Why Good Audio Is Important

Here’s why it’s essential to have great audio:

#1. Trust

When you have high quality audio, it instills trust in your audience. They immediately know: “oh, this is the real deal.” and the chances that they return are greater. Because they trust that the creator is paying attention to detail, taking the time and energy (and some financial investment) to make something of value.

#2. It’s Pleasing

Professional audio is pleasing to listen to. Take a listen to the sample of The Women by Kristin Hannah as an example of gorgeous, clean, crisp audio. You will hear how there’s a fullness to it, but also a tight intimacy, as if the narrator (the fabulous Julia Whelan) is in your ears only.

#3. It Builds Relationship

You never want to make an audience work. And when the audio doesn’t sound professional, the listener, although unaware of it, is working. It’s not just the distractions in the actual audio file (the background noise, room tone, clicks, pops, distorted vocals, etc.) It’s the listener’s inner monologue going: “Well this is interesting content but damn, I wish the sound wasn’t so shit!”— that’s a distraction as well. This secondary voice, that’s noticing and narrating the podcast’s flaws acts as a barrier between the listener and what you’re trying to communicate. It pulls the audience out of it. When you boost the audio quality, you remove that barrier, at which point the listener is better able to let go and enter into the experience.