Category: How to

December 21, 2018

The 5 Tools You Need To Kickstart Your Podcast

Launching a podcast is hard, but so worth the effort, to make the process easier here are 5 tools to kickstart your podcast.

Headliner. This app will help you create short shareable audio clips with picture backgrounds that you can share on social media to promote your show.

Tip: Send a different audio clip to your guest and ask them to share it widely to promote their episode.

Auphonic. New podcasters often do everything themselves. Your audio doesn’t have to be perfect and this app will help you “even your sound out”. The first 2 hours are free, I think and their pricing is fair.

Canva. If you want to make excellent graphics but have the artistic ability of a one-year-old who eats crayons, this is the website for you. You will find templates that are sized for most social media platforms so that you can create social posts to go with your episodes. You can also put in your own dimensions, a lot of people create their cover podcast cover art with Canva.

Temi A transcript can help with the discoverability of your podcast. This service is automated and produces a “good enough” transcript of your podcast, for a good price. You will need to go back in a do minor corrections but it’s budget-friendly and easy to use.

Tip: Use the transcript to look for quotes to use in your social posts for the episode.

Speakpipe: I love this app! This app allows people to leave you a short and sweet voice message. You are using the medium of audio to reach your audience, let them contact you in the same way. You will get an email notification when you have received a voicemail.

Tip: Ask for your listeners to leave you a voice note with feedback, tips and questions. Also ask them to leave their name!! Send them a shout-out in your next episode. Use their name. Make it personal. Make use of the medium that people prefer to use.

What apps make your podcasting life easier? Let me know.

September 14, 2018

Podcast 101: Remote interviews – What can you use to record your podcast interviews?

Recording Remote Interviews For Podcasts

This past week on IG @the_podcast_maven I have been posting tips on how you can record remote interviews easily.

Some of the software I mention you’ll be familiar with but there are some new players that I think deserve recognition and support.

You can record interviews on Skype,

Your first option is to use the old fav Skype. It’s simple to register for a Skype handle even if you haven’t used it for years. It’s free and you can talk to anyone anywhere. So how do you record this conversation? If you have a Mac then your best bet is ECamm recorder for Skype. It’s excellent, it works quietly in the background and if you tweak the settings you will get a really good quality recording. When you end your call the file is converted and saved to a designated file on your computer. Are you on a PC? You have a few options too. Amolto has been around for a while and users give it good reviews. When the call is done, stop the recording and your audio file will be saved to your hard drive.

Zoom

Everyone’s favourite. Every time a new podcaster is starting out I am asked if they can just record their interviews with Zoom. The short answer is yes, you can. The longer answer is I’d prefer if you didn’t.

Zoom is a conferencing software excellent at what it does but it wasn’t created for podcasting. If you have great sound on your end but your guest does not. It’s a real mission to clean up the audio as I only have a single MP3 recording to work with.

Zoom is a popular tool to record your interviews

Your life will be easier if you have a separate track for yourself and each of your guests. Now some people have said that Zoom allows you to have a separate track for your guest if you can do this go for it.

Ringr

If you are doing remote interviews and Skype has given you problems. Ringr might be the solution for you. As the host you will send a link to your guest (they can download the app on their phone) They get a code to join the call connect and get on with your interview. When you’re done you get a recording of fantastic quality. Go to the website it’s easy to follow. If you want to try it out I’m happy to get on a call with you

Zencastr

Zencastr. I love Zencastr, I have been a fan since they started out and up until today, they work really hard to smooth out any kinks and answer any questions users might have. How does it work?

How to record remote interviews- Zencastr

Register for an account, login to Zencastr, create an episode and send a link to your guest(s) record your interview. when you are done you will get an audio file for each guest. This will make your editor very, very happy. Try it out, let me know what you think.

Squadcast

This is a relatively new player on the block. I need to tell you about have not tried it yet. I found these guys at #PodcastMovement18.

How to record remote interviews- Squadcast

The bare bones it’s you register you send a link to your guest. You record, you get an audio file at the end. They also you to record video. Have you tried Squadcast yet? I love the innovation that’s happening around podcasting. Go check them out.

Do you have any questions? I’m here to help, go ahead and book a discovery call on the contact page. If you’d like to try out one of the options above I’m happy to do that.

September 1, 2018

Part 2: The 5 Things You Need To Start Your Podcast

The 5 things you need to start your podcast

Headphones

Please do not record without wearing a pair of headphones.

Always wear headphones when you record your podcast.

Yes, it’s important for sound quality, feedback is a bugger to deal with in post-production. That’s it.

Before you say it, yes there is a way to do stuff on your phone or iPad but I’m talking about the easiest way and the quickest way for you to feel comfortable and learn.

