Building the perfect podcast.

Like all good messages, they start with an idea, and the clearer the idea the better. In planning what you’ll talk about, think about why you are developing this message and who should hear it. Think about what differentiates your service or product, and for whom that matters.

At the same time, think about the complexity of your message: can you say it all in one 5 minute session? Or is it better delivered as a three-part series? Are you offering a “newscast” or similar periodic podcast?  Planning how you will structure your podcast campaign is the start of an effective podcast.

If you’ve heard the the old adage “measure twice, cut once” then you already understand the importance of preparation. For a podcast this advice is a key to success.

A few minutes in advance organizing what you want to say will make your final product much better. Have you ever recorded your own introduction and greeting for your mobile or office voice mail? Did you get it right the first time? Most people don’t....and all we’re really talking about in that case is stating your name clearly!

Now imagine that you’ll be talking for 3, 5, 10 minutes or more. Very few people can do that extemporaneously, and those who can have usually had lots of practice. As an exercise, listen to a handful of podcasts: you’ll quickly note that some are well-planned while others ramble, stammer, and backtrack. Which style do you prefer? Now put yourself in a prospective customer’s shoes and ask the same question.

Remember, the audience is listening. Don’t make them regret it.

Creating a podcast involves recording your message. Of course, you knew that. You can call in and simply use the phone, or, you can record your message and then upload it.

Editing your podcast can be simple...or a nightmare. If you use our planning tools you’ll significantly reduce your editing tasks. At the same time, there are certain things that can only be accomplished with digital editing.

For example, rather than creating from scratch a standard introduction each time you record an ongoing podcast, you can create a short intro and then splice it onto each edition of your podcast. The same holds true for the ending segment of your podcast, where you’ll tell people where to find out more about you offer.

Recognize there are two schools of thought here: one holds that your podcast should feature your voice. The other holds that your podcast should be meaningful to whomever chooses to listen to it, with no effective constraints on how it actually produced. We support both schools.

If you prefer to use your own voice in your podcasts, we offer an easy way to get that done. On the other hand, if you prefer to use professional voice talent we can help with that too.

TIP: If you’ll be building a global audience, you may want to consider using native speakers proficient in the languages you’d like to feature. It’s a nice feature that is truly appreciated by those who choose to listen in a native language. Our professional voice services are perfect for this.