How Long Should My Episode Be?

Time. Time is everything. Time is precious, especially to people on the go, and I have a sneaking suspicion that most podcast enthusiasts are listening on a device while they . . . well go! So in the same conversation about how to meet our listeners where they are (via audio of course) we often ask, “How long should my episodes be?” There is a clear answer . . . 20 minutes!

Just Kidding.

Actually, it’s a bit more complicated but still really easy to figure out. 

First I always ask, “How long do you need?”

If you can create a really impactful podcast episode in 15 min, do it! If you need 2 hours to get your point across, then take the time. However, there is a caveat to this: you must make sure that every minute counts. When you start drifting, so does your audience.

Second, think about your audience. If you are creating podcasts for busy moms, you may want to keep it short since their time is precious. If your podcast is to create an escape and entertainment, longer may be better. Think about who is listening and how much time they have.

You can also take your podcast structure into consideration. Are you doing an interview or solo episodes? Interviews typically take longer while solos can be shorter. Does your show have segments or bounce between formats? If so, you will need more time.

Let’s say you’ve decided on a longer episode. Besides making your content amazing and having every minute count, there are other ways to keep your listeners engaged. Perhaps you can add music or a sponsor message. A sponsor message can even be a promotion for your own products or services. You could also add break in the middle to give an update on the podcast. I’ve even created shows where we use music to break the episode into sections and it works really well.

The point is, do what works best for you and your podcast and what makes the most sense for the message you are sharing. You can always adjust or vary the length from week to week. It’s up to you.

Don’t worry so much about the length of your podcast. Focus on what you are sharing and who you are sharing it with. 

Happy Podcasting!

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