3 Tips on Avoiding the Classic Podcasting Mistakes and Building a Winning Show

According to School of Podcasting host, Dave Jackson, the same podcasting mistakes come up over and over again. If you want to avoid those common pitfalls, read on because in this article we’re sharing those secrets with you.

#1 – Don’t Try to Copy Someone Else

It’s natural to find inspiration for your segments from others. Who doesn’t want to be John Lee Dumas? But that’s exactly the point. No one can be John Lee Dumas, so don’t try because your audience and guests will see right through it. Let your personality shine through. There’s no need to rip off somebody else. It’s oft repeated because it rings true. The best thing to be is to be yourself. Your audience will sense when you are genuinely being you.

#2 – Never Forgo a Marketing Plan

Making podcasts is the easy part. It’s getting people to listen that’s hard. Don’t assume that once you put your podcast out there, you will automatically gain an audience. How will your audience discover you if you don’t put some energy and resources into promoting your product? Consider your audience and where they hang out. Deliver your content to the right people and then you can expect to see some growth. It won’t happen overnight. A bonus tip… getting on the ‘New and Noteworthy’ section or podcasting homepage is a reward, but not a destination. Those types of goals should not make up your entire marketing plan, as they’re not long-lasting strategies. They’ll give your download numbers a boost, but they’ll fade if you overlook continual marketing plans for growth.

#3 – Grab Your Listeners’ Attention Immediately

Podcasting is an interesting medium as it’s a very personalised listening experience from host to audience member. Developing that intimate connection will be the key to your success, but that doesn’t mean you can talk freely in a non-linear format. At the end of the day, your podcast is a show that you’re delivering, so you still have to grab the attention of your listeners immediately. Get to the point about the topic of conversation for that particular episode. You only have the first few minutes (if you’re lucky) to get the listener hooked, so chop to it!

So, there you have it, three tips to get you started on avoiding the pitfalls when starting your own podcast. If you master those skills, you can focus on what’s most important on having your own podcast – trying to make people laugh, cry, think and grow, or educating and entertaining. That’s what it’s all about.

Listen to my entire conversation with Dave Jackson here.
http://wearepodcast.com/shouldistartapodcast97/

Author: Ronsley Vaz

Ronsley is the founder & chief day dreamer at AMPLIFY. He is an author, speaker & serial entrepreneur.

He has a Masters’ degree in Software Engineering and an MBA in Psychology and Leadership. He is known as the creator of We Are Podcast – the first Podcasting Conference in the Southern Hemisphere, and the host of The Bond Appetit Podcast and Should I Start a Podcast. He has an audience of over 3 million in 133 countries.

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