Regardless if you’ve been podcasting for quite sometime or just starting out, you’re likely to commit mistakes along the way. However, I’ll save you from a lot of headache by letting you in on some of the most common blunders podcasters make. Discover all the prevalent mistakes you need to steer clear of in this article. and thank me later.
Lack of USP
USP is an acronym for unique selling point or what is more popularly known as the sales pitch. Why should your audience listen to you? What is it that you can offer them that others can’t? What makes you different from the rest?
In line with this, it would be a good idea to listen to your competitors. It will help you get a clearer insight of what you are up against and it will help you get a better sense of what can set you apart from the rest. With so many podcasts nowadays, competition has become fierce. Understand you’ll have many people tackling the same things. Know what you can offer that others can’t and you’ll be a step ahead of the pack.
Inconsistency
In podcasting, consistency is vital. For instance, if people expect you to produce an episode twice each week, make sure you are able to deliver. Otherwise, it would be challenging, if not impossible to build a loyal following when people don’t even know if they can count on you to deliver.
Wrong Target
Whatever niche you may be in, always aim to get a bigger share of the pie. Start by checking the Top 10 podcasts in your niche. Listen to them. Learn from their strategies and inputs. From there, fill in those gaps they lack.
Understand that no matter how great your podcast is, it won’t mean anything is you have no listeners. Find ways to make people pay attention and listen. Offer them something they can’t find anywhere else and before long, you’ll have a loyal fan base who will eagerly await what you have to offer next.
No Substantial Content
While it’s unfortunate to note, many podcasters struggle when it comes to offering something that is of real value. Select a topic you are knowledgeable about. If not, ensure you do your research so you’ll be able to offer something that’s substantial. As a general rule of thumb, make sure you make it worth their while. Let your listeners walk away thinking listening to you was time well spent. Otherwise, they’ll try to look for the information they need and want someplace else.
Don’t Kill The Momentum
Now, before you launch your podcast in iTunes make sure you have at least 10 episodes. Why? Usually, your audience would choose to listen to podcasters who have several episodes already instead of those who only have fewer episodes. And once they are already hooked to your topic, they will have no choice but to follow. So always keep in mind to prepare a list of episodes first before even launching in iTunes.
Another important thing you need to remember is to maximize the use of New and Noteworthy. This is a list of new podcasts that helps boost the visibility of the new podcasters. So, within an 8 week period, new podcasts are placed in this category. And actually, there’s a great chance that podcast listeners will find you here.
Also, take note of the SEO in iTunes. When listeners want to find a particular podcast they prefer, they use the search box and put little descriptions to find it. These allow one of the biggest search engine to scan all podcasts with the same description. So for someone who is new in the business, it is it is very important to optimize podcast for a better SEO opportunity.
No Rating and Reviews
Lastly, one of the best ways to increase your ranking in iTunes is through getting more ratings and reviews. It’s quite disappointing why some podcasters don’t even have one especially with the network that they have.
The best way to address this is through promoting yourself. You can even leave a review for yourself, yes on your own. Why not? Go ahead and ask family members, friends and colleagues to share their thoughts and feedbacks. This is really helpful. Don’t be embarrassed because you are asking them to do it. Keep in mind that you need this and a little help from your loved ones will go a long way.
To sum it up, this list of common mistakes will guide you in making a better podcast experience. Avoiding these common mistakes and following the tips provided in this article will give you more chance of having a successful career in podcasting. So, start making goals and work it out.
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