Common Podcast Promotional Mistakes To Avoid
If you are new to podcasting or just about to start, these are the podcast promotion mistakes you need to avoid and they are important if you want to be successful in your podcasting adventure.
Download the first chapter of The Storytelling Series: Beginners’ Guide for Small Businesses & Content Creators by Obehi Ewanfoh.
Take for example one common mistake by many new podcasters which is a lack of marketing plan for their podcast. And if you think about it then you quickly realize that marketing is the lifeblood of a business and podcasts are no different.
You need to determine your podcast’s target audience and your marketing strategy before you commit to any podcast promotion. If you don’t know what you want from the podcast, then it will be hard for you to figure out where to invest time or money.
These and more are what we will be discussing in this article on the common mistakes to avoid in your Podcast Promotion. Pay attention to every single one of them.
The mistake of Not Understanding Who Your podcast audience Are
To be successful in podcasting or any other business, you need to know who your true audience is. Podcasts are a great way for brands to reach their target audience. So, it’s not just about creating audio content – it’s also about knowing who you are creating the content for.
In the words of Lucius Annaeus Seneca, the Roman Stoic philosopher, “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.”
Make an effort to understand your audience – their demographics, interests, and needs, so you can better appeal to them in your podcast.
To that effect, you might consider trusting our old friends, Google Analytics and Google Trends.
Understanding your podcast audience is essential for creating content that resonates with them and building a loyal following. Here are some steps to help you understand who your podcast audience is:
- Analyze your existing audience: Start by analyzing your existing audience. Use analytics tools such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Analytics to gain insights into your listeners’ demographics, location, listening habits, and engagement levels. This data can help you understand who your current audience is and what they are interested in.
- Conduct listener surveys: Another way to gain insights into your audience is to conduct listener surveys. Ask questions about their age, gender, location, interests, and feedback on your show. This will give you a better understanding of who they are and what they want to hear.
- Engage with your audience: Engage with your audience through social media, email, or community forums. Respond to their comments and feedback and ask for their opinions on your show. This will help you build a relationship with your audience and gain a deeper understanding of their preferences.
Not Having a podcast Marketing Plan is a big mistake
Not having a podcast marketing plan is a problem that many podcasters face, especially beginner podcasters. Without a plan, they struggle to generate traffic and revenue.
The first step in developing a podcast marketing plan is to understand that it’s not just about the content, but also about the promotion. Promote your content across social media platforms, email newsletters, and online marketplaces to attract new listeners.
A podcast marketing plan can be as simple as mapping out your goals and setting up milestones for each month. It can also be as complex as creating an entire roadmap for your podcast with the help of a professional marketer.
The main goal, in most cases, is to get your podcast in front of as many people as possible, so you can make more money from it. And there are many ways to monetize your podcast as:
- sponsorship,
- advertising,
- selling merchandise,
- and selling digital products such as ebooks and courses.
Not having a clear content strategy is a problem to avoid
The podcast industry has been experiencing a surge in popularity over the last few years. The format of a podcast is very different from traditional radio or TV. It is not only easier to produce, but it also has the advantage of being able to work with a very small budget.
Podcasting is still in its infancy and many people don’t know how to operate the format properly. There are lots of podcasts that have done well over the years, but there are also lots of podcasts that just don’t seem to be able to find their audience.
That is why you must have a clear content strategy for your podcast. Don’t leave anything to chance. Nothing at all. Instead, be intentional about what you want your show to stand for.
Developing a clear content strategy is essential for the success of your podcast. A content strategy is a plan that outlines your podcast’s goals, target audience, topics, format, and frequency. It helps you create a consistent and engaging show that resonates with your audience. Here are some steps to develop a clear content strategy for your podcast:
- Define your goals: Determine what you want to achieve with your podcast. Is it to entertain, educate, or inspire your audience? Do you want to increase brand awareness, generate leads, or monetize your podcast? Having clear goals will help you create relevant and engaging content.
- Identify your target audience: Define your ideal listener persona. What are their interests, pain points, and motivations? Understanding your target audience will help you create content that resonates with them.
- Choose your topics: Brainstorm topics that align with your goals and target audience. Consider topics that are relevant, timely, and valuable. You can also survey your audience or look at industry trends to come up with ideas.
- Determine your format: Decide on the format that best suits your topics and audience. Will it be an interview-style show, solo show, or co-hosted show? Will it be scripted or unscripted? Choosing the right format will help you deliver your content effectively.
- Establish your frequency: Determine how often you will release new episodes. Will it be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly? Consistency is key to building an engaged audience.
- Create a content calendar: Use a content calendar to plan your episodes in advance. This will help you stay organized, ensure that your topics align with your goals, and create a consistent schedule.
- Review and adjust: Regularly review your content strategy and make adjustments based on audience feedback, analytics, and industry trends. This will help you continuously improve and keep your podcast fresh and engaging.
Developing a clear content strategy is crucial for creating a successful podcast. By defining your goals, identifying your target audience, choosing your topics, determining your format, establishing your frequency, creating a content calendar, and reviewing and adjusting your strategy, you can create a consistent and engaging show that resonates with your audience.
Do not Neglect good engagement with your audience
Podcasting is not a new form of media and it has been around for over a decade. Despite the popularity of this medium, many podcasters are still neglecting to engage with their audience. That is a podcast promotional mistake you need to avoid if you want to stand out from the crowd.
This doesn’t mean that podcasting is dying out, but it does mean that there is a need for podcasters to take more care in how they interact with their listeners.
Why are some beginner podcasters not engaging with their audiences? You might want to ask?
Well, it might be because of any of the following or a combination of a few of them:
- They don’t have a clear idea of what they are talking about,
- They feel they don’t have anything interesting to say.
- They are too busy talking about themselves and what they want to talk about instead of what their listeners want to hear
- They think that the only way to be popular is by being controversial or offensive in the podcast shows.
All these can be problematic in your podcasting business, so make an effort to avoid them in your podcasting.
Never forget that engagement is the key to success in any business, especially in the current service-based businesses and with the sophisticated customers we have today. So, I encourage you to take an active role in your social media marketing strategy. As a podcaster, you can easily track engagement metrics such as likes, shares, and comments to stay ahead of the game.
Failing to map out a monetization plan for the podcast is a problem
This is a problem that many podcasters face today, and it can be a costly one.
Podcast monetization is an important part of the business model for most podcasts. It’s important to map out a plan for your podcast before you start releasing episodes.
The podcast market is competitive, with a lot of podcasts vying for the audience’s attention. It’s important to do everything in your power to stand out, so you can attract more advertisers. Many podcasts have a Patreon page where listeners can become “patrons” with perks like early access, free episodes, and exclusive content before it goes public.
One of the biggest mistakes podcasters make is not having a plan or strategy for monetizing their content. They may think they will figure it out once they start building their audience, but that often doesn’t happen in the beginning stages of your podcast.
I am not saying you should concentrate on monetization at the expense of creating quality content, especially as a beginner podcaster. However, make sure you have a plan of how you intend to monetize your content, so you know how to set up and orientate your content creation process.
Conclusion on Podcast Promotion Mistakes to avoid as a beginner podcaster
Podcast promotion is an art and science. There are a lot of things that you can do to make sure your podcast is successful in the long run. This might include starting with a great topic, having a good production value, and creating valuable content.
If you want to succeed in your podcasting business, you must pay attention to the different mistakes many beginner podcasters make and try your best to avoid them.
Download the first chapter of The Storytelling Series: Beginners’ Guide for Small Businesses & Content Creators by Obehi Ewanfoh.
