Common Mistakes of Amateur Podcasters
November 19th, 2006 by 
adminAnyone can make a podcast…but sadly, not everyone makes a good podcast. In fact (sorry to say this) but a large number of podcasts on the web aren’t worth the download time. Here are some things that really pull down the podcast quality—are you making those mistakes?
The topics are too general. Think about it, people: you’re not just competing against the other podcasts, but you’re also up against all the other media forms. There are websites that can offer the same information, television and cable shows (with TiVo, people can watch that anytime), books and magazines and newspapers. So why would they download your podcast to get material that they can find elsewhere?
Too much editing. Some people go nuts with the editing software, and try out special effects like kids in a candy store. Too many bells and whistles can be jarring and distracting, and when poorly executed, can actually leave listeners with a very bad headache. Use those special effects sparingly, like to drive a point, or to add spice to a really long segment. And ask yourself if you’re adding the special effect to help a listener or to show off your skills. If you’re turning it into a game of “guess what I can do…” then listen: you’ve lost the most important game of all, and that’s keeping the audience’s attention.
Too little editing. While some people tend to use too many features of the editing software, others don’t use it at all. They run everything raw, which is no fun either, because who wants to listen to 30 minutes of an idiot rambling on and on and on, waiting for him to make his point? Or even if he’s not an idiot… even if he’s a brilliant man, the best in the industry, with really valid points to share, people have thresholds. Sooner or later, they get bored, or just tired. This is not a college class, people. Listeners aren’t required to listen, and if they don’t find you entertaining, they’ll find someone else who is. So rule of thumb: the more long and complex the topic, the more effort you should put into breaking the data into short segments and spicing up the presentation. Otherwise, you’re talking to an audience of one (yourself).
Poor technical quality. Screechy microphones. Jarring edits. Background sounds of your kid playing, or your wife yelling at you to get off the stupid computer and take out the trash. This is just so unprofessional—and clearly spells “amateur at work” to your audience. If you can’t afford to invest in top of the line sound equipment, at least try to avoid any unnecessary disruptions or technical errors. For example, check your microphone volume. Maybe the background music’s louder than the voice input. Maybe it’s picking up noises from outside the door. Maybe It’s off! And little things like hanging a “do not disturb” sign on your door (or recording in the wee hours of the morning, when you’re less likely to pick up noise) can help.