Have you been considering the option of starting your own podcast?
We know how amazing it can be for your business to have a successful podcast or even just to have a place to share your ideas, especially since 44% of the US population has listened to podcasts this year. However, it is important to keep in mind that there are more than 550,000 active podcasts out there and, more importantly, not everyone can pull it off.
If you have decided to start a podcast or have already started a podcast but you are struggling to keep your head above water then consider these five reasons why perhaps starting a podcast might not be the right move for you. Now, if you are still adamant in joining the long line of podcasters out there on an incredible journey, then perhaps this is your wakeup call to turn these five reasons around and make starting a podcast a more realistic goal for
1. Not Being Consistent
Consistency just refers to doing something on a regular basis. Creating and sticking to a regular posting schedule is quite important, especially when it comes to creating content for your audience who is expecting to see new material pop up on the notifications or in their inbox.
A consistent podcast publishing schedule will help you gain more loyal listeners, as it will be easier for them to add your podcast into their daily routine. Being consistent might be a bit tricky in the beginning, but if you manage your time properly and plan ahead, then it will become easier with every new episode!
Related read: How To Revamp Your Podcast for the New Year
2. No Self-Discipline
Running a podcast can often be a solo journey, which certainly requires a lot of self-discipline. If you struggle with motivating yourself to work without the absence of other people there to watch over you, then this will become one of your biggest challenges as a new podcast. However, there are also many benefits to having self-discipline, such as higher standards, becoming self-reliant, and much more.
Learning to be your own “boss” and sticking to the schedule you have created requires tons of self-monitoring and learning to understand when and how you are most productive. It is also important not to lower the standards of your work just because there’s no one to check up on you! Your listeners expect high-quality content, that truly provides them with a ton of value that they can use and implement in their own lives.
Related read: 7 Reasons to Seek Out a Podcast Mentor
3. Easily Distracted
Most of us get distracted, and we often don’t even realize it! Whether it’s a text message or even just something you have on your desk. Every time you take your focus off what you are doing, it takes even longer to get back into the swing of things, which can definitely impact the efficiency of your recording process. This can become super stressful, especially if you’re already behind schedule! Getting distracted while recording will mean that you have to record that episode more than once just to get it right, creating more work for you and taking up more of your precious time.
However, even for the most distracted individual, there is hope! Often times you can easily combat the daily distractions by simply clearing your mind and physical space to focus solely on the task at hand. Another key tip is to make your podcasting process more efficient by implementing a workflow to cut down on the time you need to stay focused on that one thing. So, find out what works best for you, and learn how to turn distractions into productivity instead!
Related read: 7 Reasons to Implement a Podcast Workflow
4. Podcasting Is Not Your Passion
Let’s face it; if you don’t like what you do, then you might not want to do it at all! If you decide to start a podcast just because everyone else you know is doing it, then it is sure to fail. Starting a podcast should be about your love, or hate, for any topic. Whether your passion lies with politics or traveling, it is a very important aspect of podcasting.
It is a known fact that if someone is passionate about something then you’ll hear the enthusiasm in their voice and it will make any topic more interesting. Your passion for your podcast will also draw you in, and you won’t mind spending a little extra time recording, refining, and creating great content for your audience. So before you get started, make sure that the passion is there to help fuel your podcasting journey along the way!
Related read: 9 Easy Steps to Become a Better Podcaster
5. Not Enough Time
If you have a busy schedule even before starting your podcast, then just take a moment to think about what your day will look like if you include a podcast recording on your to-do list as well. If there simply is no time left on the calendar, then perhaps adding a podcast to your already overwhelming schedule is not a great place to start!
However, if you see that there is a little room to squeeze in a recording session or two and you have someone to help you edit and publish your episodes, then this might be in the cards for you after all! Before you decide to start your podcast, first consider how many episodes you’d like to post and the length of each episode. Will a daily, weekly, or a monthly podcast? Will you record short 10-minute episodes or in-depth hour-long interviews?
All of these factors are important to consider before taking the leap into the podcasting world. And most importantly of all, if podcasting simply is not the right fit for you, know that that is okay too!
Related post: 7 Tips to Make More Time for Your Podcast
