When starting a podcast, or thinking about starting a podcast, there is typically a lot of excitement and enthusiasm. You have a great idea, you can’t wait to record, you know everyone is going to love your content. Today, let’s set the record straight on the reality of launching a new podcast.
Expectations
- You’ll be able to have a number one show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify immediately
- Each episode will have thousands of downloads
- You’ll be producing episodes several times a week
- You don’t need a graphic designer to create your cover art
- Transcripts are a nice to have
- You’ll rely on directories, and you don’t need to build a website
Reality
- Ranking on Apple and Spotify, will take time and A LOT of self promotion
- The most successful podcast episode had around 50,000 downloads in only 30 days. An episode with 9,000 downloads earns a place in the top 5% of podcasts, and 3,400 downloads puts you in the top 10%. The average podcast racks up 141 downloads in the first 30 days. (Small Business Genius)
- Use the rule of 4 to plan your production. On average, it takes 4 times the length of your episode to edit the content
- Canva can create great stuff, but designers can be cover art wizards worth the investment
- Transcripts are a must for SEO and ADA compliance
- A website, or at least a web page, is the best way to build a central location for your future audience to follow your podcast
We love podcasts, and half the battle in create a great show is getting off your a$$ and doing the work. It’s too often we see podcasters fail because they don’t have a clear understanding of the work required. Go into your podcast knowing it is going to take time, and the investment will eventually pay off if you stay committed.