Podcasting Made Easy

A chance Facebook call proved how versatile the platform can be for podcast interviews, and if you want to take your calls up a notch test out Call In Studio.

Creating added value for your podcast subscribers is a great way to raise or boost your profile.One way to do this is to create a PDF or digital book made up of the key points of your podcasts, collated show notes, or with extra information that will be of interest to your subscribers. You can keep it simple with a small PDF of a few thousand words that you give away to new subscribers to your mailing list, give it away as a free-be to all, or go further and write a far more in-depth book that can be sold via print-on-demand sites such as IngramSpark - and offered as both a digital and hard copy publication worldwide.If you enjoy writing then producing these PDF documents can be great fun, if not ask someone to help you write and design it.As an example, here is my Podcasting Made Easy cheat sheet, normally reserved for subscribers to my mailing list but made available here for a short time by way of illustration.As always, if you have any questions about podcasting then do let me know.

Sure, we all know to remove unwanted noises and mistakes from our podcasts, but audio editing can involve a lot more than the obvious. There's an art to it that can really improve the impact your interviews have on your audience.Get the inside track on editing interviews in this edition (37) of Podcasting Made Easy.

There's an audio recording and editing app I've been using on and off for a few years now that's ideal for recording podcasts and radio shows. It's totally free, reliable, and as solid as any audio app can be. I've recommended Ocenaudio to many friends who were looking for a simple no-frills way to record their voice overs, podcasts, and professional radio shows.The app is regularly updated, almost every month I reckon, and will serve most people's needs – so long as you don't need multi-track recording and know the difference between a destructive audio editor and a non-destructive one. Ocenaudio is a destructive editor. That means, if you record something with it and start cutting and editing, you will be working with the original source file. So the trick is to record, Save, and then Save As with a new name (V2 for example). Thereby keeping a back-up of the original well out of harm's way. However, the app does offer multiple undos if you want to take your edits back a few steps.Users can highlight small sections - such as where breath noises may appear – and lower the volume using a volume slider that appears right where the edit is taking place, there's a highlight and delete option of course, you can highlight all and normalise.Ocenaudio works on all platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux), offers real time effects – meaning that during playback – as you alter EQ (for example) you will hear the changes as you move the EQ sliders. It is VST compatible, includes many audio enhancement options – such as noise reduction – along with many effects podcasters will not need, such as reverb, echo, chorus and flanger etc. For the really adventurous (apply with caution) there are audio limiting and compression options along with dozens of other built-in effects. you can also convert a stereo file to mono (and visa-versa) using an option in the Edit menu.The app records in the WAV format by default, offers numerous recording sample rates, channels (mono, stereo, multi) and Bit rate options (16, 24, 32), and exports to dozens of popular formats (MP3, OGG etc).However, most of what it is capable of will be superfluous to the podcaster who merely needs to record their voice for export to a low-res mono MP3 file and edit files quickly.While the Ocenaudio app is free, anyone using it really should make a donation to support the people who produce it as it is too good to be free. Give it a test drive and if you like it, make a donation.If you need to bring your audio into a multi-track app for mixing in music or perform really seamless audio editing etc, then I recommend Reaper. At a one-off fee of $60 (free trial) it's a lot cheaper than Adobe Audition and Pro Tools etc, and is – in my opinion – head and shoulders above the free open source Audacity app (which is a fine app, but...).As always, if you have any advice you'd like to share with fellow podcasters then do let me know.

It's old advice, but well worth repeating. After you have a good number of podcasts under your belt it's a good idea to listen back to older shows to see what you can learn from your mistakes.Well, perhaps mistakes is the wrong word. Listen back to decide what you can learn from your previous performances, your interviewing technique, and decide what you can do better next time.Could you have asked your guest more interesting and relevant questions? Does your microphone technique need some work? Perhaps you went overboard on post production and audio processing?No matter how much experience you have as a podcaster, you will always learn something about yourself by listening back to older shows. And by doing this you will become a better and more professional podcaster.And if you want to find out who your biggest competition is...The answer is in this edition of Podcasting Made Easy.Have a great week.Steve

