At the beginning of your podcast journey, you will probably not be very good. But as you continue, if you are not gaining the response you want, you may not be improving. This is not the sign to quit, but a reminder to always evaluate your latest work.

A podcast is an audio recording...and a for-the-record recording of the words you said. So make sure the words you say on any podcast are understood in context, and that you are willing to face the consequences of how others interpret those words.

Apple Podcasts is your direct way into the iPhone ecosystem and the directory many other podcatchers use to update their listings. But it may not be the most important home for podcasts for your audience.

Breaking down the inside jokes your older listeners to your podcast enjoy so that your newer listeners can understand them does not make them less funny. It makes your show more inclusive, and less cultist.

Stop trying to keep pace with the big-time podcasters. Run your own race, which is very easy to say and very hard to do.

What metrics are you using to gauge success for your podcasts? Is it really about listener engagement or cash from sponsorships?

As you get started in podcasting, you may think you are talking to yourself, and you just might be. But when do you determine if you are podcasting to a real target audience or just as an excuse for talking to yourself?

Whether podcasting for business or as a hobby, you need to have a handle on your podcast-related spending.

Unless your podcast is just for a proof of concept, you need real people to become listeners of your podcast. That means producing a podcast for real people to listen to.

It is nearly impossible to get someone to subscribe to your podcast by simply saying find it on your favorite podcatcher. Your podcast needs a website home to direct subscribers to the exact locations.