How To Easily Create Podcasts without Any Hassle

“ A podcast is a series of digital audio files that a user can download to personal device for listening”.

You might have come across a podcast on Spotify or Youtube and thought maybe I can do it too, but stopped due to lack of knowledge. Here I bring to you a step by step guide of how to create podcasts.

STEP 1 : SELECT A DEFINITE TOPIC

The first question arises : what is the podcast about? To start a podcast, you must be clear with your topic. You may record a podcast relating to the life of any martyr or the trends in fashion. Collect information about your preferred topic.

After you are done with the topic, select a name for your podcast. The topic should directly relate to your podcast so that listener gets to know what the podcast is about. Recording a podcast about fishes and presenting it as “The Lonely Life” is somewhat misleading. Also keep the name a  bit fancy.

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STEP 2 : CREATE A TEAM

This step is optional. You may want to do the podcast all by yourself. But if you want you can have a team. Team may consist of a co-host or someone to handle the technical part.

If you have a co- host, divide your material. Be sure of the topics you have to speak of. It is advisable to have a co-host while narrating a story. Different people can speak for different characters. The change in pitch and tone will give life to the podcast.

Also,you may ask someone to do the technical part if you are not familiar with it. Editing the podcast is a must.

STEP 3 : EPISODE FORMAT

You need to decide the number of episodes for your podcast and the length of each podcast. You may record a podcast of 5 episodes 20 minutes each or you may have a podcast of 10 episodes  3 hours each. It’s all up to you. There is no time restriction. 

TIP: RELEASE YOUR EPISODE AFTER DEFINITE TIME. PODCASTS WITH REGULAR UPLOADS TENDS TO ATTRACT MORE LISTENERS.

STEP 4 : PURCHASE EQUIPMENT

Now the technical part starts. Choosing correct equipments can be confusing if you are a beginner. There are so many of them available that it is not easy to chose what to buy and what not. The most basic and important parts are – computer and microphone, unless you are recording on phone through any app. Other equipment you may need are –

• Audio interface – It converts analog signal from mic to digital signal for computer
• Mixer 
• Windscreen/ Pop Filter – To minimize plosives
• Headphones – To hear yourself speaking to have a better judgement of podcast.
• Mic Stands – To keep your microphone in place

There are a lot more to the list but these are the basic ones that would be helpful. For recording on phone, you need digital recorder, sd card and microphone.

STEP 5 : INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC

Select the music relating to your podcast. It improves the feel of the story. Do not let music steal away the time of your real content. The intro should be small and apt. There are some websites which allow you to download free music for podcasts.

TIP: ADD A CREATIVE ARTWORK TO YOUR PODCAST. ALTHOUGH THE AIM IS TO KEEP THE CONTENT ENGAGING, BUT ARTWORK BEAUTIFIES THE PODCAST.

STEP 6 : EDITING

Just recording the podcast is not enough,you need to edit it to. After recording there may be points you may want to cut or increase/decrease the pitch. You need right equipments to do so. Beginners can use free editing software like Audacity or Garageband. These are easy to go along with. Others like Adobe Audition needs subscription.

STEP 7 : UPLOAD

After you are done with editing and publishing the podcast,only the main thing is left- PUBLISHING IT. The main motive of a podcast is to reach people for them to listen to it. Select a host provider and upload your file. Major companies that host podcasts are – 

• Buzzsprout
• Libsyn
• Podbean
• Blubrry
• SoundCloud
• PodOmatic
• Spreaker
• BlogTalkRadio
• Castos

THE FINAL STEP : PROMOTE! PROMOTE! PROMOTE!

The podcast hosts just provide a platform for your podcast, they do not guarantee the success of your podcast. What’s the benefit of all your hard work if it doesn’t reach people. Promote your work as much as you can. Share It with all your friends and family and also take their feedback. It will help you improve the next podcasts. Post about it on all your social networking sites. Let it reach people.

So it was a brief description of how to create a podcast.

Fun fact –  The word podcast is a combination of iPod and broadcast.

Do share your views about it in the comment section. Do you listen to podcasts or have recorded anyin the past? Also feel free to ask any query.