Many times, we get over-excited when starting a podcast. That’s natural. Your head is filled with so many ideas of what you want to do and how to make your podcast stand out.
But the truth is that the basics—focusing on good content and good, quality audio—will make your podcast the best that it can be. So here are some tips on what not to do on your podcast.
Mistake #1: Complicated Sound Effects
Everyone has heard that wacky morning show on their drive to work. The hosts are laughing with sound effects constantly firing off including every bell, whistle, grunt, scream and fart noise imaginable.
It’s natural that you want to have that kind of fun on your podcast and those sound effects are so tantalizing. Don’t fall into that trap. Instead, rely on the phrase K.I.S.S. — Keep It Simple Stupid. Most of the time, the simpler option is best. You don’t need literal bells and whistles to have fun and be entertaining. Those tend to become a crutch for you (not to mention annoying to the audience).
Mistake #2: Audio Over-modulation
There are two key things that your podcast needs to have for success: great content and great audio quality. Nothing sends listeners running quicker than over-modulated, distorted audio blaring in their ears. It not only sounds horrible, it makes you seem unprofessional. And then the next thing that will happen is someone stops listening and possibly for good.
Watch your audio levels and make sure nothing is hot. Be especially careful when you are recording. You can adjust for audio in post-production that is too low but once it’s hot, you’re done for.
Mistake #3: Straying From Topic
Try to stay on topic. That doesn’t mean you can’t include an amusing anecdote about your personal life. But when you go off on long tangents, your audience will likely get bored. That’s not what they wanted to listen to.
If your podcast is on movies, most of your listeners don’t want to hear you go on and on about your political views. Or if you discuss cooking, your audience will likely be turned away if you spend a bunch of time ranting about your favorite team’s recent losing streak. Stay focused on your topic and keep your listeners happy.
Mistake #4: Rambling
We all get lost in our thoughts and words. Sometimes you get going (and keep going) with no easy way out. That kind of rambling will drive listeners away the same way long pauses and “umms” will.
Be prepared, make your point, and move on to your next point or subject. Otherwise, you can easily fall into that trap of rambling or being redundant.
Mistake #5: Using Clichés
This may be a personal thing for me, but there are certain phrases that you hear way too many times on podcasts. Calling your co-host your “tag-team partner” or “partner in crime” is a common one.
They tend to be clichés for a reason—people hear and use them often—but try not to be “that guy”. Either come up with something more creative or go back to K.I.S.S. (always a smart choice) and keep it simple by introducing your host.
Another phrase that gets used way too many times is “joining us today is our very SPECIAL guest”. Sure, some guests truly are special and bigger than others. However, I shy away from using it for a couple of reasons. First, if you call everyone a special guest, then the really special ones don’t feel that special. The other reason is that you want listeners to believe that you only have special guests. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be worthy of coming on your podcast. Worse things have been done on a podcast, but try to stand out by not being the one that falls into these traps.
Keep It Professional
With so many professional-sounding podcasts out there, you don’t want to give you listeners any reason to tune you out.
By keeping things simple, straightforward, and professional, you’ll be doing a lot to avoid turning your listeners off right from the get-go. And of course, the other half of this equation lies in editing and production. These steps can be complicated, which is where Podcasting Done Right can help.
Our podcasting services make it easy for you to focus on interviewing guests and discussing topics, while we focus on launching each episode to grow your audience. Get started today to see how we can help.
