How to Create a Podcast Quickly and Easily

Choosing to start your own podcast can feel like a large and complicated task, especially if you are not overly confident in your internet 'techy' skills. The good news is you really don't have to be a technical wizard to create your own program with professional sound and quality. There are tools available to make it easy, affordable and fun.

First of all, let's touch on just what exactly a podcast is.

Wikipedia says: "A podcast is a series of digital media files (either audio or video) that are released episodically and downloaded through web syndication."

There are a lot of cool things about the 'web syndication' part. When your audio or video content is syndicated it means that people can pick it up automatically anywhere that your content is syndicated to. One well known example is iTunes. When you have your show on iTunes people can simply log onto their account and grab your podcast right from their computer. A podcast is syndicated through an RSS feed and allows people to subscribe through feed readers and even by email to get your content automatically.

How to Create Your Own Podcast

You need to have three main things:

1. An audio or video file 2. A place to host your file 3. A feed to syndicate your podcast

As the definition mentions, this won't be just one file. You'll want to release a series of files on a regular basis. Some shows are released weekly, others bi-monthly and some monthly. Whatever you choose, consistency is always best so you gain and keep loyal listeners or viewers.

Let's go over how to get set up with each of the three points above:

1. An Audio or Video File

There are a number of ways you can create your audio or video files: Record audio on your computer - Audacity is a free program you can use along with a computer microphone to easily create your own audio files Record video with a webcam, flip or other video recorder Record audio through the use of a teleseminar service - If you want to record phone calls or interviews you can use a conference call link such as freeconferencecalling.com Record audio using a software program such as Audio Acrobat

2. A Place to Host Your File

You have a few options for hosting your file. My favorite is to use Audio Acrobat. It's a program that not only allows me to host my files but also record, organize, syndicate and publish them.

Another option is to host your files on your hosting account. This can get very expensive if your program gets popular (and this is what you want!) so it's not usually a good option for anyone serious about podcasting.

3. A Podcast Feed to Syndicate Your Podcast

When you have your podcast ready to go you need to add it to a feed so that the people who are waiting for your syndicated show can receive it instantly.

One way to do this is use a feed set up through a Wordpress website. You can set up an RSS feed and then add your audio files to your wordpress site. They will automatically be added to your feed and your subscribers will be updated. You'll also want to make sure you submit your podcast to iTunes.

The easiest way I've found to syndicate through RSS and also have it submitted to iTunes is to use a service such as Audio Acrobat as mentioned previously.

I host a weekly podcast called Marketers Mojo Talk Radio. Here's the simple process I follow to do everything mentioned above: 1. Call guest 2. Use three way calling to call my Audio Acrobat number and start the audio recording 3. Conduct interview 4. Download and edit using the free Audacity program 5. Upload back to Audio Acrobat 6. Grab publish link for my site 7. Notify iTunes of new show within Audio Acrobat 8. Let guest know podcast is ready!

So now you should have a very good idea on how to create your own podcast. Don't let fear hold you back and get started with your podcast now!

How to Use Podcasting to Gain Authority For Your Business - Part Two   6 Tips to Eliminate Background Noise in Your Podcast   How Simple Podcasts Add Value to Your Small Business Website   How to Make a Podcast For a Website   How Do You Promote a Podcast and Get More Listeners?   

Why Podcast Transcription is Important

Every podcast should have a transcript, and I'm surprised at how many don't bother to include them. Perhaps the owners skip having their podcasts transcribed because they don't believe it's worth the cost of having it done, or don't understand the benefit of hiring an outstanding podcast transcription service. Here are five great reasons to consider having your podcasts transcribed.

1. Transcripts are searchable - By having your podcast transcribed, you are generating more traffic to your website because the text is searchable and people will ultimately stumble upon it when browsing the web for content your podcasts deliver. Search engines will pick up the keywords. The audio and video for your show are not searchable. Transcripts are.

2. Content - Not sure what to put on your blog? Copy and paste your transcript and it's an instant blog post; no thought required. You can also use your podcast transcript to make into several short articles in a small amount of time, or newsletter content for your list.

3. Create products from transcripts- Once you have a few transcripts, you have an e-book. This creates more revenue for you; more possible ways to generate revenue from your podcast.

4. Attract a larger audience - While many people do prefer to watch a video or listen to an audio, many do still prefer a text version. They may not have 30 minutes or an hour to devote to your show. Reading the content takes half the time. They also may prefer to print the transcript so they can go back and read it whenever they want, or highlight the key points.