Editing software you can use on a Mac or PC

So whether you have a PC or Mac. Connect your gear. Make sure your computer is picking up your microphone. You might need to check your settings. Next is DAWS.

You will need to cut out odd noises, false starts and “umms” and “uuhhhs”. This is what your editing software is for. Aka DAWS here are a few of the options:

Audacity

Reaper

Adobe Audition

Ableton

GarageBand

Okay, most of these can be put on a Mac or PC. Don’t let the acronym scare you off (techy speak actually irritates me!!) I always recommend Audacity as a good place to start. It’s a solid platform that you can grow with as your skills get better and you gain confidence. I will say I am not a fan of Garageband personally, but if that’s what you have and you are comfortable with it. Go for it!!!

Do you have any questions? Are you stuck somewhere between idea and execution? Book a discovery call, I’d love to help you move forward.

August 28, 2018

Podcast 101 – The 5 Things You Need To Start A Podcast

Let’s make it simple, here’s what you need to start your podcast.

Podcast 101: The 5 Things You Need To Start Your Podcast – A great idea

Let’s make it simple. This week I’m stripping it down to the bare basics, what you need to start a podcast. Yes, getting a fab looking mic is fun but it’s not necessary. So before buying anything, you need a plan. You need to be clear about what you want to podcast about. It doesn’t matter that someone else is doing it; you just have to be clear on:

What you want to talk about
Why you want to talk about it
Who you want to talk to (who is your podcast aimed at? Who do you want to listen to your podcast?)

“I don’t know” is sometimes a valid answer to this question, get started anyway and work it out along the way.

To summarise the first thing you need before you start a podcast is an idea and a plan.

2. A Microphone

The second thing you will need is a microphone. Please do your homework before running out and getting the most expensive mic you can find. As a general rule condenser mics (like the Blue Yeti) these are a lot more sensitive to the noise around you. The mic pictured is a dynamic mic and I can’t talk enough about the ATR2100.

A good dynamic mic will take you a long way

It’s excellent, it’s tough and it does everything you need it too. I nearly forgot the round disc in front of the mic is a pop filter. Get one of these!!!! They are cheap and will save you a lot of time editing. We all make weird mouth noises this will minimise or eradicate them. If you just want to get started, use the Apple earbuds, they are good enough you will grow as you know more. Questions? Are you lost when thinking about what you need and what to do to get your podcast idea out of your head onto Apple Podcasts? Book a Discovery Call on the Contact Me Page

July 5, 2018

How to Choose A Name For Your Podcast

What should you think about when choosing a name for your podcast?

5 rules for naming your podcast What’s in a name?

It can be hard to stand out and be clear. We all know that we need something a little memorable until people hear our fantastic content and start recommending us!!! Here are 5 great tips on how to come up with a podcast name.

Your title should be easy to remember.

If your title is long and complicated, can you simplify it a little? Have you ever been out walking and searched for a show and you know it really well but all you get is ” No result“?

That drives me crazy! It’s normally because I made one typo. Don’t make it hard for people to find you. Keep the following in mind:

Easier to remember – easier to find – easier to share.

Is it Easy to Work Out What Your Show is About?

Tip 2: Is it easy to work out what the show is about?

Can anyone work out what the show is about from the title? Have you chosen something a little obscure or quirky?

If people in your field will search for that term then that’s great; but if it’s an in-joke that you explain in your podcast. You are making things difficult for yourself.

Be fun, be creative but also be clear.

Question? What’s in it for me?

What’s in it for me?

If I’m glancing at a screen of titles, will I quickly be able to work out if I should choose yours?

Does your title explain what your show is about?

Your podcast title should be easy to spell

Finally a Rule of Thumb.

5 words or less.

Your podcast title should be 5 words or fewer.

February 24, 2018

How to be a great podcast guest: Give away the good stuff

You will get the chance to tell people about who you are and what you do. Then make sure before the interview that you have one place to send them where they can find out what they want to know about you. If it’s your website great. No website yet? A landing page will do. Also make sure that you have some sort of “gift” offer for listeners.

Make sure it’s not fluff, if it’s a download make sure it is something that saves people time, teaches them something and that they might have been prepared to pay for.

Remember you want to create value!! Also your links will live in the show notes as well so make sure you have suitable working links.

Most hosts will also link to your social links in the shownotes as well. So make sure these are set up.

February 24, 2018

How to be a great podcast guest: You have 90 seconds

You have 90 seconds

Be mindful when the host gives you a time limit.

Especially when the host says something like “you have 90 seconds to tell us ….”

Try and stick to that time frame, actually do not try. Do it. This tip was given to me by @blackpillradio who commented on my IG thread.

I was on a panel with 5 other awesome ladies talking about:

Women in podcasting
The equipment you need
What holds people back from getting started and how to push through that

Do you have something to add? What do people need to remember when they are being interviewed?