How to Podcast: Part 1 – The Basics

I had many people ask about the specific process OpenView Venture Partners is using for our podcast creation (you can hear our podcasts on the OpenView Labs homepage). In order to provide the best information possible, I thought we could take a deep dive into our process and share our knowledge with those interested in starting a podcasting program. Obviously, you can develop a podcasting program many ways; however, this is just one option–that said, this option allowed a complete novice like me to become a podcasting pro in a matter of months.

This post will focus on the basics of podcasting, but in the coming weeks we will get into the nitty gritty of recording, editing and publishing your final material.

Step One: Is this the right channel for me?Joe Pulizzi always implores those who are exploring content marketing channels to understand that not every channel works for every audience. Before diving into the world of podcasting, consider if the channel represents your content well. Is your target tech savvy? Do they actively seek educational information through alternate channels? If the answers to these questions is “no”, podcasting may not be a good fit for your online marketing strategy. More traditional methods may reach your target more effectively. But if you answered “yes”, keep reading for tips on getting started!

Step Two: What information is your target seeking?Your content marketing materials should answer a pain point of your consumers/target consumers. In other words, your podcasts shouldn’t focus solely on the greatness of your product or services, but on providing ideas and information that addresses your audience’s concerns and helps them make good decisions. How do you determine the pain points of your audience? Find them online on blogs or forums and evaluate the discussion topics–this is the best way to gain insight into their pain points and needs. Once you do that, you can develop an editorial calendar around addressing these points. Work with guest podcasters and industry experts to make your rotation more robust–you would be surprised how many people are happy to help!

Step Three: What equipment do I need?As I mentioned previously, I am by no means an expert on all things podcasting, but I do know what has worked well for us. Here is a list of equipment we are currently using to get our podcasts recorded, edited and distributed:

• Yeti Microphones Ridiculously simple to setup and use, affordable–and quite possibly the cutest packaging you have ever seen!
• Heil PR 40 We also use the Heil PR40. This is a more sophisticated setup, but it does an amazing job of isolating only the voice recording and eliminating background noise. Again, easy to use, especially when paired with the product below!
• M-Audio Fast Track Ultra It looks far scarier than it is–I promise! You can input audio from a number of sources at once and adjust input levels on this easy to use device.
• Garage Band Garage Band looks intimidating at first, but like most Apple products, it is very intuitive and easy to learn. This program allows you to easily edit your podcasts, insert intro music, edit audio levels and effects, etc. This program comes standard on Macs and I don’t see a real benefit to using a more advanced tool like Final Cut for your podcasts.
• iTunes I love exporting my podcasts to iTunes for a number of reasons: First, you instantly have an mp3 file; second, you develop a library of completed podcasts right in iTunes; and third, you can publish your podcasts through the iTunes store, which is a good option once you nail down a good process.

As I develop this series, I will take you step by step through the process and also share tips I learn through my experiences in the world of podcasting. Stay tuned for more!

What are your biggest podcasting questions/concerns/headaches?