Shownotes
We’re diving into the nitty-gritty of annual audits for content creators, especially as we head toward 2026. It's all about swapping that guesswork and gut feeling for cold, hard data.
We’ll outline a simple, structured process to help you review your 2025 goals and see what worked and what didn’t—because let’s face it, without this clarity, you're just flying blind into the new year. You’ll learn how to document your achievements and challenges, turning those insights into actionable plans.
By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped to not just reflect but to build a sustainable strategy for your content journey ahead.
Takeaways:
- As content creators, we often feel the pressure to coast into the holidays, but planning for the new year should happen now.
- An annual audit is crucial for leveraging past performance data, especially when setting goals for 2026.
- It's essential to document not just the numbers, but also the habits and energy levels that contributed to those results.
- Identifying gaps between your goals and actual performance helps you make better strategic adjustments going forward.
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Transcripts
Welcome to the Deep Dive. If you are a content creator, especially a podcaster, you know how November and December can feel. It's like this mad sprint to the finish line.
he big strategic planning for: Jamie:Which, let's be honest, is exactly why so many New Year's resolutions for content creators just fizzle out by what, February, March?
Jaayne:Exactly.
Jamie: l groundwork for a successful: Jaayne:Yeah.
Jamie:So this Deep Dive is all about leveraging that crucial, often overlooked tool, the annual audit.
Jaayne:That's really the mission today, isn't it? We want to give you a structured step by step process. Something that helps you move beyond, just know, feeling good or bad about the past year.
Jamie:Right. Swapping that gut feeling, that emotional judgment for actual data driven insight.
Jaayne:We're turning reflection into, like your secret weapon for next year, making it sustainable.
Jamie:It's so necessary because without this kind of structured review, you're essentially flying blind.
Jaayne:You really are like driving without a.
Jamie:Map, or maybe worse, driving with the wrong map into a new year.
Jaayne: annual audit, reviewing those: Jamie: hat was the actual intent for: Jaayne:And we're not talking vague hopes here, like, I want to grow the show. No, we mean quantifiable objectives, things you can actually measure.
Jamie:Right.
Jaayne:Did you commit, say, to publishing exactly 52 episodes, one every single week, no matter what?
Jamie:Or maybe you set a really explicit target, like increasing average downloads per episode by, I don't know, 25%.
Jaayne:Yeah. Or maybe the focus was totally different. Maybe it was all about building a secondary asset, like an email list, aiming for maybe 500 new subscribers.
Specifics matter.
Jamie:The sources really insist on this checklist of intentions. It's because they give you the benchmark, the starting line for your review.
Okay, so once you've kind of resurrected those specific goals, X episodes, Y guest targets, Z monetization plans, the next step is just unavoidable documentation.
Jaayne:Exactly. This is where the rubber meets the road. You document the reality, what actually happens.
Jamie:Get the numbers down.
Jaayne:Yes, Document your Final numbers. Absolutely. But also, and this is key, document your habits and maybe even your energy levels around those habits.
Jamie:That's interesting. Habits and energy.
Jaayne:Yeah. How often did you say, miss a scheduled editing session? Did that specific process for finding guests just feel like pulling teeth? Every single week.
You need to note that down.
Jamie:Ah, I see that link between the numbers and the. Well, the human cost of getting those numbers is crucial, isn't it?
Jaayne:Totally.
Jamie:We often track the downloads, the easy metrics, but forget to track what it actually took to get there.
Jaayne:Right. If you hit a big goal, but it meant working 80 hours a week and you were completely burned out by the end of it, well, that goal wasn't sustainable.
The metric doesn't tell the whole story.
Jamie:Not at all. And that's the. That you're looking for clarity. That's the objective here.
art strategic adjustments for: Jaayne:Okay. Okay, so let's unpack those gaps then. We've identified what we wanted to do. Now we look at the Mrs.
I like how the sources call this the gift of the myths.
Jamie:Yeah, it reframes it nicely.
