5 Website Mistakes That Are Driving Away Your Podcast Listeners (And How to Fix Them)
You’ve got a great podcast. The episodes are solid. The guests are smart. The content? Chef’s kiss. But if your website makes visitors feel confused, lost, or impatient, they’re bouncing before they even hit “Play.”
At Rebel Marketing, we’ve seen too many podcasters sabotage their listener growth with websites that are slow, clunky, or just plain confusing. So in a recent Circle Sessions episode with Brett Johnson of Circle270Media, we broke down the top five website mistakes that could be costing you big time.
If you care about building your audience and turning listeners into loyal fans (and maybe even clients), here’s what to watch for, and what to do instead.
1. Unclear Messaging: What Do You Even Do Here?
We’re going to say it straight: if your website doesn’t tell visitors who you are and how you help within the first few seconds, they’re out.
Unclear messaging happens when:
You’re trying to talk to everyone (so you end up reaching no one)
Your homepage doesn’t answer the “why should I care?” question
Your copy sounds generic, fluffy, or full of industry jargon
Want to fix it? Start by building a messaging guide, just like you’d create a brand guide with your fonts and colors. Your messaging guide should define:
Who your audience is
What problem they have
How you solve it
The tone of voice you use across platforms
Then take that messaging and make sure it shows up especially on your homepage and hero section (that’s the top part of your site people see before scrolling).
Clarity wins every time. Say what you do, who it’s for, and why it matters—right away.
2. Slow Load Times: You’re Not Netflix, You’re a Podcast Website
It takes two seconds. If your site takes longer than that to load, we’re already hitting the back button and moving on.
Here’s what might be slowing you down:
Huge image files (especially uncompressed photos)
Embedded videos that load on page open
Clunky plugins or poorly built themes
Web hosting that just isn’t cutting it
Site speed affects not just your user's experience, but SEO too. Search engines don’t like slow sites, and neither do your listeners.
To fix it:
Compress your images before uploading
Use YouTube or Vimeo embeds that only load when scrolled into view
Run a website speed test (like PageSpeed Insights)
Upgrade your hosting if needed
Speed matters. If your site makes people wait, they won’t stick around.
3. Bad Mobile Experience: If It’s Hard to Tap, They Won’t Listen
Most of your audience is checking out your website on their phone. That means your site needs to feel easy, intuitive, and readable on a small screen.
Common mobile mistakes we see:
Text that’s too small
Buttons that are hard to tap
Graphics with text baked into them (bad for accessibility and impossible to read on mobile)
Elements that require pinching and zooming just to navigate
A good mobile experience is not just responsive, it’s designed with mobile in mind. Your content should naturally reflow without requiring hidden versions or duplicate content hacks. Live text, clean spacing, and thoughtful design will go a long way.
Want to test it? Visit your site from your phone in a parking lot with bad signal. If it still loads fast and looks good, you’re on the right track.
4. Weak Calls to Action: Tell Me What to Do Next
People won’t take action unless you tell them to. And they definitely won’t do it if your CTA is buried in fine print or hidden behind a confusing menu.
Your website should make it ridiculously easy for someone to:
Book a call
Download a lead magnet
Subscribe to your newsletter
Watch an episode
Join your community
How to improve your CTAs:
Put them near the top of your homepage (like, right there in the hero section)
Use big, bold buttons
Keep the copy simple and benefit-focused (“Get the Checklist,” “Start Listening,” “Book a Free Call”)
Repeat the CTA in a few different places without being pushy
And yes, your contact form is not a CTA. Your calendar link is. Eliminate the back and forth. Give people the shortcut to connect with you.
5. Outdated Design: It’s Not 2009, Friend
If your website looks like a middle schooler's MySpace page from back in the day, people are going to assume your content is just as dusty.
We get it—websites are a lot to keep up with. But that doesn’t mean you need a full rebrand every year. Here’s what we recommend:
Do a visual refresh once a year (update images, check for broken links, modernize your layout)
Replace stock images that feel dated (looking at you, flip phone stock photos)
Stick to timeless design choices over trends
Audit your site with fresh eyes or hire someone who will tell you the truth
And whatever you do, don’t copy your competitor’s site just because you like the vibe. Their website might be beautiful but completely and utterly non-functional. Always build your site around your business goals, not someone else’s aesthetic.
Quick Fix Recap: The 5 Website Mistakes
Unclear Messaging: Know your audience, speak their language.
Slow Load Times: Shrink those images and simplify your backend.
Bad Mobile Experience: Design for mobile, not just desktop.
Weak CTAs: Make it easy for people to take action.
Outdated Design: Keep your site fresh and functional.
Your podcast website should not be a digital shrug. It’s your storefront, your pitch deck, your content library, and your call-to-action engine. Make it count.
Want a Better Website Without the Headache?
At Rebel Marketing, we create podcast-friendly websites that aren’t just pretty. They work. They drive traffic. They build community. And they convert browsers into raving fans.
🎙️ Listen to Market Like It’s Hot on YouTube
Stop blending in. Start turning traffic into traction.
