Podcasting is work, enjoyable work, but still work.
There may be a lot of podcasts on various streaming platforms but not all of them are active. Podcasters are at risk of experiencing podfade.
Podfade happens when the podcast creator stops publishing episodes, in return, the hype and the audience generated by the show also vanishes.
I had a conversation with a good friend of mine – Darrell Darnell and one of the things we talked about was his advice to people who want to start podcasting.
Darrell started out with investing in the right equipment to sound great and the importance of knowing who your target audience is.
However, what really caught my attention is Darrell’s mention of being prepared for the grind.
Yes, podcasting can be fun, but you have to be ready for the work that comes with it. This is the secret ingredient to avoiding podfade.
Some people think that all they have to do is gather topics and talk about them on the show. If you’re really serious about podcasting, and you want to offer something that can help you stand out, you need to do the work.
Whether it’s creating content, writing content, or editing it, this will require a lot of your time and commitment.
I remember when Darrell said that he would write up to 50 content ideas and thought he had it all figured out. However, when it was time to record, he only has five topics, and none of them were good enough.
There are also moments when I had to stay up 2 to 3 hours after recording just so I can write show notes and change what needs to be improved.
It’s not easy, but this is what Darrell, myself, and a thousand committed podcasters chose to do each and every single day.
In order for you to survive the grind, you need to keep in mind that podcasting is a labor of love, and you just have to keep going.
One of the best ways to prevent podfade is by creating a strategy for your show and this will include every single factor that you have to think of.
It starts with having a realistic publishing schedule. You don’t always have to publish weekly episodes, you can choose fortnightly or even monthly episodes. Stick with what works for you and be committed to it.
Next, make sure that you have enough content. Narrow down broad topics. This guarantees a proper sequence and will not leave your listeners confused.
It’s also an advantage to record episodes ahead of their publishing dates. This lessens your workload, and it gives you more time to think about what can be improved or changed in the episode.
Lastly, you need to learn everything about your podcast editing software. This makes you more efficient with editing and eventually makes the entire process a lot easier.
Podcasting is definitely something that I enjoy doing but the amount of work and commitment I give it is not something I take lightly.
I wake up every day, and I choose to do better in my craft, and that is how I survive the podfade.
Resources:
https://www.gmrtranscription.com/blog/what-is-podfade-how-to-avoid-it
