Huge Podcasting Mistakes to Avoid When You’re Getting Started

Hey Friend!

With every new thing you step out into, you will make mistakes. We’re human, and mistakes are how we learn and grow. Mistakes are great teachers. However, have you ever said If only someone would have told me! I could have saved a lot of time, effort, and money. I have, and I’ve got your back when it comes to making mistakes in podcasting. If you are thinking of podcasting, here are 13 common podcasting mistakes to avoid as you get started. Pay attention to these huge podcasting mistakes so you can avoid them and have success faster than I did.

If you already have a podcast, use this list of 13 podcasting mistakes to evaluate and refine your podcasting craft. Remember, mistakes can be fixed and here’s your chance to do so. Greater influence, more downloads, and massive income are waiting for you on the other side of these 13 podcasting mistakes. Grab a notebook and pen, and ask yourself What podcast mistakes can I fix this week?

PODCASTING MISTAKE #1: NO CLEAR, DEFINED NICHE

The first podcasting mistake to avoid is having an unclear, undefined niche. A niche is a specialized audience or ideal person you target when podcasting. Rather than speaking to everyone, it is important to micro-niche down and speak to one person. If you talk to everyone, you talk to no one. The more specific you niche down, the more you stand out.

If you need help getting clear and specific on your niche, watch my free Clarity Workshop. Through this workshop, you will discover your niche, get clear on your calling, and learn how to build a successful brand to confidently launch your podcast and online business.

Enjoy these episodes about clarifying your niche:

LIVE Podcast Audit: How to Make Sure Your Podcast Is Clear and Niche

Niche D.O.W.N With This Simple Formula

PODCASTING MISTAKE #2: INCONSISTENT PODCAST SCHEDULE

The second podcasting mistake to avoid is an inconsistent podcast schedule. An inconsistent podcast schedule looks like releasing an episode on Tuesday and then life gets busy so another episode isn’t released until ten days later which ends up being a Friday. An inconsistent podcast schedule could also look like releasing an episode whenever you feel inspired or want to. This random, irregular schedule won’t attract new podcast listeners nor keep current listeners coming back again and again.

Podcast listeners expect a consistent flow of new episodes to listen to. Whether you publish episodes once a week on Tuesday or twice a week every Tuesday or Thursday for example, podcast listeners observe that and look forward to tuning back in every Tuesday or every Tuesday and Thursday. As you stay extremely disciplined with your release schedule, your podcast can grow to be super successful, and highly downloaded.

Begin to create the habit of consistent content creation each week in your business. Create a schedule as to when episodes will be released and then work backward so you carve out time in your schedule to record, edit, and upload. Consistency is key for the greatest growth and impact.

PODCASTING MISTAKE #3: POOR AUDIO QUALITY

The third podcasting mistake to avoid is poor audio quality. Podcast listeners want to hear clearly without unnecessary background noises or static. There are several options for good microphones at cost-effective prices such as an iPhone, a Yeti mic, the RODE PodMic USB, or Shure microphones. Learn how to set the microphone to the correct settings to record in the best audio quality possible.

PODCASTING MISTAKE #4: POOR RECORDING ENVIRONMENT

The fourth podcasting mistake to avoid is not paying attention to your recording environment. This doesn’t mean you need to record your podcast episodes in a closet. Wherever you choose to record, look around and see if there are rugs, throw cushions, a couch, or curtains to absorb sound. If the room is empty, there will be an echo. There’s no need to spend a lot of money here, but adding rugs, pillows, curtains, or blankets to the room will improve your sound when recording.

PODCASTING MISTAKE #5: RANDOM CONTENT STRATEGY

The fifth podcasting mistake to avoid is a random content strategy of sharing about anything and everything to attract listeners. To grow a super successful, highly downloaded podcast, you must do market research to know what your ideal listener needs and wants. What is the number 1 problem they can’t solve on their own? Find out the words they say in their head and the prayers for help they pray. What do they wish they could change but don’t know how to?

Knowing your ideal listener well and consistently recording podcast episodes with the answers to their questions and problems will help you to grow your podcast and make the most impact. 

If you are stuck as to who your ideal listener is or don’t know how to do market research, I highly recommend going through a course or program to learn how to adequately set up your podcast for success. Don’t waste a year trying or hoping for success. Do it right the first time. If you haven’t started a podcast yet, consider Podcast Pro University. If you have already started your podcast, consider Podcast to Profit, a 6-month group coaching program, for podcasters ready to grow, make money, and help others.

PODCASTING MISTAKE #6: IGNORING SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION

The sixth podcasting mistake to avoid is neglecting Search Engine Optimization or SEO. Podcasting, as a means of long-form content, provides a great opportunity for Search Engine Optimization. Use keywords inside blog posts, image descriptions, titles, and meta descriptions for Google, Yahoo, or any search engine to find.

