When the pandemic forced all of us indoors this time last year, many of us were presented with something we rarely experience in our adult lives: free time. All over the world, people started painting, dancing, writing, and creating art and content in different forms. But there was one activity that seemed to entice people more than anything. Podcasting is very quickly becoming the most popular form of media in the US. In 2006, only 22% of the population in the US was even aware of the podcasting space. By 2020, this had skyrocketed to 75%. Spotify also reported that overall podcast consumption had more than doubled by July last year. In its latest earnings release, it cites a continued acceleration of users engaging with podcasts, crediting this as a factor in its increased net additions.
If you are one of the people who’s decided to create a podcast for their musings on business, news, sport, fashion, gaming, movies, or whatever it might be, below are five common mistakes to avoid while setting up your podcast empire.
Using your computer’s microphone
It’s true that during the pandemic, our ears have gotten used to lower quality audio. Even the biggest podcasting stars and celebrities haven’t had access to recording studios. But to put it in context, your computer microphone is about a 2/10 in audio quality. Investing in a USB microphone for under $100 will bring it up to an 8/10. A podcast is all about audio, and making the sound clear, crisp and pleasant to listen to through headphones will demonstrate your professionalism and ensure listeners return for new episodes.
Recording during peak active hours at home
For those of us who have been working at home during the pandemic, you’ve probably had someone barge into your room while on a client call, or had to bribe the kids with treats to keep them quiet during Zoom meetings. This is one of the most challenging things about recording a podcast at home during this time, especially if everyone’s home. If you’ve booked a time with your guest, that’s great, but then you realize it’s at the same time as home schooling, or your spouse has decided to mow the lawn, or the Amazon delivery driver has 40 packages for you. Some of these things you won’t be able to control, however, whatever is in your control, ensure that you are recording at a time where you are less likely to be interrupted by sounds or others.
Not DIY soundproofing
Hitting play on a podcast and hearing clear, dense audio with no echo or background static is just as satisfying for the producer as it is for the listener. Soundproofing is important, but we can’t all afford to buy piles of soundproof foam to transform our home office. The rule of thumb is: the harder the sound or object, the more sound will bounce off it. Ideally you want to be surrounded by soft surfaces like pillows, rugs, table clothe, potted plants and drawn curtains. It sounds crazy, but it works!
Not using video for guests
Interviewing guests virtually during this time is challenging — you may be an ocean away and sketchy connection could be interrupting the flow of your conversation. But when you have a guest who is delivering great content and valuable information, nothing is worse than a host that keeps interrupting them. Video is great to help a podcast host see their interviewee, make a connection, and have a real conversation where both people can read each other’s cues. What the audience gets in return is a real and engaging conversation to listen to.
Not wearing headphones
Headphones let you hear back what you are recording rather than just taking a leap of faith that everything will be fine. It gives you live feedback on: volume, distortion, background noise, pops, clothes or jewelry, and microphone position. And when your podcast is a hit and you can start interviewing guests in person again, you may notice a pattern where people forget they are speaking into the microphone and start to edge away. Wearing headphones allows you to catch this before you continue and realize the error later. All of these problems can be stopped before they start.
Podcasting is a wonderful pastime that can become your full-time career if you are as passionate about the craft as you are about the content. Use a trusted platform and avoid these common mistakes to ensure you find listeners who keep coming back.
