Podcasting is increasingly seen as the way to reach your target group. No wonder that the number of podcasts is still growing. So starting with podcasting seems a logical step if you want to create more reach. And if you are not afraid of the microphone and you know what valuable content you want to produce, there is nothing stopping you... Right?
As with any new step, podcasting involves trial and error. It is therefore useful to know in advance what the pitfalls are. We have listed them for you!
1. Don't let the fame go to your head
Don't get carried away by wild aspirations to become a celebrity with your podcast. Of course it's good to have a big goal.... But ultimately, your podcast will be successful if you keep your focus on creating value for your audience.
Let your personality shine through in your podcast and bind your listeners to you with your valuable content. Then they will come back to you ;D. And who knows, maybe that will eventually lead to the big stage.
2. Do not strive for perfection.
This is probably the most common pitfall that many a podcaster will fall into. There are so many aspects of producing a podcast that will not (immediately) go perfectly. As long as you get your message across and reach your listeners, you are on the right track.
Just start. Set up your studio, switch on the microphone and go. And yes, it will probably take some getting used to; your voice, working with a sound board and then also keeping your head in the conversation. Podcasting is something you only learn by doing. And by trial and error.
3. Do not reinvent the wheel
There are now many quality podcasts in the Netherlands. Below I will mention a number of well-known podcasts from different genres:
- The Jortcast; a podcast by Jort Kelder about the hypes and hysteria of the week.
- 100% inspiration podcast; Thijs Lindhout goes in search of the secret behind happiness & success
- The Hinniken podcast; Feline de Jonge podcast about entrepreneurship, self-development and passion for horses.
- Porterenee podcast; Renee and Kasper talk all about (personal) finance.
As you can see, there are already a lot of podcasts about various things. So why think up everything for your podcast from scratch? Learn about other podcasts and get inspired. Find podcasters who have a similar target audience. What makes their podcasts successful? Learn from your peers.
A good starting point is our monthly histogram with the best podcasts of the month. Here you will find podcasts from all categories.
4. Always go for good sound
Good sound is at least as important as good content when it comes to podcasting. Studies show that as many as 60% of listeners drop out if the sound is of poor quality. It is therefore important to take a good look at the sound quality beforehand. And we don't mean that you have to buy the most expensive equipment right away.
The combination of the material, the right settings and the location can make or break your sound. Good sound quality means little echo and a pleasantly round sound. This makes your podcast enjoyable to listen to. And a nice intro works wonders, too.
So make sure you have good materials. Oh, and a sound reflector is indispensable ;D.
5. Do not lose yourself in the search
Buying the right materials for your podcast is perhaps one of the most fun things to do. There are so many great things for sale these days. The right podcast equipment Using it is of course good for the quality of your podcast.
But much more important is to learn how to use it. On YouTube, there are plenty of great how to's for working with equipment from brands such as Røde, but there are also great paid training courses that you can follow. So invest in the use and not only in the equipment.
6. Choose your topics wisely
Your content should directly connect to the wishes and interests of your target group. Sometimes the choice for a certain topic is easily made. But if you are not that interested in the topic...your audience will quickly see through it.
The topic must move you. You have to feel passion, love for it. Because making a good podcast takes a lot of time. And then it's important that the topic moves you. That makes all those hours of work a celebration and not a long ordeal.
7. Do not forget your marketing
Producing your podcast will probably take a lot of time and energy. You have to think about what content is suitable, what structure you want to use, picking the right jingle and perfecting the technique.
And then it may be that you don't have your marketing in focus. But nothing is less important. Think carefully in advance about how you want to reach your audience, what search terms you want to be found on and how you want to grow into a well-listened podcast.
So put at least as much time into the marketing as into the production of your podcast.
And now? Just do it!
Now you have some idea of the pitfalls of starting a podcast. But don't let it stop you. Just do it!