Enjoy this episode about optimizing SEO: How She Ranked #1 in Apple Podcasts by Utilizing Simple Podcast SEO + Other Success Stories

PODCASTING MISTAKE #7: NOT NETWORKING WITH OTHER PODCASTERS

The seventh podcasting mistake to avoid is not inviting guests onto your podcast or being a guest on other podcasts. One of the best networking super hacks is to meet other podcasters and have them on your show or you be on their show. This exposes you to their listeners who become leads and friends and in turn, you share them with your listeners. Begin now to practice the craft of interviewing others and being interviewed, making new friends and working relationships inside the podcasting space.

Enjoy this episode where Stef talks about networking with your podcast: Lessons from My SECOND Speaking Engagement – Her Turn to Podcast with Cathy Heller

PODCASTING MISTAKE #8: USING COPYRIGHTED MUSIC

The eighth podcasting mistake to avoid is using copyrighted music in the intro or outro of your podcast. Buy the rights to or use copyright-free, royalty-free music in your show. There are plenty of free music options such as YouTube Music or AudioJungle.

PODCASTING MISTAKE #9: OVERLOOKING RELEASES AND DISCLAIMERS

The ninth podcasting mistake to avoid is not using releases and the proper disclaimers. Podcast guests must sign a contractual release, which gives you the right to use their voice and video on your podcast. This release also permits you to use their image, name, and short video or audio clips to market and promote the episode. For affiliate links, disclaimers are required such as: This post contains affiliate links. This means I get a small percentage of sales at no additional cost to you.

PODCASTING MISTAKE #10: UNREALISTIC GROWTH EXPECTATIONS

The tenth podcast mistake, perhaps the most important to avoid, is expecting huge results immediately. Many new podcasters have unrealistic expectations. Podcasting is a long-game strategy that will work with compounding results over time. Anything beautiful, incredible, and fruitful takes time. The key to success is doing one thing seriously and intentionally and refusing to get distracted. Do the work of podcasting and do it well again and again with consistency, discipline, heart, focus and intentionality. Only then will you see the fruits of your labor. Don’t expect quick results here. The strategy of long-form content by podcasting will create leads, revenue, and most importantly, impact, but you must do the work and stay disciplined.

PODCASTING MISTAKE #11: TOO MANY HOURS SPENT EDITING EPISODES

The eleventh podcasting mistake to avoid is spending too many hours planning, recording, and editing podcast episodes. As you practice and refine your podcasting skills, watch for over-analyzing what you say, stopping and starting numerous times when recording, and over-editing.  If it takes 20 minutes to record an episode, spend 20 minutes to edit. Aim for that rule of thumb. Then bless the episode and release it.  

PODCASTING MISTAKE #12: MONETIZING TOO EARLY

The twelfth podcasting mistake to avoid is trying to monetize before you even start your podcast or at the very beginning of your podcasting journey. Reframe your thinking of your podcast as being a long-form content lead generation strategy rather than a quick means to make money.  As listeners and leads come to your podcast, they will tell you through the data and the analytics of listen times, engagement, and number of downloads what they liked and want more of from you. Inside the community you build with listeners, they will ask questions and tell you what they want. Only after that should you begin coaching. After you have coached 5-100 people inside your target audience, build an online course. Then build the group coaching program. This sequence is a natural, successful order for growth and making greater income.

Enjoy these episodes about monetizing your podcast:

Make Money Podcasting: 4 Ways To Monetize A Podcast

How to Make Money With a Podcast. 3 Ways to Monetize Even With a Small Audience!

PODCASTING MISTAKE #13: IGNORING ANALYTICS AND AUDIENCE

The final podcasting mistake new podcasters make is ignoring the analytics and audience. After you have about 10 episodes published, you have analytics. Go into your podcasting platform dashboard and look for the top downloaded episodes. How long was the episode and how long did they listen? What did you call it? How did you structure the title and what keywords did you use? Observe the data and pay attention to what works. Then do more of that.

Besides ignoring the data, be cautious of ignoring your audience. The best way to nurture your audience is to build a community even if you only have 10 listeners. Connect with them and ask, Why are they listening? What do they want and need? Record whatever they say, the exact words from their mouth, about what they want and how they want it. This is all market research straight from your listeners. Their words become your copy.

That’s it, my friends! I hope these 13 podcasting mistakes help you. If you are new to podcasting and want to avoid making 1 or all of these mistakes, work with me inside Podcast Pro University. If you already have a podcast, join Podcast to Profit, a 6-month group coaching program for podcasters ready to grow, make money, and help others.

I also invite you to join the Online Business for Christian Women Facebook Community. Hang out with over 10,000 entrepreneurs growing online businesses just like you. Find support, connection, and encouragement in your journey to growing your podcast and online business.

I pray this blesses you!

Xo,

Stef

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