A content material information for inexperienced persons

If writing isn’t your forte, excellent news: Content material advertising isn’t restricted to written codecs.

Any kind of content material that your viewers can devour, be taught from, and revel in is truthful recreation. And that features podcasts.

Podcasting is a well-liked and fast-growing medium – 79% of Individuals aged 12 and up are aware of podcasting, and 62% have listened to a podcast no less than as soon as.

Podcasts exist for each subject below the solar: motion pictures, music, style, magnificence, information, tradition, gaming, true crime, cooking, psychological well being, books, advertising, the atmosphere, fiction, self-help, training, finance, comedy – and extra.

Regardless of your trade or experience, you may create a podcast about it.

And there’s lots of room for newcomers: Solely about 4 million podcasts exist. Examine that to the variety of blogs – practically 600 million – and also you’ll see that the competitors is way much less stiff.

In different phrases, making a podcast is a brilliant transfer for manufacturers seeking to differentiate and construct belief and authority with their audiences.

Let’s dive deeper into this nice content material kind, together with how you can begin a podcast.

What’s a podcast?

Likelihood is, when you’re studying this, you’ve listened to no less than one podcast previously yr however wish to know extra about them.

To outline it as merely as doable, a podcast is an audio program centered on a particular subject and break up into a number of episodes. Podcasts are pre-recorded, so listeners can obtain or stream episodes at any time by means of their most well-liked podcast channel, like Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Spotify.

Moreover, most podcasts characteristic folks speaking – whether or not they’re folks telling tales, specialists sharing data, or a number interviewing attention-grabbing friends. 

Some podcasts are nothing greater than two folks having a dialog in each episode. Some characteristic one particular person speaking on to the listener. There are even scripted podcasts with a unbroken story like a TV present – however solely dialogue and sound results convey the fictional plot. 

Regardless of the format, podcasts are an audio expertise that connects creators straight with listeners’ ears.

Why begin a podcast?

Anybody can create a podcast – anybody. 

Whether or not your model is tiny or sprawling, the start-up prices are low and the tools wanted is minimal.

Plus, the continued and rising recognition of podcasts signifies that you’ll almost certainly have an viewers on the market who can be concerned about what you produce. 

For instance, 50% of Individuals ages 12-34 take heed to podcasts month-to-month, and 43% of 35-54-year-olds.

All that mentioned, don’t overlook crucial motive to begin a podcast: a extra intimate connection along with your viewers.

Podcast content material permits you to communicate on to them and show your experience in a way more direct means. 

Typically, podcast listeners give extra time and a spotlight to a podcast than a written article. You will have their undivided consideration for half-hour, a stark distinction to the 90 seconds they may spend scanning a weblog submit.

This makes podcasts extra intimate than written content material and should construct belief and model consciousness sooner. Plus, a podcast is a implausible demonstration of E-E-A-T, which provides to your credibility in each the eyes of searchers and search engines like google and yahoo. 

Lastly, when you publish your podcast episodes in your web site with useful present notes or transcriptions, these episodes can rank in search engines like google and yahoo for queries your viewers is trying to find. 

Backside line: Podcasts are nice on your model and nice for search engine optimisation. 

7 finest practices for beginning a podcast

Eager about beginning a podcast? Begin right here.

1. Begin small, then make investments

The second after you resolve to begin a podcast, do not run out and instantly purchase costly tools.

As a substitute, begin small. Use your smartphone and a reasonable microphone to document your first episodes. Check how your podcast is acquired and decide whether or not you may develop it.

If the reply is sure, you may slowly put money into higher recording tools (like a wise microphone that may hone in in your voice and filter out background noise, a headset, and audio enhancing software program), artistic assist (like a sound mixer or editor), and fancy graphics for canopy artwork.

2. Select a subject and format

One of many first duties for making a podcast is to decide on a subject and format. 

• Matter: What is going to your podcast be about? What is going to you cowl?
• Format: How will your podcast be introduced? One host? Two or three? Will you inform tales? Do interviews? Share data? 

The easiest way to uncover your foremost subject and format? Analysis.

Viewers analysis

What do they wish to hear from you? What are they concerned about?

What issues or ache factors have they got that you may tackle in your podcast?

Matter analysis

Discover a broad overarching subject that ties into your experience and overlaps with your enterprise.

If you happen to publish different content material, like blogs, contemplate selecting the identical subject space on your podcast. This offers your podcast cohesion and ties it to your different content material.

You possibly can even repurpose weblog content material for podcast episodes, and vice versa, in the event that they’re thematically and topically linked.

Competitor analysis

Do your rivals have podcasts? What podcasts exist on the market in your subject?

Take a look at what the competitors is doing, how they format episodes, and what data they share. How will you differentiate? 

3. Define or script episodes

Earlier than you leap into recording, you want a tough thought of what you may cowl in every episode and the way you may do it.

