Podcasting is a revolutionary platform of expression. With its growing popularity, podcasters enjoy the freedom of creativity the medium provides. The list of topics for podcasts is endless. There is an audience for most subjects, be it general affairs, music, art, sports, or alternate theories.
Podcasters can also experiment with a variety of formats for their podcast. The platforms supporting podcasts have increased with the growing popularity of podcasts. This has given podcasters the freedom to choose their platform.
But this increased freedom also brings with it increased responsibility. Podcasts have massive potential for growth but are the results of great struggles. These struggles go unseen by the audience as they occur behind the scenes. These challenges are not limited to new podcasters. Even seasoned podcasters have to overcome some of these problems daily.
Challenges pop up from the ideation stage and continue till the promotion of episodes. It does not end there. Behind each episode is a series of struggles that push podcasters to strive harder, right from content curation to podcast editing services.
It may take some time to figure things out along the path, and some issues may take longer than others to resolve. This article lists 7 challenges you may face in your podcasting journey and ways to overcome them.
Starting off
In descending order of difficulty, getting started is right under the technicalities. You may find yourself doubting your decision to start a podcast. You may even question the depth of your knowledge and if you would be able to pull off the concept. This process usually cracks down the podcaster’s self-confidence.
The best action step in this situation is to focus on your work. Instead of worrying about potential future problems, focus your energy on your content. Make sure your podcast’s primary topic is not too specific. This way, the scope for content increases, growing your potential target audience size.
If it overwhelms you, break down the process. Breaking down the procedure into manageable tasks makes it easy to fulfill.
Imposter Syndrome
Podcasting is not a skill taught in school or inherited. It is likely that you may feel lost in the process. You may be experiencing imposter syndrome.
Doubting your decisions, feeling disoriented, and unsure about the process are its symptoms. Since it is a new domain that you are exploring, don’t worry about the usual procedure.
Adding your flair is what makes your content different from others. In such situations, it is best to surge forward in the direction you deem fit.
Having Equipment
Recording a podcast requires equipment. It is a common misconception that the list is long and expensive. The reality is that basic equipment like a laptop, microphone, and headphones are plenty.
There are various options having different features which can make editing easier. But the basic level gadgets also get the work done.
Creating Content
Curating content is not an easy task. It requires lots of patience, deep understanding, and research to produce engaging content. Over time, most content creators struggle with the production process. You may feel like you need to change the style of presenting. You may also consider changing the format.
These are signs of an underlying lack of content. You may feel like you are running out of ideas. In such situations, the above-mentioned changes may add a fresh tone to the podcast.
It is difficult to come up with ways to set your content apart in a saturated market. Take inspiration from other platforms such as books or movies. Analyze trends to see what consumers want to listen to. This will give you an idea of what is expected and what will sell well. You can also consider a slight shift in topic, such that you are in the same space but have new things to talk about.
Podcast Editing
The real struggle of podcasting begins at the editing stage. Up to this step, overcoming challenges only needs in mindset.
Podcast editing is a technical task. It requires patience and experience to get better at editing. Enroll yourself in a course to understand the basics. It is only a matter of practice after this point. Start small with basic tools and use advanced tools as you progress. This way, you can gradually get over the challenge of editing.
In case you wish to diversify your podcast in various formats, consider video podcasting. This will help you keep content crisp and add in effects, texts, and images where needed. Having a basic knowledge of graphic design helps in making thumbnails and editing.
Monetization
As your podcast grows, so do the expenses. You begin to expect returns in proportion to the input time, energy, and resources. While it is great to see your audience grow, it is not enough.
Monetization becomes important to meet this desire. Once you have built a strong audience, monetizing the podcast is easy. Based on the number of listeners/ viewers, brands pay podcasters to advertise their products.
It may take some time to draw the attention of brands. Instead of focusing on this aspect, focus on creating engaging content. Interesting content is more likely to have a loyal audience.
Promotion
The challenges of podcasting don’t end with uploading. Developing content doesn’t guarantee an audience. Without an audience to appreciate it, content is useless. Thus, audience engagement is crucial.
Gauging the audience’s reaction to the podcast is also part of the process. Promoting released episodes and dropping teasers of upcoming content are also included.
Many podcasters outsource promotional activities. This way, specialists can take over to ensure the greatest engagement. DIY-ing is the cheaper alternative. All you need to do is make snippets of the most interesting parts of the podcast. These segments should make viewers/ listeners curious about the episode. However, to do so, you must have preliminary knowledge about video editing services.
Social media is a free-to-access tool that makes promotion accessible to all. With a little exploration, you can find your audience’s interests. Use this to your advantage to engage them and promote the podcast.
Conclusion
Podcasting is an interesting process. It allows complete personalization to represent the podcaster’s opinions and personality. While it is fun, it also comes with a lot of behind-the-scenes struggle that goes unnoticed by the audience. Overcoming these challenges is a necessary step for every podcaster. It helps them to upskill and evolve into better creators.
