Podcraft | How To Run A Great Podcast

In this episode, we’ll cover why you might want to use a digital recorder in your podcasting efforts, and how to choose the best one for you.We’ve discussed digital recorders in the past, and in fact, you can find our current definitive guide here: The Best Digital Podcast Recorders on the Market. This episode digs into the very same stuff with a little extra detail. Each option depends on your own unique situation, show format, and budget. But here are some of the models we typically recommend: Zoom H1 or Tascam DR-05 - the lower-cost 'lite' models Zoom H5 or Zoom H6 - premium Zoom options  Rodecaster Pro II - the ultimate podcast recorder Zoom PodTrak P4 - does a lot of what the Rodecaster does at quarter of the price Mackie DLZ Creator - the "money is no object" option Also Mentioned Growth Essentials Course

First thing's first, you're going to need something to record into, aren't you?  On this episode we take a deep dive into the world of microphones for podcasting.  The Best Podcasting Microphones Here, you'll learn The difference between XLR and USB mics The difference between Dynamic and Condenser mics What are Polar Patterns, and which one do you need? Can you use built-in mics to podcast? And, what are OUR favourite mics?  Also Mentioned in This Episode Samson Q2U (USB and XLR) Blue Snowball (USB) Blue Yeti (USB) Rode Procaster (XLR) MXL 990 (XLR) Shure SM58 (XLR) Alitu: The Podcast Maker

Welcome to our new and updated season on podcasting gear and technology. We last recorded this one back in 2019, and a lot has changed in that time.  Or has it?  You can easily keep track of every resource, tool, or product mentioned on our Resources page, and on the Podcraft Equipment Season page. 

Affiliate schemes are a great way for podcasters (even completely new ones) to earn some income. On this episode, we dive into what affiliate programmes are, how they work, which ones to choose, and how to get the best from them. Check out our full guide to affiliate programmes for podcasters, the Alitu affiliate scheme, and the IndiePod Community.  

In a world of AI chatbots, it's easy to have your shownotes drafted up in an instant. But how do you create shownotes that are actually good?* That's one of the questions we'll be answering on today's episode, along with considerations around audio ads, variety shows, and email list signups.  Thanks to our listeners who sent in this week's voice questions. Why not submit one yourself?  Listener Podcasts Family Histories Podcast She Needs Grit All About Home Construction Tweet Trends Resources Mentioned The guide to podcast trailers Where to advertise your podcast How to create great podcast show notes The IndiePod Community Rephonic's 3D audience graph SparkToro *Alright, so these shownotes aren't exactly mindblowing. But they do the trick, do they not? ;-)

We love getting voice questions from our listeners and members of the IndiePod Community. On this episode, we've four more to answer, courtesy of:  Matt Hepburn - Interview Bookers James C Taylor - My Amazing Woman Flloyd Kennedy - Am I Old Yet? Michell Harris - The Conversing Nurse Podcast

In our last episode, we talked through some of our podcast shortcomings. This time around, we dig into two voice clips where listeners Marty and John highlight some areas they'd like to improve. John's podcast is called Build a Presentation Muscle, whilst Marty's is Nepal Now.  Please send us your own voice clip and tell us what "podcasty stuff" YOU'RE not very good at. We might even be able to help!  And, for Matthew's charity appeal, here's a link to the JustGiving page. 

If you're going to teach others how to podcast, does that mean you need to be brilliant at everything yourself? Well, hopefully not. Colin and Matthew can think of a few gaps in their skill sets. On this episode, they talk through them and explore ways they might be able to improve.  They're also asking the question, what are YOU not very good at? Please send us your voice feedback, and we'll try our best to feature it on a future episode! 

Following on from our previous episode, some of the advice given was "do less". But what if you want to do more, in the most efficient way possible? That's precisely the purpose of this episode, where we talk through some of our top tips to ship your show.  Also mentioned: Our Podcast Show London review  Working in Seasons Read about how to plan a season, along with every b enefit you’ll get. Sailing Solo Read about the solo format, and its p ros and cons. Then, find out how to create a great monologue.  Smart Repurposing Your first step here is to try recording a blog post in audio form. Give it a go! Then, find out how to script & present content for smart repurposing in future.  Read how to create a blog post that’s easy to repurpose smartly.  Going Live the Right Way Try recording a live session with the following structure: 1. Welcomes and content sourcing, 2. Solid content, directed by audience feed in section 1, 3. Q&A and Goodbyes. During sections 1 and 3, you run audi

Do you ever find yourself thinking, "I have so much time to work on my podcast, I struggle to even fill it"?  No?  Well, let's see what we can do about that, then. Here are nine great podcasting time-saving tips for you to try out.  Batch recording  Use fewer tools Do fewer things Don't multitask (and, time block) Click/MEE editing  Speeded-up editing Use templates Utilise dynamic ads Automate and outsource wherever possible

Download numbers can vary from platform to platform, which causes frustration and confusion among podcasters. Why do some services show much higher numbers than others? Are they interpreting downloads differently? And what else can we do to measure the performance of our podcasts?   We'd also love to get some voice questions in for future episodes. Go to thepodcasthost.com/question to submit. If we play yours on the next episode, we'll send you a copy of The Podcast Host Planner and our Podcast Growth book.  

