5 Podcast Mistakes to Avoid
Has this ever happened to you?
The title of a podcast catches your eye. You click on an episode, expecting to be enlightened, entertained, or both. But then, after a minute or two, you click away, looking for something else.
According to PodTrac statistics, there are currently more than 48 million podcast episodes online. And people are busy, which means that listeners do not waste their precious time on drivel.
If you want listeners to stay with your podcast, avoid all of the following mistakes:
1. Make It All About You
People want to learn something from a podcast, or be entertained. Ideally both. They did not tune in to hear you talk exclusively about yourself or your business.
During the first few seconds of the episode, deliver a quick summary of the tips and guidelines you’re about to give that’ll help with a specific problem. Or let them know you’re about to tell them a fascinating success (or failure) story.
2. Fail to Identify Your Typical Listener
If you’re a bow hunter out for a target practice session, you take aim at a bullseye before you let the arrow fly. The same is true of aiming for an audience. It’s critical to know who you’re talking to before you turn on a microphone. Spend some time defining your typical listener. How old is that person? What are their interests, income range, and hobbies? What do they read or listen to or watch? Once you have a description of your typical listener, ask yourself what this person will expect from your podcast and give them that.
3. Jump Subjects
Just as it’s important to aim your content arrows at a specific audience, you must also aim at a specific topic and stick with it for the duration of each episode. Certain celebrities can get away with rambling during their conversations, but not you. Celebrities are (sometimes) interesting because they are famous, and their fans want to know more about them — or hear about their latest movie, TV show, or book. You’ll need entice listeners to tune in and stay with you. Do that by offering helpful, interesting information and/or fascinating entertainment.
4. Upload Awful Audio
These days, it’s easy to download an app to your computer or phone for recording audio. And since it’s so easy, lots of people are doing it. Remember those 48 million episodes? But, unless, you know what you’re doing, you’ll end up with a harsh recording that makes people’s ears hurt when they try to listen.
To get the best recording possible, you’ll need to start with a .wav file, not an .mp3. That’s because your original file will get compressed for uploading to your website or podcast feed. So, if your original file is an .mp3, which is already compressed, it will get compressed again when you upload it. The result of all that compression is an audio file that sounds tinny and bright. Not a pleasant listening experience.
5. Write Vague Content Descriptions
The first thing a potential listener will see is the description of your podcast. And then they’ll read the descriptions of each of your episodes. If any of those descriptions are vague or uninspired, your potential listener will move on without listening. Invite them in. Show them what’s in it for them. Describe how they will benefit from listening to your podcast.
In podcasting, there are no second chances because there are way too many choices. Forty-eight million choices! A disappointed listener will never return to your podcast. Never.
