How To Start A Podcast

First Off… Why Podcast?

The idea of beginning a podcast is one I had been flirtation with for for a while. I delayed it attributable to a stupid plan I had…

 

How may I simply speak for 30-40 minutes?

 

I’m not the type of guy UN agency likes to “shoot the shit” for for a while. I tend to own a giant plan, talk it call at a concise method, then move. ? But, then it occurred to me…

 

If I will do associate hour-long webinar, I ought to be ready to do a podcast simply. And I’ve done webinars. several of them, in fact. And if you’ve ever been with Pine Tree State on a webinar, you will understand that length isn’t extremely a drag. ? If something, I usually find yourself going a touch too long.

 

So, that thought was tossed out the window. And this came right at the time that I had my pal, Pat Flynn, speaking on my track (monetization) at Blogworld in la. And one among the items Pat talked regarding was the massive quantity of individuals UN agency have found his web log via the podcast. I thought, WOW!

 

I conjointly considered it from a promoting perspective. there's plenty of NOISE within the marketplace of late – particularly within the blogging niche. We’re all simply riddled with ADD, therefore obtaining associate audience to concentrate may be a toughie.

 

Well, have confidence it… once you’re listing to a podcast, persistently you’re on headphones. Those speakers area unit straight up against your ear. and also the speaker’s voice goes right into your meatus. that's a high level of bonding for the period of that podcast. As long as what you’re speech communication is useful and valuable, the quantity of relationship that may be fostered via the medium of podcasting is way more than what you'll do with a written web log post.

 

From a promoting perspective, podcasting is true up there with video in terms of relationship power. Sure, podcasting is missing the visual element. However, i feel it makes up for it in terms of FOCUS. many of us hear podcasts faraway from their pc – on associate iPhone, iPod or another player. simply the actual fact that you’re faraway from the pc implies that the main focus level is higher. We’re not competitory with email, Facebook and also the like.

 

Lastly, you’re piggy-backing on a worldwide distribution platform promoted by the world’s Most worthy company – Apple.

 

‘Nuf said. ?

 

Planning The Show

Before you ever begin recording, you would like to arrange things out. you would like to induce a number of these details right from the showtime.

 

The Show Title. you would like one thing that is brandable yet as keyword-rich. Remember, iTunes may be a huge computer programme. once folks area unit looking for podcasts on a subject of interest, what's going to they kind to search out your podcast?

The Show Description. you wish a keyword-rich description of your podcast. A literary paragraph that totally describes the topic matter of your show.

First Few Episodes. plenty of podcasts launch then quickly die when one or 2 episodes. Don’t be one among those folks. Sit down and arrange out a minimum of the primary three episodes of your podcast. I’ll be talking additional regarding this later, however you’re merely making a top level view here.

Podcast brand. Again, brandable. And, on the technical facet, you would like it to be 600×600 in size. plenty of guides say 300×300 which may still work, however recent analysis I’ve done is commencing to show 600×600 spec… in all probability attributable to membrane displays on the iPad.

In my case, I known as my show “The web log Program”. it's short and brandable… and it's the word “blog” in it. the particular title was galvanized by another friend of mine, Clay Collins, UN agency has his video podcast known as The promoting Show.

 

For me, the opposite facet of the “program” plan was that it may lead into a written record coaching sequence if I wished to.

 

Podcasting instrumentality

In the end, a podcast is nothing quite associate MP3 file. So, it isn’t all that sophisticated.

 

One will start with a basic mike. I don’t suggest you utilize the inbuilt mic on your pc as a result of it'll sound distant and… lousy. within the least, use an honest receiver mic or one thing just like the Blue Snowball or Blue abominable snowman. All of those area unit merely USB microphones and these work simply fine.

 

If you would like to require it up to consecutive level, you’ll find yourself obtaining a mixer and a higher mic. employing a mixer permits you to try to to some audio process that produces the language unit higher. It conjointly permits you to combine in alternative sources. for instance, you'll have a second mike routed into the audio stream for a co-host. With the right instrumentality, you'll even herald phone callers and have the phone audio routed into the mixer.

