Why do most podcasts fail?

“I’ve done 10 episodes, why am I not viral?” As a producer for podcasts, I’ve heard this from time to time. As we’ve gone on in the industry, I don’t hear it anymore, largely because we’ve done a much better job of preparing our podcasters, but that doesn’t mean people still don’t feel that way. With that, I wanted to talk about the three main reasons podcasts fail and how you can make your podcast stand out in the red ocean of podcasting.

Podcasting has become one of the most popular mediums for people to share their thoughts and ideas with the world. But despite the growing popularity of podcasts, the sad reality is that most podcasts fail. In this blog, we will discuss the top two reasons why most podcasts fail, and what you can do to avoid these pitfalls.

Reason #1: Lack of Consistency

One of the biggest reasons why podcasts fail is a lack of consistency. Consistency is key when it comes to building an audience and growing your podcast. If you only release episodes sporadically, your audience will lose interest and move on to other podcasts.

To avoid this, you need to have a consistent publishing schedule. Whether it's once a week or twice a month, make sure you stick to your schedule and release episodes on a regular basis. This will help you build momentum and keep your audience engaged.

Another way to maintain consistency is to have a backlog of episodes ready to go. This will help you stay on track even when unexpected events come up. You can also use this backlog to release bonus episodes or to cover for any missed weeks. We try to keep our podcasters up by at least two episodes, that way if an emergency pops up, we don’t miss a drop.

Reason #2: Lack of Engagement

The second reason why most podcasts fail is a lack of engagement. Your podcast should be more than just you talking into a microphone. You need to engage with your audience, and make them feel like they are part of the conversation.

One way to engage with your audience is to ask for feedback. Encourage your listeners to leave comments, reviews, or send you messages on social media. Take the time to respond to their feedback, and let them know that you value their input.

Another way to engage with your audience is to have guests on your show. Guests can bring a fresh perspective to your podcast, and can help you reach a wider audience. When you have guests on your show, make sure you ask them thoughtful questions and encourage them to share their experiences and insights.

Reason #3: Lack of Quality

A lack of quality is another common reason why many podcasts fail. If your podcast sounds unprofessional, has poor audio quality, or lacks engaging content, your audience will quickly lose interest.

To avoid this, invest in quality equipment such as a good microphone, recording software, and headphones. Take the time to edit your episodes and remove any dead air or mistakes. Make sure your content is engaging, informative, and provides value to your audience.

It's also important to have a clear and consistent branding strategy for your podcast. Use high-quality graphics, intro and outro music, and a professional podcast cover art to help your podcast stand out from the rest.

Final Thoughts

If you want your podcast to succeed, you need to be consistent and engage with your audience. You need to treat your podcast like a business and put in the time and effort required to make it successful.

To maintain consistency, have a publishing schedule and a backlog of episodes ready to go. To engage with your audience, ask for feedback, have guests on your show, and respond to their comments and messages.

Ensure your quality is top-level and that you’re always thinking about your show from the listener’s perspective.

Remember, podcasting is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, effort, and patience to build an audience and grow your podcast. But if you are consistent, engage with your audience, and provide valuable content, you can create a successful podcast that will stand the test of time.

Speakeasy Podcast Network is a division of Wayne Media Group and is headquartered in Brighton, Michigan. Speakeasy is the nation’s first creative studio that features podcast production as a core service. For more information, visit WayneMedia.com or SpeakeasyNetwork.com; one of the benefits of working with Wayne Media is that none of their services are outsourced as they operate 100% in-house. Happy podcasting!