In business, your aim should always be to devise new ways to satisfy your customers and inspire their trust. Wheryoeur written contents fail to reach, your voice is bound to crash barriers and deliver. Statistically, over 42 million US citizens listen to podcasts every week. This medium of content delivery is excellent since potential listeners don’t have to stress themselves reading through any text online. You will be able to humanize your business through a podcast. In other words, you give your business a voice that will be identified by your target market. Through a podcast, you create a connection that might never be severed. When you offer different ways in which your customers can get your content, it opens new doors. If you want to grow to an incredible height and also establish yourself as an authority, a podcast is a way to go. It is an alternative that you can use to drive insane traffic and increase your domain’s authority. Before you delve into how you can effectively harness the power of podcasting, a little intro on what a podcast it won’t hurt.
What Is A Podcast?A podcast is an audio recording on the internet that you can listen to while you carry out your daily activities. It is one of the media of content delivery where your audience won’t have to pay rapt attention like a video or blog post. Fortunately, podcasting is now in high demand as more people are moving over to audio than text or video. The potentials that lie within podcasting is tremendous. The market is rising every year, and that is a sign for every business person that it is worth exploring. In this article, you’re going to learn everything about podcasting, the types of podcasting, hosting tips, things needed to start a podcast, editing, and much more. With this guide, you’ll get what it takes to make a podcast that converts.
Types Of Podcast
Podcasting comes in various forms, depending on their purpose. In this section, you’re going to learn the different types and the ones suitable for your business.
1. The interviewJust as the name implies, this is the type of podcast where one or two hosts interview some guests on a specific topic. This type of podcasting is straightforward and doesn’t require a lot of technical groundwork. However, the host has to do thorough research about the interviewee, the questions to ask, and much more. Furthermore, your podcast will come out as mediocre if you don’t have the necessary interviewing skills or the consistency to keep delivering more exciting and engaging content to your listeners. If you’re in the eCommerce business, you can interview experts in the industry. It would be beneficial to your listeners in the eCommerce business.
2. The Solo PodcastIf you’re thinking of starting a podcast, you’re more likely to start solo. It is one of the most comfortable content to make and only requires your voice. In other words, you’re the showrunner. The content of the podcast could be a popular opinion, a question and answer series, or news-related. It all depends on your niche and what you want to impact on your listeners.
3. The Multi-Host podcastIt is the type of podcast that has more than one host. It is often a dynamic podcast since it brings fresh and diverse perceptive to its listeners. If you’ve been looking for a way to start a podcast with a partner, this might be it. This type of podcast comes in the form of conversation, debate, which is what appeals to lots of people. With this type of podcast, you’re relieved of pressure. You don’t need to worry about keeping them engaged when there is more than one mouth in the mic.
What To Know About Podcast Hosting
Although there are many players in the podcast industry, that doesn’t mean you’re late. All you need to do is offer value and uniqueness. With that, you can create an audience that loves and respect you. You’re never too late to the market. What determines how far you’ll go is your content. If you can start a podcast that vibrates in par with your audience, you’re on the part to winning. Although it is not competition-free, which even makes it more intriguing, in that case, you need careful planning and preparation in each episode of your podcast. You mustn’t be lazy; you have to deliver top-notch content to capture your listener’s heart and keep them coming for more.
1. Start boldlyStarting a podcast by testing your mic can be very encouraging, but some listeners might find that pretty annoying. Start bold, even if you have to fake it. If you’re going to be releasing new episodes every week, consider setting expectations. It will ensure you stay on track. An excellent tip that helps you start on the right footing is introducing a guest in your beginning or including sections like the ‘ask me anything’ or top trends.’ In each section, break them down using a transition. It will help the listener to follow the discussion without getting lost. One of the benefits of using transitions is that it helps your listeners to skip to their favorite quickly. That way, they get what they are looking for within a short time.
2. Idea Time, Frequency And DurationHere is where many people come with their diverse opinion. While most prefer to publish once a week, others prefer once a month or twice a week. It all depends on what works for you and your audience. Most of the top podcasters are fond of posting once a week, with a podcast duration of 22-minutes. According to a study, the average listener stays engaged not less than 22-minutes. Lastly, the ideal day to post a podcast is Tuesday and Wednesday. The most popular day, however, is Wednesday.
