Five ways to kill your podcast

I get questions, many questions. And from these questions come some thoughts about the top five ways you can kill your podcast. (Maybe I’m watching too much CSI?)

You don’t want to ruin your podcast, right? So listen to this 9-minute episode, which serves up five easy pieces of podcasting advice you can use.

Here's a sneak peek behind the crime scene tape... Five ways to kill your podcast:

1. Focus on technology
2. Don’t bother learning to use a microphone
3. Don’t consider your listeners’ needs
4. Email the MP3 file to everyone you know
5. Forget about shownotes

You'll find it right here on the Trafcom News Podcast page, along with show notes.

Comments

[podcastmama]

Your post is right on target. All these are "cardinal sins," that can alienate even the most dedicated listener over time.

Another item I'd add, that's kind of a corollary to #3, is "Don't bother to take your listeners' feedback." Increasingly, your readers/viewers/listeners expect to be able to respond to what you say, and expect for you to incorporate their feedback.

Great post - Elisabeth at PodcastingNews.com

[Donna Papacosta]

Yes, you're right, Elisabeth. Paying attention to listeners is very important. Perhaps I should have listed 10 tips instead of five! Thanks for commenting.

[Steve Sergeant]

#6. Lack of brevity:
Either a failure to edit mercilessly, or just plain not knowing when to shut up.

[Chris (Amateur Traveler)]

I would have said update inconsistently or infrequently would have been on my list.

[Donna Papacosta]

Good point, Steve. I addressed brevity in the Trafcom News Podcast #61 in August 2007 - Trimming the Fat in Your Podcast. http://trafcom.typepad.com/podcast/2007/08/show-61-trimmin.html

[Donna Papacosta]

Thanks for the comment, Chris. I actually talked about podfading in this episode, but then trimmed it out. I am not entirely convinced that infrequent podcasting is a death knell. However, in the best of all possible worlds, it's a great idea to stick to a regular schedule.