If you’re new to podcasting, it’s easy to make mistakes that can negatively impact your show. In fact, this can sometimes be extremely disastrous for the growth of your podcast. In this episode, we’ll discuss some of the most common beginner podcasting mistakes, and how to avoid them. Let’s get started!
Something that I am often asked by enthusiastic beginners even before they have started their podcast is, “Will my podcast be able to reach a million downloads like some of the other top podcasters?”
If you are starting off, I am sure that is a question that you too would have.
So, let me answer it for you.
While it is true that everybody needs to get started with ambitious goals, I don’t really know if your show will be able to hit a million downloads.
But then, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind when you are aiming that huge numbers.
A stats by Buzzsprout says that if your episode get about 90+ downloads in the first 7 days of release, then your podcast is already in the top 25% of podcasts worldwide. That’s just 90+ downloads.
So the first thing is to take a phased planning approach and not worry about millions of downloads.
The second thing is that, downloads are totally dependent upon your niche and the volume of audience in that particular niche. Comparing two podcasts in completely different niches from a download perspective is totally incorrect and inappropriate.
So my recommendation is – plan for larger goals but take small phased approach targeting a smaller goal.
I will elaborate on that and keep that discussion for a later episode. But for this one, let us take a look at 10 most common beginner podcasting mistakes similar to the one that I just spoke about.
If you are doing any of these, then stop. Evaluate and correct them before it goes out of hand.
Beginner Podcasting Mistakes and How to Avoid them
Mistakes aren’t bad and Beginners are bound to make mistakes in podcasting. But what is important is to learn from those mistakes and correct them well in time.
So, if you are just starting off, then these beginner podcasting mistakes are ones that you can be cautious off and avoid making.
But if you are already into podcasting, then check if you are making these mistakes and correct them in the interest of your long-term podcast growth.
Let us get into these beginner podcasting mistakes –
Checking stats immediately after the show is released
Stats is a necessary evil in podcasting. While you need stats to learn about your podcast growth, it can become one of the primary reasons for demotivation and disappointment.
Beginners get so addicted to stats that they start checking their listenership and downloads immediately after the trailer is released.
Then they get disappointed with the low numbers and podfade follows.
Don’t run after stats immediately after launching the show. In fact, my guidance is that you shouldn’t look at stats at all up until you have at least 20 episodes on your show.
Looking at listenership data and not planning for what to do with it
This second beginner podcasting mistake has also got to do with stats and I have seen this more often in people who have at least about 20 episodes.
They take my advice and start checking their stats after the first 20 episodes and brood over the numbers.
Something that you always need to keep in mind is that it doesn’t really matter as to how many new listeners are coming in and how is it increasing with every episode. What matters more is what are you doing with the listeners who are coming in?
Plan for what you want to do with your listeners, not after they come in but before they have started coming in.
- Are you planning to capture their email address?
- How are you planning to market to them?
- What kind of engagement are you planning to do with them? etc.
Reaching out to sponsors even before the show has taken off
I was in this conversation with an aspiring podcaster who had an idea for his show.
I was surprised to hear from him, that with the initial idea he had already approached a few brands to check if they are willing to sponsor the show.
In fact, one of the brands even responded by saying you put together the show and once we see it live, we will think over it.
It was a very innovative idea and if the niche is one where there is a good enough audience, then this is an excellent idea.
But, the chances of this working out is only if you already have credibility in the market, and are an established and well-known content creator and influencer.
If you are not, then from a brand’s perspective it is a huge risk they are going to take which they might not want to.
So, my recommendation is to not do that. Establish credibility before you reach out to sponsors.
Picking the incorrect podcasting host
Another beginner podcasting mistake is in deciding to go with anything that is FREE – Free podcast hosting, free website hosting, free domain name, etc. without giving it a detailed thought.
I am not against FREE and I, in fact, recommend getting started with a FREE option. You can also continue with the FREE option if you think that is viable for you even from a long-term perspective.
When it comes to podcast hosting, pick the one that is the right one for you. Base your decision on a thought-out approach.
