podcasting 101

Podcasting 101

November 12, 2015 @donnapapacosta

•  Podcasting has experienced growth every year

•  Edison Research: More than 40 million people listen to a podcast in a typical month (U.S.)

•  Serial: 5 million+ listeners; tremendous engagement •  Radiotopia on Kickstarter: $624K raised •  Platforms like Patreon let listeners support podcasters •  Brands producing podcasts

The golden age of podcasting?

•  Both use power of human voice

•  Podcast can be audio or video

•  Both can be downloaded or streamed

•  True podcast is serial and offers subscriptions through RSS

Podcast vs. regular audio

•  Time shifted

•  Portable

•  Free content

Podcasting benefits to listeners

•  Can reach a niche audience

•  Conversational content marketing material for those who prefer audio

•  Easier to produce than video

•  “Intimacy of the earbuds”

•  Can be repurposed, repackaged for other use

Podcasting benefits to producers

•  Internal training/learning

•  Leadership/CEO messages

•  Interviews/group discussions

•  Event/conference podcasts

•  Entertainment/comedy/sports

•  Political/charity/nonprofit

•  Self-help

All kinds of podcasts

Podcast formats

•  One person offering insights, opinions, comedy, news, sports trivia, etc.

•  Co-hosted conversation

•  Group conversation

•  Interview format

•  Related to an event (podcasts before, during and after)

•  Plan content; what are you trying to achieve?

•  Produce audio (record in person or remotely, edit)

•  Publish podcast (include shownotes)

•  Publicize podcast (social media, directories, etc.)

Let’s review each of these …

Podcasting workflow: The Four Ps

Plan content; what are you trying to achieve?

Questions to ask Who is my audience? What am I trying to achieve? Do I have the software and hardware I need? How will I measure success? What is the podcast format? Should I script or not? Do I have iTunes cover art? How will I find guests? What is my schedule?


Typical podcast structure

•  Teaser

•  Welcome and intro

•  Main message, interview, etc.

•  Recap

•  Comments, housekeeping

•  Outro/call to action (if this applies)

Produce audio

Questions to ask Will I record in person or remotely? How will I ensure good audio quality? Do I have resources for editing? Will I add music or other audio branding? How highly produced will my show be? Raw, polished?


•  NOT the same as writing for the eye

•  Conversational

•  Flowing

•  Shorter sentences

•  Vocal variety

•  (Sometimes NO script is better!)

Scripting for the ear

Course code: 1234-‐000 Page #

Tools of the trade

Zoom H4/H4n

Tools of the trade

Microphone Blue Yeti USB ATR 2100 USB/XLR

•  Audacity

•  Adobe Audition

•  Garage Band

•  Levelator/Auphonic

•  And others

Software

Mac or PC

Tools of the trade

Smartphone •  Can add microphone •  Headset is OK in a pinch

•  Recording apps •  Some apps offer editing

Mobile apps: creating audio

•  SoundCloud

•  GarageBand

•  Hindenburg Field Recorder

•  And others!

Skype recording

•  Silence ambient noise

•  Reboot computer; don’t run unnecessary programs

•  Do Skype Test Call first!

•  Use Call Recorder, Pamela, etc.

•  Monitor levels

How to edit in Audacity

•  Use file> open to open the audio file.

•  Crop out the bad stuff.

•  Drop markers, which are file labels.

•  Be sure to save often.

•  Export the file as MP3 when you’re finished. Be sure to add ID3 tags.

Other great tools

•  Levelator

•  Garage Band

•  Adobe Audition

•  SoundSoap

Publish podcast (include shownotes)

Questions to ask

Where will you host your MP3 file? Where will you publish your podcast? How detailed are the show notes? What other platforms will you use to share your podcast?


Show notes

(because

Google

hates

your

podcast)

Publicize podcast

Questions to ask

How will you promote your podcast on social media? Where else will you promote it? Will you submit it to directories? Do you have a mailing list? Do you have a media kit? How else will you get the word out? Don’t forget the obvious stuff, like your email sig.


•  Libsyn.com

•  WordPress blog

•  PowerPress plugin

•  Soundcloud

Hosting and website

Measurement

•  Downloads (check Libsyn stats)

•  Subscribers (Feedburner or other)

•  Comments, listener feedback

•  Social media juice

•  MOST IMPORTANT: Did you achieve your goal?

The long tail: This was published in 2008!

Monetization

Crowdfunding

Sponsorship and advertising

•  Likely need 5,000 downloads to start

•  $10 to $40 per thousand downloads

•  See section in the book (p. 77)

•  Grammar Girl, UnMarketing and more

Content marketing/thought leadership

Best tips

Have a purpose Have fun Be consistent

Please keep in touch

Donna Papacosta [email protected] 647-919-4761

trafcom.com @donnapapacosta

podcasting 101

Business