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4 Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a Podcast
Posted 22nd June 2016 at 11:18 AM by CherylMoses
And the saga continues....
I've decided to tackle podcasting as an added part of my brand and marketing funnel. Now this has actually been a thought of mine for a while, but I'm just
going to go for it and not worry about perfection.
Getting caught up in trying to wait until the perfect time or the perfect situation (as in having every tool that an experienced podcaster can't live without) for
creating a podcast, will just keep the restraints on and prolong it until whenever. Just like anything else, you have to do what you feel is best for your business,
because there really is no perfect time.
I did, however, take some time to think about naming my podcast which included some keyword research and basically finding a name that wasn't already
taken. You'd be surprised at all the duplicate named podcasts out there.
In any case, I want it to be done right, because as we all know, creating a podcast can be an effective way to build an audience. If it's done in a sloppy way, you can quickly turn off your listeners, and that's not cool.
A lot of the mistakes that podcasters make are quite simple to pick out and correct.
If you decide to start a podcast for your business, avoiding some of the most common podcasting mistakes in the beginning, will help you along the way as you progress into an experienced podcaster.
A Tacky Mic in a Bad Position
What could be worst? You being a cheapskate or you listeners not being able to hear what you're talking about? No, you don't need studio quality mic for your
podcast, but if there's a lot of crackling and muffledness coming from your mic, then it's time to get a new one.
Here's a rule of thumb for ya: Any mic that came with your computer isn't going to cut it. I used my computer mic once when I recorded something on SoundCloud,
and I thought it was ok, but there is a slight echo in it. I did the same thing on my iPhone mic using AudioCopy and it came out pretty clear but there were glitches that annoyed the hell out of me. I don't think it was from the iPhone mic, as AudioCopy had some pretty bad reviews from other people about that happening.
If you're on a budget, stay on your budget. All you need is a decent mic and it will make a difference.
Also, make sure you're positioning is done correctly. Speaking too close to the mic, will sometimes pick up spitting sounds and the sounds of your lips opening and
closing. I tend to smack when I talk (boy I hope I get that under control) so this is why positioning is important. If you're too far away, your voice will sound
muffled. Test it out in different positions before you do your entire podcast to see what works best for you. Perhaps positioning the mic slightly to the side rather than right in front of you will avoid unwanted sounds.
Long Intros
I personally don't want to listen to a long intro when I listen to a podcast so I know my audience will most likely feel the same. If you spend more than a minute or so giving an intro, you might just lose your audience. Don't spend too much time introducing yourself, your topic, selling the audience, etc. Your audience is there because of your topic of discussion and wants to hear the content for goodness sake.
Off the Cuff Podcast
As a beginner and especially as a beginner, I wouldn't recommend doing a podcast unscripted. For me, it's hard enough to get my thoughts out when I do a video without having to do it over and over until it comes out right. But with a podcast, no one can see you so having a script can really help smooth out your
presentation. I just want to note that a "script" in this case is just an outline or list of topics and key points in those topics.
You don't want to script out an entire conversation, because your audience will pick up something that is rehearsed. If you're doing an interview style podcast, your guest will do most of the talking and you can free flow that way. But at least have a list of key points ready so you're able to create a smooth flowing conversation.
Straight and Narrow
Please don't kill your audience. This will surely do it. Nobody wants to listen to a boring person on the mic. It's bad enough that doing a podcast solo is harder
than doing one with a co-host because the co-host provides another voice and another perspective, which is a lot more entertaining to the audience opposed
to hearing just one voice. If you are going to do a solo podcast, put some oomph in your voice. Add some personality and emotion to keep your audience
engaged. They will love it and come back to listen again.
Just to wrap this up: When you're creating a podcast, make sure you have a good mic, no long intros, have a detailed outline of each podcast before you begin, and finally, keep your audience engaged with different emotions and a lot of your radical personality!
Need assistance? Click Here for more info!
I've decided to tackle podcasting as an added part of my brand and marketing funnel. Now this has actually been a thought of mine for a while, but I'm just
going to go for it and not worry about perfection.
Getting caught up in trying to wait until the perfect time or the perfect situation (as in having every tool that an experienced podcaster can't live without) for
creating a podcast, will just keep the restraints on and prolong it until whenever. Just like anything else, you have to do what you feel is best for your business,
because there really is no perfect time.
I did, however, take some time to think about naming my podcast which included some keyword research and basically finding a name that wasn't already
taken. You'd be surprised at all the duplicate named podcasts out there.
In any case, I want it to be done right, because as we all know, creating a podcast can be an effective way to build an audience. If it's done in a sloppy way, you can quickly turn off your listeners, and that's not cool.
A lot of the mistakes that podcasters make are quite simple to pick out and correct.
If you decide to start a podcast for your business, avoiding some of the most common podcasting mistakes in the beginning, will help you along the way as you progress into an experienced podcaster.
A Tacky Mic in a Bad Position
What could be worst? You being a cheapskate or you listeners not being able to hear what you're talking about? No, you don't need studio quality mic for your
podcast, but if there's a lot of crackling and muffledness coming from your mic, then it's time to get a new one.
Here's a rule of thumb for ya: Any mic that came with your computer isn't going to cut it. I used my computer mic once when I recorded something on SoundCloud,
and I thought it was ok, but there is a slight echo in it. I did the same thing on my iPhone mic using AudioCopy and it came out pretty clear but there were glitches that annoyed the hell out of me. I don't think it was from the iPhone mic, as AudioCopy had some pretty bad reviews from other people about that happening.
If you're on a budget, stay on your budget. All you need is a decent mic and it will make a difference.
Also, make sure you're positioning is done correctly. Speaking too close to the mic, will sometimes pick up spitting sounds and the sounds of your lips opening and
closing. I tend to smack when I talk (boy I hope I get that under control) so this is why positioning is important. If you're too far away, your voice will sound
muffled. Test it out in different positions before you do your entire podcast to see what works best for you. Perhaps positioning the mic slightly to the side rather than right in front of you will avoid unwanted sounds.
Long Intros
I personally don't want to listen to a long intro when I listen to a podcast so I know my audience will most likely feel the same. If you spend more than a minute or so giving an intro, you might just lose your audience. Don't spend too much time introducing yourself, your topic, selling the audience, etc. Your audience is there because of your topic of discussion and wants to hear the content for goodness sake.
Off the Cuff Podcast
As a beginner and especially as a beginner, I wouldn't recommend doing a podcast unscripted. For me, it's hard enough to get my thoughts out when I do a video without having to do it over and over until it comes out right. But with a podcast, no one can see you so having a script can really help smooth out your
presentation. I just want to note that a "script" in this case is just an outline or list of topics and key points in those topics.
You don't want to script out an entire conversation, because your audience will pick up something that is rehearsed. If you're doing an interview style podcast, your guest will do most of the talking and you can free flow that way. But at least have a list of key points ready so you're able to create a smooth flowing conversation.
Straight and Narrow
Please don't kill your audience. This will surely do it. Nobody wants to listen to a boring person on the mic. It's bad enough that doing a podcast solo is harder
than doing one with a co-host because the co-host provides another voice and another perspective, which is a lot more entertaining to the audience opposed
to hearing just one voice. If you are going to do a solo podcast, put some oomph in your voice. Add some personality and emotion to keep your audience
engaged. They will love it and come back to listen again.
Just to wrap this up: When you're creating a podcast, make sure you have a good mic, no long intros, have a detailed outline of each podcast before you begin, and finally, keep your audience engaged with different emotions and a lot of your radical personality!
Need assistance? Click Here for more info!
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