Podcasting is one of the most fun ways to create content online for many people. Whilst recording, you experience genuine moments, and once the episode is out, you have the foundations to create mounds of high-quality content to share on social media. One of the barriers that stops people from starting a podcast, however, is the myths that put people off setting foot in the studio. In today’s blog, we will be debunking some of the biggest podcasting myths.
“Starting a podcast is expensive”
This is a question that has a varied answer, but ultimately it comes down to: podcasts are as expensive as you want them to be. To use mics that sound great, a mixer to record, optional cameras, as well as editing software to add the finishing touches, is a steep price to even get started! Fortunately, Darlington Stream Space has all the equipment (and more!) ready for you to sit down, start talking, and focus on the content in your podcast.
Included in the studio, we have 2 versatile sets that can be adapted and changed to the feel you want for your podcast. The equipment we use to record our podcasts includes an ATEM Mini, RØDECaster Pro II, 3 Tenveo 360 Remote cameras and controllers, as well as our high-quality FDUCE SL40X.
“I don’t know what to talk about”
So, you’ve booked in your podcast with us, you have your guest, sat down and now… You don’t actually know what to talk about! Having a podcast may sound amazing at first, but coming up with ideas on topics to talk about is a lot more involved than making it up on the spot. At Darlington Stream Space, we encourage our clients to join us for a discovery session. This allows us to sit down with you and really get to grips with what you want the outcomes of your podcast to be. This will then give us a theme, which will in turn help us generate topics for each episode.
If you’re looking for a bit more structure to your podcast, our team are also at hand to help you generate questions, cues and more to keep the natural momentum of your podcast rolling. Another reason you may not be able to find the words to speak is that you feel uncomfortable in front of the mics and cameras. We aren’t going to shrug this off as it’s a genuine concern people have. Podcasting is not a natural thing that we do day-to-day, let alone being in front of a camera. Again, our team work with you to help keep you calm, relaxed and ready to record.
“You need thousands of listeners to succeed in podcasting”
We want you to take a moment to think about a podcast – the first podcast that comes to mind. We are sure that if you were to look at that podcast’s followers and listeners, it would be in the thousands or more. Success podcasters don’t just become successful overnight, and there certainly isn’t a secret cheat code to help you gain more listeners. The truth is that, like many things, podcasting is a slow burn. If you’ve got a great idea, the chemistry you have with your guests is good, and your conversations keep listeners hooked, then you may have a real chance of your podcast growing in popularity.
A way to share your podcast to attract an audience of listeners is to promote each episode on social media. Podcasting platforms such as YouTube allow you to post videos on people’s feeds so that you can let them know when your latest episode is live. Instagram is currently seeing huge success with video content, so perhaps you should be sharing the best clips from your podcast as reels. At Darlington Stream Space, our Pod Plan users get 3-5 snippets from each of the episodes we record, even offering the choice to market their podcasts for them. This means that you don’t need to worry about the promotion of your podcast – just the fascinating stories you will share! It is better to have a smaller, engaged audience than a larger disengaged one.
“The market is too saturated with podcasts right now”
In the world of creative output, there is no such thing as “too many podcasts”. As long as you have a unique idea that people are genuinely interested in, you will have an audience and there for a place. For example, there are plenty of podcasts about property and lettings. However, many people will listen to a variety of them because they buy into the people who present them and their guests. Even if the information is basically the same, it’s the people who make the shows truly unique.
“You need to publish weekly”
With just about everyone being a self-proclaimed marketing guru in today’s digital landscape, it can be hard to cut through the noise and understand what you are actually meant to be posting. From hidden algorithms to optimal posting times, it can often seem daunting, and the pressure to post as often as possible is never-ending.
In reality, setting up unrealistic targets can kill creativity and also kill any enthusiasm you had for podcasting in the first place. Attempting to create work to unrealistic deadlines is one of the key causes of creative burnout, and can often lead you to feeling drained and worn out. Hubspoke Media breaks down the key causes of creative burnout in their blog as well as ways to avoid it. You are better off having a more manageable schedule of 1 or 2 podcasts a month than trying to pump out as many episodes as you can.