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A few podcasting tips to keep in mind when starting a new podcast

Podcasts are gaining more and more popularity, becoming the new wave of media in the 2020s. In fact, studies show that in the UK  “6.5 million adults or 12% of the adult population use a podcast per week”. So it’s no surprise that more of us want to start our own podcast, hoping to use this medium to get our voice, opinions, jokes or just thoughts out there to millions of potential people worldwide. So let’s take a look at some basic podcasting tips to consider and put into action when starting production on a podcast.

podcasting tips

 

Before you start investing in recording equipment or telling everyone you’re starting a podcast, make sure you have a solid idea and a prepared concept in mind. Once you do, don’t just keep it in mind, research podcasting tips, start writing everything down and planning your podcast production.

Decide on a format: What is the podcast going to look like?

podcasting tipsThe first of our podcasting tips is finding your format. The best way to make your show stand out is by knowing how it should be organised. A podcast with an effective format will seem more cohesive and accessible, which means you’ll have less work on-air! There are many different types of podcast formats, including the interview format, the solo / monologue format, the conversational format which includes at least one co-host, the panel format, fictional or non-fictional storytelling and the repurposed content podcast format.

Of course, you can always combine these or come up with your own completely new way of formatting your podcast. You can find more details on each of these format types on this article.

Then plan your content: What are you going to talk about?

To decide what you’re going to be talking about on your podcast, you need to realise why you’re making it to begin with. Are you trying to tell a story? Educate people? Make them laugh? Once you’ve decided this it will make it easier to plan your topics for each podcast episode and adjust them to your already decided format. Think about what audience you’d like to attract, what demographic you think you can best appeal to and what they would enjoy or find interesting.

You want to be prepared before recording, but not scripted. Listeners will likely be able to tell if you’re reading prepared sentences, so just write down and practice key talking point. Some podcasting tips on finding your niche can be found here.

Decide on the length and frequency of your show.

podcasting tipsNot much is needed to explain this, just decide how long you think you can maintain an audience’s attention for. 15-30 minute seems to be the most successful podcast length, it gives you enough time to get your content across, without anyone getting bored. That length can also be ideal for people in transit, like on public transport or driving, which is when most people listen to podcasts according to studies.

These podcasting tips may seem obvious, but many people might get caught up in the podcasting hype and just assume they’ll come up with something once the microphone is recording.

Pick a name.

This might prove to be more challenging than you expect, so make sure you put some time aside to think about a good name for your podcast. Something unique and catchy, that tells the audience what your podcast is about, without giving everything away. Do some research on podcasts you like to get inspiration from their titles, and look into other podcasting tips about names. This article focuses specifically on this subject.

Create the Cover Art.

podcasting tipsOnce you’ve thought of a name, and already know what the podcast is going to be like in regards to topics, format and general vibe, you can create some cover art. If you don’t feel like you have the skills to do this yourself, ask around, chances are you have a friend who’s good at InDesign, Photoshop or just drawing by hand, who can help you out. Whoever ends up creating the art, needs to keep certain things in mind, such as image dimensions and consistent branding. This is a very helpful guide of podcasting tips, specifically cover art creation.

 

Get the right Recording Equipment.

podcasting tipsAnother one of the more obvious podcasting tips, but there are a surprising number of people who record their podcasts with nothing more than an iPhone. However, if you want your podcast to sound remotely close in quality as those produced by larger organisations then the equipment needed is clear: A good mic and reliable recording software will ensure that what comes out always sounds professional.

This will unavoidable be a financial investment, but it doesn’t mean it needs to break the bank. You can find podcasting microphones for any budget, just make sure you put the research in and spend your money on something worthwhile. Read this article for more details on microphones for different budgets.

Once you have a microphone you’ll also need recording software on your computer. Some you might have heard of are Logic for Mac and Adobe Audition, but if you can’t afford these you can always try out free software like Audacity. You can find a free guide on editing on Audacity here. You can read about other podcasting tips on recoding software here.

Get some Original Music.

As you’ve probably noticed, most podcasts include intro and outro music. Getting a brief, catchy and original piece of music will make your podcast stand out and the tune will play in your listeners’ heads, reminding them of your podcast. Similarly to the cover art, if you can’t create this yourself, ask your musician friends for a favour.

Record an Intro and an Outro.

Write and record an introduction to use on every episode, where you describe what the podcast is, these are typically between 30 and 60 seconds long, although they can be shorter. Then do the same for an outro where you conclude the podcast, promote your social media or website, tell listeners where they can contact you and make sure they come back for more episodes, you might chose to record a different outro for each episode so you can combine it with thanking the guests and mentioning the next episode.

Some other podcasting tips that podcasters mention are recording in a room with a lot of soft fabric, getting a mic shield to reduce ‘echoy’ sounds in the space, recording in short chunks and editing as you go, recording and listening back to an audio test before you start each episode. For more detailed advice you can visit this article by Kevan Lee at Buffer.

More podcasting tips can be found on this Masterclass.

And if you learn better from watching videos:

 

For any podcast recording or audio editing needs you can also contact Nostairway today to discuss how we can help bring your idea to life.

 

As a video production company in London, we often get asked how much it would cost to produce a video ourselves. The truth is, with the right equipment and some know-how, you can save a lot of money by creating your own videos. Of course, there is an initial investment involved in purchasing the necessary equipment.

However, once you have your own set-up, the sky is the limit in terms of what you can create. And if you’re willing to put in the time to learn the ropes, you can start producing high-quality videos that will save you money in the long run. So if you’re looking to create video content on a budget, don’t be afraid to go DIY. With a little effort, you can create professional-grade videos that will help you save money and reach your target audience.