What actually is a Podcast?
It’s a digital audio file you can download or stream, part of a series of files with the same subject. The word Podcast is derived by combining two words i.e. iPod and broadcasting, does it ring a bell somewhere in your brain right now?
If you are thinking that podcasts are as good as listening to something on your computer’s on digital audio players than you are right.
Nowadays podcasts are so popular because it’s an easy way to choose what information you want to consume. Usually, with traditional radio, you cannot pause when your car is passing through a noisy area or some secluded area where there is no radio connectivity and you cannot replay a sentence if you missed it. And sometimes the content you’re interested in is to niche to be “radio-worthy.”
Podcasts solve all of those problems. Downloadable and streamable through free apps and websites, listeners can pick and choose any genre they want to listen to and even subscribe to it. It’s similar to picking a TV show or a movie on Netflix, except it’s completely free.
Why people choose to start their own podcasts :
Easier than writing
In writing you write, edit, rewrite and it goes on and on as you need to have proper grammar, sentences and paragraphs. But that’s not a case in podcasts.
People here are much more forgiving of little grammatical mistakes in your speech than they would be in your writing. As people, we are accustomed to hearing others talk. It’s how we interact and engage with people in our lives. Don’t you think that it’s much easier to tell a story through talking than writing
Great way to get your personality across
One of the best ways to let your audience experience you is to let them listen to you talk and tell stories. That way they get to hear the influences and tones in your voice that they wouldn’t get through a blog post or an email cause charisma and charm are so important for building your followers and influencers.
Cheap
There’s no denying that there are lots of great ways to tell a story. But in the business world, they’re often very expensive. Podcasts solve that problem because all you need is a small one-time investment in equipment. There are lots of cheaper and reliable alternatives to building a recording studio.
Resources : Headphones, Microphones, Podcasting Platforms.
Free software can help you achieve the same results as the radio show pros.
Podcast’s Structure
Here is a typical structure:
Intro music:
This will become a part of your brand. It’s not the most important part of your podcast, but it can cue your listeners to prepare themselves for the upcoming content. All popular podcasts have a distinctive theme that sticks with their fans.
Introduction:
There are a number of ways to do this. Podcasts with scripted stories will start by recapping the previous episode. Other types of podcasts will introduce the content you’re going to cover or describe the guest you’ll be interviewing on your podcast.
Clips & Resources:
This is the main part of each podcast episode. This is where a story unfolds and where interviews happen. If you are conducting an interview as if you have a live audience, it will be easy to edit it in your final product.
It’s also good to mention resources that will be helpful to listeners. Remember that providing value should be your number one priority. Without value, your audience will keep dropping off.
Conclusion:
This is where the podcast ends either by talking about what’s to come or wrapping up everything you’ve addressed in this episode. Also, include a call-to-action. It doesn’t have to be anything demanding, it could be as simple as checking out some resources you’ve mentioned during the episode that is posted in the description.
Outro music:
We recommend the same musical theme from your intro. Keep it simple and consistent for your audience.
Step By Step Guide on How to Start a Podcast in 2019
Step 1: Get an Idea
Before we start tackling questions about podcast planning, preparation, name, format, length and launching you need to ask yourself Why are you starting a podcast?
and
What is my podcast about?
Once you have answered the why and what for your podcast, the rest of the concept will fall into place.
- Why are you starting a podcast?
- What is your podcast about?
- What is your podcast’s name?
- How will you know if your podcast is successful?
Step 2: Planning
For any task to be performed the initial stage is planning. Plan your podcast properly, jot down the points in your diary or notebook for easy outflow.
Narrow your topic
There are tons of podcasts out there on the internet. Similar to blogs, even a podcast needs to be up to the point. The best part of the podcast is that you can publish it in parts like episodes. So why not take advantage of this and choose a topic where you can speak for an endless amount of time say for 100+ episodes of around 15 to 20 minutes each episode.
But remember that the topic you narrow down should be interesting and trendy. Doesn’t it sound crazy that people would listen you speak of something you are fond of?
Choose your Podcast Format
Some podcasts just have a single host, others are scripted stories, and others feature in-depth interviews. The most important thing to remember is that the format should fit what your podcast is about and be a format you’re comfortable with.
What is the format of your podcast?
- Interview
- Solo Commentary
- Scripted Storytelling (i.e. Fiction or Non-fiction)
- Approximately how long will each episode be?
- How often will you publish new episodes?
- Daily
- 2 episodes a week
- 1 episode a week
- 1 episode very two-weeks
Pick a Co-host (Optional)
Do you want to co-host your podcast with a friend, acquaintance, business partner or someone already in this filed? Feel free to do that. If you have a co-host, podcasting becomes fun and intractable. Additionally co-hosting will give you additional listeners and promoting it would become easier.
