In this post, we will take a look at 7 things that you may be doing with your podcast that you might need to rethink.  If you have any thoughts on this list or would like to add to it, please take a moment and leave a comment at the bottom of this post.

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Sinning . . . isn't it fun?  Everyone does it now and again.  When you sin once it is exciting but when you sin SEVEN TIMES it can come back to bite you where it counts the most.  Did you know that there are even sins to creating your podcast?  In this post, we will walk you through the 7 DEADLY SINS of Podcasting and provide you solid strategies for creating not just a fantastic podcast, but help you grow a loyal listenership to your podcasting channel.

But first . . . don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Chanel for more great podcasting tips and tricks.

In the beginning . . .

In 2010, I was driving up the New Jersey Turnpike and on a whim, decided to check out a few podcasts that I was hoping would teach me a few things about how to use the computers in our new Mac Lab at school.  One of these shows was called YourMacShow and it was hosted by a Bay Area Firefighter named Dennis.  The show was so inspiring that I reached to Dennis and struck up a nice friendship that eventually turned into a brand new podcast called Apple Aid where Dennis and I talked all things Mac and iPhone related.

As time went on, I decided to create my own podcast based on our work and formula but give it the twist of being educationally focused rather than technology focused.  This was the beginnings of the TeacherCast Educational Broadcasting Network and the rest has been a fantastic journey.

If you are reading this post, you probably have your own story of either how you first started podcasting, or how you might be interested in starting your own podcast.  In this post, we are going to walk you through seven of my most often recommended tips and strategies for creating the perfect podcast that not only keeps people listening to your content but gains their trust as active subscribers.

But Wait .   .  .  There's More!

There is one more tip that I would like to share with you . . . but the only way you can check it out is by watching our video and learning probably the most important tip when creating audio and video content in your home studio or classroom.

The 7 Deadly Sins of Podcasting

1: Purchasing Equipment BEFORE You Start A Podcast

The first and most asked question that I receive as a Podcasting Consultant is “What equipment should I purchase?”  I can't begin to tell you how many times I hear this question.

The first step to podcasting is NOT equipment and it isn't even a question of cost, it's a question of value.  There are three questions you need to ask before you start a podcast:

1. What message am I trying to send my audience?
2. What do I want my audience to take away from this podcast?
3. Do I really care about this topic enough to create an entire podcast to it?

Content first . . . equipment second.  You can get away creating a nice podcast with only your iPhone and some free apps such as Evernote, OneNote, or Bossjock.

Once you get some confidence with your podcast there are several microphones to start from such as the AT-2005, Blue Yeti, Snowball, or AT2100 USB Microphones.

2: Not Choosing the Right Website Platform

There are several website builders that offer a free and easy solution for a website. The can be very appealing because the cost fits your budget and they look stunning. But are they the right option for you?

My advice is to start out simple with a FREE account at WordPress.com and get your feet wet using the worlds most popular Content Management System (CMS).  Once you are comfortable and want to expand your range of podcast management, you can find a hosting plan at Bluehost, GoDaddy, or any other reportable WordPress hosting company and migrate your content very easily. If you really want to do something good for yourself, check out my friends at Podcast Websites.  They are simple, affordable, and the team is easy to work with! (say hello for me with this link)

3: Not Setting Up Your RSS Feed Properly

If you run into 100 podcasts, you will get 105 ways to set up your RSS feed.  At TeacherCast, I run my RSS feed from my WordPress dashboard using the Blubrry Powerpress plugin.

If this method isn't for you, you can always choose to have your audio hosting company manage your feed directly into Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Google Play, or any other podcasting platform you choose.

4: Not Connecting with Other Podcasters

If you are a podcaster, you are NOT alone.  There are over 600,000 podcasts in the iTunes directory and everyone you meet has probably either listened to or recorded some type of audio.  Reach out and join a community on Google Plus, Facebook, or any other popular social network.

5: Copying Your Favorite Podcaster

It's ok to find a mentor and copy them at first.  I certainly did. Your goal for creating any podcast or digital content channel is to learn from the best and quickly jump off that branch and create your own voice.  If you look at TeacherCast, you will see that many of my influences come from outside of the education world and that's ok.  However, you will also see where I let my personality come through and how I have created my own brand over the last 700+ shows and 6 years of content creating.

6: Over Editing

This one is pretty simple.  DON'T OVER EDIT!

When you have a microphone in front of you for the first time, it's a scary thing.  Remember this as when you have guests on the program, they will be just as nervous.  It's important to produce a clean show, but do not over complicate your show by trying to take out every AND, UM, and UGGGG that happens to come out of your mouth. Trust me, it will save you TONS of time in post-production.

7: Episode Zero

One of the most important things you can do when starting your show is to create an Episode Zero.  Test out your equipment on a friend, record a demo show that may never see the light of day.  Have fun learning how two be a podcaster.  When you get to episode 100, then you can bring it out of hiding and share it with your massive audience.  Until then, just have fun creating great content.  Every new episode is always going to be a learning experience.

Share Your Sins in the Comments Below

For the last 8 years, I have had the honor of helping dozens of educational podcasters get their shows off the ground.  I'm excited that you are here reading this because it may mean that you have a show that you are interested in starting, or perhaps you have a few episodes under your belt and want to improve a bit.

One of the services that I offer podcasters is the ability to reach out to me by voice or video for podcasting coaching and consulting.  During our sessions, we will break down your podcast and tackle any questions you may have on the topic.  I have been working with podcasters in a coaching role for more than 8 years and I would love to be able to help you with your podcast.

Visit our Podcast Coaching page and sign up today to meet with me!

In Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this post.  We had a good time putting it together.  But please trust that this post could only be created because I have been podcasting for the last 8 years and have run my show through many of these issues … multiple times.  I hope that you can take something away from this post and perhaps won't make any of these mistakes yourself.

For More Information Please Visit: www.EducationalPodcasting.com