9 Common Errors New Podcasters Make and how you can avoid it!
Oct 23, 2023
Podcasting has taken the world by storm, and in the expansive digital landscape, everyone, from seasoned industry professionals to enthusiastic hobbyists, is looking to get a piece of the auditory action. At Wisenetix, we pride ourselves on our innovative and results-driven approach. Our deep dive into the agriculture sector has given us a unique perspective and unparalleled technical expertise in podcasting for animal nutrition and agriculture in general.
And this very expertise we are bringing to our newest Custom Podcasts offering, our latest venture to help people and companies strengthen their brand authority on the market.
However, diving headfirst into the podcasting arena isn't as simple as hitting the record button. Many novices often trip up in the early stages. These missteps can cause technical glitches, dilute content quality, and hinder audience growth. With that in mind, here are nine common errors new podcasters frequently make, along with expert advice on how to avoid them.
- Underestimating the Importance of Sound Quality
While content is king, poor audio quality can distract and deter listeners. Investing in a good microphone pop filter and learning the basics of soundproofing can elevate your podcast's audio from amateur to professional. The growth of your podcast heavily relies on the retention of listeners. The audio directly affects the listener experience, and it's usually one of the things that makes people never come back to listen to you again—experience matters.
Benefit: High-quality sound makes your podcast more engaging, helping retain listeners and attract sponsors.
How to avoid it: You can invest in a good microphone and ensure a suitable environment for your recording. Make sure it's prepared for not having external noise.
- Neglecting Consistency
Podcasting isn't just about producing stellar episodes. It's about doing so regularly. Whether you choose a daily, weekly, or monthly format, adhering to a schedule creates reliability. If people like what you offer, they will be eager to check your new episodes. If you fail them, you'll affect the relationship you're creating with those listeners and, therefore, affect your chance of success.
Benefit: Consistency helps in building a loyal audience base. Listeners anticipate and make time for your content when they know when to expect it.
How to avoid it: Plan. Create a content plan for your podcast, and schedule all the recordings directly in your calendar. Also, something that helps in the planning is having a bunch of recorded episodes several weeks in advance. Here at Wisenetix, we keep 6 recordings in advance to ensure we publish weekly.
- Overlooking the Editing Process
Editing isn't just about cutting out mistakes; it's about pacing, removing filler words, and ensuring a cohesive narrative. Investing time in editing ensures a polished final product, but not only that. Good visuals also affect the retention of listeners, the likelihood of people sharing your content, and, therefore, the chances of success for your podcast. Again, experience matters.
Benefit: A well-edited podcast offers a streamlined listening experience, increasing the chances of listeners staying until the end.
How to avoid it: Hire an expert to do the job. Or hire a company that can help you with that. Alternatively, you can try using AI, but that's time-consuming.
- Failing to Define a Niche
The podcast realm is vast. To stand out, new podcasters must carve a niche for themselves. You can differentiate your content by addressing specific topics or targeting particular demographics. As the saying goes, "The riches are in the niches!"
Benefit: By catering to a niche, you tailor your content to a specific audience, making it more relevant and engaging.
How to avoid it: Select a niche.
- Skipping the Promotion
Creating a podcast is half the battle. The other half? Getting people to listen. Engaging in active promotion through social media, collaborations, or guest appearances can amplify your reach. The good news is that with one episode, you can have TONS of material for enriching your social media and creating engagement with your audience. The lousy news is that you must prepare the clips, quotes, and everything else. It's not easy, but it's one of the most important things you must ensure that happens daily if you want to grow.
Benefit: Effective promotion increases visibility, allowing you to tap into new audience segments and grow organically.
How to avoid it: Post a lot. You can hire someone to repurpose your episodes. You can find companies and software that can also do that for you. We found that around 6 pieces of content published daily is a magic number for growth.
- Disregarding feedback
Feedback, both positive and critical, is a goldmine. Engaging with your audience, addressing their concerns, and iterating based on their feedback can significantly improve your content.
Benefit: By valuing and acting on feedback, you foster community and loyalty while constantly improving your content.
How to avoid it: Ask for feedback. Use NPS and other metrics to measure the quality of your content and keep the door open for your listeners to share any feedback with you.
- Overcomplicating Episode Structure
While covering various facets of a topic is essential, overcomplicating an episode can confuse listeners. Breaking down complex subjects and using clear, concise language ensures clarity. You can use audiovisual support to make it simpler and more engaging when dealing with highly technical matters.
Benefit: Simplified structures make your podcast more accessible, ensuring your message resonates with a broader audience.
How to avoid it: Review your episodes and keep a fresh vision of it... Listen to it as if you were a new listener, and once it gets too complex, add visuals, images, and audio support to help people better understand the message you're trying to share.
- Ignoring monetization
While passion might fuel your podcasting journey, overlooking monetization can hinder long-term sustainability. Exploring sponsorship deals, affiliate marketing, or premium content can provide a steady income source.
Benefit: Monetization not only ensures the longevity of your podcast but also validates your efforts and the value you bring to your listeners.
How to avoid it: Make your show valuable enough for people and companies to invest in. Create premium episodes with subscriptions for people, and create sponsorship packages for companies that might interest your audience.
- Neglecting branding
From the podcast's name to its cover art and theme music, branding elements create a unique identity. Consistent branding across all platforms aids recognition and helps embed your podcast in the listeners' minds.
Benefit: Strong branding reinforces your podcast's identity, making it memorable and ensuring it stands out in a crowded market.
How to avoid it: Carefully consider what your brand is. We have several tools to help you with that, like archetypes, brand personality, etc. And if you need help figuring out where to start, look for help. Several companies can support you with that.
Conclusion
Navigating the podcasting landscape can be both exhilarating and challenging. While missteps are a natural part of any journey, being forewarned is forearmed. At Wisenetix, we understand the intricacies of podcasting. Our newest offer for a Custom podcast service is designed to sidestep these common pitfalls, ensuring your podcast sounds professional and resonates with your target audience.
Remember, the accurate measure of content success lies in audience growth. By avoiding these common errors and consistently delivering valuable content, you set the stage for sustained growth and success in podcasting. The adage goes, "It's not about being the best. It's about being better than you were yesterday." Happy podcasting!
