Common Mistakes People Make When Creating a Podcast (and How to Avoid Them)

In this blog post, we’ll explore 7 common mistakes people make when creating a podcast, and offer some tips on how to avoid them.

Mistake #1: Not having a clear focus or target audience

One of the biggest mistakes people make when creating a podcast is not having a clear focus or target audience in mind. A podcast that tries to appeal to everyone often ends up appealing to no one. Before you start recording, take some time to think about who your ideal listener is, and what topics or themes you want to focus on. This will help you create content that is more relevant and engaging to your audience.

Mistake #2: Poor sound quality

Nothing will turn off a listener faster than poor sound quality. It’s important to invest in decent recording equipment and to take the time to properly edit and mix your episodes. If you’re not sure where to start, there are plenty of resources available online to help you improve your sound quality.

Mistake #3: Boring, too-long episodes

While it’s important to offer value to your listeners, it’s equally important to keep them engaged. Try to keep your episodes to a reasonable length (30-60 minutes is a good range) and make sure you’re delivering content that is interesting and engaging. You don’t have to be an entertainer, but you do need to be mindful of your listeners’ time.

Mistake #4: Too much self-promotion

While it’s natural to want to promote your own work, it’s important to strike a balance between self-promotion and providing value to your listeners. Constantly plugging your own products or services can come across as insincere and turn off potential listeners. Instead, focus on delivering content that is valuable and relevant to your target audience, and let your work speak for itself.

Mistake #5: Not being consistent

Consistency is key when it comes to building a loyal audience. If you’re not putting out episodes on a regular basis, your listeners will lose interest and move on to other podcasts. Make a schedule and stick to it, even if it means recording episodes in advance or enlisting the help of guest hosts.

Mistake #6: Not distributing on all platforms

It’s important to make sure your podcast is accessible on all platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and others. Every listener has their own preferred platform, and by not distributing your podcast on all of them, you’re potentially missing out on a large audience. Make sure your podcast is available wherever your target audience is most likely to be

Mistake #7: Not promoting on the right channels

Finally, it’s important to promote your podcast on the channels where your target audience is most likely to be. This might mean focusing on social media platforms like Twitter or Instagram, or reaching out to influencers or thought leaders in your industry for guest spots or collaborations.

Conclusion:

Creating a successful podcast takes time, effort, and careful planning. By avoiding these common mistakes, you can create a podcast that resonates with your target audience and keeps them coming back for more.

And if you’re looking to take your podcast to the next level, consider adding custom audio branding elements to your show. Audio branding can help you stand out in a crowded market and create a unique identity for your podcast. As a podcast audio branding production company, we’re here to help you create custom audio branding elements that will elevate your podcast to the next level. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you create a podcast that truly stands out from the crowd.