It’s no secret that podcasts have become one of the most popular forms of media in the last few years. With that in mind, it makes sense that you’re thinking about jumping into the podcasting game. But before you do, there are a few things you should know.
Creating a good podcast involves a lot more than setting up a few mics and rambling with your friends for 2 hours. Let this article serve as a sort of podcasting 101 to get you started.
Here are 4 crucial tips to get you on the path to having a killer podcast.
- Develop a Cool Concept
Before you do absolutely anything else, you need to flesh out your concept. Without an interesting and well-developed format, your podcast will devolve into a mess of uninteresting rambling in no time flat.
Considering the fact that there are tens of thousands of podcasts out there, the chances of coming up with a totally original topic are slim. But that doesn’t mean you can’t put a unique spin on a preexisting subject.
The best approach is to tackle a subject you’re either intimately familiar with or that is novel enough to stand on its own merits. Whether your format is funny or informative, you won’t get far without the rock solid foundation of a great concept.
Bottom line: keep it interesting.
- Invest in Good Equipment
After you’ve laid the groundwork with a solid concept, you’re going to need high-quality equipment. While you shouldn’t go with bargain bin options, you also don’t need to break the bank. There are plenty of options for beginner podcasters on a budget.
Even if your show doesn’t have a co-host, investing in two mics is a good call should you ever decide to bring on a guest or another host. You can get mics that will do the job for the $100 and under range. You can get a good audio interface for a similar price.
As far as software goes, a free program like Garageband will do the trick. It’s free, intuitive, and gets the job done.
- Edit
No one is contending that you’re not brilliant. You may very well be. But even brilliant minds could use an editor sometimes.
Chances are, not everything that comes out of your mouth is going to be pure gold. To keep your podcast tightly formatted and sounding professional, go in afterward and do some edits. Your listeners will thank you for it.
Whether it’s for length, content, or just good taste, a few edits go a long way. Don’t be afraid to get another set of ears on it either, just for good measure. Heck, maybe you can even try out transcription and see how your podcast reads on paper.
- Find a Hosting Site
This is a step a lot of first time podcasters don’t know about. In order to get your podcast on iTunes and similar services, you’ll need to host it somewhere.
Luckily, there are lots of cheap options like Podbean where you can host unlimited amounts of data for free. There’s no need to get into the technicalities here, but if you check out any of the many hosting sites out there, they’ll walk you through the process.
That’s Podcasting 101, but What Now?
You’ve graduated from podcasting 101, but there’s a lot more to it than that. While these steps will get you on right track, sticking with it and growing your listener base is up to you!
If you’re trying to start a great podcast, learning by example is a great jumping off point. Look no further for some great podcasts to learn from!
