Launching a podcast is exciting—until it starts to feel overwhelming. If you’ve been tweaking your intro again, testing 20 different music tracks, or stressing over the perfect podcast name, you’re not alone. Many aspiring podcasters unknowingly sabotage their launch before they even hit publish.

But here’s the good news: You don’t need to be perfect to succeed. You just need to recognize the subtle ways you might be holding yourself back—and make a few simple shifts to launch with confidence.

In this post, we’re diving into three of the most common self-sabotaging habits new podcasters fall into (and how to break free from them).

1. Overthinking Every Detail Instead of Just Launching 🎙️

It’s easy to fall into the trap of preparing instead of publishing. Many podcasters spend way too much time obsessing over their podcast name, cover art, intro music, or microphone choice—thinking that everything needs to be perfect before they launch.

🔹 What works: Creating a launch plan, making decisions efficiently, and moving forward.
🔹 What flops: Spending months re-recording your trailer and testing multiple versions of your branding.
💡 Pro Tip: Done is better than perfect. You can always tweak your podcast later. The key is to get your voice out there!

2. Skipping Strategy & Hoping for Growth 📢

Many podcasters assume that once they launch, listeners will just find them—but that’s not how it works. Without a strategy, your podcast will struggle to reach the right audience, and you might lose momentum before you even get started.

🔹 What works: Having a basic marketing plan, knowing your ideal listener, and choosing key launch dates.
🔹 What flops: Uploading episodes with no promotion, no clear messaging, and no distribution plan.
💡 Pro Tip: Even a simple strategy—like sharing teaser clips on social media, optimizing your podcast description with keywords, and setting a consistent posting schedule—can make a huge difference in your growth.

3. Ignoring SEO & Searchability 🔎

If people can’t find your podcast, they can’t listen to it. Yet, so many podcasters don’t optimize their podcast name, episode titles, or descriptions with keywords. Instead, they rely only on social media to drive traffic—which isn’t enough.

🔹 What works: Using keyword-rich titles, optimizing show descriptions, and making sure your podcast is available on all platforms.
🔹 What flops: Naming your show something vague, using episode titles that don’t clearly describe the content, and forgetting to leverage SEO.
💡 Pro Tip: Use tools like Answer The Public and Google Keyword Planner to find what your audience is searching for. Then, include those keywords in your episode titles and descriptions.

Final Thoughts: Launch Your Podcast with Confidence 🚀

Podcasting doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By shifting your mindset from perfect to progress, creating a simple strategy, and leveraging SEO, you’ll set yourself up for success from day one.

Here’s your action plan:
✅ Stop overthinking and just launch.
✅ Map out a basic marketing strategy to grow your audience.
✅ Optimize your podcast title, description, and episode names for searchability.

🎙️ Want more podcasting insights? Join the Podcast Success Vault for expert strategies, step-by-step guidance, and a supportive community to help you grow your show: https://www.voltproductions.co/podcast-success-vault

About Simona Costantini

Simona Costantini is the Founder and CEO of VOLT Productions, a leading podcast production agency with 30+ weekly shows, many ranking in the top 30-100 in their niches. Simona is a dynamic speaker and podcast host known for delivering actionable insights and value. 

She hosts "Happiness Happens" and "As It Relates to Podcasting" and empowers female entrepreneurs in parenting, wellness, and marketing to launch and grow their podcasts. Her mission is to empower creators to make a meaningful impact with their voices, drawing from her 10+ years of marketing and PR experience. When not working, she enjoys life in wine country with her cockapoo, Gus.

Connect with Simona here:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/simona__costantini

• Business Instagram: www.instagram.com/volt.productions 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simona-costantini-25653a30/

• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/SimonaCostantini_/

• Website: www.voltproductions.co