This can even help you to make an engaging conversation if you and your co-host both share the same point of views on the topic.
Choose an Appropriate Name
It’s the most important step because if you consider the internet users worldwide they click on something if it has a catchy name. So while naming your podcast remember to have an interestingly catchy name.
Get a Domain
Don’t you think domain will play an important role in your promotion and attracting listener?
Yes, so you need to choose a good domain to attract more people for your podcast.
Step 3: Preparation
Now when you have narrowed down to your topic, selected a name and domain to start, you will need the following for your podcast launching:
Create Cover Art
An impression of any product is created by its looks. So why not create your podcast’s first impression by adding a cover art. Attractive cover art can bring more internet users to listen to your podcasts.
Start with Professional Introduction
Get a proper professional introduction for your podcast. Introducing yourself and your topic for the first 40 to 60 seconds, will help the listeners connect to you easily and if your intro sounds good, more people will reach out to you.
Choose Intro Music
To make your podcast more interesting, professional and impressive, add a piece of intro music to it. You can create your own unique music to stand out and give a professional impression.
A podcast is all about a good voiceover and that can be only recorded using a microphone. Any microphone will work for recording your podcast, but listeners can usually tell the difference between low and high-quality microphones. Hence invest in good microphone for better results.
Step 4: Recording & Editing
There are many programs available for recording and editing. Use a well-developed and well-known podcast recording application or software for your podcast. Popular options are Adobe Audition, Garage Band and Audacity.
Create a Template
One of the biggest mistakes new podcasters make is that they tend to ramble. The best way to fight this tendency is to create a podcast template which you can reuse every time you record.
You don’t have to write your podcast verbatim, but taking 15 minutes to sketch out an episode with bullet points will lead to a dramatic improvement. What this means is that you will have your intro & outro music already placed, space for ad spots, as well as your tracks for your voice or an interviewee.
Choose a place to record
Try to find a room with few reflective surfaces or lots of material that can absorb or diffuse the sound: furniture, carpeting or even a closet full of clothes can help. This means that for a lot of podcasters, the best place to record is in their walk-in closet.
Record your Episode
Make sure that you record your episode appropriately. Once you press the start recording button on your software, using microphone start speaking your topic.
Emphasis on your voice, voice pitch, pronunciation and speak clearly and in a language which people will understand. Take pauses at correct places.
Edit your Episode
Once everything is recorded, you’re on to the editing phase, edit it so that it seems more professional for the one listening to it. Keep in mind that everyone’s voice is different so there aren’t perfectly universal settings in any recording software, but you can get a good start by:
Select the track you want to work with i.e. to have your podcast theme ready
- Mix your episode
- Click an empty space in the Plug-ins box
- Add compression by going to Dynamics
- Add EQ
- Export your edited episode
- Optimise your episode
- Finalize your track for launching
Step 5: Launch
- Get an excellent Host for launching your podcast.
- Choose your launching date.
- Upload your First Episode.
- Share your podcast with family and friends.
- Keep uploading other episodes from time to time.
- Prompt your podcast at all your social media handle.
That’s all for your new start. Let us take you through a quick checklist for your podcast’s content writing. You can follow this checklist to plan the content for your podcast episode.
You’ll have a beginning, middle, and end to each episode. In each section, you’ll talk about some specific items. Each item has questions that can guide you to consider some important aspects as you plan.
BEGINNING: Introduction
1. Name problem you will solve
- What has your audience been talking about lately?
- What in the news will affect your audience and what are some of the problems that will come from the change?
2. People who are affected by this problem
- Why is it important that they’re affected?
- How story from previous experiences can you share to make the problem seem more real and relatable?
MIDDLE: Solution
1. Solutions to the problem
- What are the pros and cons of the solution?
- Which solution is the easiest and best to implement?
- Think the highest impact and lowest cost.
END: Conclusion
1. Restate the importance of the problem
- How can you quickly sum up the problem and its significance in 1 to 2 sentences?
2. Example of implementing a solution
- What are the steps to the chosen solution?
- How can someone easily implement that solution?
3. Paint picture of success
- What does success look like?
- What will listeners feel when they find they are successful?
- What can they do right now to get started on the path of success?
Finally, as exciting as it is to finally get your podcast out there for everyone to hear, consider waiting to submit your podcast until you already have few episodes with you. Submitting only one episode can leave a lot to be desired for those that stumble upon your show.
It’s also less likely that you’ll be featured or promoted as something new and noteworthy. To avoid this, record at least five to six podcast before launching your first episode.
If you have any doubt, recommendations, suggestions and comments please do comment below in the comments section.
Thank you and Good luck with your podcast!
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