Common Mistakes to Avoid with Your Branded Podcast

Have you started or thought about starting a branded podcast, but you’re not sure of the best way to do it? You're not alone.

Many businesses want to develop a podcast that provides value to their listeners and generates leads for their business—but they often struggle to implement all of the proper techniques and elements it takes to create a successful podcast.

In this blog, we'll cover common mistakes businesses make when creating a branded podcast and provide tips on how to avoid them. If you’re ready to discover the tools and knowledge you need to create a successful podcast that generates loyal customers, increases brand awareness, and impacts people in a positive way, then let’s dive in!

You don’t have a strategy for your branded podcast.

If you're considering creating a branded podcast, it's essential to have a well-defined strategy in order to get the most out of it.

A common mistake is having too broad of a target audience. By trying to talk to too many audiences at once, your content likely won’t strongly resonate with anyone—let alone the people you’re trying to reach. Identifying your ideal audience and determining what they want out of the podcast will help you create quality content your listeners will relate to and engage with.

Additionally, focusing your podcast strategy only on your brand can make it come across as promotional and salesy, and your listeners may lose interest quickly. Instead, try to incorporate storytelling and non-promotional content that provides valuable insights and topics that are relevant to your ideal audience. This will help you develop a better, stronger relationship with your listeners and increase brand authority in your industry.

You don’t have the right equipment.

When it comes to creating a successful branded podcast, having the right equipment is essential. Poor sound quality and improper editing can make your podcast seem unprofessional and decrease your authority on the subject and in your industry.

You don’t have to have access to all the professional equipment, but by investing in quality podcast tools—like microphones, headphones, recording and editing software, and more—you can improve the quality of your podcast and deliver a more engaging and professional experience to your audience.

You don’t have the software or expertise to edit the podcast on your own.

If this is your first time creating a podcast, it’s easy to underestimate how much work it takes to produce a podcast from start to finish. The podcasting process involves cutting out unwanted sections, adjusting the sound levels, adding music and sound effects, creating promotional materials, and more.

Doing all of this on your own can be overwhelming and stressful, especially if you have other responsibilities to juggle as a business leader. However, this doesn't mean that you should give up on the idea of creating a branded podcast that increases brand awareness and generates loyal customers.

Working with a professional podcast agency can streamline the process by handling all the details, including recording, editing, and posting your podcast.

You don’t collect all of the necessary assets.

In order to create a successful branded podcast, you need to collect all of the necessary pieces that go along with it. To develop a professional, cutting-edge podcast, you’ll need to develop important assets besides just the audio or video—such as a transcript, artwork, and intro and outro music.

Transcript

A transcript not only allows your audience to read along while they listen to your podcast but also makes it easier for search engines to index your content and make information accessible to people searching for podcasts like yours. Though not every podcaster uses this feature, it’s an excellent way to improve your SEO (search engine optimization) and ensure your audience can find you.

Artwork

Another important asset you’ll need to develop for your podcast is the artwork. This is the first thing listeners see when they look at your show in their podcast app or on your website and is the element that catches their eye and makes them want to click play. So whether you’re creating it yourself or outsourcing the work, your final product will need to reflect the show’s theme and attract your audience.

Intro and Outro Music

Starting and ending your show without music is not only boring, but it’s a missed opportunity to stand out from your competition and make your podcast more polished and professional. Intro and outro music help set the tone of your podcast and engage your audience to listen to the entire episode.

Collecting all of these assets takes time and effort, but the investment is worth it when you consider the impact it can have on the success of your podcast.

You don’t publish your podcast correctly.

Without properly publishing your podcast, you greatly reduce the chances of your content reaching your audience and make it difficult for potential customers to find you.

In order to correctly publish your podcast, you’ll need to set up an RSS feed for it on the hosting platform you’re using for your website or through a podcasting host, such as Buzzsprout. An RSS feed allows you to distribute your podcast to multiple podcasting platforms and directories, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Youtube, and more.

Once you upload your episodes to your RSS feed, you’re ready to connect them to podcast platforms. Choosing popular directories will ensure that your podcast is accessible to as many people in your target audience as possible. Your podcast will go through an approval process, and after they’ve been approved, you’ll be able to publish and promote your show!

You’re not promoting your branded podcast properly.

If you’re creating a branded podcast, it's important to avoid the common mistake of not utilizing it as part of your overall marketing plan. Podcasting can be a powerful promotional tool to increase your brand awareness and reach a wider audience. However, it's not enough to just create great content and publish it on your podcast platform. You need to learn how to promote your podcast via social media, blogs, newsletter, and other quality content.

You also want to be sure that you’re being consistent when promoting your podcast. Promoting it once won’t help you market it to your target audience. You need to share it consistently, long term, in order to see growth and increase SEO for your podcast. To do this, you can share each new episode on social media, utilize episodes in emails, and post them on your website.

Avoiding these common mistakes can make a huge difference for your business and enable your branded podcast to increase traffic, improve brand authority, and—most importantly—engage customers!

If you’re ready to create a branded podcast for the growth and success of your business, connect with a podcast professional today to get started on creating premium branded assets that will keep you at the top of your industry!

At Honest Podcasts, we strive to help value-driven companies launch successful podcasts because we have the drive to help others succeed.

Connect with our team to learn how we can help you easily create strategic content that generates strong leads, develops loyal customers, and makes a positive impact.

Have an idea for a future podcast episode (or a guest in mind that you think would be a great fit)? Send us an email at hello@honestpodcasts.com. And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.