If you like shouting into the wind then making a podcast could be for you.After all the technical aspects of recording and getting your podcast listed on the key platforms is done, the hard work begins – building an audience.However, remember that 70% of podcasts are accessed via iTunes, so if you aren’t already listed there, stop listening now and get that step completed.If you do little more than list your podcast without any promotion or marketing then you could be in for a lot of disappointment when it comes to show subscribers and listeners.While you may have a website and a social media presence for your podcast, you will need to get your podcast in front of your potential audience.This could involve you sharing your podcast with relevant groups on social media sites, and searching out specialist websites that cover subjects your podcast might touch on. For example, you could link to your podcast in a comments section of a trade forum page.When you post links to your show on social media remember to use the correct hashtags to help people find it.If you have interviewed someone then obviously ask them to share the interview with their network. This route to marketing your podcast can’t be understated and you need to strike while the iron is hot. In other words, while you and the guest are in contact, while the podcast is fresh, you shoul encourage them to share it far and wide, because they may have a huge database of potential listeners who might choose to subscribe to your show.Edit key clips of the conversation to produce a teaser or cliff-hanger that will pique the interest of the listener so they click through to the full podcast.Show notes are a must-have (example here :-) ) to help your show to be found. Not only should the show notes be posted on your website but you could add them to the MP3 meta data area too. Or go the whole hog and transcribe the whole show using any one of a number of AI transcribing sites such as Otter.Use the transcription to write up a press release of around 300 words and send it to press release distribution firms, and relevant publishers.If you’re really keen, run a contest with a prize of something tangible such as a branded cap or T-shirt, maybe a signed book written by your guest, or a gift voucher to be used in your online store if you have one.If you mention a brand or company in your show then let the company know, contact their PR people and they may re-share your podcast with their followers. It could be the start of a beautiful friendship.And if you are about to launch your first podcast, do yourself a favour and list 2 or 3 episodes on day one. It may mean delaying the launch of your podcast, but listeners like to see more than the launch episode when they see your show for the first time.And it might help you become a New and Noteworthy podcast at iTunes.

When it comes books to help you find your way as a podcaster, the field is wide open (I've even written one myself).Having worked in broadcasting during the 80s (using vinyl and tape), and then rekindling my love of broadcasting with a podcast in 2008, I thought it about time I refreshed my own skills by reading what other people are advising.I also host a radio show, and that led me to buy Valerie Gellers' Beyond Powerful Radio – A Communicator's Guide to the Internet Age.This is quite a hefty tomb, and while of general interest to me, much of what it had to offer was for those actually working at a radio station, managing staff, or hosting talk shows and phone-in programmes. Still, I found it interesting, useful and refer to it regularly.Next up is Viral Podcasting by Kerry Lutz who proclaims the book offers a "proven process to earn a 6-figure income from your show". The book features contributions from Valerie Geller.Lutz's "6-figure income" claim is a bit hard to swallow, but hey – you might get lucky. Still, the book is well worth a read if you are starting out.Top of the pile for me though is Essential Radio Skills by Peter Stewart (there are two editions and the 2009 first edition will be cheaper that the 2010 update). I got a lot of good information from this book as plenty of what's included can be applied to podcasting, even though it is aimed at music presenters working in radio broadcasting. Perhaps it's because I host a little syndicated radio show that it appealed to me so much, but I think it will be a handy read for any podcaster looking to produce a professional show.Before you splash out loads of cash, ask around to see if your friends and colleagues have any of these book to borrow, check out your library and used book sellers. My preference is to avoid using Amazon due to its exploitation of warehouse staff around the world and recent stories of the firm dumping perfectly good products.And if you have a favourite book about podcasting or broadcasting to recommend then do let me know...Book links are affiliate links.

If you are knew to interviewing guests on your podcast you may feel a little nervous. That's only natural.However, the more you know about your guest, and the reason you are interviewing them, then the better you will feel going in, and the better the interview will be for you, the guest and more importantly, your listeners.My golden rule is 'never interupt' the interviewee when they are answering a question. Which is really hard to do if they say something that make you want to chip in with a follow-up question before they've finished - don't.But listen to this edition of Podcasting Made Easy for my take on interviewing your podcast guests.And do checkout this 'how to' feature here and check out my Podcasting Made Easy book here.As always, I am keen to hear your feedback and podcasting questions via my contact form.Cheers,Steve.https://youtu.be/Dzuw1ovpCMs

No matter how much you spend on a microphone the key to getting the best from it is for you to get to know it. To treat it like a friend.Only rarely can you just plug a mic in expect it to record a great performance. Every microphone has its own personality, it will like some things and not others.It might pop a plosive at one angle and not another. It might sound great if you speak into in one direction, but not another.Al mics have their sweet spot for your voice, and your environment also plays a part too.So to record the best podcast, to get the best quality recording, means you have to understand what your mic likes and what it doesn't.In this episode of Podcasting Made Easy I'll explore some of the way in which you can record your best performance as a podcaster.As always, flick through your podcasting question to me at www.stevehart.co.nzCheers,Steve

