How to make a podcast in South Africa

In this episode we test a few popular mics that are popular with podcasters, from cellphones up to R10 000 mics and talk about what to look for in a mic, why the most common mics you can buy are the WRONG mics, and why you should just start with any mic you have, even if it's just in your phone. LISTEN WITH HEADPHONES ON IF YOU CAN. Huge thanks to Tuerk/Turnkey Music for sending us a couple of mics to test, and also giving South African Podcasters Guild members a discount on a few different packages. This is part 1 of our new series "How to START a podcast in South Africa", brought to you by the South African Podcasters Guild. If you're a South African Podcaster, join the Guild at www.sapg.co.za and/or register your podcast on the SA podlist to enter the South African Podcast Awards. Registration is free and once you're on the podlist, you'll be considered for the awards. 00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview 00:28 Importance of Good Sound Quality 00:59 We want to help you improve your sound 01:11 Mid-Range and High-End Equipment 02:09 Dynamic mics, cardioid patters, and test mics 05:46 Universal Audio SD1, Rode Podmic, Shure SM58 11:36 Buy dynamic, not condenser, Shure SM7dB 17:01 Cellphone mics 20:51 Hiring a studio for recordings 21:45 XLR vs USB 24:55 Laptop mics suck 26:07 Using Lav Mics and Other Options 29:56 Conclusion and Final Tips 30:45 Let's swap mics and compare Register your show on the Podlist to enter the South African Podcast Awards · Turnkey Music · The South African Podcasters Guild

"Experience the magic of VoiceMap’s GPS audio walks, cycles, drives and even boat rides. They’re like podcasts that move with you, to tell stories about what you’re seeing right now." Iain Manley has been developing, growing, and working on VoiceMap for ten years now, and 2024 is turning out to be a big year for this South African startup. They're seeing big growth and selling lots of tours. I bring VoiceMap to the attention of SAPG members because if you're someone who loves to travel, write engaging scripts, and produce immersive audio, VoiceMap could be your dream side hustle. Listening notes: This was a very relaxed conversation and both Iain and I speak pretty slowly in this episode, so feel free to rev us up to 1.5x or even 2x if you're feeling saucy! VoiceMap · The South African Podcasters Guild

After an hour in conversation with Jayne, I can see why her clients (which include Graham Norton) trust her. Besides her long list of achievements, she has a wonderful sense of humour and an aura of calm competence that must be very appealing when starting new or complex project, and she's worked on projects of every size and type. If you produce branded podcasts or want to, this is a deep dive for you. We discuss about podcasting before it was podcasting, the fine balance of brand and authentic content, the differences and similarities between the UK and SA podcast industries, working with a celebrity like Graham Norton, and her passion podcast, The Friendship File. I've included links to as many of Jayne's shows as I can find. Enjoy! The Graham Norton Book Club · The Friendship File · Jayne's company, Podcart · Change Your Tune · Insight Story, for Kapersky · The South African Podcasters Guild

In our first member profile, I chat to the father & son team behind Baird Media. Hendrik has a background in theater and acting, and Ethan is a highly-experienced sound engineer. They've been joining forces in the podcasting business since 2021, but this year they're working on a game-changing project for them and (I hope) the beginning of something big for South African podcasters. Audio fiction is not easy, but it's beautiful. Big projects, engrossing work, complex problems, and an opportunity to touch people deeply. In this episode we hear what makes the Bairds tick, and their plans for audio fiction in South Africa. Enjoy. Baird Media · The South African Podcasters Guild

What are the questions every podcaster wants answered about monetising with ads? Well, in part 2 of my conversation with Francois Retief, COO of iono.fm, we hit almost every one of them, including: 1. What's the average audience size of a South African podcast? 2. What's a good audience size for my podcast? 3. Okay how many listens do I need to make R10 000? 4. How many listeners do I need to monetise a show? 5. What is syndication and how does it work? 6. How can we use analytics to improve our podcasts? 7. Where should I advertise my podcast? 8. Does guest quality affect how much you can sell ads for? 9. Is it more effective to sell your own ads or go through a service like iono? 10. Are brands more interested in niche or large audiences? And more! Team: Audio recording: Rebekah van Zyl Videographer and editor: Jason Hans Host and audio editor: Jon Warncke The South African Podcasters Guild

