The ChristmasPodcasts.com Christmas Podcaster Survey is open now to collect thoughts and opinions from Christmas podcasters about the best Christmas podcasts online.

This is part of a new feature to be released at MyMerryChristmas.com later during the month of October.

Rather than release just another podcast list that resembles a popularity contest the feature is consulting with a variety of groups about what makes a good Christmas podcast and which of the hundreds of Christmas podcasts online are really “the best”. Christmas podcasters themselves are a very important group in the collection of this information.

If you are a Christmas podcaster please share your opinions via the survey below before October 12th, 2021. Please share this post with other Christmas podcasters you know. We appreciate your help. The most podcasters who respond the better the report will be:

I received an email from a frustrated fellow Christmas podcaster trying to understand why his December stats for a recent episode were so weak.

It’s December. It’s a Christmas podcast. What’s the problem?

I understand this entirely. It took me many, many years to understand what the Christmas community online does in December.

What makes this difficult for me to honestly discuss this right now is the fact that my own podcast has never seen a December like this one. It’s just crazy.

BUT. There’s a lot more going on here than meets the eye.

First of all, there’s this thing called 2020 going on – and it is an absolutely off-the-charts anomaly in time. Nothing should count in 2020. Not your credit rating. Not your taxes. And not your podcasts stats.

Christmas has been a hot thing all year.

When the word “covid” first roll off everyone’s lips for the first time last winter the Christmas lights went back on, the trees went back up and the Bing Crosby tunes crooned again.

Christmas is love, peace and comfort and I can tell you, after years of serving the Christmas audience online, we have never seen a year like this one.

So consider that when you look at how well your Christmas podcast is being received — both good and bad.

But more importantly, there’s another thing going on right now (mid-December) that happens every year.

It’s called Christmas. Ya ever heard of it?

Yeah, it’s a thing.

You see, here’s what we’ve learned: there are really two different kinds of Christmas folks out there.

There are the year round Christmas folks — and this is everyone who loves Christmas for some reason: the music guys, the cookie gals, the light freaks, the collectors, the village people, and all the other little sub-sets of Christmas niches out there.

These guys are your people. They love Christmas. And chances are they listen to your Christmas stuff year round.

Well, I shouldn’t say “year round”. They listen 11-months of the year…and bookmark the 12th month, December.

That means they’ll get to you – because they are year round Christmas folks. They love Christmas and they love you. It’s just that they are busy right now doing all the Christmas stuff they love to do.

The other kind of Christmas folks are seasonal only.

These are the ones who sip their Pumpkin Lattes in August while searching those old movies, TV shows or songs they want to consume. They do love you too. But only when they want to. Fickle bunch.

The seasonal Christmas folks are by far the larger group. They come storming in come fall and then they ditch us to the curb by mid-January. They fall into post-Christmas funks easily and they won’t come back until Starbucks shows their new cups.

I’m not knocking either group, by the way. We love them all. But you gotta understand how they work.

Now, I know what you’re saying — “But Jeff – you put out Christmas podcasts in December!”

And yeah, you’re right. I do.

I just don’t expect anyone to listen to them. Honestly. My December episodes, as timely as I try to make them, just never do well – at first.

I put them out as tradition — cause I’ve always done them. I put them out because they are a part of my Christmas. I love the storytelling, the history and the joy that comes from just talking Christmas. And I put them out to create a record. Believe it or not, there’s great value in old episodes — even it if it just for the sake of history.

2020 is a historic year. Your podcasts, whether you mean them to or not, will reflect that and years down the line you will look at them and say, “remember when?”

But, more than that — your old episodes, and even those done in the dog days of December, hold great value.

After years of doing this and with a great many episodes in the archives I can tell you this: there’s no sweeter connection with a listener you can have than one who sends you an email in response to an episode you did five years ago.

I don’t remember what I said five years ago!

When I get those emails I have to go back and listen to what I said.

And guess what? You learn a lot by listening to your younger self.

You walk away with observations that make you sometimes cringe. “Boy, was I a jerk!” or “Wow, I got that one wrong” or, my fav, “Who WAS that?”

Right now, for no other reason than it’s 2020 that I can see, my older episodes are doing better than the stuff I’ve just released. I can’t explain it. But a lot of people are listening and tuning in to my Christmas past.

That is the reason why you cannot give up on your December episodes. Just let go of your December expectations. There are just too many other things out there to compete with in mid-December that have nothing to do with you and your podcast.

