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Start Your Podcast Now

Start Your Podcast Now

Podcasts, while only two years old, are quickly becoming an important part of communication on the internet. The ability to quickly and easily distribute audio files to thousands of people has caused major corporations and individuals alike to take notice and begin to harness the power of podcasting technology. Companies like Castrol SYNTEC, General Motors and McDonalds have all recently embraced podcasts, and more companies are catching on each day.

Starting your own podcast can be difficult, but as long as you follow the necessary steps and put in the effort required, having a podcast can become a great boon for your company.

Getting the Right Equipment

Before you get started podcasting, you are going to need to the right equipment and software to get you off the ground.

The first piece of equipment you will need is a microphone. To start off, generally any microphone will do, however later on as your podcast develops, RSS Ray recommends buying a more expensive and higher quality microphone.

The next piece of equipment you will need is a set of headphones. This is so that you can monitor the audio for any problems while you are making your recording. It is recommended that you purchase a set of headphones that completely cover your ears, but any headphones you have lying around will work to start.

To see a complete list of companies which sell both microphones and headphones, as well as all other podcasting equipment, go here.

The next item you will need to record your first podcast is some podcast recording software. There are many options available to new podcasters and RSS Ray’s list of the software available for you can be found here. Some of this technology is especially useful as it can be used to record, encode and distribute podcasts all in one package. RSS Ray recommends carefully researching all of your options to determine which is right for you.

Now you will need to convert your finished recording into an mp3. To do that you will need an mp3 encoder. Click here to find an mp3 encoder in our podcast toolbox.

Before you send out your podcast, you will need to correctly set the ID3 tags on your mp3. This is easily done, and helps audio players to sort your mp3 correctly. Tagging an mp3 includes editing the Title, Artist, Album, Genre, Year and adding comments about the file. You can create the tag from any music player including iTunes, Windows Media Player and QuickTime. Though each application is slightly different, generally to edit the tag you will need to right click on the mp3 and select “info” or “edit.”

Now that you have all this equipment, set it up, and you can get to podcasting. If you think you might need help with any of these processes click here for a list of consultants that specialize in podcasting.

Publish your Podcast

Now that you have your podcast ready to go, it’s time to send it to the world.

To do that you will need two things, a host for your podcast and an RSS feed. Many podcast hosts will create the RSS feeds for you automatically so be on the lookout for that when you are choosing a host. Click here for our comprehensive list of podcast hosts to find the one that works best for you.

Once you have hosted the file and created the RSS feed, you’ve done it! Your first podcast has been distributed to the world to be downloaded. Now all that’s left to do is promote it. You can do this in a number of ways including linking the feed on your website, sending an email to existing customers to promote it, and sending your feed to be added on the podcast directories. You can find our complete list of podcast directories and search engines by clicking here.

What to Podcast About

Deciding on the material that you want to provide to your podcast audience can be a difficult job. For your podcast to be a success, you want to provide something that is relevant to your field, and also want something that catches listeners’ attention and makes them interested in what you want to tell them. Here are RSS Ray’s favorite ways to use podcasts in business.

• Teach your Customers: What better way to show off your expertise then to share your knowledge? Tell listeners what you know, and they will come to you next time they need help.

• Interview Experts: You get a chance to meet and brainstorm with industry leaders, and your audience will love it.

• Review Products and Services: Tell listeners about your experience with products and services in your industry. If they trust you with what to buy, then they’ll trust you with their business later.

• Provide Company News: Have a new product line? Going to a trade show? If you want it to be known about, use your podcast to let the world know.

• Talk to your Employees: Give employees important messages or motivational speeches without the need for a board room.