Podcasts have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down.
In fact, Statista has estimated over 28 million podcast listeners by 2026 in the UK alone, emphasising how in-demand podcasts are.
Podcasting provides you with a platform to discuss an array of topics and themes and is an attractive option for many individuals and businesses alike.
However, while podcasting might sound easy, there are many common mistakes you should avoid when making a podcast that we’re going to cover in this guide.
Let’s get started.
Common podcasting mistakes include, but are not limited to:
A lack of research and preparation
Failing to pick a specific topic
Not prioritising audio quality
Failing to listen to your own podcast
Not promoting your podcast enough
1. A Lack Of Research & Preparation
More planning goes into a successful podcast than many people think.
Because of the medium’s relaxed and laid-back nature, you might not realise that you need to thoroughly research your guests, their backgrounds, and what they’re about to exhibit your interest and passion on the topic and in what your guests can contribute to the conversation.
Although conversations will flow naturally, you should prepare interesting and unique questions ahead of time to provide your listeners with the best possible experience. Think outside the box, as you don’t want to recycle questions you could easily find the answers to online.
If you don’t make the effort to research and prepare ahead of recording your podcast, you can’t expect to produce the most informative and interesting podcast content.
2. Failing To Pick A Specific Topic
A common mistake when making a podcast is failing to pick a specific topic.
Research has found that the most popular podcast genres are ‘entertainment, news and current affairs, comedy, and discussion and talk shows’, but you can discuss virtually any topic provided it’s specific.
With broad and vague topics, it’s hard to build a loyal audience. This largely comes down to the fact that without a set topic, the audience doesn’t know what to expect from listening to your podcast.
If you haven’t got a topic to anchor each podcast episode, there won’t be a clear direction, and you risk losing your audience’s attention.
Remember, the topic that you choose will directly link with your unique selling point (USP), and even if it’s a topic that’s been covered before, deciding on one topic will help you come up with a new angle.
Your topic and the themes that you cover should be clear in the podcast’s description to respect the listener’s time.
3. Not Prioritising Audio Quality
Next up, a common mistake is not prioritising audio quality.
If your listeners are going to sit through a podcast episode happily, the audio quality needs to be decent.
The sound will reflect the overall quality of your podcast and will impact audiences’ impressions. After all, no listener is going to tune into an echoey episode or one where they have to strain to hear the dialogue.
How To Improve Podcast Audio Quality
While you might not have the budget to buy the best equipment on the market in the beginning, a way to ensure your podcast has the best quality audio is to book a podcast studio.
If you’re looking for a space to record your podcast, look no further than Octopod Studio. Our podcast studio features Shure SM7B and Rode PodMics, which are renowned for their rich, clear sound that’s perfect for both podcasting and livestreaming.
With built-in features to minimise noise and enhance audio quality, our service ensures flawless podcast audio. Book a studio today.
4. Failing To Listen To Your Own Podcast
This one might sound strange, but if you’re not listening to your own podcast, you’re missing out on a key opportunity to improve your episodes.
From highlighting any filler words to making you realise you need to work on your listening or communication skills, listening back to your own podcast can reveal a lot about your interviewing style and will help you improve your podcast.
Considering that there are ‘approximately 4.42 million indexed podcasts worldwide as of 2025’, competition is only increasing, and you want to ensure you’re doing everything you can not only to keep up but also stay one step ahead.
So, put yourself in your audience’s shoes and take a listen. You’ll be surprised by how much you notice that could be improved when listening with a fresh perspective.
5. Not Promoting Your Podcast Enough
Last but by no means least, a common podcasting mistake is not promoting your podcast enough.
Planning and recording your podcast is only the beginning, and you can’t expect your podcast to take off without consistently sharing it with the world.
From sharing on social media platforms, such as Instagram, to your newsletter to hiring an external company to manage your marketing, there are numerous options to ensure your podcast reaches the right audience.
After all, you could spend a lot of time and money producing a high quality podcast, but if you’re not going to put any of your efforts into promoting it, it will be wasted.
How We Can Help
At Octopod Studio, we offer a complete podcast experience.
From concept planning and recording to post-production and social media marketing, our team is on hand to help.
Get in touch at info@octopodstudio.co.uk should you have any questions about our podcast studio or recording a podcast, or book a studio today.
-
We are Octopod Studio, a leading content creation studio in South Wales, delivering top-quality production services for podcasters, content creators, and businesses looking to create professional, studio-quality content.
Do it at Octopod.
Written by Jemima for Octopod Studio.
Comments