Over the past year, the number of podcast listeners in America has increased to 70 million. If you've been thinking about starting an audio blog, it's worth starting now before the niches are overwhelmed by competitors. In this article, we have collected tips for beginners on how to record a podcast and publish it on popular sites. You can use them or start here creating your own podcast with the pros.
WHAT IS A PODCAST?
First, let's figure out what podcasts are, and why they are needed. A podcast is an audio broadcast posted on the Internet on special streaming services. You can compare it with the radio broadcast. It is convenient, as you can listen to it while walking, in the car, while doing household chores. It does not require as much attention as a blog post or video.
Many bloggers prefer this content format because it is easy to create. There’s no need to record and edit videos, no need to have a talent for writing. All you need is a microphone (or a voice recorder on your smartphone) and a program in which you can make high-quality voice recording.
WHAT IS A PODCAST FOR?
An audioblog is useful for many purposes. Several of its advantages:
The audience understands audio format more easily than articles;You can make money on podcasts with ads or paid subscriptions;An audio format will attract new target audience;You will prove your competence in the chosen niche.
A podcast can be used as a business, or you can use it to promote an existing website or video channel.
SELECTING A NICHE
Before launching, you should think about how to attract the listener. If you already have a YouTube channel or blog, you can simply translate the existing information into audio format. But even if you are creating a completely new channel, you should have a rough understanding of the main topic. This can be any topic and genre: cognitive, children's, literary - whatever. The main thing is that you are well-versed in the chosen niche.
If you're not sure if a topic will be in demand, do some research. Find channels of the same genre in the top 100 on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or any other service. Check out which episodes are the most popular and make yourself a similar list. If you find only 2-3 accounts with the same topic, most likely, the niche is not in demand among listeners.
PODCAST FORMATS
Choosing the right format is important to differentiate yourself from your competitors. Stay on one type of broadcast or alternate between them, depending on the scenario and topic. The most common types:
Interview. A dialogue with a famous person, a conversation in the studio, an audio call or a question-answer session.
Fiction. A genre is something like an audio series where you read or act out some interesting story. A great way to keep a listener for a long time.
Non-fiction. A series of documentary or historical essays.
News review. A story about events in the chosen area or a short review of all daily news.
Educational. Transfer of useful knowledge in an entertaining way. Create podcasts about psychology, teach you to speak English, or tell biographies of famous people - the topics are limited only by your imagination.
Musical. I don't think it's worth describing it. Here https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/01/arts/7-podcasts-for-music-lovers.html?searchResultPosition=5 you can see examples.
SCENARIO AND PLANNING
Whether or not to write a script depends on your speaking ability. Some presenters like to improvise, but this is best left for later when you get comfortable on the air. If you are a beginner, it is only natural that you might lose your mind and stumble while recording. So it's worth making a plan.You don't have to think through the entire monologue in advance. It is enough to write down the main points in a notebook, as well as a rough plan: where to start, what to tell in the middle and how to end the podcast. If you're hosting a free-form show, leave room for improvisation. The only exceptions are educational programs, where it is better to prepare the text of an audio lecture in advance.
If you are wondering how to make podcasts without a budget and is it possible, we hasten to please: it is completely real. If you share useful, interesting information with your listeners, they will not pay special attention to the “imperfect” broadcast quality. Therefore, you can even record audio on your smartphone's voice recorder. This is sufficient for beginners and amateur channels.
If you are planning to do audio broadcasting professionally, you should consider purchasing special equipment. Don't worry - you can easily meet a relatively small amount if you limit yourself to the bare essentials. Later, if your channel succeeds, you can replace the headset.
PODCAST CHANNEL DESIGN
Before launching a podcast, it's worth considering an attractive channel design. This greatly influences future success. Let's consider the main elements of the design.
CoverNameHost name DescriptionMusical theme
POSTING A PODCAST
The final step in creating a podcast is choosing a server and posting on popular resources. The most famous podcast service is Apple Podcast.
