So, you started a podcast. Congrats!
You’re officially part of the 4.5 billion podcasts out there (slight exaggeration, but you get the point).
But here’s the harsh truth: most podcasts don’t make it past 10 episodes. Why? Because of mistakes that scare off listeners before they even make it through your intro.
Let’s talk about the biggest culprits so you can avoid them.
1. Inconsistent posting leads to audience loss.
Picture this: someone finds your podcast, loves it, and subscribes.
They’re pumped for your next episode…........ but it never comes.
Or it shows up three weeks late.
Now they’re binging someone else’s show, and you’ve lost them forever.
Fix it: Set a realistic posting schedule and stick to it. Weekly, biweekly, monthly - whatever works for you. I always say that weekly is best, but better to be consistent monthly than inconsistent weekly. After all, consistency is key to building trust with your audience.
2. Poor audio editing drives listeners away.
Bad audio is like nails on a chalkboard. Background noise, awkward silences, and random tangents make your podcast unbearable.
Your audience doesn’t have the patience to wade through that mess, no matter how interesting your content is. Plus, there's too many other pods out there with good audio that they can choose instead.
Fix it: Learn some basic editing skills or hire someone who knows their way around audio. Cut out filler words, tighten up the pacing, and clean up the sound. Your listeners will thank you.
3. Neglecting show notes hurts discoverability.
Show notes aren’t just a cute little description - they’re a roadmap for your audience.
If you’re skipping them, you’re making it harder for people to find and enjoy your podcast.
Fix it: Write clear, concise show notes that include keywords, links to resources, and highlights from the episode. Not only do they help with SEO (fancy talk for “getting found online”), but they also make your podcast more user-friendly.
Podcasts take work, but the payoff is worth it. By staying consistent, polishing your audio, and writing killer show notes, you’ll build a loyal audience that keeps coming back for more. And hey, when you hit your 50th episode, you can laugh at all those podcasters who gave up too soon.
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