5. Reference - Once you have a handful of podcasts, you might remember you said something, but can't remember which show it was. This can cause you to spend a few hours of your time trying to find the spot in the audio you need so you can quote someone, reference, etc. If you had a transcript, all you would have to do is search through the text and it just takes a minute. Your visitors may also find this useful for the same reason.

Bottom line - podcast transcripts generate revenue!

How to Use Podcasting to Gain Authority For Your Business - Part Two   6 Tips to Eliminate Background Noise in Your Podcast   How Simple Podcasts Add Value to Your Small Business Website   How to Make a Podcast For a Website   How Do You Promote a Podcast and Get More Listeners?   Is a Podcast Difficult to Produce?   

10 Ways a Podcast Can Build Your Business

For any business owner willing to mix a little creativity with the new technology, podcasting is a great way to get your message out to a wide market. Here's why:

1. Use It as a Smart/Sexy Brand Builder.

The key is to create a podcast that fits your brand. For example, if you're a realtor specializing in New York City office space for small businesses, then your podcast should involve all things related to that (e.g., how your space makes an important statement about your business, how to maximize square footage with good interior design, how to decide the best neighborhood for your business, etc.) Depending on how well it's done, it also establishes (or reinforces) a forward thinking leadership perception of your business.

2. Use It to Create Broad, Free, Easy Distribution.

They don't call it Really Simple Syndication for nothing. RSS feeds, like Feedburner and iTunes, allow a worldwide audience to subscribe to your podcast with a simple mouse click. Both Feedburner and iTunes offer directions on how to incorporate their technology for your podcast.

3. Use It as an Ad Media Outlet.

A podcast is like having your very own advertising media outlet. So take advantage, but don't be tacky. Use a soft-sell approach with tasteful promotional plugs during the intro or outro of the podcast. You can even subtlely incorporate them as part of the program content. Because of the strong niche aspect of podcasting, interested listeners will be more receptive to your on-topic message.

4. Use It to Garner Outside Advertisers or Sponsors.

If you're feeling ambitious (and have the Web traffic to support it), you can also sell outside sponsorships within the podcast or on the website.

5. Use It to Deepen Your Relationships With Clients and/or Prospects.

Turn guests into clients. An interview format makes it easy to invite a guest that you'd like as a client. It creates a great opportunity to initiate and develop a respectful relationship with a prospect who might otherwise not take your call or e-mail.

6. Use It as a New Business Builder.

Podcasting is both engaging and educational, providing the opportunity to build credibility, establish value and ultimately convert. Know your audience's hot buttons and then offer your company's product or service-related insights, tips and solutions. For example, a corporate law firm might discuss the various differences and benefits of incorporating a business versus using an LLC. Or perhaps have a podcast on the legal options of money collection from deadbeat clients.

7. Use It as a Terrific Promotional Tool.

If you've got a particularly relevant and pithy 15- or 30-second audio sound bite from a podcast, you can create an audio clip and e-mail the attached mp3 to a current prospect. The audio clip makes a stronger emotional impact, and the "tease factor" of a small mp3 attachment makes it an effective e-mail tactic.

8. Use It as a Great Product Demo Opportunity. (w/video podcasts)

Any time you can effectively demonstrate your product attributes, do it. And with a video podcast, you can. This worked perfectly for an industrial blender company, Blendtec. Their videos of various (and strange) objects being successfully blended created a viral marketing phenomenon.

9. Use It as a New Kind of Public Relations Vehicle.

For new product intros, latest news, etc. For example, a company introducing a new product or service could invite its in-house inventor or developer to be interviewed on a podcast. A magazine (much like this one!) could invite its most interesting and relevant contributors to be interviewed on their podcast.

10. Helps with Organic Search Engine Optimization.

Your podcast "show notes" are your text description of the content (i.e., the things being covered in the podcast).They act as an informational preview to hopefully convince people that the podcast is worth a listen. The more relevant the text (key words and links), the more magnetic it'll be for searches. The issues and tactics involved with driving traffic to a podcast are similar to those for driving traffic to any website. But I believe it's always better to go the organic/non-paid route to improve your search rank, and that's where good "show notes" help.

Remember, it's not just about the new technology, it's about the innovative application of the new technology.

How to Use Podcasting to Gain Authority For Your Business - Part Two   6 Tips to Eliminate Background Noise in Your Podcast   How Simple Podcasts Add Value to Your Small Business Website   How to Make a Podcast For a Website   How Do You Promote a Podcast and Get More Listeners?