Jaayne:It can feel painful, sure. But these moments where things didn't quite hit the mark, they aren't failures, they're actually high value signals, data points.
Jamie:And it's fascinating, isn't it, how often creators, well, we tend to focus on maybe the perceived quality of the content itself, when the real data signal might be prying squarely at something like inconsistency.
Jaayne:Ah, like the schedule.
Jamie:Exactly. So that audit checklist for underperformance, it needs to be really thorough.
Jaayne:Okay, so what's on that checklist? Up? Did the publishing schedule drift? Did you slide from weekly to bi weekly without really planning it?
Or worse, did you skip whole months because, you know the production pipeline just seized up?
Jamie:That schedule drift, that's like the number one momentum killer. The sources flag huge impact.
Jaayne:Okay, what else?
Jamie:And you look at any structural experiments you tried, maybe you shifted your format.
Jaayne:Like moving from interviews to solo episodes or adding video.
Jamie:Precisely. Did that change actually land with your audience? You have to correlate that format shift with your engagement metrics. Did comments drop off?
Did shares dry up? And critically, did listener completion rates dip right after you made that change?
Jaayne:Completion rates again, important signal.
Jamie:Very. And then there's the dreaded marketing audit. Uh. Oh, did your distribution tactics underperform?
Maybe you spent, I don't know, three hours every week creating those short social clips.
Jaayne:Yeah, everyone says you should do that.
Jamie:Right? But did the analytics actually show any audience growth from that or any traffic back to your main podcast platform? Was that energy just misspent?
Jaayne:Oof.
Jamie:Tough questions, but necessary. And the really critical phase is moving beyond the what didn't work to the why.
Okay, so for example, if that solo episode format didn't connect, why not? Was the topic just wrong for what your audience expects from you?
Jaayne:Or maybe the goal itself was just unrealistic, like aiming for 5,000 downloads on that format when your platform size or your available time just couldn't support it.
Jamie:Exactly. Or maybe it was mistargeting. This comes up a lot in the sources.
Jaayne:How so?
Jamie:Well, a creator might assume their audience wants, say, super deep technical dives, but then the data, the actual shares and comments showed that the episodes that really resonate are the lighter ones, maybe the more relationship focused ones.
Jaayne:So you might have picked the wrong type of guest or the wrong topic focus entirely for your specific audience.
Jamie:Precisely. And that insight, knowing exactly why a specific tactic or segment didn't connect, that's the gift.
Jaayne:Okay, I see it now.
Jamie:Because now you have actionable information. You don't have to guess next year. If the publishing cadence was the issue, okay, you adjust it to something truly sustainable.
If the promotion felt thin. Right. You allocate more resources or time, there's.
Jaayne: So what didn't work in: Jamie:You got it.
Jaayne:I really like that shift in perspective. It takes the sting out of it.
Once we stop seeing underperformance as, like, a personal failure and just see it as data, then we can finally turn our attention to the things that did work. And that feels like the real fuel, doesn't it? Time to celebrate the wins.
Jamie:Absolutely. And those wins, you know, no matter how small they might seem, they are the foundation you build on for next year. But we need to be careful here.
Jaayne:How so?
Jamie:We need to distinguish between, let's call them vanity metrics and genuine quality indicators.
Jaayne:Ah, okay. This is where we need to get a bit more technical. The sources really hammer this point.
Just seeing raw download numbers go up might feel good, but it's a vanity metric if it's not backed by quality signals. So give us the deep dive. What does a real win look like in the data?
Jamie:Okay, so a real win often looks like an increased listener completion rate. That's a Big one.
Jaayne:Right?
Jamie:Think about it. If you had, say, 1,000 downloads on an episode, but 80% of those listeners actually stuck around right to the very end, that's a huge quality signal.
Jaayne:Suggests they're a really engaged, high content market fit.