It’s been an unprecedented year. In some twisted ways, it has been a fun year, especially in Christmas podcasting. But don’t get your Christmas knickers in a twist if your December pods don’t explode. They never do.

This project of ChristmasPodcasts.com has been a fun one but we’re only getting started. Sean is doing an exceptional job. YOU are doing an exceptional job.

In this year, Christmas podcasts finally became “a thing”.

We are officially another sub-set of Christmas crazies.

I love that. I think it is the coolest thing ever that so many are taking up podcasting as a means of extending their Christmas joy. Everyone brings something new, fresh and great to the Christmas table. Christmas podcasts are Christmas passions on parade. How fun is that?

I didn’t think it would ever happen. And I do fear that some podcasts are going to go away after this Christmas of 2020.

I sure hope that doesn’t happen.

I hope folks hang in their with their podcasts and continue to look at ever creative ways of bringing Christmas to folks online.

The Christmas folks out there of all types do want and need what you’re offering.

Even if they can’t get to it in December.

Merry Christmas.

A few weeks ago we publish our first rankings. Now is the time to disclose our efforts to establish ratings for Christmas podcasts. Ratings are a much more complex thing than mere rankings, which more are less are a competitive measurement of podcast activity.

Early in September 2020 we formed a focus group to analyze Christmas podcasts.

Our goal is to provide a structure rating of Christmas podcasts based on the following criteria:

• Podcast Availability – is the podcast available on key platforms? How many and which ones? Can the podcast be downloaded and archived? Does the podcast have a website that includes show notes, contact information and links to other places where content from the podcaster can be reviewed?
• Technical Sophistication – file formats, tagging, audio quality and a host of other technical criteria are reviewed.
• Content Quality & Relevance – Research into topic discussions, historical documentaries, content creators such as song writers, authors and Christmas experts, networking within the Christmas community for exposure to influencers and producers, are all considered as elements of content quality.
• Longevity and Seasonality – how long a podcast has been around as well as their year-round production of Christmas content is considered
• Frequency and Duration – the frequency of publication (especially during off seasons) and the length of each episode are evaluated.
• Audience Response – Beyond download counts, each podcast is tracked against IAB Podcast Technical Measurement Guidelines that measures how long listeners tune in to each episode, whether the listen to an episode in one sitting or over time, if it is streamed or downloaded, etc. These are industry standards used to rank top podcasts overall. By adopting these standards the ratings we provide at ChristmasPodcasts.com will become more relevant.
• Listener Reviews – A review of the reviews left by listeners on various platforms.
• Community Engagement – How engaged is the podcast creator with the Christmas community (not just social media or with other podcasters).

Like nearly everything, podcasting for Christmas comes at a different standard.

Just as Christmas movies, music, books and websites are unique compared to their non-holiday counterparts, we believe Christmas podcasts are similarly set apart.

Our goal with this endeavor is to provide a solid reference point for the Christmas community seeking entertainment in Christmas podcasts. We do not believe these ratings are needed to identify “the best” of Christmas podcasts but rather to inform about how they differ. We want to provide a resource that separates Christmas podcasts for their varying qualities so that listeners can make informed choices.

This is needed because Christmas podcasts are exploding in number and popularity.

By focusing on the criteria above (and more) and sharing that information we believe we can better steer the Christmas consumer to the Christmas content they want.

Who is the focus group?

They are Christmas experts who run websites and social media channels. Some are an authority in podcasting overall. A few are Christmas manufacturers, educators, or authors. Some are even Christmas industry journalists, and significantly engaged Christmas enthusiasts.

More than 60 individuals have been recruited to this effort.

We will NOT be disclosing the names of those involved or their individual responses to the polling. We are determined to gather their feedback without fear of influence.

Their job is to go and experience your podcast as a listener. They will download your episodes, read your notes, watch your social media chatter and keep up with your content.

Then they will record their experience and share it with us, using the criteria above. Our collective goal is to come up with a simple, solid rating of your podcast.

This is not work for just anyone. This is work for someone who is closely connected to Christmas online or in a business pursuit who just happens to NOT be a Christmas podcaster themselves.

If you are such an individual or know of one whose feedback to this effort would be of value, please contact us. Please do not submit names of any Christmas podcaster, they cannot, of course, be considered or involved in this effort.

While this will be an ongoing effort the initial evaluation period goes through January 2021. We will not post gathered ratings until after than time. Ratings will be upgraded on a quarterly basis thereafter and as new podcasts are released.

What Can a Podcast Do Now?

