Podcasting can be done by anyone with a cell phone and audio recording app. While podcasting has been around for over 10 years, the number of Americans listening to podcasts has increased significantly in recent years. To be successful, podcasts should develop a plan to target a niche audience, produce high quality and regular content around an interesting topic, and use various strategies to build listenership organically over time. Basic equipment and free or low-cost audio editing software allows anyone to start a podcast with a minimal budget.
3. About the
Podcast
Medium.
Podcasting has been around for over
10 years, yet the medium has seen a resurgence
21 percent of Americans have listened to
podcasts within the last month.
The number of Americans streaming a podcast
increasing from 4% since 2015 and 6% since
2014.
[source: podcast.com]
4. Who Listens to Podcasts?
From BuzzSprout’s “Podcasting 101”
https://www.buzzsprout.com/how-to-make-a-podcast
8. What Makes for
Good Podcast Content?
A topic you are interested in and other people want to hear about.
Having multiple voices on recording sharing different perspectives.
(One person may not be enough to sustain listener’s interest)
A narrative structure; or telling stories through your audio by using SFX
(Radio is a “Theatre of the Mind”)
Enthusiasm and Energy
Regularity (When can people depend on you offering content?)
A reason to listen to future/past episodes
High Quality Audio
9. Podcast Format Types:
Single Narrative (Themed storytelling for an episode)
Multi-Episodic (Great for narrative or news, i.e. “Serial”)
Monologue (Good for reviews, or news briefs)
Interview (Great for subject experts, businesses)
Multiple Hosts (Great for review, feedback, or criticism)
10. Develop a Plan
Who is this Podcast for?
What Target Audience?
Play to Your Strengths.
How and Where will they
Access the Podcast?
Mobile? Web? Gym? Office?
Commute?
What is the Frequency of
Distribution?
Daily? Weekly? Monthly?
Every Fortnight??? (Biweekly)
12. Treat podcasting as a hobby; yet, budget as a business.
For Under $500:
• Wordpress website: $99
• Headphones: $50 (Amazon)
• Olympus VN-5200 $25 (Staples)
• Yeti Blue Mic USB microphone: $129
• TASCAM Digital Recorder: $179.99 (Amazon)
• Microphone with XLR cable: $30 (Guitar Center)
• Garage Band editing software: Free download
• Basic audio editing class (at Arlington Independent Media): $90
• Buzzsprout podcasting service: Free (but can cost from $12 to $24 each month
Develop a Budget
(It’s all about the Benjamins… Dolla Dolla Bills Y’all)
15. Intro/Outro & Voice Over
Get an intro with another person doing the voice over.
It’s good practice to have a transition bit between
segements.
You can find a voice artist on fivver.com.
Same for a podcast “album” cover.
Use rights-free music by doing a search, or using
free tracks in GarageBand.
16. You Can Create an Impact
On People’s Lives in a short while.
18. Interviewing 101
Ask Open-ended questions.
Rehearse your Intro before you tape. Say it in your Sleep; Know when to Wrap-up.
Interview the person before you hit “Record.”
Have your go-to questions planned or scripted ahead.
Find the balance between scripted and conversational.
Use non-verbal feedback for your guest and look at them while you are speaking.
Do Vocal Warmups before recording. Drink water.
19. Types of Microphones
The mic on your record might be enough, but test it!
Samson Q2U USB Mic and headphones (around $60-$70)
Yeti Blue or Blue Snowball ($49)
(Invest in a Pop filter for condenser mic)
iPhone headphones can be used on Skype calls
(recorded with Pamela or Ecamm or )
There are recording apps for your cell phone.
iPhone contains Voice NotesCall Recorder Apps
20. FREE Audio Editing Software
Audacity (PC, Mac, LINUX)
GarageBand (Mac*)
Reaper (PC & Mac)
Adobe Audition (free trial; $19.99/mo)
AVID ProTools (PC & Mac 30 Day trial or $29.99/mo)
This Software is the INDUSTRY STANDARD.
This is a Waveform
21. Basic Post-Production Tips
Create a Template file with Intro/Outro for use
Have a standard format for your Podcast show. Start, Mid, End.
Know Quick Keys to get in a rhythm when editing
Edit out filler words
Create an MP3 for downloads, WAV for broadcast
YouTube has videos where your can learn to edit audio
23. Make sure you are heard.
Make sure audio is loud enough.
But not TOO LOUD. Be consistent with Volume
Normalize the loudness/softness of voices
Listen to your Podcast before uploading it.
Use Levelator (free software)
http://www.conversationsnetwork.org/
levelator
(-16 Lufs is what I use for broadcast)
24. Build Your Listenership
Organically
Use Social Media such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram to promote.
An email introduction is enough to get guests.
Ask your guests to create positive Word of Mouth about your show.
Send an email blast to your friends. Tell them what you are up to.
Bring up your podcast when you’re at parties (but don’t be obnoxious).
Interview your friends. They already like you.
Podcast are a great way to reach out and meet influencers you admire.
Build community. Help each other.
26. Don’t Get Hung Up On These Yet.
These are for people who don’t know about your show or
for landing big Guests who are impressed by this Stuff.
Your Show and WHO YOU ARE should be what drives them to
listen, not a few stars or a review on the iTunes Store or Stitcher.
For now, focus on quality, not Gamifying your broadcast stats.
Metrics are important later (for when you want to sell-out.)
Podcast Rating/Rankings
27. Digital Marketing
If you want to do spend on marketing, consider your
budget and what results you are looking for.
Stat with Facebook or Twitter campaign.
Create a free Google Analytics account for your Website
Consider purchasing AdWords for your podcast.
Podtrac.com has a Free measurement tool.
Podcast analytics PDF http://tinyurl.com/zvm9739
28. Don’t Monetize your Podcast (yet)
Ask people to support you.
Crowdfund your Podcast.
Use Kickstarter or Patreon.
30. —Ira Glass, Host of “This American Life”
All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we
have GOOD TASTE… For the first couple years you make
stuff, it’s just not that good. But it’s like there’s a gap, that
for the first couple years that you’re making stuff, what
you’re making isn’t so good… It’s trying to be good, it has
potential, but it’s not. But your taste…is still killer. A lot of
people never get past this phase, they quit. You’ve just gotta
fight your way through.” And your taste is why your work
disappoints you.
[T]he most important possible thing you
can do is do a lot of work—do a huge
volume of WORK.”
“
31. When you Start Podcasting…
Don’t Judge; Just Keep Going
Learn by doing, and make adjustments as you go.
Listen to a few podcasts or radio shows; take notes.
Use “Beginner’s Mind” to your advantage.
Don’t criticize, condemn, or complain about your work.
(That’s your high-standards of “taste” talking.)
Do a Podcast. Keep doing them. Even if it is a shitty Podcast at first.
Trust in the process; you will get better as you go.
“The First 20 Hours,
How to Learn Anything… Fast”
By Josh Kaufman
$26.95, Portfolio / Penguin
32. If you really want to buy
more stuff…
Sweet Water
Amazon
Guitar Center
Craigslist
Chuck Levin’s
34. WHAT I LISTEN TO and like :)
• The Tim Ferris Show
• Entrepreneur on Fire with John Lee Dumas
• The Unmistakable Creative with Srinivas Rao
• Death, Sex & Money with Anna Sale
• WTF with Marc Maron
• Fresh Air with Terry Gross
• Radiolab with Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich
• The Moth Radio Hour and Podcast
• D.C. Public Library Podcast
