This week, I’m going to show you how to start your very own podcast. I'm sure I don’t need me to explain exactly what a podcast is, but on the off chance you need a refresher, a podcast is basically a digital on-demand radio show that you can listen to anywhere that you have an internet connection.
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I absolutely love podcasts, for a number of reasons: you can download them and listen to them on any device capable of playing music; you have thousands of unique and interesting shows to pick from; you can download multiple episodes at a time; and, if you have the right player, you can even speed them up to pack-in more podcasts in than there is time to listen to!
And I especially love them because anyone with an idea and an internet connection can get started for an extremely low setup cost.
I loved podcasts so much that I decided to join the QDT team almost three years ago...and 141 episodes later, here we are!
With that, let’s dive in, so you can get started on your own podcast.
Content
First, let’s get the basics down, and figure out how you want your series of podcasts to unfold. If you want to have a random wacky show about all the stuff you do, split each wacky thing into one episode, so that it’s easier for the listener to digest. If you have a specific overall topic or theme you’d like to cover for your podcast, be sure to come up with a bunch of different ideas, and create an outline.
Now, while you can create just a single episode as your entire podcast, I generally find that most listeners like to have a regular show at a given interval; whether this is once a week or once a month, it’s important to be consistent. In fact, I would recommend recording at least 5 complete podcasts in advance, and releasing them on a regular schedule. This will give your listeners a set routine, and will give you time to deal with any hiccups that might come up.
It’s also extremely important that you love whatever it is you are podcasting about. Enthusiasm is infectious, and your listeners will definitely pick up on it if you don’t love whatever it is your subject is.
You can come up with your content on the fly, but I always find it much easier to script out what I’m going to say ahead of time. Then if I want to deviate, I can at any point, but having a script keeps me on track. Just be sure to write your script how you actually talk, and be sure to add lots of inflection in your voice so that you can avoid being monotone!
Equipment
Now that we’ve covered the content of your podcast, let’s go over the equipment and the software that you’ll need. Luckily, podcasting does not cost a lot to get in on the ground floor. At the bare minimum, I’ve seen podcasters use an iPhone to record their sound--and free software to edit it!
I personally have a Blue Snowball microphone, which connects to my laptop via USB. I love this microphone because it instantly installs itself and records audio extremely well. I’ve been using mine for almost three years. and it's done wonders.
Next up is the computer software you’ll record onto. There are a lot of products on the market, but one that I really like is called Audacity. It’s free, and pretty user friendly, so if you’re just getting started, I’d use this software until you need something with more features. My favorite thing about this software is that you can record sections one after the other, and cut out the silences and gaps automatically. It even has other features to help clear up any sound defects and normalize any audio that sounds a little funky. Plus, you can import almost any other sound file into it to add to your podcast!
Your Studio
This leads to the environment that you record in. It’s really important to record your podcast somewhere that’s free of lots of outside noise, and that has little-to-no echo. In the first hundred episodes of this podcast, I would record in a walk-in closet, surrounded by clothes on 3 sides. This was perfect, because all of the clothes and carpeting in the closet absorbed all the outside sound, and dampened any echo.
After I moved, I found some foam at a craft store and lined my closet with it to produce the same effect of absorption. In a pinch, I’ve even recorded under a few heavy blankets in a hotel room, which acted as a great sound buffer. In fact, a friend of mine would record most of his music under a large quilt, because it could dampen sound so well!
Sharing Your Podcast
So now you have your first recording saved to mp3. How the heck do you get it on the internet, and to people’s devices?!
Well, it’s not as hard as you might think. If you’re starting out, and are expecting an audience of a couple hundred or less, I would check out PodOmatic.com. They make the process of adding album art and tags to your podcast pretty painless, so that they show up in iTunes and many other popular Podcast apps. They completely walk you through the process of their website for free--and if your show explodes, you can always upgrade to a pro account.
If you want to do it yourself, you can buy a hosting plan from somewhere like Bluehost.com, and host the files on the internet yourself. From there, you would create a RSS 2.0 feed and submit it to Apple. I’ve posted a link to Apple’s requirements for podcast RSS feeds. It’s a pretty lengthy read, so if you’re just looking to get your feet wet, I’d suggest trying out PodOmatic.com first.
After you’ve taken care of this, you’re past the hardest part! Now, you just need to come up with great content on a regular schedule, and start promoting your podcast to friends, family, and anyone else you think would enjoy it. Frequently ask for feedback--and always talk about the things you love!
Well, that’s it for today! Be sure to check out all my earlier episodes at techtalker.quickanddirtytips.com. And if you have further questions about this podcast, or want to make a suggestion for a future episode, post them on http://ift.tt/1xcMcmP.
Until next time, I’m the Tech Talker, keeping technology simple!
Photos of podcast graphic and woman with headphones courtesy of Shutterstock.
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