Does thinking about podcasting make your palms sweaty?
Do you tremble at the thought of having thousands of people listening to your every “uum” and “ahh”?
Not to worry. You’re definitely not alone.
There are lots of bloggers who rather kiss a toilet seat than start a podcast of their own. Yea that’s gross, but I get it – it’s quick and a lot less painful.
If that’s you than you’re probably thinking it’s harder than it actually is. You could start a podcast tomorrow if you wanted to; but just because the process is simple and straightforward doesn’t mean people don’t mess it up.
There are certain things that make a podcast “great” and there are certain things that makes a podcast “suck”.
I’m here to show you how NOT to suck. Check out these 10 common mistakes people make with their podcast so you can know what to avoid.
1. Not Using a “Special” Web Host
This was my very first boo-boo, so it makes sense for me to put it first. When I started my podcast back in December of 2010, I hosted my audio files with Amazon s3.
I thought everything was great until I got the first months bill. Apparently, I was getting thousands of downloads from iTunes and Amazon s3 charges for every gigabyte downloaded. Long story short, I switched to Libsyn and I’m only paying $15 a month for unlimited download.
That’s awesome.
2. Not Identifying Your Target Audience
This is another big one. Before you start speaking into the microphone, you need to know WHO you’re going to be speaking to.
Listeners don’t just listen to one episode, they download and tune in for all your stuff (assuming that it’s any good), so if you’re talking to skinny guys looking to gain weight and build muscle in one episode, don’t start talking to fat dudes looking to lose weight in the next.
Stick to one target audience and they’ll bond with you a lot quicker.
3. Not Having a Professional Podcast Cover Image
I’ve seen a lot of crappy covers on iTunes. I won’t name any of them here, but I suggest getting a professional podcast cover done if you really want to get serious about podcasting.
I listen to a few podcasts, but before they go into my iPhone, they needs to grab my attention. Nicely designed covers do just that and they increase the perceived value of your podcast.
Check out these covers:
- Smart Passive Income Podcast – Pat Flynn
- Self-Improvement Podcast – Timo Kiander
- Copyblogger Radio – Brian Clark & Copyblogger Media Team
4. Not Editing Your Recording
Although I don’t spend as much time editing as I did when I got started, it’s still something I feel is really important to the success of your podcast.
People don’t want to hear noise, or static, or really loud speaking (especially when they have headphones on). I recommend always speaking in the same volume , and running your recording through a Noise Reduction process while editing.
Your listeners will love you for it.
5. Not Making It Long Enough
I record 19 minute podcast episodes sometimes. Then there are days where I’ll go for 40 minutes. The point is to get your point across and teach your audience something new.
However, a 4 minute podcast really doesn’t cut it, unless you’re recording 3 or 4 of those every week. This is my own personal opinion, but I don’t think I’m alone on this one. Let me know what you think in the comments.
6. Not Using ID3 Tags
Big mistake. iTunes doesn’t read audio file names, you have to do the naming and the describing for iTunes in order for you listeners to know what they’re downloading.
There are free software programs that allow you to do this. You can edit the episode name, the author, the genre and even the cover that appears when they download it. I show you exactly how to get it done inside PFB.
7. Not Submitting To Podcast Directories
Some people think that once their podcast is on their blog, their job is done. WRONG! That’s just the beginning. A podcast becomes popular and gets lots of downloads when more people know about it.
Don’t just keep it on your blog, that’s like keeping it to yourself. Go out there and submit it to all the podcast directories and get found by thousands of people.
8. Not Having A Call To Action
The way I teach podcasting is not just the technical side, but also the marketing side. Podcasting IS powerful channel to distribute content and attract an audience.
But if you don’t tell your listeners to follow you back to your blog, join your email list, or take any kind of action, you’re not using it as the powerful marketing machine that it truly is.
9. Not Getting Specific About Your Topic
This goes hand in hand with not identifying your target audience. Jumping from one topic to the next, with no link between them, is the fastest way to;
- Confuse your listener
- Lose a listener
- Get a bad review on iTunes
So, pick a topic an stick to it.
10. Not Using High Quality Equipment
There’s no need to buy a $300 microphone, but your listeners can tell the difference between a crappy $12 headset and a $40 USB condenser mic.
Remember, a lot of them will be using headphones and having them listen to a low quality podcast with lots of static will damage your credibility and authority. Look professional, sound professional and you’ll be fine.
In Your Opinion, What Else Makes a Great Podcast?
…or what else makes a podcast suck, let us know in the comments below and please share this post if you liked it.
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Hector!
These are great tips on podcasting!
Also, thanks for including me on the list (between Pat and CopyBlogger)
Cheers,
Timo
Cheers,
Timo
Timo Kiander´s last post ..PSD Video Tip #3: Using Triggers for Creating Habits
No problem Timo. You took the course and took action. You deserve recognition for the work you put in man.
Hector, I run my podcast on shared hosting where my blog is. I don’t have a lot of downloads.
I plan on switching when the need arises. Include some tips for people who want to migrate from dshared to dedicated podcasting hosting.
Best regards from Belgrade
Bojan´s last post ..How Reading About Blogging Made Me A Worse And Less Productive Blogger
If you’re not getting lots of downloads right now, then there would be no need to migrate really. But if things start picking up with your new episodes, then you should start using Libsyn. They’re dedicated strictly to podcasters, which I think is awesome.
