Creating a podcast may seem like a difficult task, but when following the proper steps it is actually fairly simple to create a podcast.
A podcast is an audio recording, much like a radio show. There are generally periodic episodes released, although the length of each and the frequency vary quite a bit. Though podcasts might not be as popular as they once were, it it still a fairly common form of content creation.
This post will only touch on the content, length or frequency of the podcast issues. Some of the decisions might be influenced by the intended distribution method for your podcast. Please contact us if you have additional questions in these areas.
Software
The first step to take is to decide how the podcast will be recorded.
A few main components are required:
- A device to record on such as a computer or mobile phone.
- Recording software
- External components such as a microphone.
Decide which device the podcast will be recorded on.
Try out the quality of the recording on your device. While it is possible to record on a mobile phone, that may not be the quality that you are looking for. It is also easy to record on one device and edit on another.
The software that is available to create and edit recordings will also vary by device.
A few good free programs available to record and edit audio are:
- Audacity – web based, available on all devices
- Wavepad – Apple computers only
- GarageBand – All Apple devices only
If the podcast includes interviews, or has a video aspect to it, perhaps for posting on other sites, good programs to record with are:
- Zoom – available on all devices (Free under 40 minutes)
- Squadcast – web based, available on all devices (Paid)
- Riverside Fm – web based, available on all devices (Paid)
Equipment
Next, determine whether or not peripheral devices will be used, the main two being microphones and cameras.
There are two main types of microphones, dynamic and condenser.
Dynamic microphones pick up less background noise and are better for voice recording.
Condenser microphones are more sensitive and a higher output level, typically better for music recording.
The microphone can connect via cable to the recording device, or by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth wirelessly. A cabled microphone is recommended as it will eliminate lag and connection issues.
XLR cables are a type that audio professionals use. This cable provides very balanced audio. The issue is they require a recording interface to plug into a computer, and are more expensive.
To compare different wired microphones (USB and XLR) at a more technical level, check out this article.
Recording and editing a test track is important to determine if any settings need to be tweaked before doing the entire recording.
Once the final audio has been edited, the user must then export the audio into the proper format for uploading.
Content and Format
It is important to have a clear vision, and a clear goal when coming up with an idea for a podcast. Content should be engaging and fresh. As attention spans grow shorter, so does the playtime of podcasts.
Keeping content and formatting consistent across episodes is also key. This should be prioritized to retain engagement. This does not mean each podcast must maintain the same exact subject, but generally it is good to not stray too far from the original idea.
The desired podcast length depends on your audience. Simple human interest podcasts might be 15 – 30 minutes. Documentary, serious topics might be 90 minutes. Look at other successful podcasts in the style you will be providing.
Create a consistent intro and outro to give the podcast a consistent feel.
Find or create eye-catching, interesting artwork so that people are drawn to your podcast among all of their choices..
Some styles of podcasts are:
- Interviews
- Story Telling – Fiction and Non Fiction
- News and Education
- Co-hosted Variety Show
- Genre Based – True Crime, Horror, Uplifting etc.
Major Platforms for Publishing
There are plenty of places to publish a podcast. Here is a good article for evaluating your choices. Some of the main ones are:
- Apple Music
- Spotify
- Google Podcasts
- Iheart Radio
- Youtube (Video Podcast Shows)
- YouTube Music
Uploading on multiple platforms might be good for exposure, but will be more work. To begin it will be easier to drive your audience to a single platform, but if you are hoping for users to find your podcast by themselves, you will want to be one the biggest platforms.
Each platform requires the person uploading to follow a certain order of steps, inputting the corresponding information. This will vary by platform.
Each platform will also have certain acceptable use guidelines. Make sure to follow them. We are happy to help with this process.
Following these steps, one can create a podcast with relative ease!
If you have specific questions about creating a podcast, or if our terminology isn’t clear, please use our contact form to send us a message. Thank you!