Five Top Tips For New Podcasters

Starting a podcast can seem very simple to do. Choose a subject, record on your laptop, and upload it to one of the many streaming services, and you’re done, right? Wrong. There are thousands of podcasts out there, and if yours is going to be successful you need to stand out from the crowd. With these tips, you can grow your podcast from something only your mother listens to into something successful, popular, and fun. 

1. Get the sound right. Nobody wants to listen to a podcast that sounds bad. You need clear, quality sound. To get that, you need to buy the best microphone that you can afford, and fit it with a pop shield to stop hard plosive sounds. Improve your sound with your surroundings too. Even the best quality microphone will sound bad if your recording area is wrong. You need to prepare your space to cut out the echo. Many podcasters record in their closets, as the soft clothing around you helps to improve the sound quality. 
2. Edit. Editing is essential. You can do a lot to clear up less than ideal sound with a clever edit. If nothing else, you need to edit to cut out any waffle and to create an episode that only leaves in the interesting bits. Editing can be a tricky skill to learn so you might want to consider hiring someone to help you. A site like Snupit can be used to find professionals near you who can help. 
3. Market. There’s no point making a podcast that nobody knows about. You will attract listeners by doing effective marketing. Start by working out what your brand is. Set up social media accounts and a website for your podcast that fits with your branding. Shout out new episodes, upcoming plans, and news that is relevant to your subject. Network with other podcasters, and interact with social accounts that line up with your ideal audience. 
4. Make it accessible. You can attract a larger audience by making your podcast more accessible. Podcasts are an audio format, but there are many people who are hard of hearing who still enjoy podcasts. A simple way to make your podcast accessible to those people is to release episodes with a transcript. Many people find listening easier if they can read along at the same time. Posting a transcript of each episode on your website can also help with your SEO. Transcribe your episodes yourself or use a transcription service to do it. 
5. Always have a back-up plan. Things can go wrong with a podcast. Maybe your microphone didn’t pick up your guests, or you lost your recording. It’s a good idea to have a back-up plan. Record on two devices and always back everything up. If you’re recording away from home, take spare batteries, cables, and microphones, just in case something breaks. Having a back-up plan will help you to create a quality episode, even if something goes wrong during the recording process.