How to Start Your Own Podcast

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Letting your audience hear your brand can really add a new dimension to your marketing. Follow the steps below to start your own podcast.

Businesses, publishers and brands are discovering the numerous benefits of podcasting.

Podcasts can be another great tool in your content marketing arsenal. It could be an extension of your business blog, added to your website and promoted on your social channels.

Podcasts allow for the distribution of information in the form of audio to an audience when they want it, where they want it and how they want it.

Listeners can choose the programs they want to download from the Internet and listen whenever they want. Podcasts can be listened to in the car, on the subway, at the office, at the gym or wherever it’s convenient for the listener.

Showcase Your Expertise

One of the primary benefits of using podcasts to market your business is the ability to highlight your company’s expertise on a certain subject. Podcasts presents a great opportunity to share expertise on niche topics, products or services.

Conversations Work

Another advantage to podcasts is that it can be disguised as a conversation or interview, rather than an ad or promotional copy.

This can be accomplished by interviewing experts or participants in your industry.  Dynamic content sells and with the right mix of content, a podcast can create a community, not just customers.

Create Content with Value

Just like any other form of communication, content is king when it comes to podcasts and you must at least sound like you’re providing value.

Value can come in the form of education, information, inspiration, motivation and entertainment. Don’t just broadcast commercials.

Content has to be crafted with the listener in mind — not only their interests but their listening habits.

How to Get Started

Follow these simple steps to start your own podcast:

1. Record your podcast using Garage Band for Mac. If you are using a Windows platform, record your podcast using Sound Recorder.

Once you get started and want to amp up your recordings to make them sound more professional, you can invest in a mic and headphones.

I purchased all my equipment from Amazon. I bought a Blue Yeti USB Microphone, two stereo headphones (one for me and one for my guest) and a Belkin speaker and headphone splitter.

Using a splitter allows you to plug two headphones into your computer which typically only has one outlet for headphones.

If you do not plan on doing interviews for your podcast, then you would only need one headphone and no splitter.

If you plan on doing interviews via Skype, you’ll also need a call recorder. I use the E-Camm Call Recorder for Skype.

Once you install this plugin to your desktop, it will automatically record your Skype guest. The sound is perfect. Listen to the interview I did via Skype with Amandah Wood.

2. Add music. After you’ve recorded your interview or topic of discussion, try adding some music as an intro and outro. Search through the Youtube Audio Library for free music tracks that you can download or use Shutterstock to license music tracks for a cost.

3. Upload it online. Once you’ve produced your podcast episode, you’ll need to get it hosted online. Create an account on Soundcloud and upload your podcast episode. You can now share your podcast episode on your blog or distribute the link via your social channels.

4. Add it to iTunes. Getting your podcast into the iTunes store is fairly easy as well and it’s free to upload. All you need is an RSS feed and an Apple account.

Log into your Soundcloud account and copy your RSS link from the Settings Content area. Then access the iTunes podcast page, log into your Apple account and paste the RSS link when prompted.

Once you upload your first podcast episode to the iTunes store, it might take a couple of days for it to be approved. But for each additional episode you submit, the approval time becomes less and less.

Let Your Audience Hear Your Brand

Your content marketing strategy most likely includes social media, blogging and maybe even infographics and other visuals. But letting your audience hear your brand can really add a new dimension to your marketing.

Even we started a podcast! The See Girl Work podcast series is available on iTunes and Soundcloud.

Have you tried podcasting for your business? Share your experience in the comments.

 

Image via Stocksy

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