How to Make a Good Podcast
Want to know how to make a good podcast? Well, maybe this will help. Maybe. If the title of this post sounds a little odd, it is. However, it is that way on purpose. As I was researching what sort of information people are looking for related to podcasts, I saw that this was a common search phrase. People aren’t searching for tips on “how to create the best podcast ever.” They aren’t searching for “how to make my podcast sound better than those produced by professional news and broadcast networks.” There are a lot of people out there just looking to make a decent sounding podcast. They want to know how to make a good podcast.
How Long Should Your Podcast Intro Be?
Exactly how long should your podcast intro be? All of a sudden, I have started getting a lot of questions about this topic. I am not sure what has inspired all the questions. It may simply be the influx of new podcasters and new podcasts. Or, it may be all the different advice swirling around out there. As podcasting is growing at an accelerating rate, so is the number of websites, online courses, and events geared to helping podcasters get started. This means there are a lot of different opinions out there on every aspect of podcasting.
Do You Need a Podcast Outro?
Before deciding whether or not you need a podcast intro, you need to consider what you are trying to accomplish with your podcast and what you hope listeners do when it is over.
Producing and Reviewing Podcasts: What I Have Learned So Far
Adding a professional intro, recording in a different space, or changing a couple of settings can completely change the level of a podcast for the better. Most podcasters don't realize how great they can sound with just a little help.
Podcasting: How Can I Help?
I have the old whiteboard out and I am planning my upcoming blog posts and podcast episodes. It is always fun brainstorming topics and trying to find those things that podcasters will find helpful. I love guessing but, even more, I love hearing from podcasters. So, how can I help?
Starting a Podcast - Equipment, Software, Hosting, and More
Do you need help starting a podcast? That is what this blog and my Pro Voice Guy Podcast are all about. But, what if you need a little more hands-on help, customized to your needs? Through my relationship with Fiverr, I am now offering an opportunity to get personalized help starting your podcast.
Take a look at the video and click here for more information.
Is it Okay to Read Your Podcast? [4 Quadrants of Show Prep] + [5 Script Tips!]
A client asked me a question the other day that took me a moment to answer. She asked, "Is it okay to read your podcast?" I had to ask for some clarification. Her issue was that she was writing a complete script for her show and basically recording herself reading it. She wondered if that was okay. So, I asked for a recording of her show. Sure enough, it sounded like she was reading a script.
Is it Worth it? What Are You Hoping Will Happen?
Are you considering throwing in the towel on your podcast? Are you just starting a podcast and wondering if you will be able to push through enough episodes to really establish yourself?
I feel too many podcasters give up before they should. I could wow you with stats about how many episodes most podcasters last before giving up or abandoning their show. But, I am not interested in statistics. Instead, I am thinking about your show. You were excited when you started it, but sometimes you think it is time to move on. Maybe it is time. But, maybe it is not.
Writing A Great Podcast Intro Script
I get a lot of questions from podcasters looking to create the perfect podcast intro script. Sometimes they are hiring me to provide the voice over or even produce the entire intro. Other times, I have clients who will be providing the vocals but want me to take care of the music, effects, and production. I do offer podcast intro script writing services, but this is something that many podcasters can take care of themselves. Sometimes people ask me for an example of a great podcast intro script or some guidelines for what should go in there.
Podcasting: The Interview (5 Tips)
Interviews are one of the most fascinating aspects of podcasts. There are, of course, some podcasters (like me) who have never featured an interview. But, for some podcasters, interviews are the lifeblood of every episode. For others, they are an occasional feature.
Whether interviews are a regular feature of your podcast or, if they only come along every once in a while, you want to do everything you can to make them sound great.
Podcast Technical Review
Do you want your podcast to sound better and more professional? Are you wondering where to start? I can help.
I hate to see audio issues get in the way of great content. I have heard some podcasts that have fantastic content and fascinating hosts but so many audio problems that it is just too difficult to listen.