Open podcasting has always been vitally important to how the industry works. Still, it’s hard to talk about without getting super technical or glazing over in the middle of the conversation. This is because those conversations often start with the most tech-savvy industry folks – not your average podcaster – and certainly not your average podcast listener. But open podcasting is crucial to our industry, and the way things are moving, it’s at threat. So much so that a coalition known as the Podcast Standards Project has assembled on a mission to protect it.  In this episode, we’ll look at why open podcasting is so important to independent podcasters and what we can do to protect it. Check out our full blog post: Why We Need To Protect Open Podcasting (& How You Can Help!) 

If you’ve ever used a smartphone to take a GPS-enabled audio tour, such as one available through Voicemap, you’ve used locative media. Locative media is a way to share digital content via GPS triggers in the real world to increase personal interaction. It puts digital content and real places together to make an experience greater than the sum of its parts. On this episode, we talk about how you can utilise it to help enhance and grow your podcast.  Link to our full guide on Locative Media & GPS Audio  Season 17 of Podcraft  Submit a Question to Podcraft 

No podcaster in history has ever just run one show. In fact, many find their biggest or most successful podcasts to be a second or third attempt. They’ll learn the ropes on the topic they think they want to discuss, then start a new one later on, on a completely different subject. If you already run a podcast, then starting a second (or third, or fourth) is inevitable. BUT, if you’re just constantly starting new shows, you probably won’t get any momentum or success with any of them. SO, if you’ve got an idea for a new podcast and are itching to dive in, this episode provides you with a checklist of questions you can run through first. Resources The 10-10-10 Podcasting Challenge  Alitu: The Podcast Maker 

It’s a bit of a data discussion this week, with a few numbers to break down and analyse. Some of this data came via our own sources, whilst others have been the topic of much discussion in the mainstream media recently. Do Spotify layoffs and new podcasts dropping by 80% since 2020 mean podcasting is on the way out? And why do 60% of new podcasters worry about marketing their shows? Also mentioned on this episode: The Trailer Park Podcast, how to make a podcast trailer, 43% of new podcasters plan to go solo, how to run a podcast survey, what’s your podcast USP?, Podcast Growth (book), The Podcast Host on YouTube, and The Podcraft Community. 

There’s been a lot of chat about artificial intelligence (AI) in the podcasting industry recently. In most industries, in fact. Since the launch of ChatGPT – an insanely sophisticated AI chatbot that’s generating buzz and fear in equal measures – everyone’s got something to say about it. Episode Resources How Can Podcasters Use AI & ChatGPT to Their Advantage? Which AI Podcasting Tools Are Worth Using? AI-powered fiction podcast - FantasAI

What do drones have to do with podcasting, you ask? Well, if my visit to the Podcast Show 2022 is any measure, then I’m not the only person (by a long way!) interested in adding video to their podcasting workflow. And if we’re going to make video, we might as well explore every angle. Even the vertical. So, I thought I’d delve in and figure out whether drones have a place in helping create better video around your podcast. These things aren’t cheap, and they aren’t for everyone. But if you have a show that suits, and the budget to buy, then they might be a way to create amazing video to help engage your listeners, and grow your show. Let’s take a look at why you might use one, what you might create with it, and finish with a recommendation on what to buy. Time to fly! Read our full guide to Drones & Podcasting

What does it mean to take a journalistic approach to your podcast content? In this episode of Podcraft, we're joined by Katie, who is the driving force behind our new topical content offerings. Katie explains that a "journalistic approach" involves taking time to research your subjects and using a structured workflow to build stories. Some of the tips and suggestions here include using newsletters and Google Alerts as a way to source stories and using Trello boards and spreadsheets to organize content and ideas.  When it comes to fact-checking and sourcing stories, Katie recommends using multiple sources and tracing back to the original source. She also talks about the importance of citing sources, and how to contact people for comment and quotes. Finally, Katie and Matthew discuss the importance of considering what value the content will provide to listeners. They suggest using the acronym WIIFM (What's In It For Me) to help stay focused on providing value to listeners.

Video podcasting is no new thing. But it's more talked about than it ever was. YouTube are in the early stages of getting into podcasting, whilst Spotify have finally jumped into the pool, too. But does this mean that everyone should now be creating video as well as audio content? Or has a lot of this stuff been exaggerated and blown out of proportion? Undoubtedly video, if done well, can be an excellent compliment to your audio and written content. But it isn't some magic bullet that's going to automatically quadruple your audience. On this episode of Podcraft, we discuss the pitfalls of video podcasting, and help you make a more informed decision on whether it's right for you and your podcast. Captivate Blog - https://www.markasquith.com/youtube-case-study/ Video Podcasting Guide - https://www.thepodcasthost.com/planning/should-i-make-a-video-podcast/

Podcasting can be a great way to market your business, and add a human touch to your company. But does this mean that every business should be running its own podcast? On this episode, we're joined by Jacob, who's Head of Marketing here at The Podcast Host and Alitu. On this episode we'll cover: - How someone might decide whether or not podcasting around their business is the right move. - Potential differences between a business podcast and a creative outlet or hobby show. - Examples of business podcasts that are "doing it right".