The Step-by-Step Guide To Start Your Own Podcast

As the audience for Podcasts continues to grow, there has never been a better time to start a Podcast for your business, brand, or a personal hobby. Well-conceived Podcasts are an effective, portable, convenient and intimate way to deliver and produce content, and to build ongoing relationships with your clients, employees and constituents. Filled with information and the right mix of entertainment, Podcasts are incredibly engaging and a useful medium for businesses and listeners alike. 

Here are a few reasons why Podcasts should be an addition to your existing content and marketing strategy.

1. Content is easier to consume for your audience.
2. Podcasts make information personal.
3. Can be monetized effectively.
4. Can be listened to just about anywhere.
5. Can reach a new audience that doesn’t read blog posts.

If you too are trying to publish your Podcast, here are five steps on how to launch your own podcast and take advantage of this exciting new medium by using professional voice recording services for you Podcast’s intros and outros:

1. The purpose and audience of your Podcast

Podcasts are as varied as the people that create them. To start, you need to know why you want to make a podcast? Are you a freelancer?  A business? Or a marketing manager? Do you want to build authority, and provide your customers with valuable and entertaining content. Or are you looking at podcasting from a hobbyist perspective? Also, it is always suggested to understand the demographics, age, gender and preferences of your audience to know what content to present to them. 

2. Write the perfect Podcast topic and script

Once you figure your purpose and scope, you need to pick a podcast theme or topic. Your topic can be as broad as pop-culture or as focused as discussions about recent happenings in the political system. The only requirement is to be passionate about whatever you choose. It should be something you're excited to research and regularly discuss. 

There are many ways to go about creating a script, and when it comes to planning your podcasts, scripts are the most important tool to move you effortlessly through your podcast’s content. You must try to inculcate the following while creating your podcast script:

1. Make your script conversational to avoid a flat, monotone delivery. 
2. As your audience will not be having any visual cues, make sure you describe your script well so your listeners can picture it in their mind. 
3. Maintain a consistent pace to keep your listeners engaged.

3. Recording the podcast

One may assume that Podcasts are easy to produce because they are audio only, but they can take up a lot of time to put together, especially at first. Also, podcasts do best when they’re released consistently. If you’re interested in developing any kind of listener base, you have to be ready to release episodes on a regular basis. Picking the best recording equipment setup for a professional Podcast voice over and narration can help to determine your Podcast’s popularity. 

The Podcast Equipment You'll Need

Improvements in hardware and software technology have dramatically changed the way Podcasts are developed, created, produced, and publicized. Additionally, laptops, desktops, tablets, phones, and other devices are equipped with more powerful processors and other features that make creating Podcasts easy. There are even new, inexpensive ways to make sure your environment helps you attain the best quality audio.

1. Microphones: The microphone is the most important piece of equipment for Podcasters, since it's responsible for reproducing the voices you'll create on the show. Podcasters have a choice of two main types of microphones, dynamic or condenser. Historically, dynamic microphones were more rugged and didn't pick up as much ambient noise as condenser mics; the latter are generally more sensitive and produce a higher output. Condenser mics can be great for studios but may pick up too much ambient sound for field use. Dynamic mics may hide some pops or noise from the wind, but may not be as detailed in producing audio. In the beginning, you might be unfamiliar with the different types of microphones available on the market. Test different microphones to understand which one suits your voice. If you notice too many plosives or harsh sibilance in your recordings, the simplest solution is to move off-axis from the microphone. Setting your mic up to the side, angled slightly toward your mouth, will prevent bursts of air from hitting the capsule directly and can result in a smoother, more natural Podcast audio.
2. Headphones: There's a vast array of headphones on the market, and they can range widely in price. It's important that you get the best-sounding headphones you can afford, since you'll be using them to monitor your audio in real time and listen to the playback of your show. 
3. Audio interface: If you're not using a USB microphone, you'll need to set up an audio interface on your computer to convert the analog audio signal from your XLR microphone into a digital signal. You'll most likely need a mixing board, too, particularly when you have more than one person participating in the podcast. 
4. Accessories: A pop filter can make an important difference in your audio quality. It's a screen that fits in front of your mic and prevents air from making popping sounds on your audio. You'll also want to invest in well-designed mic stands for your studio. When you're in the field, be sure to bring along good-quality backpacks and cases to protect your audio equipment from the elements. 

Another important aspect to recording audio is to set up a basic home studio to create your podcast, which should be soundproofed. A “dead” room with less “echo” and unwanted outside noises should be chosen to record your Podcast. Insulate entry doors and windows, check for any cracks and install a door sweep to keep the unwanted noises at bay

4. Focus On The Intros And Outros Of Podcasts

Your podcast intro is your show’s opening that introduces your show and you as the host. It’s designed to set the mood and tone of your entire show based on the music and words in your intro. The most effective podcast intros are short and to the point and let the listeners know the high points, enticing them to tune in to hear more.

Similarly, your podcast outro is the closing that wraps up the podcast and, when done right, leaves the audience with a lingering good feeling. This is the ideal place to include a tagline that you’d like to leave listeners with; something that is a core message of your podcast in general. Like your podcast intro, your outro is part of your overall branding of content that keeps your listeners loyal. 

It’s also essential to hire professional voice over artists and match the voice and music in your intro and outro to the content of your podcast. The audience will come to identify the voice and music of your intro or outro with your content, and it would make them excited to hear what you have to say.

Podcast Intro elements should include: 

1. Name of podcast,
2. Episode number and title
3. Music or sound effects
4. Name of host
5. Summary/intro of episode

Podcast Outro elements should include: 

1. Thanks the audience for listening
2. Website address for more info, host contact information
3. One call to action 

Getting your intros and outros done by seasoned voice actorsis always recommended to give your podcast a sense of credibility and sophistication. Experienced voice actors can help to turn your podcast into a widely listened to show. Having someone else’s voice promote your show can be significantly more effective than you doing your own closing self-promotion.

A quality voice over can enhance the overall reach of your podcast. Seasoned voice artists can engage the listeners better and provide credibility to the narration. Voyzapp is a premium voice over company that hosts thousands of professional voice talents who can provide quality and cost effective voice overs in multiple languages and accents. Make your podcast stand out from the crowd with a voice over podcast intro and outro.

5. Editing & uploading your first episode

The editing process is where you segment your podcast, remove audible distractions, and insert pre-recorded ads, voiceovers, intros, and outros. With the help of the right software and a few pointers, even the not-so-technically inclined can create a quality, well-edited podcast. There are countless options out there, and here are few options that will have you podcasting like a pro in hardly any time at all.

1. Audacity
2. Garageband
3. Pro Tools
4. Adobe Audition
5. Logic Pro X

Once you've produced the audio file for your podcast, you'll need to transfer it to a hosting service, so you can get your podcast listed in various directories (iTunes and Spotify). Quite a few podcast-hosting services such as Libsyn, SoundCloud, BuzzSprout offer free trials or free tier options. Also, promoting your podcast on your blog, email list, social media, or in forums is the best way to get the early listens and reviews that will determine how fast your audience grows.

Podcasts are a growing medium that is only becoming more and more powerful. That power is making podcasts more and more influential in society as a whole and in business and marketing. So what are you waiting for? Go forth and start recording! 

To showcase your Podcasting talent to the universe instantly, you can register as a voice artist at Voyzapp and upload your podcast in the “Podcast” category at the portal. Remember to choose the language, title, style etc carefully while uploading. One click and your samples are live post our internal review! Happy Podcasting!

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