around 1,200 followers; strong shows pass 8,500. Followers compound, so steady growth matters more than the starting number.
See the full B2B podcast benchmarks- Confusing followers with engaged listeners.
- Buying or inflating follower numbers to look credible.
- Optimising posts for follows rather than for the right people seeing them.
What is a follower in podcasting?
A follower is someone who has opted in to be notified of your new episodes on a platform like Spotify or YouTube, without necessarily downloading every episode. Following is a lighter commitment than subscribing, and it signals ongoing interest in your show.
Is a follower the same as a subscriber?
Not quite. Following usually means opting in to notifications for new episodes on a platform, while subscribing can imply downloading episodes automatically or, in some contexts, a paid relationship. The terms overlap and vary by platform.
Why do followers matter more than one-off plays?
A follower has signalled they want to hear from you again, so they are far more likely to become a repeat listener. One-off plays rarely compound into the loyal audience that drives B2B pipeline.