Podfading, or where podcasts have stopped releasing new episodes, is more common than you realize. There are a variety of reasons, but they usually fall into one of the following categories.
- Lack of any planning
- Topics that are focusing on the wrong areas
- Expectations that are unrealistic
- Over-complicating the process
How To Avoid Podfading
It’s all about building on a solid plan and creating a sustainable content creation method
You need to know
- why you want to podcast,
- who you want to reach with your podcast, and
- why you want to reach them with a podcast.
In this episode, let’s cover some key points that are enough for almost any podcaster to avoid podfading.
Create a List of Potential Future Episodes
When you’ve identified your overall topic, and the people you want to reach, breaking this down into episodes is important for a number of reasons.
Seeing a list of potential episodes lets you focus on the direction of the show.
Block Out Time & Stay Sustainable
Knowing how much time you can dedicate to working on your podcast is crucial. This includes from initial thought on the episode topic to publishing the episode.
Rather than worry what is the best publishing frequency to grow your podcast, choose a release frequency that’s sustainable for you. That might be weekly, bi-weekly, or you might even want to consider podcasting in seasons.
Make a choice, and work out how much time you’ll need each week to manage it. Block out that time. It’s a non-negotiable.
Make Your Setup Easy & Accessible
Working with Circle270Media gives my clients the luxury of a permanent setup or studio environment for recording. There’s a decent chance you don’t.
This is where simplicity can trump having lots of your own sophisticated and complex equipment.
When recording an episode means spending lots of time setting gear up, then taking it down afterward, you’re at risk of losing your motivation.
The more gear in your recording chain, the more risk there is of not switching it on properly too. Doing a great interview and not actually recording it will most certainly put doubts in your mind.
Don’t Get Bogged Down By Editing
Editing will make your podcast flow better, and make it sound more polished and professional. Editing should be used sparingly, not as a crutch. This means being more mindful of the structure and focus of your episodes before and during the recording session. Treat your recording sessions as if you’re live. This will tighten up your presentation skills.
Recording longer episodes on the basis that you can clean them up in editing will add hours of unnecessary work to your schedule. Or the additional cost to you if you pay an editor.
Experiment With Formats Helps Avoid Podfading
You’re the boss of your podcast. This gives you a lot of freedom.
Even though I just mentioned that planning is vital, there are certain things that should remain flexible. One of those is definitely your podcast format.
Many new podcasters will declare things like “I’m going to do a 20-minute interview show.” Why 20 minutes? What if your conversation lasts 15 minutes, or 40 minutes? And then, why just interviews? What if you’ve got something you’d like to discuss directly with the listener.
You can make a case for having your listener expect certain things from your show. But in the early stages, the small audience you have won’t “expect” anything from your format.
Forget Apple Podcasts Even Exists
The most important thing you need to think about regarding Apple Podcasts is submitting your show there.
Once you’ve been approved and listed in there, then forget about it. Set it and forget it. Forget the hype around a ‘New & Noteworthy launch plan’ or anything else like that. You’re creating content for your audience, not Apple, or Spotify, or Google Podcasts, or fill in the blank.
When your podcast strategy is based on creating the best possible episodes for your listeners, your audience will grow.
Embrace the early days as an opportunity to try and test different things. Find out what feels right for you by doing it. Don’t become rigid in how your present your content. Another way to avoid podfading is to remain excited about hitting the record button each and every recording session.
Don’t Expect Feedback
Treat listener feedback as a bonus rather than an expectation.
Oh, this is especially true in the early days. It takes a long time to build an audience. And when you do, hearing from listeners can be rare.
You’re a podcast listener. When was the last time you sent feedback to your favorite podcasts? Gotcha, didn’t I?
Don’t get discouraged though. Most podcast listeners are in the ‘silent majority’ camp. They are loving what you do. But they’ll potentially never reach out to you about it.
This doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.
Make sure you are providing a ‘contact’ section on your website and a strong call-to-action at the end of your episodes.
Just keep putting out great content. On rare occasions, when you do hear from a listener, be sure to make the most of it. Take the time to reply and get to know them.
Podcasting is a MARATHON, not a sprint. Be patient, take action and apply yourself.
Let’s talk about what podcasting can do for your business in the next 12-months. Whether you’re B2C or B2B, we can create a content marketing strategy that will work for you.
Connect with me if you would like to talk more about this. My calendar is available on my Circle270Media Podcast Consultants business website at circle270media.com
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Recorded in conjunction with Channel 511, in the Brewery District, downtown Columbus, OH.
Brett Johnson is the owner and lead consultant at Circle270Media Podcast Consultants. With over 35+ years of experience in Marketing, Content Creation, Audio Production/Recording, and Broadcasting, the podcast consultants at Circle270Media strategically bring these strengths together for their business Podcast clients.
Email us at podcasts@circle270media.com to set up a time to talk more about your new or established business podcast.