Measuring Performance
Measuring the success of your podcast is a multi-faceted task. There are three ways you can measure your audience.
- Web Traffic – A must for any web site
- Feed Subscriptions – Useful for blog subscriptions (No longer significant)
- Media Downloads – Find out who’s watching/listening to your media
We recommend using Web Traffic and Media Download Statistics to measure your podcast and web site.
Measuring Web Traffic
Measuring web traffic is a great way to determine how users interact with your written content you post on your web site. Web statistics can be measured using the tools listed.
- Google Analytics
- AWStats (provided by your web site hosting service)
- Webalizer (provided by your web site hosting service)
Web traffic tools will measure web browser traffic from web browsers such as Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari and Google Chrome.
Typical use: Web Publishing
Measuring Feed Subscriptions
Measuring feed subscriptions using FeedBurner used to be is a great way to determine who is subscribing to your blog or podcast. Feed statistics can be measured using the feed tracking services listed.
Feed tracking tools allow you to measure traffic from feed readers like Google Reader and iTunes. It is important to note that feed tracking tools primarily track when the feed is accessed.
Note: Modern versions of Google Reader, iTunes, other podcast directories and applications rely on cloud based management of feeds. Because of this, feed subscription numbers from services mentioned above are no longer accurate. Thought the data provided is insightful, it cannot be relied upon. You will most likely have more readers and subscribers than these services can report.
Typical use: Web Publishing, Blogging
Measuring Media Downloads
Measuring media downloads is a great way to determine who is listening/watching your media content. Media downloads can be measured using the media download services listed.
- Blubrry Statistics (for community members)
- RawVoice Media Statistics (enterprise level unbranded statistics)
Media download statistics allow you to measure media download traffic from web browsers, Internet connected TV’s like Samsung Internet TVs, smart phones like Android or iPhone, and via podcast directory sites such as Blubrry.com and iTunes.
Typical use: Web Publishing, Blogging, Podcasting