187 The 1 Thing 90% of Podcasters Don't Do That Hurts Their Podcast Authority

Just One Tip from Your Podcast Performance Coach

There's one key practice that I've noticed the majority of podcasters neglect. It's something that puts them at risk of wasting time, sounding like amateurs, and subjecting their listeners to sub-par audio. Can you guess what it is?

Testing. Yes, testing your microphone and system before you hit that record button. It might seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many podcasters skip this step. And the result? Terrible audio that could've easily been avoided.

Believe me, I've had countless clients who complain about their audio sounding bad. And you know what my first question to them is? "Did you test?" It's a question they hate because the answer is almost always "no."

Podcasters often get complacent. Their system worked fine yesterday, last week, an hour ago, so they assume it'll work just fine again. But it's only when they listen back to their recordings that they realize their audio quality is poor. And let me tell you, poor audio hurts your show and your credibility.

Imagine being a master chef, passionately creating a culinary masterpiece. You carefully select the freshest ingredients, measure with precision, and artfully combine flavors. But wait! There's just one problem—you never tasted the dish. Neglecting to test your mic and system is like being that oblivious chef, serving dishes without knowing if they're perfectly seasoned or a disastrous mess.

Now, for all you ambitious podcasters out there using podcasting as a recipe for business success or establishing yourself as the ultimate flavor connoisseur in your niche, this is for you. When your audio quality leaves a bitter taste in your listeners' ears, it's not exactly a recipe for authority.

So, what does a test look like? Good news—it only takes 90 seconds. Heck, it can even take just 30 seconds! Here's what I do (hit play to get more details on each step):

1. Fire up my system and check my settings.

2. Tap my microphone to ensure it's the correct one being recorded. I always wear my big headphones for this, and I recommend you use wired headphones too, not earpods or Bluetooth ones.

3. If I had guests on the show, I would check their microphone levels and make sure they were using the correct mic by doing the tap test.

4. Hit record on my device or platform and record a short test.

5. Listen to that test with headphones! This step ensures I'm solid and not guessing. I pay attention to background noise, crackling on the line, or anything else that might distract my listener.

6. If I need to make any fixes or adjustments, I troubleshoot until it sounds right.

After this quick run-through, I can record with confidence. My show's quality is not at risk, and I know my audience will enjoy a great-sounding show without any effort on their part.

Now, you might be thinking, "Do I really need to test every single time?" The answer is no, but let me remind you why audio testing is crucial. Bad audio is one of the biggest turn-offs for podcast listeners, and they have countless choices when it comes to what they put in their ears. So, don't give them a reason to abandon your show. A simple test every time ensures consistency and efficiency, making your podcast an authority-building machine.

If you've ever wished your show could sound as good as other top podcasts, I'm here to help. I'll listen to just ten seconds of your show and give you three or more actionable tips to enhance your audio quality. The best part? It's free, and I'll even offer you a full 15 minutes to discuss them with me.

Don't put your authority at risk. The quality of your audio speaks volumes about the quality of your work. Let me be your extra set of ears and help you take your podcast to the next level.

Join me in this episode as we delve into the importance of testing and how it can transform your podcasting game. Hit that play button now and let's get started!

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