Do you have an idea for a podcast?
Over the past decade, podcasts have skyrocketed in popularity. Now, there’s a podcast for nearly every topic. Some people have been able to build their entire careers around their weekly episodes.
Yet, if you want to get off on the right foot and build your listener base, you need to know how to start off strong. Even if you’ve already started your podcast, you might be wondering how to refine your approach.
In order to have a great show, you need to know how to avoid common podcast mistakes.
But what are they, and how do you navigate around them? Keep reading to learn more!
1. Not Posting Consistently
We all have busy schedules, and it’s no secret that podcasting can take up a ton of time. You might have to spend hours coming up with ideas and turning them into full-on, viable episodes.
Yet, successful podcasts don’t just launch and then post whenever their creators feel inspired. Instead, they come up with a schedule and let their supporters know when they plan to upload.
But how do you determine when you should post?
When you start out your podcast, think about how often you think you’ll be able to allot time to your craft. Then, measure how long it takes you to make a podcast. Factor in the amount of time it takes to come up with ideas, draft a script, record, and edit.
Once you have this down, figure out how many podcasts you think you’ll be able to make a month. Some people update every week, while some post more infrequently.
Still, once you launch your podcast, you might need to play around with how often you post. Try out a few schedules until you figure out one that works for you.
2. Not Knowing Your Genre
Do you want to know a secret? If you have a podcast, you need to know about your competition. Why?
Because it’s crucial to identify what already exists out there for finding out where you fit in.
Podcast creators have to hit a difficult note. They have to be aware of what other people have done well and why it works. At the same time, they need to know which different approach they want to bring in that sets them apart from other people.
As the podcast creator, it’s your job to know as much about your podcast as possible. This includes how your podcast adheres to your genre’s expectations and what spins you put onto it.
3. Not Editing
Many people want to create their podcasts as fast as possible, and while doing that, they neglect the editing portion of their work. That’s why it’s one of the most common podcast mistakes.
Why do you need to edit?
No draft of a podcast is 100% perfect, especially on the first take. You might have certain unwanted background noises or parts of the podcast that drag on. Before you put an episode out into the world, you need to listen to it at least once.
Think about how you can make it better. Have a few other people else listen to it and tell you which parts were interesting and which should be taken out.
Of course, everyone’s opinions are subjective, so one person might love a part that another doesn’t. Yet, if your first listeners all agree that they don’t like something, you may want to consider taking it out.
Want to minimize the amount you need to edit? Consider investing in tools such as a pop filter, which will help you sift out unwanted popping noises that we naturally make when we pronounce plosive letters like B’s, P’s, T’s.
More Editing Advice to Avoid Common Podcast Mistakes
How do you make sure you make good editing choices?
First, consider the overall theme of your episode. Then, listen to your recording and determine whether each section serves to advance the theme. If not, is there anything that should be changed or cut?
Here’s another important tip that may seem contradictory to some people: listeners like to relate to the content they consume. What does that mean for you?
You might want to leave that comedic mess-up in, especially if it blends well with the overall tone of your show. It builds a rapport with your listeners and makes you feel more like an accessible human being rather than a disembodied voice.
Still, minimize the number of noticeable errors in your podcast. 1 or 2 can make you appear more relatable, but a large handful just makes you sound too sloppy.
4. Neglecting Sound Quality
Do you want to know why many people give up on podcasts? Because the sound quality is not up to par.
We live in quite a particular age. Your listeners consume a vast amount of media every day, and their ears have grown accustomed to the sound of good audio.
Because of this, the modern consumer may not understand anything about sound quality but still be able to tell when it’s not good.
That makes it pertinent for every podcast creator to have good sound. If they don’t, many people won’t bother to listen because the sound quality annoys them too much.
To get a good sound, you need the right equipment. Do your research and invest in a good microphone and audio editing system that fits within your budget. Then, use it to make sure you present your show in the best light.
5. Not Becoming Familiar with Copyright Laws
Before the internet, copyright laws were fairly straightforward: don’t take any large quotations from any source and reproduce them for your own gain without credit.
Yet, when people began posting things online, the rules started getting more sticky. After all, so many people shared things that didn’t quite belong to them, and it started becoming more and more challenging to determine how fair use applied to these items.
Besides, different countries have different copyright laws. Though the internet does not have borders, what might be considered fair use in the United States might not be fair use in England and vice versa.
Because of this, you need to be careful. Refrain from using any music or other media elements unless you are thoroughly aware of the laws surrounding your right to use it.
In fact, you should probably not use copyrighted material unless you’re a lawyer. Otherwise, you might find yourself deep in a lawsuit you can’t afford.
Ready to Start Your Podcast?
Now that you know more about the most common podcast mistakes, it’s time to put that knowledge into action!
Podcasts can be incredibly rewarding endeavors, and if you work hard on them, you’ll end up creating something you’re proud of. By avoiding the mistakes below, you’ll be well on your way to making a good podcast.
Have a question about producing your podcast? Contact us today to learn more!