Some Podcasting Mistakes To Avoid Or How To Fix Them
1. Don’t get long-winded!
Yes, some popular podcasts go three or four hours (or more). But they already have a loyal audience and they discuss content their audience enjoys. You are not them!
Remember a post I shared before that “shorter is better.” Every time! Nobody ever stops listening to an episode because it is too short. If anything, they will see how much time is left and think “There is only 2 minutes left, I’ll listen to the rest… ”
What do you think their response will be if they look down and the timer says “2 hours 20 minutes” left? On an episode they have already lost interest in?
The easiest fix for that is to “Keep It Short!”
2. Know What You Are Talking About
If you do not sound intelligent, it is because you failed to adequately prepare for your show. Yes, if you do interviews with experts, you are bringing them on the program because they are experts. But that does not mean you should bring someone on “your show” to discuss something you are totally unfamiliar with.
Do your research before the interview. The guest may send you a list of talking points (that’s good)! But do not stop there!
Do some research on each one of those topics. I try to write down at least three questions for each and every single one of the topic points the guest wants to discuss. This allows me to sound a bit more intelligent during the conversation.
3. Do Not Know Too Much!
Not to totally dismiss the prior topic of “Know What You Are Talking About,” you should also not assume your audience knows the topic that you may be an expert at.
Take a little time to explain what some terms mean, etc. Do not refer to “a prior episode” unless you can also give the episode number. You may know it was 2 months ago, but a new listener does not.
Make it easy for people to go back and listen to the prior episode. If it was important enough to mention, it should also be important enough for you to give your listeners the information so they can go and listen themselves.
If the thought just “popped into your head” while recording, just a quick comment such as, “I can’t remember the episode number right now. But I’ll look it up and put a link in the show notes for you.” Then do so!
4. Do Not Stay A Secret
Many podcasters simply have their episodes on Anchor or perhaps only on Apple Podcasts. That’s it! No website. No blog. Just a link “out there somewhere.”
Your podcast is much more important than that!
Make it one part of your information delivery “system.” That’s right, you need a SYSTEM.
Website with blog, resources, contact information, etc. Have a link from your website that takes someone to your podcast.
On your Podcast site, have a link that takes them to your website.
Have social media links. Have links on your social media that take people to your website and to your podcast. Make it completely circular in nature!
This not only makes it easy for people to find you and your podcast, but Google loves it, too! That will increase your SEO because each of those sites create back-links to each other! This allows all of your websites (and podcast) to be found more easily by more people!
By implementing these suggestions as you create, edit and promote your podcasts, you will get more traffic, more listeners and podcasting will be more enjoyable for you, too.
