Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting Your Own Podcast

The podcast industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 10 years, with new shows popping up every day. Starting your own podcast can be a great way to share your thoughts and ideas with the world, or to build a portfolio of work that you can use to showcase your skills.

But like any other undertaking, there are a few things you’ll want to avoid if you want your podcast to be a success.

Here are several common mistakes to avoid when starting your own podcast.

Not using the right hosting platform

When you first start, it’s tempting to try and save money by hosting your podcast on a free platform like SoundCloud. But in the long run, it’s worth it to invest in a paid hosting service. According to wiredclip.com, paid hosts will give you more control over your episodes, as well as provide features like statistics and RSS feeds that can be beneficial. Make sure to do a little research and read guides on the different hosting platforms and what they offer before making a decision on which is perfect for you.

Additionally, some hosting platforms like Libsyn will give you the option to distribute your podcast to popular directories like iTunes and Stitcher, which can help you reach a wider audience. Therefore, it’s worth considering different hosting platforms and their various strategies before settling on one.

Not having enough content for each episode

You can’t just press record and expect people to listen! You must be able to produce episodes on a regular schedule (weekly or bi-weekly) so listeners will come back now and then. This means planning out topics in advance so you’ll be ready when it’s time to hit record. 

On the other hand, you don’t want each episode to be jam-packed with information. You want to leave your listeners wanting more, so they’ll tune in next time. Finding the right balance can be tricky, but it’s important to find a format that works for you and stick to it.

Podcasting is a commitment, and if you’re not able to produce new episodes regularly, people will likely lose interest.

Failing to market your podcast

Just because you build it doesn’t mean they’ll come. To get people listening to your show, you need to let them know it exists! There are several ways you can market your podcast, such as 

• Posting about it on social media

• Reaching out to blogs and websites in your niche to share your show

• Asking friends and family to spread the word

• Submitting your show to popular podcast directories like iTunes

Don’t forget that you can also use your website or blog to promote your podcast. Be sure to include links to your episodes, as well as a brief description of each one.

Not having interesting guests

If you’re planning to have guests on your show (and you should!), they must be interesting and engaging. Choosing guests who are experts in their field and can share insights that your listeners will find valuable is crucial. You also want to make sure that your guests can speak engagingly and hold the attention of your listeners.

Remember, your goal is to produce a show that people will want to listen to, so choosing guests who are boring or unqualified will only reflect poorly on you.

Failing to edit

You also want to make sure that your episodes are well-edited. This means removing any dead air, filling in any awkward pauses, and generally making sure that the flow of the conversation is easy to follow and sounds natural.

While you don’t need to be a professional editor, taking the time to go through your episodes and clean them up will make a big difference in how they’re received by your listeners. However, if you’re not comfortable editing your audio, several services can do it for you (for a fee). But even if you have to pay someone to edit your podcast, it’s worth it to make sure that each episode is high quality and sounds professional.

Not paying attention to sound quality

Sound quality is important! If your episodes are full of background noise, or if your audio is muffled or unclear, people will have a hard time listening and may tune out which defeats the purpose of starting a podcast in the first place!

Investing in a good microphone and recording in a quiet environment will make a big difference in the quality of your episodes. And if you’re planning to have guests on your show, be sure to ask them to use a good microphone as well.

Avoiding these common mistakes will help you create a successful podcast that people will want to listen to! Just remember to focus on quality, be consistent, and market your show effectively and you’ll be well on your way to success.