3. Find your nicheOne of the common mistakes prospective podcasters make is trying to cover every sphere. The fact is, you’ll be disoriented and unfocused. The key is recognizing a particular group and striving to meet their needs. That is where niche comes in. Which subject do you know very well? If you are knowledgeable about eCommerce business, then podcasting is going to be a voice you can use. As you progress, you will build a following of people that worship you.
4. Don’t Be Too SeriousRelax, be prepared to have fun. You don’t always have to sound so professional and robotic during your podcast. Jokes don’t hurt, and laughing loudly on the microphone helps to elevate the mood of your listeners. One of the best ways to make this happen is usually through interviews or more than one host podcast. That way, the conversation flows flawlessly without appearing forced. The more time you have to prepare for a podcast, to research on your interviewee, the better it will turn out.
Equipment Needed To Start A PodcastwaIn this section, you’re going to learn about the numerous tools and softre you can use to start podcasting. Most of them are expensive; some aren’t. The aim is to discover one that suits your budget. Perhaps, later on, you can upgrade to something better.
1. MicrophoneThere are numerous USB microphones on amazon that you can order. You can easily attach it to your computer system and do your recording. However, there are hundreds of them, with their unique qualities, functions, and price. A high-quality microphone will be expensive, but it ensures your voice comes out great and appealing.
2. Pop FilterIt is a piece of equipment that prevents the clicking noises your mouth makes during recording. Sometimes, this is what distinguishes a professional and newbie podcaster. If you can eliminate that annoying clicking, you will be improving your audio quality a hundredfold.
3. Handy portable recorderApart from your laptop, having an external device where you can record is very helpful. It comes with numerous benefits, especially in cases of data loss if your computer crashes. Sometimes, you might get struck with an idea. You can’t always carry your laptop with you; this is where this device comes in handy.
4. Stereo HeadphonesEver listened to a podcast only to hear echoes whenever the character speak? That may not be sound effects, but an actual echo. They are pretty annoying and deters listeners from paying attention. With a stereo headphone, you eliminate every form of redundancy in the background.
5. Editing SoftwareThere are many podcast software that you can use. One of them is Audacity, GarageBand, and Adobe Audition. You can use this software either on mac or PC. When trying to decide the best editing software, consider the user experience, and how easy it is to master in a few days.
How To Source For Music, Effects For Intros And OutrosFor new podcasters, they often wonder how they are going to source their music and sound effects. Well, it isn’t technical. Today, there are lots of websites dedicated to providing royalty-free sounds and effects. They have both the paid and free packages and are very legal to download and use. One of these free websites is Wistia Music Collection. For paid packages, Pond5 makes a list.
How To Start A Podcast
When you have all the required equipment, and it’s time to start production, the first thing needed is an idea. You need to decide on what you want to discuss and prepare adequately. Proper research on the topic of choice will always resonate well with your audience. If your business idea is to start a Shopify store, then you might have to start talking about how to create a Shopify store, tips, and tricks.
Podcast ArtworkNew players often make this mistake. You need to create beautiful cover art for your podcast. Remember, the first impression matters a lot. It is true, especially to new listeners. Make sure you use images and fonts that will be clear, no matter the device or screen size. If you can’t handle your cover art. Consider hiring a freelance graphic designer on Fiverr or Upwork.
Podcast NameConsider your podcast as a book. It needs a great title or name. Apart from the cover art, the next thing potential listeners look out for is the name. It determines what the podcast is all about. Take, for example; the podcast is about starting a dropshipping business. The podcast name could be something like “Dropshipping using Shopify.” By this name, listeners will know what the podcast is all about.
HostnameIt refers to the name of your business or your name. It helps to build a brand and also expand your visibility. When you include a few more keywords, you might discover yourself ranking considerably in iTunes or Spotify.
Podcast DescriptionIn your description, try as much as you can to include all the relevant keywords necessary. By using the right keywords in your description, you will be able to help potential listeners find your content easily. Majority of people that will discover your content will do so through search engines like iTunes and Spotify. Pay attention to keywords in your description, and you’ll be fine.
Podcast Category Or Subcategory
In iTunes and Spotify, there are numerous categories and subcategories. From art to entrepreneurship. The aim is to select a group that matches your content. If perhaps you find it hard choosing a group, take a look at a similar podcast. It will give you an idea
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