Common Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a Podcast

Podcasting is becoming increasingly popular, with more than 51% of adults in the United States reporting to have listened to podcasts. The ubiquitous nature of mobile phones and the changing nature of content consumption behavior offer immense opportunities for growing podcasts. 

That said, there already exist numerous podcasts, and making them in the industry requires creativity. While getting started may not require much, some blunders can prove costly. In this article, we highlight some common mistakes to avoid when creating and launching a podcast. 

• Failing to Plan Long-Term 

As is with everything else, failing to plan for your podcast’s growth is planning to fail. Growing a podcast requires patience and work, but the outcome is often worth the investment. However, you will find that you need to spend close to one month planning before getting started. 

The most important thing is to build a strong foundation to build on. If you are not prepared to work hard for more than twelve months setting foundations, then your podcast may not thrive. Don’t expect thousands of downloads overnight. 

Part of planning for your podcast is setting a clear and achievable goal. It does not matter how valuable you think your content is if you don’t have a clear objective for your audience. Doing a podcast without a plan is nothing but a hobby and will not have the returns you desire. Successful podcasts have clear goals with powerful marketing channels. Without a goal in mind, you may be just wasting your time. 

• Choosing and Overly Sophisticated and Obscure Name 

Some people also make the blunder of picking names that are obscure or too sophisticated for their podcasts. Of course, the mission should have a unique and interesting name to allow your podcast to stand out from the pool. 

It would help if you also were cautious to avoid trademark infringement. That said, being unique in the naming of your podcast does not mean overcomplicating things. 

Avoid names that are vague, difficult to comprehend or pronounce, and confusing. You may lose some of your listeners if they cannot understand the title you have chosen. 

Strive for simplicity, making sure that the name you choose for the podcast is discoverable. Take time to brainstorm several options before selecting an ideal title. 

You can even ask your friends and family to provide feedback on what they think about some of the names you have selected. In the end, pick something unique, simple, and understandable. Or you could ask professional essay experts to help with brainstorming some options for you online. 

• Ignoring Promotion and Marketing 

Upon launching your podcast and uploading your content, you should spend some time promoting it. If you have already dedicated your time resources to the podcast, you should do whatever it takes to make it a success. 

Most people assume that, as long as they have great content, listeners will eventually appear. However, creating the material is only one part of the puzzle. The reality of online content creation requires marketing and patience. Your audience will not locate your content unless you inform them about it. 

You already know that you have created amazing content. Make sure to tell your targeted listeners about the podcast. The good news is that social media platforms make promoting podcasts easy and affordable. It would be best if you also considered leveraging the potential presented by email marketing. Another thing you can do is actually be a guest on other podcasts that share similar topics, and gain more audience. To achieve this you should look into working with a podcast booking agency, and not just randomly try and reach out to podcast hosts.

• Not Being Consistent 

Another serious mistake that people make on their podcasts is lacking consistency. Blogs require consistent content, and so do podcasts. After some time, you will develop a loyal following who will expect to hear from you frequently. Choose a publishing schedule and make sure to be consistent in your delivery of material. 

• Being Too General 

Having a niche is crucial if your podcast is to be successful. Find a subject area to focus your episodes on and stick to it. Most people mistake launching their podcasts with a generalist goal and not deciding on a particular topic. 

If you take this path, you will find it more challenging to have a target audience and build brand loyalty. In the end, you will experience inconsistent listening as previous listeners may not be interested in new content. From the onset, pick a specific topic that you love and are knowledgeable about. 

• Delaying the Podcast Launch 

Although it is a good idea to have a good plan for your podcast, you don’t want to spend too much time organizing things to get started unless there is a valid reason. When you are setting out, you will tend to have doubts and will often question whether the episodes are ready to be released to listeners. 

Delaying your podcast launch will eat into your time and resources, and you may never even get started. Once you have a plan and have the necessary materials, get started. There will be challenges, but this is a journey, and you will learn through experience. 

Starting a podcast requires planning and attention. Avoid the mistakes listed here, and you will have a better chance of success. Remember, this is a learning process.