As you podcast consistently, you'll build up a back catalog of episodes. But should you keep all of those episodes available, or should you limit how many are in your podcast feed?
This subject was inspired by feedback from my listener Marc Johanssen:
I'm seeking an instructional resource (aka a link) that I can forward to a podcaster in order to “nudge” them to take action(s) needed in order to allow access [to] ALL their earlier podcast episodes. At present, one can only access [the latest 50 episodes] via an app or via their website ….
Here are some things to consider!
1. Podcast feed versus website archive
Think about the main two places your episodes live: in your podcast feed and on your website (you do have a website for your podcast that has a separate webpage for each episode, RIGHT?).
Many publishing systems will let you limit how many episodes are in your RSS feed (the most-common defaults are 10, 50, and 100), but such limits most likely won't affect your website. If an episode is no longer in your feed but still on your website, it is technically still online and available, but it's no longer very practical because it's not available in your audience's podcast apps. Unless they have smart tools for moving website audio into a podcast app, the only way your audience could hear or watch that old episode is through the webpage and their browser. That makes it difficult for your audience.
Thus, most of these considerations will focus on what is in your podcast RSS feed, but keep your website in mind, too!
2. Is your content still valuable?
When your podcast episodes from months or even years ago are still valuable and relevant today, then you've made timeless content.
Timeless content is highly valuable for both you and your audience. It gives you more content that you can promote, either through marketing or direct recommendation. For example, I still send people to my episode from 2014 about whether episode numbers are really necessary. Even when I considered reapproaching that content (and ultimately made a completely new episode about episode numbers in titles), I listened to that old episode and realized it was still just as relevant today as back then.
Timeless content also gives your audience more great stuff to enjoy or learn from—either for the first time or to replay later!
The other kind of content is time-sensitive. It's when your podcast episodes have a kind of “shelf life.” Imagine a “best if used by” date on your episodes. This is common for podcasts about current events (like the news). Podcasts about current trends (such as a TV show) are mostly time-sensitive—because most people will be interested only when that trend is current—but this can still have some timeless value. In the case of a simultaneous TV aftershow podcast, the value might be more difficult as people can more easily binge the show and your episodes will be easily outdated. But if someone gets your podcast while watching the show, as it was back when the show was live, then they could experience it all the same way, except without the direct engagement with your podcast and community. Alternatively, a rewatch-style podcast (such as Office Ladies) weighs more on the timeless side because such a podcast can discuss the show without theorizing or worrying about spoilers, and it's designed generally for people who have alr
