There’s no shortage of podcasts on the web. It seems like everyone these days wants to launch a podcast and that’s not a bad thing for podcasters – there are more shows, more listeners and more hype around podcasting than ever before. That being said, you’ll need to pull out all the stops if you want your show to stand out among the masses. In this article, we’ll share several tips that’ll help you rocket-launch your show to the next level.
By following a few podcast tips, you can produce better episodes and grow your audience. Plus, it can help you become an authority in your niche!
In this article, we’ll go over five podcasting tips and tricks that will help you take your show to the next level. Let’s get started!
1. Test Your Equipment Before Each Episode
As a podcaster, you know it’s all too common for shows to run into technical issues. Mics might not work properly, the sound might be too low, and entire segments can get lost due to software malfunction.
These types of mishaps are more common in smaller podcast productions. This is because you probably don’t have a dedicated team to test all hardware and software before each recording.
However, testing equipment can be as simple as doing a short test recording and making small adjustments to the software configuration. If you run into hardware issues, you might need to replace your podcast equipment before starting your episode.
Testing your equipment doesn’t mean you have to invest hours into it – even a 5-10 seconds test recording should be enough to see everything is working as expected. You’d never want to discover an error after recording a full episode!
2. Create Habits or a Podcast Template You Can Reuse
Most successful podcasts have intros, outros, and a general structure that they reuse throughout each episode. These templates aren’t strictly necessary, but they help immensely when it comes to branding. Moreover, having a set structure helps listeners know what to expect from each episode.
The best way to develop a starter template is to analyze your favorite podcasts. You can take notes on how they introduce the show, how often they use pauses, how many ads they run (and how long they are), how often they switch between topics, and anything else that seems relevant.
Get your rhythm and create habits about how you approach each episode – this will help you get things done faster and it’d be easier for you to plan, record and launch each episode.
This information can help you come up with a unique template for your show. It can also help you save time when planning new episodes!
3. Opt for a Sustainable Podcast Schedule
One of the most important tips for podcasting is to be realistic with your schedule. Most successful podcasts stick to a strict schedule because listeners love knowing when their favorite shows are going to come out:
Many new podcasters do not follow a schedule. Famous hosts can get away with being inconsistent, but if you want to find an audience, you’ll need to set deadlines that you know you can meet.
As a rule of thumb, it’s best to prepare podcast episodes well ahead of time (unless you’re hosting a daily show). For bonus points, you’ll want to have multiple podcast episodes ready to go. That way, if other things get in the way, you’ll still have some episodes in the tank.
4. Use Audio Cues to Make Editing Easier
One of the best podcast recording tips is to add cues for editing purposes. Even the most seasoned hosts sometimes fumble with words, misread the script, or say unfortunate things while recording. The great thing about podcasts is you can edit out all that noise before uploading an episode.
However, editing long episodes can be very time-intensive. Even if you remember a specific mistake, finding it in a long recording can be a chore. That’s where cues come in.
Seasoned podcast hosts use cues such as sounds or long silences during portions of an episode they want to remove. These will be easy to spot if you use editing software. This simple podcasting tip makes editing episodes much less daunting.
5. Create a Website for Your Podcast
Every podcast needs a website. While you can host your episodes on different podcasting platforms, a website can provide additional benefits. For example:
- A website makes it easier for users to find your show. Getting discovered on Spotify, Apple, or whichever platform you use can be a challenge unless someone recommends the show to other users. Having a website enables you to get traffic from search engines, which you can then convert into loyal listeners.
- You can monetize your podcast through the site. With a website, you can sell merchandise, collect donations from listeners, and place affiliate links and ads to make money from the show.
- It gives your fans a place to talk to each other. A lot of podcast websites have forums and comment sections where fans can talk to each other. This can help you build a community of like-minded individuals.
If you’ve never built a website before, Podcastpage.io can simplify the process for you. Our visual builder enables you to create a professional site for your podcast. Plus, we offer a selection of podcast website templates to help you get started:
These templates can help you launch a podcast website fast, as you only need to customize them to suit your style. You can check out some of our favorite podcast site examples for inspiration.
Conclusion
Launching a podcast is not an easy endeavor. It takes a lot of work to record and publish even one episode, let alone an entire show. However, there are several podcast production tips that can help you succeed.
To recap, here are five tips for making a podcast and growing your audience:
- Test your equipment before each episode.
- Create a podcast template you can reuse.
- Opt for a sustainable podcast schedule.
- Use audio cues to make editing easier.
- Create a website for your podcast with Podcastpage.io.
