Newsflash! Podcasting isn’t right for everyone
Podcasting is a great way to get your message out into the world but it’s also a lot of hard work.
For every show that’s listened to by millions of people, there are hundreds with an audience consisting of the host and their mum.
So before you buy the latest gear, don the headphones, and start sprinting towards your dreams of podcasting glory, it’s important to ask yourself the following questions to work out if podcasting is right for you…
Am I doing this for my ego or an audience?
Something that’s essential for a successful podcast is an audience and the only way you’re going to find one is if you’re creating content with them in mind.
If you’re getting into podcasting because you want to be famous, or because you want to hear the sound of your own voice don’t be surprised if you find it hard to convince an audience to listen.
The most successful podcasts are ones that deliver value for an audience whether that’s entertainment, inspiration or information.
So think about how you can serve up engaging content that gives people something for their time and you’ll have a much better chance of nailing it.
Do I really know what I’m getting myself into?
The majority of podcasts fade out after less than ten episodes.
Why? Because building a successful podcast is A LOT harder than most people think it is. It also takes a lot longer to build an audience than most people have patience for.
If you’re doing everything you can to make your show a success it’s likely you’re spending upwards of ten hours per week on each episode.
Getting traction and growing an audience takes effort and consistency so if you want your show to be a success you have to be willing and able to put in the time and effort to make that happen.
Am I doing this because I think it’s a way to make money?
If you’re thinking about starting a podcast because you want to quit your day job, cool your jets because monetising a podcast is way more difficult than people think it is.
Having a goal of generating revenue is fine but you have to have an audience first and you have no idea how long that will take to build.
It’s always best to start from a place where you’re dying to put your content out into the world regardless of whether you’re getting paid to do it and see where it goes from there.
That way any money you generate will be a bonus.
Am I doing this because I think I should?
At the moment it feels like every second person is starting a podcast but that isn’t a good enough reason for you to start one if you don’t have the right idea or if it’s not really your passion.
Why? Because if you don’t nail a killer concept and create a show an audience actually wants to listen to it won’t be a success.
You’re much better off taking your time and waiting until you know you’ve got an idea people will want to listen to rather than jumping on the bandwagon because everyone else is.
So when do you know if podcasting is right for you?
If the answer to “Why do you want to start a podcast?” is anything other than ‘Because I’ve got amazing content that will educate/inspire/entertain and I desperately want to get it into people’s ears” then think twice.
Podcasting is a big commitment with absolutely no guarantee of success.
The people who have been successful are those who consistently create valuable and engaging content that appeals directly to their ideal listener.
If you’re passionate about every episode you’ll be happy to keep going even when no one is listening.
But if you’re waiting for the cheques to roll in or, even worse, if you think podcasting is easy you’re going to be disappointed.
Got a burning podcasting question you’d like answered? Send me an email.
Want to start your own podcast but need a little help? Download my “How To Start A Podcast” guide or sign up for my online podcasting course, PodSchool.
This was a timely article for me! Thank you for sharing! Just when I was starting to question if my podcast was worth it, the truth is I just really want to help my audience and I have so many ideas and thoughts for them. Thanks for helping me recommit and remind myself why I’m doing it!
Pleasure!