Laugh. Learn. Get Inspired!
The definition of a podcast has changed over the years from its origin as an audio broadcast available primarily on iPods (hence the name "pod"cast). Now podcasts can be discovered and consumed in so many ways ranging from simple podcast players, on up to streaming services, and even YOUTUBE!
A podcast is a series of informational or entertaining episodes, focused on a core topic, and released on a semi-fixed schedule.
And podcasts are no longer just audio! Video podcasts are quite popular as well. Which is better? See our section on "Video vs. Audio" to find out!
Consistent Release Schedule - Listeners need to know when to expect your episodes! However, while it always used to be "you must release daily, weekly, or monthly" or risk losing your audience, there is more flexibility today. You can either release on a set schedule, or batch your episodes into "series" and release each series all at once! Just be consistent though.
High-Quality - Your podcast should be high-quality in both content and production. Whether your content is educational, informative, entertaining, or a blend of all three, make sure your content provides value to your audience that exceeds the amount of time they invest in listening/watching. Your audio should be CLEAR, easy-to-listen to, and as free from distracting noises or reverb (echo) as technically possible. Your video (if you have it) should be well-lit, visually attractive, and as free from distracting cuts and shifts as technically possible.
Intimate and Personable - Allow the audience to feel like they know and trust you. Occasionally, slipping in some personal likes, dislikes, habits, etc. allows the audience to better connect to the "human(s)" behind the podcast.
Consistent Format - Your podcast should have a consistent, familiar format. Similar opening and closing phrases, a few standard questions for guests, and even a unique feature or segment all help define your podcast. It doesn't mean you can't have a few formats (like maybe some solo episodes and some with guests), but keep some consistency between each.
Podcasts were initially strictly audio! However, over the last several years video podcasts have become quite popular! So which is right for you?
Audio Podcasts
Pros
Cons
Video Podcasts
Pros
The Audience Can See You: While we at SoloPro have always maintained that audio podcasts are the most "initimate", it is also true that some people need to see you to truly connect. Video podcasts allow that. Also, they give you the ability to demostrate things visually or add charts and graphics to support what you are saying.
YouTube: YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world! Having you podcast on there increases chances of discovery, particularly in the long term. Within the last year or two, YouTube has embraced podcasts and allow you to designate a playlist as a "podcast". This allows people to search YoTube specifically for podcasts!
Easier Social Media: Social media is CRUCIAL to building an audience for your podcast. Pulling short video snippets from a video podcasts is the easiest way to do it. At SoloPro, we can find and pull those clips, wrap some enganging graphics around it, and format it for social media. We can even give you the social media captions to use for it!
Cons
Higher Equipment Costs: If you want to make your podcast look good, you need to invest in things like a decent camera or webcam as well as equipment to give you better lighting.
Complicated Recording: With video podcast, you need to be more aware of your look visually. This often includes how you dress, make-up (for some), a decluttered work space, and making sure not personal or private business information is accidentally being shown. If you are interviewing guests, you have to make sure the same it true for them. You also have the additional hassle of making sure you and they both have decent internet bandwidth for the conferencing apps to record clean video and audio
Complicated Editing: Editing a video podcast is much more involved. To avoid bad "jump cuts" (especially jarring visual ones) key tactics such as multicamera shots need to be employed. Even then, sometimes a necessary cut can not be made cleanly, leaving you to either leave it in or just deal with a bad cut. (BTW, At SoloPro we have developed some pretty good techniques for getting around most of the bad cuts!)
Less Convenient for your Audience: While with a smart phone, people can technically take your podcast everywhere, it doesn't mean they can easily consume it. Video podcasts require a lot of internet bandwidth. So if the network is spotty, it may seriously degrade the quality of the episode. Also, watching a podcast while running, jogging, walking, driving or mowing the lawn is HIGHLY DISCOURAGED! It can also be harder to watch while cleaning and folding the laundry.
How Often to Release Episodes
Podcasts should release on a regular schedule.
But what are the options when it comes to that schedule?
Regular Single
Episode Release
This is the "traditional" podcast model. Individual episodes are released daily, weekly, twice a month, or monthly.
Key points to keep in mind are these:
Regular Series
Release
An alternate way to release episodes is in batches called "series". Think of this as the "Netflix" model. You record a set number of episodes then release them all at once and give you audience a chance to "binge" them if they like.
Key points to keep in mind are these:
Why Bother Editing?
"Editing is hard and time-consuming!
Besides I want to be REAL and RAW! So why bother?"
At SoloPro we have heard this argument more times than we can count.
Sit back and find the answers to both of those arguments!
"Real and Raw"
We get it! In these days where everyone wants "authenticity", being "real and raw" with your audience seems like a GREAT idea!
So let's apply that to your daily life too!
Here's how:
That way you can be truly and fully "real and raw" (especially that last one).
Others likely will not appreciate seeing (or smelling) you that way.
So why would you think they want to hear all of your mess ups, filler words, stutters, and long pauses in the podcast?
Spoiler alert: THEY DON'T!
Editing Pros
Listeners Find You More Credible - You can be really knowledgeable on your topic. But if you "um" and "ah", pause and stutter your way through it, audience members instinctively have less faith in your expertise.
Make Your Guests Shine - If your podcast has guests, you may have gone to a lot of trouble to land the interview, only to have the guest hate how they sounded. This is especially troublesome if you are hoping to do business with these guests in the future. But, on the other hand, if a guest feels that their appearance on your podcast was "the best they ever sounded", it will do amazing things for your podcast's reputation and the guest will have a much more positive impression of you and your professionalism.
Respect Your Audience's Time - There are only so many hours in the day. There are also hundreds of thousands of podcasts to choose from. To get and keep an audience you need to respect their time. Editing your podcast to remove the filler words can often save several minutes over the course of a 30 minute recording. You are still delivering the same information but in a more efficient way. Listeners will be aware (whether consciously or subconsciously) of how much quality information or entertainment you are delivering vs. the amount of time they spend listening. Editing helps you "overdeliver" on content!
MAXIMIZE IT!
If you are recording a podcast to just put that podcast out...YOUR ARE MISSING SO MUCH MORE!
You can get the most of the effort you put in by turning that podcast into a ton of content!
You can turn your podcast into:
Do these ideas sound too hard or far fetched?
Well, we at SoloPro can make all of them happen!