Podcasting for Beginners

Podcasting is a digital audio file uploaded on the internet for the consumption of audiences. It is, in essence, available in instalments or as a series that is automatically downloadable or streamable by subscribers. It is essentially a talk radio series in an on-demand format. It is not your usual old school radio program back in the day wherein you need to tune in live or listen to it at specific timings. It is for consumption and accessible anytime and everywhere. Podcasts tackle a particular theme or topic. On many occasions, popular podcasts are engaged in a niche and dive deep into specific issues and discourse.

Brought about by the times and the increased utilisation of everything digital, podcasts suddenly reached our interest. Below is a crash course on the basics of podcasting.

What is this?

The main goal of any podcast is to capture audience interest and increase listener engagement. It is community building – a community of like-minded individuals. Podcast creators have the liberty of not having time constraints. They can engage in long raw conversations about anything under the sun, whereas traditional broadcasting platforms are time and topic bound.

What do you value?

In starting your podcast, you must first create your goals. Knowing what you want to achieve in setting up your podcast identifies what you value most. A podcaster’s principles will dictate the market or the kind of connections and engagement with the listeners. The quality of connections will define the content of the podcast. The success of the links and the content value of the pod will set the digital art to create a following. With this, it is of utmost importance to establish what the host wants out of this. In this way, the podcaster consistently produces content and follow through because it is something he values.

Building your solid following

Podcasting follows a particular format. Whatever content and form you will pursue a month’s worth of a plan is a sure success. Just do it, record! Revisit your recordings and do edits as you go. You have the liberty to fortify your art. In identifying your values and preliminary recordings, the next step is to recognise what will make your content stand out. Map out a content plan and, from there, single out key talking points that can engage your niche. Tease your target market and build from there. Often, the biggest pitfall a content creator can fall into is trying to talk to everyone but not talking to anyone. Find your niche and engage.

Tools and gears

In this online media platform, start with the basics. A cloud management tool can optimise, secure and protect and optimise your activity. Check out this AWS diagram and learn more about their security features.

You can use your own Apple earphones and microphones or any standard smartphone tool. On the other hand, if you want a crisp and professional sounding recording, use a dynamic microphone over a condenser one. It can surely drown sounds that are not needed. Suggested editing and recording platform for your podcast are Audacity, Anchor.FM, Riverside.FM or Streamyard Audio.

If you have something to say and are inspired by many podcasts, get on with it and record! Podcasts are one of the upcoming, best and engaging content you can consume today.