Starting a podcast is exciting — but like anything new, it comes with its fair share of learning curves. Over the years, I’ve seen countless new podcasters dive in headfirst, only to feel overwhelmed, unprepared, or burnt out within a few months.

To save you the stress and fast-track your podcasting journey, here's a list of the most common mistakes new podcasters make.

Mistake #1: Launching without a clear concept or niche

• Many new podcasters get caught up in the excitement of buying a microphone and hitting record — without fully thinking through what their show is about, who it’s for, or what their long-term goals are.

Mistake #2: Poor audio quality with no editing plan

• Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you need a $500 microphone and professional studio lighting to start.

Mistake #3: No content calendar or plan for consistency

• Consistency is key to growing a loyal podcast audience. Sporadically creating content is one of the fastest ways to experience podcaster burnout.

Mistake #4: Forgetting to promote outside the platform

• “If you build it, they will come” does not apply to podcasting. Simply uploading your episodes to Spotify and Apple Podcasts isn’t enough to grow an audience.

Mistake #5: Ignoring audience feedback and analytics

• Most new podcasters don’t realize that podcast directories (like Apple, Spotify, and Google Podcasts) function like search engines. If your titles and descriptions aren’t optimized, you’re missing opportunities for discovery.

Launching a podcast is one of the most rewarding creative projects you can take on — but it works best when you approach it with intention, patience, and a little strategy.

Want to know how to AVOID these mistakes?

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