Begin by brainstorming subjects for no less than your first 10 episodes. This will provide you with an thought of the mileage you may get out of your podcast subject/theme and show you how to preserve every episode cohesive and related.

(If you happen to wrestle to give you podcast episode subjects after the primary 10, that could be an indication that it’s worthwhile to broaden your theme or tweak it.)

Then, after your first few episode subjects are set, you may write a short define of speaking factors for episode one. You do not have to script each phrase you say (except that helps you!), however you need to give your self a roadmap so you do not get misplaced whereas recording.

Keep in mind, every episode ought to have a foremost subject and a objective connected. You want to give listeners a motive to stick with you. Simply speaking randomly for 20 minutes will not present any worth.

4. Push by means of preliminary discomfort – simply press document

Together with your first episode outlined or scripted, you may press document. 

If you happen to’ve by no means podcasted earlier than, you’ll have a couple of false begins earlier than you get right into a groove. It might really feel unusual or unnatural. 

The most effective factor to do is push by means of and simply get your recording executed. Over time, you may get extra snug. Do not hand over simply because issues did not go completely the primary time you tried. You will get higher at this the extra you do it!

5. Embrace an intro and outro

Nearly all professional-sounding podcasts embody a brief introduction, the place listeners might hear a snippet of music and the host welcoming them to the podcast and introducing the episode subject.

Then, to present listeners a satisfying sense of completion, embody an outro (a.okay.a., conclusion) that mirrors the intro however as a substitute indicators off and units up expectations for the following episode.

These two bookends assist your podcast sound extra polished and arranged, which listeners get pleasure from.

6. Optimize 

Optimizing your podcast offers it the most effective likelihood of being discovered by listeners. There are a couple of key areas to give attention to for optimization:

• Podcast title: Preserve it quick, candy, and related to your model and chosen theme.
• Podcast class: Select the class that most closely fits the content material of your podcast.
• Podcast description: This description is what potential listeners will learn to find what your podcast is about and whether or not they wish to pay attention. Preserve this user-focused and ensure to incorporate related key phrases.
• Podcast cowl artwork: Preserve it easy, clear, and attention-grabbing. Do not attempt to cram an excessive amount of textual content in your cowl artwork. If you happen to can, put money into a graphic designer to create this for you. If you do not have the means for that proper now, strive utilizing templates on Canva.

7. Select a podcast internet hosting platform

Lastly, when it is time to submit your podcast to platforms like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, know that it’s worthwhile to have a separate host on your audio recordsdata first.

Your podcast internet hosting service shops your podcast episodes and generates an RSS feed, which is what you may undergo podcast platforms.

You will solely have to do that as soon as, because the RSS feed ought to replace mechanically while you add new episodes to your host service.

Internet hosting companies to take a look at embody Podbean, Buzzsprout, or Transistor.

5 nice podcast examples

Now that you just perceive the essential steps to beginning a podcast, it is time to get some inspiration.

Listed below are some glorious examples of manufacturers, creatives, journalists, and businesspeople doing this medium justice.

Branded podcast: Inside Dealer Joe’s

Dealer Joe’s is a grocery chain identified for its distinctive merchandise and seasonal gadgets.

On its podcast, hosts go inside shops and behind the scenes to provide the scoop on cult merchandise and the way the corporate works.

Recommendation podcast: Not One other Nervousness Present

Host Kelli Walker is a registered nurse, licensed well being and wellness coach, and former agoraphobe.

This anxiety-focused podcast affords steerage, ideas, and assets for working by means of the dysfunction from Kelli and a myriad of specialists. 

Fictional podcast: Limetown

This fictional podcast tells the story of the unusual disappearance of over 300 folks from a small Tennessee city.

It performs out such as you’re listening to an actual investigative podcast, which makes it much more immersive. This podcast was so well-liked it was changed into a TV present.

Finance podcast: Cash Lady

The Cash Lady podcast is hosted by a private finance and enterprise knowledgeable, Laura D. Adams, who breaks down advanced monetary and small enterprise subjects for listeners, making them enjoyable and straightforward.

Investigative podcast: Within the Darkish

This award-winning podcast options in-depth investigative journalism on true crime tales gone awry. Every season focuses on one case and dives into each element. Because it occurs, the second season was instrumental in serving to free a person from jail. 

Notice: True crime podcasts have exploded in recognition since “Serial” was launched in 2014. The most effective of them are nice examples of storytelling and are value a look for inspiration.

Prepared to begin your podcast?

If by now you are excited to begin your podcast, that is a terrific signal. 

The most effective factor you are able to do is dive in with enthusiasm as a result of that zeal will present up in your finish product.

Any particular person, model, or creator can begin a podcast.

Simply keep in mind to begin small, analysis and plan your subject primarily based on what your viewers would love to listen to, roughly define what you may say in every episode, and take the time to optimize.

Pleased podcasting!