The Quantity Over Quality Argument in Podcasting

I was in a Facebook group and someone said,

“I had this epiphany the other day- podcast popularity comes down to quantity; not quality. Please someone tell me I’m wrong, but it seems those here who claim to have 100,000 DLs also have hundreds of episodes over 2–3 years. That means they’re cranking out something several times per week.”

Podcasting Success Doesn’t Happen Overnight

I like to take out podcasting and put in other creative activities to get a different view.

It seems those here who claim to have 100,000 of points in sports also have hundreds of hours played over 2–3 years.

It seems those here who claim to have their music on the radio also have hundreds of hours spent playing their instrument over 2–3 years.

It seems those here who claim to have their books on the NYT bestseller list also have hundreds of hours spent re-writing their rough drafts over and over for 2–3 years.

Um, yes. Your success will not come at a microwave pace in most cases.

Quantity Over Quality

I disagree with the quantity over quality statement and here is why. If that was the case then every knockoff of Dr. Pepper and Coke that you see (Mountain Hollar instead of Mountain Dew) would dominate sales. I can get a 12 pack for the price of 2, 20 oz bottles of the “real stuff”. Yet when I go to someone’s house they don’t offer me a “Dr. Pibb.” It’s not as good. It is an actual cheap imitation.

Making a Podcast Episode is Easy

Making a podcast is easy. I can burb into my phone and it will be on Apple tomorrow.

Making a good podcast requires:

1. Knowing what your audience needs — clearly

2. Consistency in a schedule (so you become part of their routine).

3. (more important) Consistency in CONTENT. I’d rather have a “late” episode that was amazing than an “on time” episode that was “meh.”

4. Time — According to the book “Beyond Powerful Radio” it typically takes three years to build an audience. When I did my research for my…