I help heart-centered coaches and consultants amplify their authority through podcasting—without tech overwhelm—so they can attract aligned clients and grow their business effortlessly. Want a daily dose of podcasting insights and inspiration? Join 490 subscribers here 👇
"Podcast, podcast on the wall..."
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...who is the fairest podcast of them all? Why mine of course! The Vanity Metrics Trap I almost fell for it. The allure of those big, juicy numbers. You know the ones I'm talking about. 10,000 downloads in your first week! 50,000 followers overnight! "Guaranteed" visibility for your podcast! The promises were tempting, especially in those early days of Podcast Junkies when I was refreshing my stats page more often than I'd like to admit. I remember sitting at my desk, staring at my modest download numbers, wondering if I should just "boost" them a little. Just to get noticed. Thank goodness I didn't pull that trigger. Because here's what I've learned after 11 years in this industry: Vanity metrics are like sugar highs – they feel amazing for about 15 minutes, then leave you worse off than before. Those 10,000 bot-generated downloads? They don't leave comments. Those purchased YouTube views? They don't subscribe to your newsletter. Those fake followers? They definitely don't buy your products or services. In fact, they do something worse – they give you a false sense of success while actually setting you back. Because when you're focused on fake numbers, you're not focused on creating content that resonates with real humans. Real growth isn't about how many people see your content. It's about how many people come back for more. It's about building a community that actually cares about what you have to say. It's about creating trust – the kind that can't be purchased or manufactured. I've watched creators with "modest" numbers land major sponsorship deals because their audience is genuinely engaged. I've seen podcasters with small but mighty communities create more impact than those with inflated metrics. The truth is simple but hard to swallow: There are no shortcuts to building something meaningful. So let me ask you this: Would you rather have 100 listeners who love your show and tell their friends about it, or 10,000 "listeners" who don't actually exist? The answer seems obvious when I put it that way, doesn't it? Yet the temptation of those vanity metrics remains strong in our industry. Don't fall for it. You're better than that. Your audience deserves better than that. And honestly? So does your podcast. With gratitude, Harry 'Real Numbers Only' Duran P.S. If you're ready to build an authentic audience that actually cares about your message, reply with "REAL GROWTH" and I'll show you how. |
Harry Duran
I help heart-centered coaches and consultants amplify their authority through podcasting—without tech overwhelm—so they can attract aligned clients and grow their business effortlessly. Want a daily dose of podcasting insights and inspiration? Join 490 subscribers here 👇
I had something happen early this morning that made me laugh. One of our hens (Pickle if you're curious) woke us up with the strangest cackling sounds. It was barely 6am. I tell ya, these ladies all their own unique personalities. But I've come to love them as sassy pets! Here's the other thing that made me laugh. I was thinking about the early days of my shows, Podcast Junkies and Vertical Farming Podcast. I would stare at my podcast analytics, refreshing the page every few minutes like it...
Peep this Reader, I had a creator reach out to me last week, frustrated beyond belief. "Harry, I've been posting consistently for 6 months. My views are flatlined. What am I doing wrong?" Sound familiar? For years, I told podcasters and content creators the same thing everyone else did: "Just keep uploading. The algorithm will find you eventually." I was wrong.Dead wrong. And I feel terrible about it. The truth? YouTube in 2025 is a completely different beast than it was even 2-3 years ago....
I had a painful realization this morning while reviewing a client's podcast. Their content was incredible.Their delivery was engaging.Their editing was pristine. But their trailer? It was practically invisible. And it hit me – they were making the exact same mistake I made when I launched Podcast Junkies years ago. They were treating their trailer like an afterthought instead of the powerful growth tool it actually is. Here's the truth: your trailer is your digital handshake. It's that...