Average Podcasting Email Benchmarks
Email is the most effective channel for podcast audience retention and growth. Listeners who subscribe to a show's email list are highly engaged fans wanting episode notifications and show notes. Average open rates range from 30% to 50%, with CTR between 5% and 12%.
Key Findings
- Open rates of 30–50%, with new episode alerts reaching 45-60%
- Click-through rates of 5–12%, with show note links and sponsor offers performing best
- Subject lines featuring guest names outperform show title-only subject lines
- List growth correlates strongly with CTA mentions within the podcast itself
Open Rate Benchmarks
New episode alerts achieve 45-60% for established shows. Guest announcement emails reach 38-48%. Sponsor and affiliate content averages 28-35%. Behind-the-scenes and personal updates see 35-45%.
Best Practices
- Put the guest name or episode topic in the subject line — this drives the highest open rates
- Send episode alerts as soon as episodes go live — delayed sends lose momentum
- Include show notes, timestamps, and relevant links in every episode email
- Promote your email list at the beginning and end of each episode
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good open rate for a podcast newsletter? 30-50% average, with episode alerts reaching 45%+.
How often should podcasters send emails? Weekly is ideal — one episode announcement plus perhaps one additional content email per week. Daily emails are too frequent for most podcast audiences.
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