How To Start Recording Your Own Podcast
A podcast is simply a digital audio recording available for download from the internet. It’s similar to a traditional radio show in some ways. For an online business owner, recording your own podcast is an extension of the content on your website.
Recording a podcast is a great way to get information to your audience. They can download it and take your message with them to the gym, listen in the car while traveling, or simply listen on their computer while they chat on Facebook. Podcasting makes your message more personal and tangible to your audience.
Here are 10 tips for recording your own podcast to make it as professional as you can so that you provide your listeners and prospects the best possible experience.
10 Tips For Recording Your Own Podcast
You really can produce a professional-sounding podcast from your home office. You just need to have a good niche, understand your audience, and post podcasts on a regular basis using subject matter that your audience wants to hear.
1. Invest In Good Software
There’s nothing complicated about recording your own podcast. At a basic level, you can use a smartphone to record it on. Applications like Google Play Music, Pocket Casts,Ipadio and AudioBoom record audio directly from your phone. You can then upload it to the internet.
One of the key tips for starting a podcast is to be aware of sound quality. There is software made for podcasting like Audacity. Be careful using software like Skype and Pamela for your podcast because the quality will be affected due to talking over the internet. But, if you do choose to use something like that, ask that your guests are plugged into the internet by USB and not wireless.
FREE Checklist: Podcasting For Beginners2. Use The Right Mic
Purchase a mic that has noise canceling features, and that is high quality. The best mic will be one connected via USB and not cordless, as the latter will mess with the quality of your mic. You want a directional mic that captures sound in front of it and not around it. This will make for a much better quality sound. Ask your guests to also have a good sounding mic if you’re recording them over the internet or by phone.
3. Edit The Final Results
Everyone makes mistakes, so it’s not as if you have to make every answer and every last part of your podcast perfect and whitewashed. But, some editing will need to be done so that everyone sounds professional and long-winded answers can be cut down for time’s sake.
4. Keep The Room Quiet
Yes, you have a life and you’re probably recording your podcast in your bedroom or home office, but you don’t want it to sound like you are. You don’t want to have to take time out to shush a child, or quiet a barking dog. Instead, do what you can to make sure the room stays quiet while you record your show.
5. Practice
When you first start out recording your own podcast it might take some practice. You’ll have get used to the technology, the quiet time in the recording room, and a lot of other things. Take the time to have a few practice shows before you put your show live so that you can become comfortable about how you sound and communicate with your audience.
6. Get A Professional Introduction
Find someone to do a professional voice-over, and make some intro music to take you in and out of commercials. There are plenty of quality freelance websites where you can outsource this task. Some people have music for the end of the show as well. It helps the listener to get ready to listen, and helps let them down easily when the show is over.
7. Sell Advertising
As your show becomes more popular, sell advertising. In the meantime, you might consider giving away some advertising so that people who are listening gets used to ads being in the show. And if anyone who listens wants to place an advertisement, they can hear the type of quality you expect.
8. Invite Rock Star Guests
People love listening to podcasts more if there is a conversation instead of just one person talking. Try to invite guests who are masters of their niche and their businesses. This will rub off onto you by association. Once you start your podcast you’ll be surprised at how many people are open to interviews.
When you interview someone they’re gaining publicity for their business too – so it’s a win/win situation for all involved. To find people, include a section on your website which lets people know that you’re looking for experts to interview. Or simply contact people you’d like to interview directly. As the saying goes – you never know until you ask. If you hang out with those who are doing well, you’ll be seen as someone who is doing well too. Think: Oprah.
9. Be Consistent
Recording your own podcast irregularly is the kiss of death. It’s important that your audience become dependent on hearing your podcast on a certain date and time. It sometimes takes a bit for a good audience to catch on, and if you aren’t regularly posting podcasts you’ll never catch on.
10. Stay on Niche
This can be challenging when you’re recording a podcast because of having to repeatedly come up with subject matter for shows. But, you want anyone who listens to understand who you’re speaking to and not to end up bored due to targeting the wrong audience.
Free Checklist: How To Start Recording Your Own Podcast
A podcast offers on-demand and targeted content that your audience are looking for. It’s free for the listener, can be enjoyed on the go on a smart phone or tablet, and allows you to connect with your audience so much better than text-based media.
The majority of your competitors most likely don’t have a podcast and probably have no idea how to create one. Recording your own podcast gives you a golden opportunity to get one step ahead. Download my Free Checklist, Podcasting For Beginners, that shows you exactly how to setup a podcast to become an authority in your niche, while also building your business and profits.