The “Holiday Podcasting” Opportunity
Should you continue to release new episodes of your podcast during a holiday period?
Should you continue to release new episodes of your podcast during a holiday period?
The next six to eight weeks encompass what many of us in the entertainment industry—where I cut my teeth—know as a dormant period. From Thanksgiving through mid-January, the scene goes quiet. It's a phenomenon that might suggest hitting pause on your podcast, but this season is also a great opportunity for podcast growth.
It’s easy to forget that holidays aren't universal. Thanksgiving might mean turkey and parades in the U.S., but elsewhere, it's just another Thursday. And those folks are still hungry for content—they're not hitting pause on life.
Same for Christmas. Same for Hanukkah. Same for Diwali.
Podcasting's beauty lies in its time-shifted nature. Your audience can listen when it suits them—even amid a holiday frenzy.
Think about all the travel people do during holiday periods … Those long drives and waits at airports? Prime podcast-listening time.
And people are often lonely during “festive” times, even when they’re near others—they need breaks! Your podcast might be a great alternative to diatribes from a “racist uncle.”
You’ll also benefit from less competition from other podcasters during holiday periods. With many podcasts on hiatus, your episodes stand out and listeners with a shorter roster are more likely to press play on yours.
Don't forget about all those shiny new gadgets making their way into listeners' hands during holidays—phones, tablets, all ripe for downloading your latest episode.
Releasing episodes over the holidays isn't just business—it's personal too. It's a chance to humanize your content, to share stories that resonate deeply during this time of connection and reflection. You can show a different side of yourself and allow listeners to hear from you in a different way.
Consider these things … Holiday periods might just be the perfect backdrop for your podcast to thrive and touch people in unexpected ways.