The 10k Timeline: How Long It Takes to Reach 10k dl/ep (& How to Accelerate the Process)

We all know success doesn’t happen overnight. But what does the data say about how long it takes to reach 1k… or 10k downloads per episode? Podcasting is inherently a slow-growth medium. Without a central discovery system offering the potential for virality, growing a podcast is a long game of slow, steady, incremental growth that compounds over time. But while you might expect growth to be somewhat slow when you start out, how long should it take before it speeds up? In this episode, we’re breaking down what the data says about how long it takes the typical show to reach the 1k and 10k milestones, the factors that influence those timelines, and what you can do to accelerate the process. 📊 What did you think of this episode? Click to cast your vote: 🤩 Nailed It! 🙂 Solid 🥱 Meh 😒 Do betterTopics Covered00:00 Intro00:59 Podcast growth lessons from Warren Buffett  05:00 When typical shows hit the 1k & 10k dl/ep milestones 10:36 How experience affects a show’s growth rate 15:21 What everyone gets wrong about consistency in podcasting 26:16 The powerful compounding of relationships 31:33 Stacking micro-improvements to your show with every episode 35:26 Strategies for navigating (and avoiding) creative burnout 38:28 Building your transferable skill set 44:22 Our personal stories of creative compounding that have got us here 56:12 The impact of mentorship and constructive critique⭐️ Get a free podcast marketing audit with personalized recommendations to help you grow: https://podcastmarketingacademy.com/audit ⭐️ResourceMike Birbiglia’s Podcast, *Working It Out* Build and Launch, Past Project by Justin JacksonMega Maker, Project by Justin Jackson Subscribe to Podcast Marketing Trends ExplainedCheck out the Podcast Marketing Trends 2023 ReportSubscribe to the Scrappy Podcasting NewsletterTry Transistor.fm for free for 14 days✍️ Leave your feedback for the show: http://podcastmarketingtrends.com/feedback

Om Podcasten

It's easier than ever to launch and produce a podcast. But it's never been harder to grow one. On this show, we break down and explore what the data says about what it takes to market and grow a podcast in 2025 to help you make smarter decisions about your show, grow faster, and earn more. Together, cohosts—and longtime podcasters, creators, and marketers—Jeremy Enns (Podcast Marketing Academy) and Justin Jackson (Transistor.fm) explore topics like: How do you define success for your podcast? What are the most effective marketing strategies, tactics, and growth channels for podcasts? What does the data say about how to structure your show and episodes? Which social media channels should you focus on as a podcaster? How do you stack up to other shows? Using the data uncovered by the annual Podcast Marketing Trends Report, our goal is to make sense of the numbers and turn them into actionable insights that you can use to create a better show and market it more effectively. You can find the latest report at podcastmarketingtrends.com.