Podcasting is the newest way to share your ideas and engage with listeners. It's like having a personal conversation with someone you care about—and it's available anytime, anywhere! You can talk about whatever interests you without worrying about being judged or censored.
This post will explain how podcasting works and why it might be right for you. But before getting into details, let's discuss what podcasting is exactly.
What Is Podcasting?
A podcast is an audio file that is downloaded from the internet and played back on demand. They are often recorded live but can also be pre-recorded in advance. They range from short snippets of news updates to long episodes covering topics such as politics, business, sports, education, comedy, art, music, lifestyle, health, relationships, parenting, technology, science fiction/fantasy fiction, etc. There are even podcasts dedicated solely to cats!
If you want to start producing your own show, there are several options available to you.
Libsyn allows users to upload their shows to multiple platforms simultaneously, including iTunes, Google Play Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, Stitcher Radio, Pocket Casts, TuneIn Radio, Spreaker, and more. Other popular services include Castbox, Anchor FM, Overcast, and PocketCasts.
You can create your podcast using free software like Audacity or GarageBand (Mac) or Adobe Audition (PC). These programs allow you to record audio files directly onto your computer using microphones connected via USB cable or Bluetooth wireless connection. Once recorded, you can edit them using editing tools such as Adobe Audition or Logic Pro X. Then export the edited version into MP3 format so others can listen to it later.
Why Should I Start a Podcast?
There are many reasons why people choose to launch a podcast:
1. It's fun! You get to share what interests you with others who might not otherwise find out about it unless they stumbled upon your website. 2. People love hearing stories—whether real life experiences or imagined ones—and podcasting gives you an opportunity to tell those stories in front of a live audience. 3. It helps build community because everyone involved shares similar passions and interests. 4. It promotes creativity since creating original content requires thinking outside of traditional mediums. 5. It builds authority within niche communities by giving voice to ideas that otherwise wouldn't have found traction elsewhere.
If you decide to go this route, here are some tips for getting started:
1. Find Your Niche: What do you love talking about most? If you're passionate about gardening, write a blog post explaining how to grow flowers from seeds. Or maybe you want to teach others how to cook healthy meals without breaking their budget. Whatever topic you pick, make sure it fits within the confines of copyright laws. Don't try to sell products or services through your show unless you have permission first. And avoid using profanity, violence, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, body shaming, etc., as these topics will alienate potential listeners.
2. Choose A Format: Do you prefer interviews? Live shows? Pre-recorded segments? Each format has pros and cons, so choose wisely. Interview shows tend to attract larger audiences than pre-recorded episodes, but they require more preparation time. Live shows allow immediate interaction with fans who may ask questions during recording sessions, but they take longer to produce. Pre-recorded podcasts save time but limit spontaneity.
3. Determine Your Target Market: Who is your ideal listener? Is he/she male? Female? Young? Older? Rich? Poor? Urban? Rural? Religious? Nonreligious? Conservative? Liberal? Once you determine your target audience, tailor your content accordingly.
If you plan on discussing politics, focus less on partisan issues than general ones like education reform. Similarly, if you intend to talk sports, concentrate on specific leagues rather than national teams.
4. Create Content Regularly: Consistency is key when building an audience. Post weekly (or even daily) updates, giving followers reasons to return regularly. Also, don't forget to promote yourself across social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tumblr, Reddit, YouTube, Snapchat, Vine, WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat, Line, KakaoTalk, Weibo, QQ, WeChat, Douyin, Qzone, etc. Make sure to use relevant keywords related to your topic in each post, too.
5. Promote Yourself: After producing your first episode, share it everywhere possible! Send press releases, submit guest articles, contact influencers, participate in forums, attend conferences, host events, offer giveaways, partner with brands, join groups, connect with fellow creators, run contests, and much more. Become known outside