5 Steps to a Successful Podcast
Podcasting is fast becoming a credible media for promotion and providing services. Like a forum, newsletter or mailing list, it allows online businesses to provide consumers with information through a more interesting format.
Podcasts can be used as a medium for a whole host of additional content for your website. Typical uses include instructional lectures, industry related interviews with professionals in the field, discipline specific debates or just provision of information on the services your business is offering or the issues it deals with.
Although podcasting may come across as a quick and simple innovative medium, certain aspects need to be considered in order to gain a successful following and professional recognition.
1. Choose a Suitable Format
When deciding to embark on a series of podcasts, it is important to recognize their purpose in regards to what you're hoping to present to your audience and how you feel they will build your brand.
With these two factors in mind, the initial step to creating a series of successful podcasts is to determine the format you wish them to take. The information you are providing your audience with will be the key determining feature that defines the format you wish to use.
For example, James Martell, host of the Affiliate Buzz on WebmasterRadio.FM, releases his podcasts in order to provide information to affiliate businesses on what steps they should be taking in order to improve. In order to illustrate his points, he invites guests to join him on the podcast to discuss their personal experience of the topic. This format is referred to as a 'coffee talk'; an informal conversational forum whereby the host plus guests provide information through real life and hypothetical examples.
Alternatively, you may choose another way to present your podcasts which is more suitable to the information you are attempting to divulge. Other successful examples are step by step style instructional podcasts, interviews with experts (a style particularly successful in medical related podcasts or surrounding topical issues) and podcasts which incorporate two hosts who have very different standpoints or experiences around the same issue.
2. Stick to a Predetermined Schedule
Not all businesses decide to pursue a podcast series as a continuous project. One of the first steps to defining your podcasts is looking at what you're hoping to achieve for your business by recording them. By doing this, it creates a clear path of how you should schedule your podcasts.
Arlene Martell, the founder of www.epilepsymoms.com, decided to release a handful of podcasts documenting and discussing the key issues surrounding epilepsy. The podcast series was designed to have a definitive end as the topic of 'epilepsy' rarely changes, meaning that it would be unsuitable to have ongoing podcasts as they would repeat previous information and bring nothing new to her business. Arlene outrightly states that if new information is released regarding epilepsy or she needs to update a podcast, then she has the means to do so.
Alternatively, for those presenting information that is constantly changing or is consistently under discussion in the public eye such as politics or business development, a series of monthly or weekly podcasts may be more suitable. If this is the case, it is vital to ensure that podcasts are released on time and are of a consistent quality. Podcast series that 'fizzle' out, remove credibility from a business and make brands appear unreliable.
3. Edit Out Mistakes
Editing in television and radio is something that goes without saying within that industry field. However, many businesses and brands releasing podcasts either do not know how to, or do not think it necessary to edit podcasts before release. The problem with doing this is that it decreases the appearance of professionalism within a company.
Arlene Martell spoke of a guest doctor she had on one of her blogs who repeatedly said the word 'erm'. This made the podcast seem very unprofessional and gave the impression that the doctor wasn't confident in the information she was providing. By editing out the word, it sharpened up the recording and made for a professional piece.
4. Include an Introduction and Concluding Invitation
Whether you're making a podcast to interview a chemist on the latest drug or explaining how to create a website, as the host, you become the public face of the brand or organization you are representing.
With this in mind, a short introductory piece to each podcast adds a touch of professionalism and allows the audience to remember the personal touch of your brand.
A concluding invitation to visit your website also makes for a professional closure to your piece. This is particularly important if your podcasts are syndicated to podcast directories as listeners need to understand who you are and where they can access further information.
5. Syndicate Across Directories
Uploading your podcasts to your own brand's website only covers fraction of the advantages podcasts can bring to your organization. By syndicating your podcast series across a variety of directory websites, it creates backlinking to your own website as well as increasing search engine optimization. Both of these factors will lead to more hits and sign ups on your own websites and in turn more sales and recognition of your brand.
