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!
Common Podcast Traits
- More Than One Episode - A "podcast" always has more than one episode. In fact, new podcasts should launch with at least three to start and then continue adding from there.
- Core Topic - A podcast must have a core "topic". Podcast topics range from really broad (and general) to very specific (niche). Often the more "niche" podcasts build the most dependable audience.
- Consistent Host(s) - A podcast usually has the same host or team of hosts. While there are always exceptions, listeners like the dependability and consistency of the hosts.
- 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 have a few formats (like maybe some solo episodes and some with guests), but keep some consistency between each.
Video vs. Audio
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
- Minimal Equipment Cost: You just need a decent mic (often around $100) and a program or app to record it with (many free)!
- Easy Recording: Just fire up your recording software, open up your mic, and GO.
- Easier to Edit: If you are having your podcast episode edited (and you should be), it is a much easier process than editing a video since audio edits can be nearly undetectable.
- Super Convenient for your Audience: Listeners can take your podcast virtually anywhere! They can listen while they drive, walk, jog, exercise, wait for their kids at karate practice, clean the kitchen, mow the lawn, fold laundry, and even while they work!
Cons
- Listeners Can't See You: Some people in your audience need to see your (and any guest's) face to better connect. Also, you can't employ visual tools like charts, graphs, and tables.
- You Miss Out on 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. While you could add a static graphic to you podcast audio to create a "video", its a less than ideal offering.
- Harder to Pull Engaging Social Media Content: 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. For audio podcasts you can make "audiograms" which are static or kinetic graphics over your audio clip. They are useful, but not quite as engaging.
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:
- Daily episodes should be scheduled to release about the same time every day (i.e. early morning, late morning, early afternoon...etc.).
- Weekly episodes should be scheduled to release the same day every week, at roughly the same time.
- Twice-a-month episodes should be scheduled to release either on the same calendar days each month (i.e. 1st and 15th) OR on the same week/day pattern (i.e. 1st and 3rd Mondays)
- Monthly episodes should be scheduled to release on the same calendar day each month (i.e. 1st)
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:
- It is preferable that there be a connecting theme to all the episodes in the series.
- This can help alleviate the high pressure of deadlines that a regular weekly or daily schedule create as you simply do not schedule them for release until all the episodes are ready. (Note: It is still a good idea to shoot for a regular schedule to release, like monthly or quarterly)
- Allows for significant and fresh changes in format each series.
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:
- Tomorrow morning, wake up, put on your slippers, grab your keys and head to work or whatever other activity you have planned.
- DON'T STOP to change your clothes!
- DON'T STOP to take a shower!
- DON'T STOP to brush your hair!
- DON'T STOP to brush your teeth!
- DON'T STOP to apply makeup or deodorant!
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:
- Social Media Videos: Pull a few video cuts from your video podcast, or make audiograms out of a few cuts from an audio podcast and use those cuts to promote the podcast and bolster the activity on your social media channels.
- A Library of Videos: Isolate the more insightful parts of your podcast episodes and build a searchable library of them to draw more people to your website, or even monetize by offering a subscription to.
- LinkedIn Articles / White Papers: Transcribe you episodes and let AI distill the points down into a draft article or white paper. Clean it up, add a few eye catching graphics and you have ADDITIONAL content to post.
- Social Media Graphics Out of Quotes from the Episode: You and your guest more than likely made some memorable, salient points in your episode. Turn those quickly into social media graphics to further increase activity on your social channels
- A YouTube Channel: If you are doing a video podcast, create a channel for the podcast on YouTube. Those episodes then live on and become searchable evergreen content which others can find when searching!
- A Book: As you build content with each episode of your podcast, mine the transcript for great content you can then edit and put into a book! It will more than likely be a small, self-published e-book that you can sell or give away as a lead magnet. But, with enough great content, you might just make a best seller!
- An Audio Book: With a little careful planning, you can ultimately edit many of your episodes together into a solid audiobook. After all, you already recorded and edited it, that was the hard part. The rest is pretty easy from there.
Do these ideas sound too hard or far fetched?
Well, we at SoloPro can make all of them happen!
Copyright 2025 by SoloPro (Neighborhood Stage Productions, LLC)