Others aren't that bad, but the first impression created by a lack of professional audio quality reduces the show's credibility.
If you think your show might have some audio problems or, if you don't know, let me take a listen and see what we can improve.
Improving Your Podcast: The Crutch
There are a lot of tips for improving your podcast. In this post, I am going to share something that you can get rid of to improve your podcast: the crutch.
How YOU Can Sound Great on Your Podcast (5 Voice Tips)
How can you sound great on your podcast? Practice!
Like it or not, if you are the host of your podcast, you are the "voice talent." I have written before that you don't have to have a "great voice" to have a great podcast. Podcasting is a great chance to share YOUR voice. Your voice works perfectly for your content. So, forget what people sound like when they are selling cars or telling you about new movies. Just be you.
What I want to do is help you be the best you possible. I have picked up some tips through the years using my voice professionally that can help you sound even better on your podcast. The nice thing is, none of these is extraordinarily difficult, and they don't require years of training.
Portable Podcast Setup - Taking a Podcast on the Road: Some Equipment Options
Are you looking for a portable podcast setup? Do you need some mobile podcast recording equipment options? Take a look.
Are you and your podcast ready to boldly go where no podcast has gone before? Or, maybe you want to occasionally record your podcast at another location. Or, you don't have a permanent recording space, so your gear needs to be easily moved.
Fortunately, given the fantastic equipment available on the market, portable podcast recording is cheaper and easier than ever. Some of this stuff is so good, you may keep using it when you find yourself in a permanent location.
Podcasting Tips: Using Software to Make Your Podcast Sound Better - EQ Part 2
There is no reason your podcast can't sound as professional as shows with dedicated studios and $2000 microphones. Well, your podcast might not sound that good. But, it won't take much to take your podcast from sounding like something you put together at your kitchen table to something that sounds professional. In this series, I have been sharing some of the ways software can help with this.
In the last post, we looked at the different kinds of equalizers (EQs). Below, I will take a closer look at different frequency ranges and how you can adjust settings to fix common problems that many podcasters face and enhance the sound of your voice and podcast.
Podcasting Tips: Using Software to Make Your Podcast Sound Better - Part 3
Ready for more podcasting tips? In this series, we are talking about ways to make your podcast sound better. There is no reason for sound quality to get in the way of your content. Your podcast can and should sound as good as professionally produced shows. And, you don't need to spend a ton of money. All you need to do is learn how to use your software.
So far we have covered compression, normalization, and limiting. In this post and the next, I will look at equalization or (EQ).
Podcast Intros: Catching Your Listeners' Attention
If you want a professional sounding podcast, you need a professional sounding podcast intro. However, you don't necessarily need to hire a pro to have a great intro. In this post, I will discuss the elements of a great intro and how to go about either producing your own intro or hiring someone else to do it for you.
Podcasting Tips: Making Your Podcast Sound Better with Normalization and Limiting
Do you want your podcast to sound better? Why let sound quality get in the way of your excellent content?
In my last post, I told you about using audio compression to keep your levels more consistent across your podcast. This time, we will cover two more important effects that can improve the overall sound of your episodes: normalization and limiting.
Podcasting Tips: Using Software to Make Your Podcast Sound Better - Part 1
Ready for some podcasting tips? Ready to make your podcast sound great?In my last post, I wrote about some of the first steps to take when you are ready to make your podcast sound more like the professional podcasts you listen to.We started with the two most essential factors in audio quality: the space you are recording in and your microphone. Now, we will move on to the software.
Podcast Tips: Making Your Podcast Sound Better
Looking for some podcast tips? Want to make your podcast sound better? Keep reading.
So, you have started a podcast, or you are getting ready to make the leap. But, when you listen to your recordings, they don't sound the same as some great podcasts you listen to. What can you do to improve your sound quality? What can you do to make your podcast to sound as good as professionally produced podcasts?