Can’t recommend them enough. As far as podcast setup, uploading files and hosting them on libsyn, all that is in a video inside the members area.
Hector, I run my podcast on shared hosting where my blog is. I don’t have a lot of downloads.
I plan on switching when the need arises. Include some tips for people who want to migrate from dshared to dedicated podcasting hosting.
Best regards from Belgrade.
Glad you are back into blogging and on the scene. Think I haben’t noticed you for some time!
Hey Hector,
Wow, #1 – good to know. And #3 is also good advice, in fact having a good cover graphic for whatever you offer provides a positive perceived value and should be carefully considered.
Liz
Liz@internet home business´s last post ..IbusinessOwner – Going, Going …Better Hurry!
Hey Liz, it’s been so long.. how you been?
Thanks for the comment and you’re exactly right. It’s not just podcast covers – same goes for ebook covers, dvd covers, membership area screenshots – the nicer it looks, the higher the perceived value..
I’m currently working on starting my own podcast and the very first thing I did was to buy a decent microphone.
The other thing I’ve been doing is listening to a lot of other podcasts (yours included) and making a list of stuff that’s awesome, and stuff that really bugs me. So for example if the episode title is one thing but the content is actually 80% about a competition that someone’s running on their blog I feel pretty cheated.
I definitely agree with some podcasts being too short – it really annoys me and I feel cheated again. I mean, I clicked on it on my iPod expecting it to last the entire bus ride home and just on the edge of town (barely 10 minutes later) it’s over. I think 20 minutes to an hour are about right for podcast lengths, any less and it’s not really enough, any more and people will probably have to break up their listening.
If I might ask, did you take a course by the Podcast Answer Man, Cliff Ravenscraft? I’ve just finished Podcasting 101 by him!
Rosemary Jayne @ Simple Blogging Tips´s last post ..Redirecting Your Old Blog’s URL to Your New One
Hey Rose.. great question – I did not take Cliff’s course, but he was very helpful when I was migrating from Amazon s3 to Libsyn service. He answered my question in his podcast and I thought that was awesome.
He’s the podcast king, so I’m sure you learned everything you needed to know.
I sure hope so! I’d love to take your Podcasting course but unfortunately I really don’t have the money. I think I’ll end up doing the “flying by the seat of my pants learning as I go along” approach for some things, but that’s all part of the run isn’t it?
I’ve really enjoyed your podcasts – I just went through and listened to all of them in the last few weeks!
Rosemary Jayne @ Simple Blogging Tips´s last post ..Redirecting Your Old Blog’s URL to Your New One
Yup. That’s all part of the fun too
Wish you the best and if you have any questions, I’m here to help.
Do you consider content for podcasting much like you’d consider blog topics? Do you draft an ed cal and then tackle the subject with a problem/solution approach? My issue with video is that I can ramble, but I’m trying to keep that medium short — like 2 minutes.
With content for your casts, do you write an outline first and then follow it?
What about the boredom for a single voice — or do most listeners expect that?
If you’ve already addressed all this previously, just let me know, and I’ll comb your archives…it’s my first time here…thanks @shellykramer.
Jayme Soulati´s last post ..Syracuse PR Student On Defining PR
Great questions.. here we go.
Yes I do consider podcasting topics to be the same as blog topics. I write to either inform, educate, inspire or motivate people, and that’s no different with my episodes. I believe in getting people results and with a 20 minute audio that’s much easier because I can give so much more.
Yes I did use an editorial calendar at first. Now it’s more like – “would this topic need more than an article to really cover it to the fullest?” if the answer is yes than I record an episode. But I always have a few ideas on the back burner to create podcasts around.
2-4 minute videos are great. Any longer than that and they start to lose viewers. With podcasts it’s different. I can listen to 2 or 3 episodes a day without getting bored, if it’s something I enjoy.
I definitely write an outline. I don’t write a script. I just jot down the main points I’m gonna cover and then talk about them as if I was talking to my best friend.
I think people expect to hear one person.. but interviews are probably more exciting to listen to and I can see how someone can get bored of listening to the one voice all the time. I think it creates a much more intimate environment if you take the “I’m talking to a friend” approach and just start sharing.
Glad you stopped by.. hope you stick around for more :0)
I think the most important part of a podcast is the call to action in addition to the audio quality and content. A professional looking cover is an important consideration too.
Hi Hector, thanks for sharing your podcasting expertise with us. You have been at it for a long time now so you know your stuff.
I use a Samson USB mic and I’m pleased with the sound quality. I learned the hard way that it’s really important to find the “sweet spot” when you talk into the mic so that you’re not too close or to far away.
Personally, I wish most podcasts would be a lot shorter. I always have to take a break if I’m listening to the same voice for more that 15 minutes. LOL!
Ileane´s last post ..How to Get More Traffic and Backlinks To Your Blog From YouTube
Hector, thanks for those tips, I also use a Samson USB mic for the quality of sound, but I have only used it for recording radio shows previously.
It has never occured to me to start a podcast, but it makes so much sense as I feel at home behind a mic and my talking speed is a lot faster than my typing speed, so thanks for planting the seed.
I do agree with Ileane, that 15 minutes listening to one voice could lead to listeners taking breaks, but apart from that I think that your tips are spot on.
Appreciate this post. Will try it out.