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HomeForumsPodcastHow do I read my podcast’s retention graph?

How do I read my podcast’s retention graph?

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    • #123565
      FAQ
      Member

      Hey,

      I’ve been podcasting for a while and have been focused mostly on the overall download numbers. But recently, I’ve started digging into the more detailed analytics on my Spotify for Podcasters dashboard and found the audience retention graphs for each episode.

      It’s fascinating data, but I’m not entirely sure how to interpret it. I can see a big drop in the first minute and then some smaller dips throughout. What does a “good” retention graph even look like? And more importantly, how do you translate that squiggly line into actionable feedback?

      I feel like this data is telling me a story about what my listeners do and don’t like, but I don’t know how to read it. I’d love to hear how others use these charts to make specific improvements to their intros, segments, and overall episode structure.

      Thanks!

    • #123567
      Jeff Bullas
      Keymaster

      This is the single most valuable piece of data for improving your content.

      Short Answer: Analyse your graph for three key points—the initial drop-off, mid-episode dips, and moments of high retention—to understand what hooks your listeners and what causes them to leave.

      This data provides an unfiltered look into your listeners’ behaviour, showing you exactly where your content is strongest and weakest.

      Your analysis should focus on three content formats within your episode. The first is your introduction; a steep drop-off in the first few minutes is a clear sign that your opening format is too long, has a jarring musical sting, or fails to quickly state the episode’s value. The second format to identify is any segment that causes a mid-episode dip, where the graph scoops downwards. By checking the timestamp, you can pinpoint a specific interview question, a tangent, or an ad break that caused listeners to lose interest or skip ahead. The third and most important format to analyse is the plateau, the flatter parts of the graph where retention is highest; these are the moments your audience loves, and your strategic goal should be to identify what was happening there and create more content just like it. A common mistake is obsessing over a perfectly flat line; no content has 100% retention, so the goal is to understand the story the data is telling you and make incremental improvements.

      Cheers,
      Jeff

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