How do you know when your podcast episode is ready to publish?

You've recorded your podcast episode, edited it, and added your intro and outro music. But how do you know when it's ready to publish? There's no definitive answer, but there are some steps you can take to ensure your episode meets your quality standards and resonates with your audience. Here are some tips on how to review your podcast episode before you hit the publish button.

1 Listen to your episode

The first step is to listen to your episode as a whole, preferably on different devices and headphones. This will help you catch any audio issues, such as volume, background noise, or distortion. It will also help you evaluate the flow, structure, and content of your episode. Does it sound engaging, clear, and coherent? Does it match your podcast's tone and style? Are there any parts that need to be cut, rearranged, or improved?

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Ioannis Anastassakis

🎧"The Podcast Jedi"🥋|🎤Transforming Business Podcasts into Profits| 3K podcast episodes 📣| CEO @PodLab🎙️| Instructor@Knowcrunch | #1 Amazon best selling Author 📘
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Make sure you listen to the final audio from a few different listening devices. Wired headphones will be quite close to your original mix. However, both phone speakers and Bluetooth headphones have their own way of coloring any sound! Take extra care with Bluetooth headphones, since each manufacturer uses a different way to optimize the sound. No need to get all worried about this, just make sure you listen to a couple of minutes of the episode using each one of the above devices.

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2 Get feedback from others

The second step is to get feedback from others, such as your co-host, producer, editor, or trusted friends. They can offer you a fresh perspective and point out any flaws or strengths that you might have missed. You can ask them specific questions, such as how they felt about the episode, what they learned, what they liked or disliked, and what they would change or keep. You can also use tools like Podchaser or Podcorn to get reviews from other podcasters or listeners.

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Ioannis Anastassakis

🎧"The Podcast Jedi"🥋|🎤Transforming Business Podcasts into Profits| 3K podcast episodes 📣| CEO @PodLab🎙️| Instructor@Knowcrunch | #1 Amazon best selling Author 📘
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It is very easy and even natural to get defensive about the feedback you receive on your podcast. On the other hand, friends will avoid giving honest feedback, to avoid upsetting you. Getting a premium podcast audit by a professional producer is probably your best bet since he/she will give you detailed feedback AND suggest how to fix any problems!

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3 Check your metadata and show notes

The third step is to check your metadata and show notes, which are the information that accompanies your episode on your podcast hosting platform and directories. Your metadata includes your episode title, description, keywords, categories, and artwork. Your show notes include a summary of your episode, links to resources, call to action, and social media handles. You want to make sure your metadata and show notes are accurate, relevant, and optimized for search engines and listeners.

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4 Test your episode on different platforms

The fourth step is to test your episode on different platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Stitcher. You want to make sure your episode plays well on various devices, browsers, and apps. You also want to check how your metadata and show notes appear on different platforms. Are they formatted correctly? Do they display all the information you want? Do they look appealing and professional?

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5 Review your goals and expectations

The fifth step is to review your goals and expectations for your episode. What are you trying to achieve with your episode? Who are you trying to reach? How do you measure your success? You can use tools like Podtrac or Chartable to track your downloads, ratings, reviews, and rankings. You can also use tools like Buzzsprout or Transistor to analyze your audience demographics, behavior, and feedback. You can use this data to evaluate your episode's performance and identify areas of improvement.

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6 Trust your instincts

The final step is to trust your instincts. You've put a lot of time and effort into creating your episode, and you know your podcast better than anyone else. If you feel confident and satisfied with your episode, then it's probably ready to publish. If you feel unsure or unhappy with your episode, then it's probably not ready to publish. Don't let perfectionism or fear stop you from sharing your voice and your message with the world.

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