Photo above by CoWomen on Unsplash
Podcast-making is like having your own radio show and is highly effective in positioning you as a thought leader in your field.
But just because it is a radio show that doesn’t mean you need:
- A plush BBC-style studio with sound-proofed walls and armoured doors
- The conversational prowess of Graham Norton
- A contacts book bulging with names
- Armies of sound engineers fussing over banks of equipment
- A degree in audio engineering
- Knowledge of the dark art of audio editing
Which all begs the question of what you do need?
- Somewhere to record a podcast
- As long as it’s quiet. It could be a nice small carpeted room but avoid big echoey spaces with loads of hard surfaces and little in the way of soft furnishings. Actually, believe it or not, a car makes quite a good recording environment! So does under a duvet.
- Essential recording equipment
- You don’t have to spend a bomb but you should reckon with several hundred pounds to buy microphones, recording devices and headphones. Or you may decide to hire equipment if you work with a podcast producer
- A reasonable understanding of how your equipment works
- There are oodles of short easy-to-follow online videos to show you what to do.
- A few contacts for inviting guests to speak on your podcast
- ….but you’ll be surprised anyway by how enthusiastically people will agree to be on your show. Some might need persuading but once your podcast has gained traction, they’ll be lining up!
- Curiousity and interest in what your podcast guests can contribute
- This isn’t rocket science – unless that’s what your podcast is about – because all you need is a little bit of forethought in planning an informal discussion. If you – or your chosen podcast presenter – enjoys the conversation, you’ll also convey that energy to your listeners.
- Determination to ensure good sound quality
- There’s a little bit to know about how to tweak this and that and it might be wise to take a podcast skills production course to learn the basics
- How to craft your recordings into a finished podcast
- Admittedly, this is probably the most time-consuming part and takes quite a lot of practice to perfect. Some expert advice will come in handy here.
If you’re excited about making a podcast but go weak at the knees at the thought of doing the hard graft yourself, you might consider having a chat with Made4U Podcasts. We provide a complete production service and welcome enquiries.
info@made4u-podcasts.co.uk
bio – Serena Gay is a BBC-trained broadcast journalist with many years’ experience in the industry in the UK and abroad. The company she founded, Made4U Podcasts, produces intelligent, well-crafted podcasts helping companies and organisations target their ideal listeners. She also provides podcast training courses, social media marketing for podcasts expertise, distribution and sponsorship deals advice.
