Beware of the Itch to Change
It happens to just about everyone: You’re moving along nicely with your audio project and then all of a sudden you get the itch … that desire … to mix things up and do something a little … different.
Maybe you’re tired of doing the same old thing in your audio recordings and you genuinely just want to experiment for the sake of keeping things fresh, exciting, or new.
Maybe your inner artist likes a little bit of change every now and again to keep things challenging.
Maybe you’ve done everything you can with the current version of your podcast, and it’s time to move on to the next phase of your adventure.
Now pause all those thoughts for a moment and reboot your brain.
Imagine you are listening to your favorite podcast. It releases every Friday. You look forward to listening to it on the way to work and enjoy how all the info is delivered. You also like the two hosts that typically deliver the content. As you’re listening, the hosts announce they are tired of doing the “same old thing,” and they are going to “mix it up” by bringing on a third co-host to share responsibilities. On top of that, the normally 45-minute podcast episodes are going to be edited down into two shorter 15-minute episodes that will release on different days of the week.
Are you feeling annoyed at your favorite podcast yet? You used to be able to just plug-and-play the podcast on the way to work every Friday, and now the episodes aren’t even long enough to survive half of the journey to work.
We’ll go ahead and end our thought experiment.
“Sometimes the things that annoy us as creators are what bring listeners comfort.”
Hopefully you can see what I’m getting at. Sometimes the things that annoy us as creators are what bring listeners comfort. I’ve been on both sides of this coin.
As a podcaster I frequently have the urge to try new things and continually tinker with the audio I produce. It’s fun! I like to try new music or maybe introduce a different editing technique. BUT - I’ve also been on the other end of that decision as a podcast listener. There are shows I no longer listen to that I once followed religiously. What happened? They changed their format - or maybe the host changed. Whatever the cause - the podcast was no longer the original thing that caught my attention - it had become something else. All of the little things that can drive creators into a monotonous pit of despair are what give me comfort as a listener.
As a listener, I like knowing that when I play a podcast, I can anticipate what the format of the show will be. If you mess with that formula - I’m out.
Now keep in mind, my own preferences don’t apply to everyone, but I know for a fact that I’m not alone in my reasoning. So, what do we do with these conflicting agendas: A creator that likes to make new and exciting things, and a listener who enjoys predictable content?
“ … if you do make big changes - it’s always a good idea to give your listeners a heads up … “
At the end of the day, it’s important to remember WHY you are doing your podcast, and WHO your podcast is for. A quick sidenote on that thought can be found HERE. With those two items in mind, that may help you weigh the advantages and disadvantages of potential changes to your podcast. As content creators, we ALWAYS have the ability to change things in our work. Your podcast is yours to do with as you please.
Just remember to consider potential consequences as that creative itch begins to fester …
Will your changes alienate some of your current audience? If so - are you okay with that?
Again - IT’S OKAY TO MAKE CHANGES. Just be realistic about the ramifications. And honestly - depending on what you want to change - there may be zero consequences. For example, changing your podcast’s artwork is less impactful to the habits of your listeners than changing the format of your content.
This is a good time to point out one of the often-overlooked perks of starting a NEW podcast …
When we first start a podcast, most of us don’t have much of an audience. So that means any changes you make, be it artwork, intro music, etc. - will largely go unnoticed as you find your footing. Anonymity can be a thing of beauty!
Lastly, if you do make big changes - it’s always a good idea to give your listeners a heads up before those changes occur, so people can anticipate things accordingly. You can make announcements during the intro/outro of your podcast episodes, social media posts, or even via electronic newsletters.
Changes happen. It’s a natural part of podcasting. But also … familiarity and consistency aren’t always the enemy of creativity.