Anyone who uses social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube etc will have heard of at least one person who has been banned, de-platformed, or had their account frozen for a few days.Some people wear the postponement of services as a badge of honour, others are mortified, while others probably knew they were trying their luck with comments about current issues that the rest of us only talk about in whispers to trusted friends.I was blocked from using Facebook the other week for 24 hours, and I still do not understand why. My messages to Facebook asking for an explanation went unanswered.So what would happen if your audience were shut out of using social media, or if you found yourself in hot water with the social media de-platform bots? You'd risk losing the ability to connect with your followers, to tell them of your new episode etc.The fact is, social media is so easy to use. It's so easy to build an audience and a following with people around the world. The downside is that you only have access to your followers until the platform you use decides otherwise.So in episode 30 of Podcasting Made Easy I am advising you to start building your own email database of followers and podcast listeners – so social media cannot cut you off.

It seemed every man, woman, and their dog wanted to start a podcast in 2020. I guess people suddenly had time on their hands and decided that the time was right to launch the podcast they'd been talking about for the past five years.While plenty of people had the where-with-all to record something, plenty were stumped when it came to distributing their shows and getting them on the key podcast distribution sites.Nevertheless, the most popular question was about which microphone to buy, closely followed by which app to record and edit with.My view is that almost any microphone you have is likely good enough, where most people need to pay attention is the room in which they record in. And that's the key subject of this podcast.As for the apps... Well I am currently using the free OcenAudio app for recording (surprisingly versatile and full-featured) and Reaper for (non-destructive) editing / post production (free 30-day trial or $60).

Lots of people want to start a podcast but put it off because they doubt themselves. I'm here to say that you have a voice and if you want to start podcasting then you owe it to yourself to at least start.You may discover it's not for you (as there is a bit of donkey work involved - writing these show notes for example).But you may love it, get into your stride and build a whole new hobby or raise your profile to become the 'go to' person for information on your subject matter / genre.My advice though, is to write down the subject headings of your first 10 podcasts before you start - particularly if your show is not driven by news and events. If you still have the enthusiasm for hosting podcasts after the first 10 episodes have been released then you may be onto something.If not...well podcasting isn't for everyone – so perhaps use a different outlet, start a blog and publish your thoughts or grab a camera and make videos about it.But don't let self doubt get in the way....

We are all used to chatting with people via Voice Over IP (Voip) services such as Skype and Zoom etc, and we all know the audio quality isn't always that brilliant. In addition to low audio quality, there are often frequent audio drop-outs and sometimes people's voices become fuzzy and garbled – just when they say something important.So while Voip services can be used to record a podcast interview, if you really do want the best possible audio quality then there is a simple(ish) workaround that includes using the Voip service of your choice together with a belt-and-braces approach.And that required each party to the interview to record themselves locally. They can use a digital recorder, perhaps their phone (at a high quality audio setting), or a mic connected to their computer.Any audio issues resulting from the Voip service will be inconsequential as you will have 'clean' audio recorded locally.Then you just bring those recordings into your multi-track audio editing and work with the supplied files.But even then, it's not foolproof - as audio drift can be an issue - but there is a solution...

It's easy to get in a rut when it comes to producing a podcast every week – particularly if you are hosting a podcast on behalf of your company. Where do the story ideas come from?To help out, here are five ideas to lift your show out of the doldrums… In no particular order:* Ensure your podcast offers real value to your listeners. What practical advice and information can you share that will not only resonant with your listeners, but really help them? * Is your firm involved in community projects, or has it donated to a good cause in the community? If so, tell your listeners those stories by featuring the people your company is helping. * Expand your podcast now and again to include photos and video on the episode's web page. Add a bit of extra content to generate added interest.* Have you recorded a very long episode? Is it too long? Release two versions. A cut down episode featuring the highlights and key points for distribution, and a full version that only resides on your website. Promote the long version in the short version of your podcast.* Don't forget the listeners! Invite feedback and questions about your industry. You never know what you'll be asked and it will make for some fascinating episodes.