 

I concluded up victimisation the subsequent equipment:

 

Heil P40 mike. A dynamic mike that is taken into account by several to be the gold commonplace for speak. A seriously sensible mike.

Heil PL-2T mic stand. this can be hooked up to my table and permits Pine Tree State to float the mic around effortlessly.

Behringer Xenyx 1002 Mixer. Pretty cheap and quite enough for my wants.

Pop Filter. no matter the mic you utilize, you’ll desire a pop filter. it's merely a cloth cowl over the mike to stop “pop” noises once you say “p” words, etc. simply makes things sound plenty higher.

From the mixer, the audio is routed directly into the pc victimisation the “line in” port on the iMac. Some folks say it's higher to route the audio into a complete audio recorder. But, I’m regarding having a straightforward advancement. The audio sounds fine going right into the pc, therefore that’s what I do.

 

I then record right into Garageband and edit in this.

 

Do you want the precise same instrumentality I use? completely not. In fact, i might suggest that you just don't delay launching your podcast as a result of you're thinking that you wish expensive  stuff to induce going. an honest quality USB mic… piped into Audacity (a free, open supply audio editor) can work simply fine. you'll upgrade your stuff soon.

 

Hosting The Podcast

You’ll be hosting it via your web log. i like to recommend the PowerPress plug-in for WordPress. As for wherever to host your podcast files, i take advantage of and suggest LibSyn. With LibSyn, don’t worry regarding obtaining one among their smartphone packages. All you wish is one among the fundamental hosting accounts. I in person have the $15/month arrange.

 

On WordPress, you’ll wish to own a separate class for your podcast. In my case, I conjointly created a custom class model in order that I may build the “landing page” for the podcast look totally different by incorporating my podcast brand, etc.

 

As you originated PowerPress, it'll offer you associate RSS feed for your podcast. However, i like to recommend that you just set that up to run through Feedburner. make certain that you just modify the special podcast-specific settings on your Feedburner feed. victimisation Feedburner can make sure that your feed is correctly fashioned.

 

So, my advancement for posting the podcast is:

 

Record, edit, export to MP3.

Open the MP3 in ID3 Editor therefore on embrace the podcast brand within the actual MP3 file. This way, once the episode shows abreast of a tool just like the iPhone, it'll show my brand on the screen whereas the episode is enjoying.

Upload the ensuing MP3 to Libsyn. I transfer it just for an on the spot transfer, therefore I don’t use any of Libsyn’s inbuilt business enterprise options.

Create a brand new post in WordPress. Show notes and every one that jazz get into this post. Then, within the PowerPress settings for the post, that’s wherever I enter the information on the MP3 file itself (hosted by Libsyn). make sure the post is classified properly.

The podcast episode is printed a bit like the other web log post. All the syndication (like iTunes) is auto-updated via the podcast RSS feed.

 

For additional Information: verify this extremely in-depth tutorial from geological formation Ravenscraft, the Podcast Answerman. He has associate in-depth video tutorial covering all the technical aspects of podcasting you’d ever wish to grasp.

 

Outlining The Episode(s)

Don’t begin recording associate episode while not a top level view. it's so much too straightforward to induce fully off topic or wander without aim if you don’t have a top level view to travel by.

 

In my case, I define every episode in Evernote. The define covers every phase of the show, yet because the actual content I shall discuss.

 

One factor to think about has a structure to every episode. a method I do that is by having clearly pictured segments. These segments might include:

 

Initial show ID. This comes before any music and is finished to spot the episode and show. Not rather more than that.

Introduction. Any announcements, “thank you’s”, plans, etc. Remember, your podcast audience may be a community of individuals, therefore involve them. build it into a 2-way speech communication the maximum amount as you'll. The introduction may be a nice modification to make that private bit.

Feature phase. this can be the most content of the episode. One piece of recommendation is to own the content be one thing that may be simply followed. In written blogging, list posts frequently work for variety of reasons. a similar mentality are often utilized in podcasting. Lists area unit straightforward to follow as a result of they're sequent. Plus, the person is aware of that a definite variety of things is developing, in order that anticipation will get them to continue paying attention to the tip of your podcast.

