If you’ve already created different forms of written content and you’re looking for another way to reach people, a podcast is the next logical step. A podcast will help you to broaden your reach and connect with your audience on a more intimate level. Hearing you speak is more personal than reading text, and this kind of connection helps you to gain the trust of listeners. You may think that if you aren’t technically minded, you can’t start a podcast, but it isn’t that difficult if you have access to the right tools and resources. Here are five tips to help you through the process of starting your first podcast.
- Plan your content
Your very first step is to decide on the theme of your podcast. You need to choose a theme that will attract listeners and inspire you to create plenty of episodes. Make a list of topics within your theme that you can cover, and list them in a logical order. Podcast subscribers are after real-life stories, case studies, advice and information. You will also need to decide on the length of an episode and how many you intend to create each month. Consistency is essential if you want listeners to stick around, and planning ahead makes this easy. Decide if you want to interview guests and which ones you can ask. Once you have a clear content plan, all you have to focus on is creating and recording your content. Rather than using your own website’s server to load your audio files, you should use a service that offers a more secure, better podcast hosting option. You can find out more about the best podcast hosting sites with some simple online research.
- Think about your branding
The name, description, and cover image of your podcast need to convey your brand. The best names are short, catchy and memorable. Your description appears under your name on the podcast hosting platform and should tell your audience what to expect. You should include relevant keywords so they can easily find it. You can create your own cover image on Canva or get a freelance designer to create a suitable cover image for you. The recommended specifications on iTunes for artwork embedded on your RSS feed is 300 x 300 pixels, either as a JPG or PNG. Keeping your brand image the same across all your channels makes it easier for you to achieve recognition in search results.
- Invest in quality equipment
The quality of your sound really matters if you want to attract and retain podcast listeners. You can use your computer or iPhone mic, but using a good microphone will save you time and effort when it comes to editing.A USB microphone you plug into the USB port of your computer is probably the most affordable and accessible option for you as a beginner. The Blue Yeti mic is a recommended one. A compressor mic offers great quality and is very sensitive to sound, so it can take some time to master using it. A dynamic mic is the type radio presenters often use and works well if you want to interview guests. There are various other pieces of equipment that can improve your recording experience and that you can invest in, such as over-the-ear headphones, pop filters, shock mounts and boom arms.
- Create an outline for your podcast
If you start recording a podcast without an outline, you can easily ramble or go off-topic. You need an introduction, a body and a conclusion. If your podcast is scripted word-for-word, you can come across as too stiff and formal. Rather create bullet points of what you want to cover and in what order you will tackle them. When you first start recording, you will probably feel self-conscious and not even recognize your voice. You will soon get used to it and start showing your personality. Don’t ever be afraid to just be yourself. Being personal is the best way to make a connection with listeners and earn their trust. They will respond to any personal stories you can tell related to your topic and trust you more if you tell them about your own struggles and how you overcame challenges.
- Learn basic audio editing
Learning how to edit audio can be challenging at first, but it is worthwhile if you want control over how the finished recording sounds. There are plenty of free editing tools that work well and also many tutorials that make learning easy. Various different editing tools are available for editing, enhancing and compressing your audio files for the best quality when streaming them online. Before you end a podcast episode, ask listeners to subscribe and leave a review. Podcasts with many good reviews will appear higher in search results than others.