Podcasting can be time consuming and often frustrating,
especially when you are under-prepared and ill-equipped for
what you are setting out to achieve. In order to smooth out
the bumps in the ride, it's always a good idea to be as
prepared as you possibly can before you sit down to create
your podcast. If you're too eager to get your voice
recorded before you've laid the groundwork you can often
get into a pickle and the show you had in mind just doesn't
come off as planned.
Get into the habit of following the 5 steps below so that
there'll be less time spent pulling your hair out and more
time spent getting a great business podcast out into
cyberspace.
Step 1 - Email participants and permission requests in
advance.
You've had a great idea for a show where you're going to
interview some successful business owners and use a clip of
one who podcasts himself. If you plan to record your show
on Thursday afternoon, don't expect you can get away with
requesting interviews and permissions on Wednesday and
still record your show, as planned, the next day.
People are busy and their time is precious. Always be one
step ahead of yourself in thinking about who you'd like on
your show and ask for permissions way in advance of
recording. Always have back-up ideas too, just in case you
just can't get to people in time.
Step 2 - Choose clips and interviewees before writing the
scripts/planning your links.
If you intend to take extracts from the interviews to add
in between links or even extracts from other people's
shows, it's a good idea to know which clips you'd like to
use before you go ahead and write the script. This means
you can then write the script in a way that introduces what
participants are going to say or you could comment on what
they've said at the end of the clip.
Step 3 - Have a script.
Lots of would-be podcasters feel 100% confident that they
know what they're going to say and intend to have a slick,
fluff-free delivery. Well, you know what they say about the
best laid plans of mice and men? It's a really good idea to
have a script of some description so that your points
follow a rational and well thought out process and your
listeners get maximum value out of your podcast. You don't
have to write a detailed script and then reel it off word
for word if you think this will make you sound wooden (most
non-professional broadcasters would have difficulty making
it sound otherwise), it's more about knowing what you're
going to say, knowing how your points are going to pan out
and, if you have guests, having a few notes about them and
the kind of questions you could ask them.
Imagine introducing your guest and their name goes
completely out of your head. A set of notes or a script
will stop this from happening and make you feel more
comfortable, much in the way crib notes help you stay
relaxed when giving a presentation.
Step 4 - Prepare yourself.
This may sound like an obvious preparation step but it's
one that many neglect. Imagine getting up in the morning
and everyone is out of the house; there's nobody to talk
to. You go into your office or studio and switch your mic
on, ready to record your podcast. You clear your throat a
little and then start. How do you sound ? A bit like a
zombie from Night of the Living Dead? So, what to do
instead? Talk out loud or sing to loosen up the vocal
chords, do some stretches and breathing to loosen up the
body. Have a warm drink (but avoid milk as it clogs up the
sinuses) and, last but not least, put a dab of lip balm on
your lips (yes, it's so that they move smoothly over one
another when you speak, reducing any unwanted noises).
Step 4 - Prepare your environment.
An essential element in making sure your podcast runs
smoothly is to prepare your environment as well as you can.
Turn off any phones that might disturb you, 'dampen' your
room as much as you can (I know of someone who records
under the desk with a blanket draped over it), make sure
you have everything you need.
If possible, try not to time your recording to coincide
your with the time the cats need feeding or your spouse
will be home. Take care to ensure you will have as much
peace as possible.
Following these 5 steps will go a long way to ensuring you
get your voice into the heads of your target audience as
smoothly and painlessly as possible.
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For help with creating podcasts and other audio resources
go to http://www.AudioPodArtist.com
Audio Pod Artist - get your voice into their heads.
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