We've all seen the discussions about using music in podcasts…That's right – you can't use this week's number one as the intro to your show – unless you have a licence to cover the royalties, have permission from all owners of the track, or you are reviewing a snippet to critique it.For your show's intro you are best off using Royalty Free Music. Which is not ‘Free Music'. It is Royalty free music. Which means that once you have paid to use it; or obtained it legally from a royalty free library, then you are able to use it without having to pay every time you use it.While to can use your typewriter to Google royalty free music libraries; I have saved you the effort if you want free music. That's right; royalty free music that you can use for zero payment.My top three (in no particular order) are:* The Free Music Archive* Facebook Creator Studio* YouTube Audio LibraryIf you know of any other free (legal) libraries then do let me know.In addition, most PCs come with music-making apps. Why not create something unique? All the best,Steve

Having a dedicated website for your podcast can help podcasters in lots of ways.It provides a central anchor point for the podcast that isn't reliant on any streaming service and it allows you to create and publish content that isn't a podcast.For example, you may decide that a written feature is the best way to share information along with relevant hotlinks. Or perhaps there are photos and videos you want to share.Bringing all your content under one roof can help centralise your podcasts and all the other bits and bobs you do.And you can give people a place to subscribe – not only to your podcast but everything else you do too. I use a free Mailchimp account that is connected to my RSS feed. It means that when I publish a post, the subscriber email is sent automatically.There are plenty of free options for websites, but for the most flexibility – and ownership – I prefer to host my a WordPress site on my own hosting plan.If you haven't got a website for your podcast, then do consider it. And yes, get the domain name that's the same name as your podcast (if at all possible).If you have any questions about podcasts or WordPress website than do drop me a line.Cheers,Steve

Podcasts are an ideal addition to any company's content marketing mix – and here’s why. Every current survey of podcast listenership shows that an increasing number of people are listening to them.Years ago podcasts were the product of geeks serving a niche market (they used to be called audioblogs). But during the last few years podcasting has mushroomed into the mainstream. Everyone you speak with seems to have at least one favourite podcast.And according to survey company Roy Morgan, last year (2019) more than 320,000 New Zealanders downloaded audio or video podcasts in an average four weeks, an increase of nearly 150,000 compared to 2016 – an 82 per cent increase.A survey by Radio New Zealand released in June 2019 showed 31 per cent of Kiwi's download podcasts. And 48 per cent of all podcast listeners in New Zealand are aged under 45-years-old.Any marketer has to concede that podcasting is not a passing fad. The founder of the Content Marketing Institute, Joe Pulizzi, says podcasts offer “the best definition of ‘content’ I’ve seen”.It seems pretty clear to me there is plenty of room for business owners to exploit the podcast platform to promote their brand and increase thier relationship with their current and future customers.Audio offers a level of convenience, reach and engagement that is unmatched by any other medium. Why do you think radio is still so popular?However, your podcast content has to be engaging. You have to put the audience first. You can’t just say “buy from us because we are good”. That’s a commercial. You have to deliver much more than that. You have to give something away. Any thoughts of a sale must come after the relationship has been established.The content of your podcast could a story about how you helped a customer; about how you came up with the idea of your widget, the lessons learned in its development, the failures, the problem solving, your successes. Honest stories that build credibility and trust.Use podcasts to tell your story and the stories behind your services and products, as well as share industry news and information, along with your pick of future trends in your industry.A podcast is less time consuming to make than a video, and can provide an easy way for you to include other people in the recording. They are cheap to distribute too.There’s also a level of trust that’s built up by people listening to your voice, getting to know you, and getting a feel for your personality.A podcast can help establish you as an expert, an authority within your industry. It will expand your reach to people you could never otherwise hope to meet or influence.Too shy to put yourself out there? Don't like hearing your own voice? Well, dig deep, and embrace the medium.Think you need expensive equipment? No, you can start by recording on your phone – speaking directly into its microphone, and doing any editing on the free audio app that came with your PC.Produce one a week; build a following, and watch your brand grow.

We've all seen the heated debates online about which microphone to buy; but the truth is there is no correct answer.In this episode of Podcasting Made Easy I look at the many factors to consider; the recording environment, the budget, and whether you should use a condenser, dynamic, or USB microphone.I say don't buy any microphone – use what you already have and do it anyway. But if you need to buy a microphone then my preference is dynamic.

You see it at least once a week on podcast forums…Should I ask the person I am interviewing to sign a personal release form.My answer may surprise some.

It’s too easy to knock out a podcast episode, post it up and then sit back rubbing your hands – job done.But oh no, there is more to it than that.You need to promote each podcast to reach new listeners and increase your audience. To make an impact. So make sure to write an engaging promo about each episode, create a compelling graphic to post across social media, and ask your guest to share it too.Find out more in this episode of Podcasting Made easy.