This is part 1 of the epic saga that was my conversation with Francois Retief, COO of iono.fm, South Africa's largest digital audio hosting service, which includes 2500+ South African Podcasts. Francois has unparalleled access to specific, South-African-relevant data and analytics and he was kind enough to unpack all those numbers with us. This two-part series is about making podcasting profitable through selling advertising, and part 1 is largely focused on some foundational knowledge everyone needs to understand. What's does the South African podcasting landscape look like, how do you even sell ads, and who figures out how much money you're going to get out of those ads? Here's exactly what we cover in part 1: 3:25 My epic beard. 5:26. How do brands buy ads on podcasts? 6:05 What brands are advertising on podcasts? 8:03 Can we separate SA shows from international shows? 9:54 Where IS South African podcasting right now? 12:45 Are recorded radio shows a podcast? 18:30 What's the addressable market in South Africa for podcasts? 19:27 Are there any South African podcasts making it internationally? 21:07 Where are all the podcasts for kids? 22:23 Roadblocks to podcast growth 25:18 SAPG's Plans for a top charts 27:21 Do you see any gaps in the market for specific genres 29:15 Who loves podcasts in SA? 30:50 What is the average income of podcasters who have monetised? 36:33 How Advertising Works 36:38 What is CPM? 41:44 How valuable is a pre, mid, and post-roll? 44:10 Dynamic Ad Insertion 47:21 Different ads for different audiences 47:59 Average CPM for podcasts 48:26 What is an average radio CPM 50:22.386 How to increase your earning with value, audience, and frequency 51:53.271 What's the average audience size for a South African podcast? 57:42.590 What's a good audience size for my podcast? 1:03:00.517 Okay how many listens do I need to make R10 000? 1:08:00.323 How many listeners do I need to monetise my show? Look out for part 2, coming soon. And, of course, a huge thanks to our guest, Francois, as well as: Rebekah van Zyl - Audio Recording Jason Hans - videographer Iono.fm · The South African Podcasters Guild

In this episode, I was very lucky to get in the same room with seasoned branded content creator Spike Ballantine. Spike shares his treasure trove of insights into the world of branded podcasting - an essential listen for anyone looking to break into this domain of podcasting that more easily brings in an income than trying to monetise your own show. NOTE: Just listen to the energy in the room in this episode and you'll hear the difference between a remote recording and an in-person one. **In this episode:** - What branded podcasts are and what they can achieve. - Going beyond the simple interview. - Creating a pitch, going after clients. - How on-location recordings add flavour to the content. - Understanding the audience - Spike's perspective on the current growth of podcasting in SA, and how long it will take to fully mature. - How to think BIG and then make a plan to get as close to that dream as possible. - What it takes to be a show runner. DBO Media - Spike's company · The South African Podcasters Guild

In this episode of How to Make a Podcast in South Africa, we have the pleasure of chatting with Gavin Kennedy, a seasoned podcast producer with an impressive track record. Gavin has 11 studios at his recording facility. He's been involved in the production of hundreds of shows and thousands of episodes. Who better to hear from if your dream is to go BIG in podcasting. 00:00 Podcasting industry still early; serving diverse clientele. 03:40 Affordable studios support beginners; space allocation crucial. 08:07 Focus on essential details, grasp client goals. Avoid distraction and understand business. 10:44 "Chaos Monkeys" book explores website design revelations. 14:57 Podcast answers FAQs to build trust with clients. 19:30 Content sponsored by legal firm for brand association. 21:33 Podcasts help gain deep expertise on topics by providing in-depth knowledge through research and content consumption. 25:01 Grateful for podcasting wisdom and experience. Thank you! The South African Podcasters Guild

In this, the first episode of How to Make a Podcast in South Africa, we talk about the thinking you do before you make the show. What are you trying to achieve? Who is your target audience? Do you want to monetise your show? Is this podcast a job for you or a hobby? I could think of no one better to ask these questions than Gavin Kennedy, owner of Solid Gold Podcasts and Audiobooks. Gavin has been involved in the production of over 350 podcasts and audiobooks, and operates a collection of 11 recording studios in Randburg. Some timestamps for you! 00:00 Gavin is an expert podcast producer. 05:53 Video production for promotion of audio content. 07:30 Helping people articulate goals and find clarity. 11:34 Structured conversations lead to intentional and insightful content. 16:15 Discovering priorities through value-based decision-making process. 20:00 Leaving job to start media business. 20:42 Audience is product, advertiser is customer. 26:26 Creating audience loyalty through genuine podcasting engagement. 28:13 Competing in media space for audience loyalty. 31:28 Profiting from audience through courses and merchandise. 35:31 Podcasts help nonprofits engage and retain donors. 39:12 Part one ends, part two coming soon. If you've got any further questions for Gavin, jump into the General Chat of the SAPG Whatsapp Community and start asking! Look out for part 2 of this episode soon. Solid Gold Podcasts and Audiobooks · The South African Podcasters Guild