Guest Author Bio:
After researching the importance of website presentation on www.shopwpthemes.com, freelance writer Emily Jenkins took to finding projects that she could take on that would satisfy her hunger to assist businesses with developing their public image. With a keen interest in literary persuasion, she uses her experience in the business sector to provide step by step guides in the field.
Although podcasting may come across as a quick and simple innovative medium, certain aspects need to be considered in order to gain a successful following and professional recognition.
1. Choose a Suitable Format
When deciding to embark on a series of podcasts, it is important to recognize their purpose in regards to what you're hoping to present to your audience and how you feel they will build your brand.
With these two factors in mind, the initial step to creating a series of successful podcasts is to determine the format you wish them to take. The information you are providing your audience with will be the key determining feature that defines the format you wish to use.
For example, James Martell, host of the Affiliate Buzz on WebmasterRadio.FM, releases his podcasts in order to provide information to affiliate businesses on what steps they should be taking in order to improve. In order to illustrate his points, he invites guests to join him on the podcast to discuss their personal experience of the topic. This format is referred to as a 'coffee talk'; an informal conversational forum whereby the host plus guests provide information through real life and hypothetical examples.
Alternatively, you may choose another way to present your podcasts which is more suitable to the information you are attempting to divulge. Other successful examples are step by step style instructional podcasts, interviews with experts (a style particularly successful in medical related podcasts or surrounding topical issues) and podcasts which incorporate two hosts who have very different standpoints or experiences around the same issue.
2. Stick to a Predetermined Schedule
Not all businesses decide to pursue a podcast series as a continuous project. One of the first steps to defining your podcasts is looking at what you're hoping to achieve for your business by recording them. By doing this, it creates a clear path of how you should schedule your podcasts.
Arlene Martell, the founder of www.epilepsymoms.com, decided to release a handful of podcasts documenting and discussing the key issues surrounding epilepsy. The podcast series was designed to have a definitive end as the topic of 'epilepsy' rarely changes, meaning that it would be unsuitable to have ongoing podcasts as they would repeat previous information and bring nothing new to her business. Arlene outrightly states that if new information is released regarding epilepsy or she needs to update a podcast, then she has the means to do so.
Alternatively, for those presenting information that is constantly changing or is consistently under discussion in the public eye such as politics or business development, a series of monthly or weekly podcasts may be more suitable. If this is the case, it is vital to ensure that podcasts are released on time and are of a consistent quality. Podcast series that 'fizzle' out, remove credibility from a business and make brands appear unreliable.
3. Edit Out Mistakes
Editing in television and radio is something that goes without saying within that industry field. However, many businesses and brands releasing podcasts either do not know how to, or do not think it necessary to edit podcasts before release. The problem with doing this is that it decreases the appearance of professionalism within a company.
Arlene Martell spoke of a guest doctor she had on one of her blogs who repeatedly said the word 'erm'. This made the podcast seem very unprofessional and gave the impression that the doctor wasn't confident in the information she was providing. By editing out the word, it sharpened up the recording and made for a professional piece.
4. Include an Introduction and Concluding Invitation
Whether you're making a podcast to interview a chemist on the latest drug or explaining how to create a website, as the host, you become the public face of the brand or organization you are representing.
With this in mind, a short introductory piece to each podcast adds a touch of professionalism and allows the audience to remember the personal touch of your brand.
A concluding invitation to visit your website also makes for a professional closure to your piece. This is particularly important if your podcasts are syndicated to podcast directories as listeners need to understand who you are and where they can access further information.
5. Syndicate Across Directories
Uploading your podcasts to your own brand's website only covers fraction of the advantages podcasts can bring to your organization. By syndicating your podcast series across a variety of directory websites, it creates backlinking to your own website as well as increasing search engine optimization. Both of these factors will lead to more hits and sign ups on your own websites and in turn more sales and recognition of your brand.
Guest Author Bio:
After researching the importance of website presentation on www.shopwpthemes.com, freelance writer Emily Jenkins took to finding projects that she could take on that would satisfy her hunger to assist businesses with developing their public image. With a keen interest in literary persuasion, she uses her experience in the business sector to provide step by step guides in the field.
