Tips for creating a podcast
You've already covered so much ground by getting to this point. You thought you had a great idea for a podcast! You even recorded an interview! How exciting! Now what?
First, let's make sure you've got the tools you need.
We'll start with a microphone. I suggest you get going no matter what microphone you use. Many editors refuse to let their clients use smartphone apps, but I'm not going to be one of those editors.
Backpack Studio for Apple Products
I've grabbed some great audio from my iPhone using http://backpackstudioapp.com/. You can adjust settings and make your voice sound deeper by increasing the low end. There is even a setting so that you can live stream. You'll probably skip adding sound effects since that's my job and we don't really use that many sound effects in podcasting anyway. I believe this $9.99 app only works for Apple products (including your iPad).
Voice Recorder for Androids
With Voice Recorder you not only get a solid recording tool, you'll enjoy categorization, clear sound (even from a distance), and plenty more features you didn't know you needed. The quality of Voice Recorder is quite good and the ability to categorize recordings makes organization a breeze.
You'll want to look at the way the microphone will connect to something in order to record. Mics using USB are mostly plug and play, and require very little knowledge of sound. You plug it into your laptop, hit record in the software and you're good to go.
Recommended models: The Apogee HypeMiC includes analog compression in its signal chain to very impressive results. And the Blue Snowball Ice delivers excellent quality audio for just $50. Both are PCMag Editors' Choices.
Find a muse!
The whole reason you want to be a podcaster is because you listen to podcasts, am I right? I suggest that you find a show similar to yours and steal, steal, steal! I'm not saying you should steal their content, but you can steal their ideas and make them your own.
What's working for others in your purview? Is there someone in your industry doing it right? Friend them, follow them, credit them (people love credit!) for their ideas. Stay on top of what the other podcasts are covering. You never know when you might find one that will mention your show and help you get new listeners. Cross promotion in podcasting is a topic I plan to steal from one of the guys I follow and someday, we will talk about that some more.
A huge difference I've noticed between working in terrestrial radio and the podcasting world is how incredibly supportive every one is. When I worked in radio, I had to watch my back and compete. The podcasting community is exactly that, a community that I've fallen in love with. They are supportive of each other and you can use that support too!
And now for the juicy stuff.
Tips for Creating Successful Podcasts
Podcasts take a lot of time and effort, so don't be discouraged if you've created your dream podcast, but no one's listening yet. There are many things to learn—and most of those lessons come through trial and error. Here are some tips to help you stay inspired.
Keep Your Podcast Focused. While it might be tempting to create a podcast that's all things to all listeners, successful shows tend to have a narrow, focused topic.
Picture Your Target Audience. When writing or producing content, it's helpful to think about the type of audience you're trying to reach with your podcast.
Be Consistent. If you want to be taken seriously, post episodes of your podcast regularly and consistently. I suggest shooting for about the same amount of time for someone to listen to your show. That way, they know what to expect if they planned to listen on their 20 minute drive home. If your shows are usually 20 minutes and suddenly you release an hour, listeners will be thrown off and may even skip listening to rest of your shows because an hour is too long for them.
Plan Your Workflow. Should you write a detailed script or simply ad lib? It could work best to have a little of both, but that depends on the podcast. Either way, you'll need some sort of workflow to develop your ideas and bring them to fruition. At the very least, be sure to outline the major themes of each show and know your subject thoroughly.
That outta be enough to get you going. Now let's make a podcast!