Jamie:Exactly. And that suggests potential for monetization, community building, all sorts of good stuff down the line.
le metric trumps having maybe: Jaayne:Makes total sense. What else counts as a solid win?
Jamie:Well, maybe a specific piece of content or a specific guest caused a noticeable spike. You landed that amazing high profile guest and they actually promoted the episode really well.
Jaayne:Okay, good sign.
Jamie:But here's the critical follow up question the sources raise. Did that guest's audience actually stick around?
Jaayne:Ah, the ripple effect.
Jamie:Yeah. Did they subscribe? Did they become part of your long term audience? Or was it just a temporary bump? We're looking for that sustainable ripple.
Jaayne:Got it. And what about system wins? Things behind the scenes?
Jamie:Definitely. Maybe you finally nailed a consistent editing workflow, something that actually felt smooth and sustainable, not a constant struggle.
That's a huge win for your own sanity and consistency.
Jaayne:Or maybe it was a side project.
Like maybe you started a little newsletter summarizing the episodes, and suddenly that started getting new email signups way faster than the main show itself.
Jamie:Right. That's a clear signal. That's an asset you should probably double down on.
Jaayne:Okay, so we've identified these wins, big or small. How do we actually leverage them? The sources say you need to ask yourself three key questions based on this analysis.
First, which win created the biggest, most sustainable ripple effect? Where did that new audience come from? And what percentage actually became part of your core?
Jamie:Good one. Second, and just as important, which tactic felt the easiest or maybe the most sustainable for you personally?
Jaayne:Ah, the energy factor again.
Jamie:Yes.
If creating, say, super detailed show notes was technically a win for SEO, but it took 10 hours of grinding labor every single week that you absolutely hated, well, that's probably not a sustainable win in the long run.
Jaayne:Yeah. Efficiency and actually enjoying the process matter hugely.
Jamie:Yeah. Which leads right into the third question, maybe the most crucial one. Beyond just the metrics, where did you feel energized?
the guest outreach part, your: Jaayne:So knowing what actually replenishes your creative energy is just as vital as knowing what technically works according to the numbers.
Jamie:Couldn't have said it better. The conclusion here is pretty straightforward. Scale up what's working well and feels good.
Simplify or ditch what isn't, and lean heavily into your unique creative strengths.
Jaayne: So you build your: Jamie:That's the foundation.
Jaayne:All right, now we shift gears. We move from the audit, the looking back to the architecture phase. Building for the future.
Jamie:Right.
Jaayne: How do we structure goals for: Jamie:From day one, this is about avoiding wasted effort. We're moving beyond just saying use smart goals and focusing on the practical application.
The sources lay out four really distinct steps to make sure your strategic goals actually get executed. This helps avoid what they call the habit trap.
Jaayne:Ooh, the habit trap. I like that. Okay, step one.
Jamie:Step one, define clear targets. And these has got to be explicitly tied to a deadline and a number.
Jaayne:No more vague stuff like get better.
Jamie:Exactly.
,: Jaayne:Clear targets. Step 2.
Jamie:Define your metrics and your measurement cadence. This, honestly, is where a lot of creators fall down. They set the big ambitious goal, but.
Jaayne:They don't figure out how they'll actually track progress along the way.
Jamie:Precisely. You need a systematic schedule. When are you checking the downloads? First Monday of the month. When are you analyzing listener completion rates?
Quarterly. Put it in the calendar. Make it a recurring non negotiable appointment with your data.
Jaayne:That keeps you honest. Right. And helps you spot problems early. And it means checking the right metrics.
If your goal is download growth, you shouldn't just check raw downloads.
Jamie:No, you should be checking things like guest re engagement rates, maybe social clip shares, referral traffic. Because those are often the leading indicators, the behaviors that actually drive the growth you want.
Jaayne:Okay, leading indicators makes sense. Which brings us to step three.
Jamie:Step three, Define the systems and habits needed to support those goals. This is crucial. Goals don't just magically materialize habits. Deliver them.