Naturally all podcasts will want to rate well in this survey. What can a podcast do now to ensure that?

1. Put out your own, unique stuff.  What makes your podcast great is YOU.
2. Look to where you can easily improve now and actually do it as this season progresses. If you are an established podcast, it would be wise to consider all the above and show movement.
3. Ask questions. Join the podcaster community here on Christmas podcasts and become involved in these efforts.
4. Ask your listeners for reviews on your website, here on CP, and wherever they listen to your podcasts. Get reviews. The voice of the fan carries more weight than anything else.

It’s a funny thing. For years and years now we have seen this thing in the media about “Christmas creep”.

All through the month of July people talk up Christmas without complaint. But the minute August 1^st rolls around you begin to see the news media complain about things like Christmas trees at Costco.

I don’t know why they focus on stores. But they do.

They don’t like to see the truck back up to Hobby Lobby. They can’t stand that the garden center at Walmart starts to sprout plastic snowmen next to the Back to School stuff.

The American media even complains at the John Lewis Department store in the UK that opens their Christmas shop on the same date every year – August 25^th.

They make a big deal about it opening four whole months ahead of the big day.

They cannot do that this year – because, you know, COVID.

Christmas has been hot all year.

When the lockdown began it seems the Christmas lights went up last spring. Many have just kept them up – all summer long.

Some have set up their Christmas trees, redecorating for Memorial Day, Father’s Day, and Fourth of July. Some are even sporting Back to School trees, evidently the most festive out-of-season tree yet.

But if you try to Google “Christmas Creep” right now you’ll find no complaints. None. Not one.

In fact, most retailers are claiming to be prepping for Christmas earlier than ever, because, you know, COVID.

Amazon is hinting they will finally do Prime Day in early October.

Target, who only last year promised no Christmas before Thanksgiving, says they are decking the halls and offering Christmas specials in October because “2020 is no time to have a crowd”.

Retailer after retailer are all saying they will close on Thanksgiving but what will that matter if they can cash in on Christmas before Halloween?

All in the name of, you know, COVID.

It seems as if it is okay to talk about Christmas in August and September this year.

We are relieved to finally have a year like this.

Christmas is less fun when you have to complain about decorations, music and good will before the pumpkins are even picked.

So we, the Christmas podcasting community, have a real opportunity – because, you know, COVID.

What are we going to do with it? Will we let this opportunity pass?

And what will we talk about? Will we use this unusual season to endlessly spew about another Brady Christmas television reunion?

Will we pontificate on Hallmark’s 900^th movie release of this season?

Will we interview other podcasters because we think people actually care when we do that?

Should we talk what’s hot and what’s not in a year in Christmas when people just want to feel good and normal again?

How can we know what will reach the masses at such a time as this?

During a year like this does Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party matter? At a time like this does Max Headroom’s Greatest Christmas Hits really strike a sentimental chord?

(Wait, wut? You don’t remember who Max Headroom was?)

Is this really the year to discuss the bullying of Rudolph, the sexism of 75-year-old Christmas songs or the real purpose of fruitcake?

Just what is important at this time of crisis and discord? What kind of Christmas really matters?

How can we, as Christmas proponents, champions and advocates, really serve the Christmas-loving listeners we have?

I beg of you, my Christmas friends, to please see this year for what it is.

Folks are stressed. They are mentally taxed.

Some have had a really rough go beyond what we might see in our own world. Unemployment. Loss of income. Illness. For many, there has been tremendous loss – some of life and loved ones.

The stress of a year of election drama and now street violence and ongoing uncertainty is overwhelming for people.

Yes, I hear you. Yes, the escapism that can be Christmas is quite real. We’ve seen it all year long.

But now, as we gratefully head into the Ber Months, a time when blessings are counted and hope shines anew, what can our few humble podcasts provide that will help heal, provide light and give hope?

Over the coming 20 weeks or so we all have a choice: we can be just another competing voice in the noise or we can participate in a miracle.

We can add light or cast shade.

We can help – or merely be bystanders.

I hope we can find ways in our Christmas offerings this year to make a difference. I hope we can reach out, find someone to serve or a cause to embrace, and make a sad situation somewhere a little less sad.

You know, because COVID.

The lessons of Christmas are all in practicing it. We can’t just stand by and just talk about it. We have to practice it. What better year to do that than this one?

How can your podcast do that?

That’s my challenge to you as you work right now on your plans for the weeks ahead.

By Jeff Westover of MyMerryChristmas.com and The Merry Little Podcast