Wrap Up. Don’t simply brain-dump on them then put off the mic. you wish a pattern interrupt at finish|the top|the tip} so as to place associate end to the show and build it clear it's currently OVER. this can be a decent time to inform them wherever show notes are going to be (on your blog), raise them to depart a review or post a comment, etc. employing a plug-in like Pretty Link can enable you to form URLs on your web log that area unit easier to mention on a podcast.

So, define your episode with this in mind. And confine mind your target length (in minutes) of your episode. In my case, I plan 30-40 minutes. Some folks inform plan 20-30 minutes. there's no gold commonplace here. it's up to you. But, do take into your account your audience and your subject material.

 

Topic choice

This is important, therefore listen up…

 

A podcast may be a totally different medium than your web log. And, there’s a decent likelihood that you’ll have a unique audience, too. So, there's nothing wrong with covering content that you’ve already talked regarding on your web log before.

 

With that in mind, what area unit a number of the additional well-liked web log posts on your blog? which of them area unit transferral in search traffic? as a result of THERE’S wherever you'll begin obtaining ideas for your initial podcast episodes!

 

Secondly, forever have confidence attractiveness of every episode. {you wish|you would like|you wish} every podcast you record to own a robust headline (aka episode title) so as to draw them in and build them want to concentrate.

 

Then, once they’ve begun listening, you would like to stay them listening. So, the topics have to be compelled to be partaking. Spike their curiosity. build it clear however it interprets to THEM. And, as mentioned antecedently, victimisation the “list post” format in a very podcast works, too.

 

When I launched my podcast, I created some extent to return out with well-liked topics, with engaging headlines. i'll still do that, however it's particularly necessary for your launch therefore on get the audience engaged.

 

Podcast Launch

You’ll initial launch it on your web log solely. Then, once you verify everything is functioning (including RSS feeds), withstand iTunes. maybe i used to be excessively cautious, however the last item I wished was for there to be mistakes when I submitted to iTunes.

 

But, here’s the thing…

 

Once it's printed in iTunes (and you get notification from Apple that it's published), you would like to trigger a rush of downloads and reviews/ratings on the podcast as quickly as you'll. Why? as a result of this can get you into the “New and Noteworthy” section of iTunes – a minimum of for your class.

 

 

This was my goal once I launched… and that i force it off even higher than I had hoped.

 

Now, if you have got associate audience and a listing already, this can be your best resource. once I verified i used to be in iTunes, I emailed my entire list and told them regarding it. and that i straight up ASKED them to rate/review the podcast in iTunes. no person uses iTunes. Some couldn’t understand the way to post a review. however irregardless, enough folks rated it to propel the show into “New and Noteworthy”.

 

Now, what if I didn’t have the audience already?

 

Here’s what you'll do…

 

Do a regular content launch, utilizing your own web log and guest posts. maybe even some videos.

 

If you’re tight enough with connected blogs, see regarding authoring some nice guest posts so raise them to time the discharge of these posts in order that it coincides with the launch of your podcast. within the decision to action at the tip of the guest post, purpose them into your podcast. you would possibly even keep things easy by making a special landing page for your podcast (OptimizePress is nice for this). you would possibly not understand what your iTunes link is nevertheless for your podcast, therefore purpose these guest post readers into a landing page that YOU management, then direct them into the podcast, get them onto your list – no matter.

 

If you'll do a regular unharness of nice content on tightly connected blogs round the launch of your podcast, you'll still trigger it into “New and Noteworthy” although your own audience isn’t giant nevertheless.

 

You want to appear at the launch of your podcast as you'd any product launch. You’ll have to be compelled to pre-plan the promoting campaign before you unharness the primary episode. Build buzz for it. engineered desire-based tension.

 

Then, you trigger it once the time is true. And, since there's no cash dynamic  hands here, your “conversion rate” ought to be pretty sensible. 

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