Are you testing the waters and are you planning on scaling it up if you like what you are getting into? Then you need to go with a podcast hosting that can give you an option of getting started for FREE and then help you scale up.
Are you unsure of what route you would take in the future? Go with a FREE hosting that offers you the basic support.
Are you planning on monetizing your podcast in the long term? Go with a podcast host that can help you with monetization.
Consider all of the options, and weigh in on them to see what fits your requirement. I would recommend you check out Acast. You can visit https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/acast and get started for FREE!
Not submitting their podcast to the major directories like Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts
Podcasting is about distribution. And if your podcast isn’t distributed enough and if they cannot be found on the major directories, then you are losing out on a large amount of listenership.
According to a stats by Buzzsprout, Spotify and Apple Podcasts contribute to almost 45% of listenership.
While from an Indian market perspective we do not have enough data, some studies suggest that Gaana and Jiosaavn are the major contributors. Though I would take that with a pinch of salt, we cannot write off these stats.
The bottom line is that your podcast has to be on these directories and it has to absolutely be on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.
So either use your podcast host’s automatic distribution or, manually submit to these directories. But irrespective of what way you choose, please go do it.
And don’t forget to check if they show up on these directories.
Not having enough content for the initial listeners
Something that I always talk about is having a launch strategy. Podcasting is like a running race. How you start defines the future of your podcasting journey. The strategies for running a marathon and a sprint are both different, and how you plan it will define how you end the race.
Similarly in podcasting, it is important to start right. Plan your launch strategy.
And one of the critical pieces in the launch is putting out enough content out there for your listeners. When you launch ensure that you release at least 3 episodes back to back so that your initial listeners have something to listen to.
Relying on the online recording and editing features of apps
Most podcast hosts come with an online recording and editing feature and a lot of beginner podcasters get started by using those.
It is the most incorrect way of getting started. While these are convenient features that hosts provide, it isn’t the ideal way to record your podcast.
Use a good software like Audacity to record your episode and do the basic editing.
Approaching influencer guests even before they have anything to show
One of the most common beliefs among podcasters who are getting started is that an influential guest on the show can help you with getting a ton of listens.
They expect these guests to share the interview on their social media channels and get their followers to tune in and listen to the podcast.
But this belief isn’t true. They necessarily might not bring in a lot of listens. It is also not necessary that their followers will listen to the show. In fact, it isn’t even necessary that they will share it on their social media handles.
If your growth strategy is about bringing in such influential guests, then you need to go back to the drawing board and redo the entire growth strategy.
And one of the biggest beginner podcaster mistakes is in people reaching out to such influential guests even before they have released their first episode. Sometimes even before the trailer.
Don’t make that mistake.
Influential guests would like to see something before they can agree to appear on their show. Unless of course, you know them so well that they just agree to come on the show.
So put some content out before approaching your guests.
Not putting together a promotional strategy for their podcast
We are all so enthusiastic about getting started with something that interests us, that at times we miss out on the critical few initial pieces.
Starting off is ok but there also needs to be a plan for growth.
How are you planning on bringing in a new audience for your show?
What is your promotional strategy?
It cannot be posting an image on Instagram or, putting out a post on Facebook. There needs to be a much more detailed plan on how you plan to promote your podcast.
Spend some time studying and planning a good promotional strategy for your podcast.
Spending hours on editing and making their episodes perfect and no time on promotions.
This is one of the biggest beginner podcasting mistakes.
Some of the online journals and articles have made editing such a big thing in podcasting that most beginner podcasters think that unless they can make perfect audio out of their recording they cannot launch their show.
That isn’t correct.
Editing isn’t a big thing in podcasting.
It is just a small part of the entire puzzle. And you don’t need to spend hours perfecting your audio. All that is needed is to make it listenable.
Editing has to be very basic. Just clean your audio and publish it. That is it!
Resources I recommend
Here are some of the resources that I use and recommend –
- Acast Podcast Hosting – My favorite podcast hosting
- Audacity – for recording and editing your audio
- Tidycal – for booking your interview calls with your guests
Thank you for Joining
So those were the 10 most common beginner podcasting mistakes and how you can avoid them.
I am hoping that you found value in this episode.
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