Improving Online Radio Reports: 5 Key Metrics

Online radio reports offer crucial insights into the performance of your station across important areas. Here are five key metrics to watch out for and tips on how to improve them.

Listener Maps

A listener map is a global map that shows all the continents and major geographic locations. It uses the streaming client's IP address to display live locations with pinups on the map. To attract more listeners from different geographic locations:

● Localize your website;

● Use geographic filters when promoting your radio station with ads;

● Create content that your target listeners may enjoy;

● Cover local events, news reports, and news in their area.

Current Listeners

The current listener number displays how many people are currently streaming the audio. It is mostly a live counter of connected streaming clients, not how many people are listening, as several people may listen on one stream. To attract more listeners:

● Create the best content you can, such as the best playlists, live shows, documentaries, and more;

● Get listed on internet radio directories;

● Distribute your content in multiple ways, such as podcasting or with video;

● Use social media to attract listeners;

● Join Facebook promotional groups to share updates.

Total Listening Hours

Total Listening Hours (TLH) is the total time people spend listening to your stream. It is a function of the individual time per listener and the number of listeners. To keep people listening for longer:

● Provide exciting content each hour, such as interesting radio hosts or music variety;

● Test different formats and check what keeps fans listening longer;

● Promote upcoming shows to encourage more tune-ins;

● Let listeners know what's coming up in the show;

● Take song requests, as requesters will keep listening to hear their favorite songs;

● Interact with listeners by taking questions and reading out their commentaries;

● Shoutout to your listeners and acknowledge where they are listening from.

Listeners for a Specific Time Duration

Listeners for a specific time duration show how many people tuned in for a particular period, such as the last 24 hours. The reports track your overall performance and indicate if there is any growth or downturn. To improve overall listener numbers and grow your station:

● Focus on long-term growth by making long-term strategic moves;

● Periodically review performance every hour or day and plot strategies for short-term improvement;

● Constantly grow your content by adding new segments and hosts.

Listeners per Device

Listeners per device show how many people used certain devices to listen, such as mobile devices, desktops, or smart speakers. To grow listenership on smart speakers or mobile devices:

● Sign up for directories that offer mobile apps;

● Consider developing a mobile app only if there are clear returns as development may be expensive;

● Add your station to smart speakers by developing a skill for Alexa, Google Assistant, etc.;

● Make sure that your radio website is mobile-friendly.

By focusing on these key metrics, you can enhance your online radio station's performance and attract more listeners from different geographic locations, devices, and time durations. With consistent effort and improvements in these areas, you can grow your online radio station and reach a larger audience.