Podcasting is not a new and unique concept in the market. In the tradition, we have radio where we hear voices from different sources, and now digitalization might change the platform, but it is the same concept and method to deliver voices to the people on a mass level.
Hearing sound is better than watching a series with long episodes. When you hear a story or any kind of information, your brain reacts more actively. Listening to voices doesn’t harm anything, but watching series and movies can affect your eyes.
What are Podcasts?
A podcast is a program that is available in digital format for download over the internet and listens to online. Here is a collection of a series of digital audio files, and each audio recording is known as a podcast episode. A podcast is the new craziest thing among youngsters, which is also internet sensational.
Lots of people are trying to create podcast audio series to hear their voices from the audiences. But most of them don’t know how to start. In this article, I will let you know how to start a podcast at the very basic.
How does a podcast work?
Podcasting is an accessible medium for listeners. The podcasters are interested in creating their podcast to announce their talent and attract an audience with their voices. In tradition, radio allows for some specific person to use radio jockey but now with the digital podcasting platforms an individual is allowed to self-publish. It uses different platforms such as Spotify, Stitcher, Itunes, Gaana.com, etc.
How to create a podcast
Choose topic
The first and most important of podcasts is to choose an attractive topic to influence your audience. Choose a topic and goals according to your interest and skills. Choose those topics that people will hear and get a high range of traffic on your podcast site. The podcasters create content for various reasons, such as brand awareness, audience engagement, and sharing information. It includes travel podcasts, social issues, conversational topics, interviews, poems and stories, political views, debates, and many more.
Listen to other podcasts on your topic
Hearing other podcasts will give you an idea of how you have to show your talent in front of an audience. Explore the best podcast and observe the average length of an episode, read reviews, and learn more about what kind of content people are interested to hear.
Develop a format
There are numerous types of podcasts including fiction, monologues, nonfiction, talk shows, and interviews. You have to decide how many episodes you want to generate for your first season and for how long each episode will be. It is the most important part because if your podcast is not lengthy as it should be, it never gains popularity and engagement. Make a podcast for 10-15 minutes.
Pick your podcast name
The title of your podcast is relevant to attract an audience to listen to your podcast. Audiences always judge your podcast by reading your podcast title, and then they decide to listen to your podcast or not. So the title must be attractive and cool. For example, if you are interested to launch your podcast for brand awareness, you need to set a title to put the brand name and raise questions. Exciting titles that describe almost the story grab the attention of people.
Write an outline or script for the podcast
While starting your journey as a podcaster, you need to make scripts for what you have to record. It makes it easier for you not to fumble while recording. The script must be attractive and with some instant reactions so you can react in the place where you have to. It makes it engaging and attractive. Consider an intro welcoming your audience and the ending must be with getting feedback and subscriptions.
Collect relevant equipment
While recording a voice, you need a perfect mike to avoid outside voices. Collect the items such as the microphone, pop filter, and headphones. You need software and a recording app to record smooth music and audio. Editing software is important to remove fumble and stammer voices from the recording. You can also add extra voices if you want to such as laughing voices, animals’ voices, and weather sounds. There are several audio editing software available online for free.
Decide a place and modify it to record audio
When you record yourself in a hollow room, the sound vibrates in the recording system. You have to decide on a small place where you can use prompts, not to vibrate voices in the room. Maintain your recording place fully and start recording as you decided. You have your script and a perfect title, so record with a confident and loud voice.
Edit your audio
After recording edit your recordings according to your preferences. Cut out unnecessary content from the recording. Rearrange the content to make the narrative thread of the episode as clear as possible.
Preparation for distribution
If your recording is ready completely, it’s time to upload it. You need to use SEO in your description which performs as digital marketing for you. Create simple cover art with the help of a graphic designer. Save your cover image with the right size 1400X1400 pixels and 3000X300 pixels.
Upload your audio files
We have reached the final step where you have to only upload your audio file with a reliable podcast platform. Podcast hosting platforms store your audio files and bestow you with an RSS feed that links to your podcast, which is used for promotion.
Market your podcast
After uploading your podcasts, you have to promote your podcast on your social media platforms to get traffic. Share your podcasts with the people you know and convince them to share with their known ones. Use your best marketing skills to advertise your podcast and generate money from it.
If you are interested to start a podcast, make sure you will follow all these guidelines, otherwise, this could affect your podcasts. Now go and schedule all of these things to launch your first podcast.