Jaayne:Ah, this is how we avoid that habit trap.
Jamie:Exactly. If your goal requires creating more social clips, fine.
But you must block dedicated time in your schedule every single week specifically for creating and scheduling those clips. It has to be become a system.
Jaayne:Or if you need better guests to hit your targets, you actually schedule time for guest outreach and research, say every Friday morning. It becomes part of the routine.
Jamie:The goal is the destination. The system is the vehicle that gets you there.
And part of that system has to be budgeting time for that analytics review we just talked about, not just for creating the content itself.
Jaayne:Right. Review needs its own time slot. Okay, and the final step, step four.
Jamie: on't just wait until December: Jaayne:Like end of Q1, end of Q2.
Jamie:Exactly. Put hard stops on your calendar. And these aren't meant to be high pressure performance reviews.
They're simply times to check the data against your original intent. Are you on track?
And if not, if not, the data you've been collecting systematically allows you to pivot your strategy intelligently without losing momentum or feeling like you failed. You just adjust based on the evidence.
Jaayne:Okay, I can see how structuring goals way makes the whole strategic direction much clearer. It minimizes that feeling of what should I be doing next? And just maximizes focused execution.
Jamie:Precisely. Now, there's one more really important piece to this puzzle we need to address.
Jaayne:Okay.
Jamie:Because let's face it, we're creating content for actual humans, not just for algorithms or spreadsheets. We can't forget the bigger picture here.
Jaayne:You mean community?
Jamie:Exactly. The numbers, the data, they're vital for strategy. Yes.
But the heart of your show, the thing that makes it sustainable long term, is often about building that connection, that community.
Jaayne:I think this is where transparency can play a really strategic role. Actually, the final actionable step the sources talk about is all about community and celebration.
It's about inviting your listeners into this review and planning process.
Jamie:Why do that? What's the benefit?
Jaayne:Well, the idea is that sharing your audit journey with your audience, the good, the, the bad, the pivots, builds incredible loyalty and trust.
Jamie:Ah, okay.
Jaayne:Okay.
Jamie:It creates a kind of psychological contract, doesn't it?
Jaayne:Yeah.
When a creator shares a: Jamie:You basically convert passive listeners into active stakeholders. They feel involved.
Jaayne:Exactly. They feel like they're part of the journey.
The sources mentioned examples like shows doing episodes titled five Random Questions Turns one or that's a Wrap on season three.
Jamie:And in those, the host explicitly talks about the analytics, maybe what they learned, and even asks the audience for input on the direction for the next season.
Jaayne:It shows humility, it shows you're listening and it creates that sense of co.
Jamie:Ownership and that kind of engagement, that feeling of being heard and knowing the why behind the content decisions. That's what truly sustains growth, often far more reliably than any single marketing trick.
Jaayne: next iteration of the show in: Jamie:Absolutely.
Jaayne:So let's try and bring this all together. What does this mean for you, the listener, right now heading towards the end of the year?
Jamie:Well, we've laid out the structured steps, haven't we?
Jaayne: essively review your original: Jamie:Then identify the high value insights hidden within both the wins and the misses. Remember the gift of the miss.
Jaayne:Right?
se that insight to build your: Jamie:It's really a cycle of continuous improvement. Audit the data, yes, but also audit your energy. Set structured systems, and then crucially, openly communicate that journey to your community.
Jaayne: for: Jamie:Okay, let's hear it.
Jaayne: n your most surprising win in:Or maybe it was a piece of content that felt almost effortless for you to produce, but still resonated.
Jamie:Looking beyond the obvious metrics, exactly what.
Jaayne:Specific, maybe non obvious, insight does that particular success give you about where you should focus the bulk of your energy and your resources next year?
Jamie:Focus on that unexpected win. Find the data points that confirm where your passion really lies and where it connects with your audience.
he framework to build a solid: Jaayne:Apply these steps to your projects happy planning and we will catch you on the next deep dive.
