I recently started a podcast and I just had a revelation:
- Although podcasts are quite popular, there are still lots of people that have no idea what a podcast is.
- People don’t realize that they can access a podcast using more than just iTunes.
So I decided to stop and offer up a little education that may be helpful to you.
What is a podcast?
A podcast is on online radio show that is pre-recorded and can be accessed any time via podcast distribution services like iTunes and Stitcher. There are other podcast distribution services, however those are the most popular services.
How to record a podcast
As a newbie podcaster, I record my podcasts using a free online tool called Audacity. This tool is as close to professional audio recording tool as you can get for free. When my computer is on the fritz (meaning: not working), I use free conference calling software to record my sessions. Both Audacity and the free conference calling service allows me to easily create an mp3 file — the preferred audio format for podcasts.
I will begin to do interviews with wellness entrepreneurs who have written a book very soon. I am toying with the idea of using Skype and/or free conference calling to record our conversation.
How to edit a podcast
Audacity also allows me to edit my podcast right in the same system that I used to record it. Now you may notice that I have a very short introduction to give you a clue about what to expect in that episode. I record the short introduction and tack that onto the finished audio along with music. I purchased royalty free music from istockphoto (yes, they deal with more than just photos…) for $33. I use it for both my intro and outro. Audacity has lots of editing controls that — as a newbie podcaster — I have no idea how to use. I simply use the noise removal feature to filter out as much of the background noise as humanly possible. Once all the pieces are in order (the quick intro, intro music, the content, outro music), I save it as one mp3 file and prepare to distribute it to my listeners.
How to distribute a podcast
Once my podcast is recorded, I have to find a way to distribute it to a larger audience. I can host the audio on my blog, however audio files tend to be very large and may slow down my site. This makes it necessary to find an outside site to host my podcast audios for me.
I have opted to use Buzzsprout. I find it to be reasonably priced and simple to use. Buzzsprout turns my mp3 audio into an rss feed making it easier for other podcast distribution sites to make it available to people looking for podcasts.
What is a podcast distribution site?
The term, podcasting, comes from the good people at Apple and iTunes. Podcasting became popular back when folks had iPods. It was easy to access podcasts on the iPod or even at home via the iTunes app on the laptop. Nowadays most people access podcast (and most other music and video content) on their phones and/or laptops.
How can I access the Digital Well Publisher Podcast?
There are several ways to access my podcast, Digital Well Publisher, along with many others.
iTunes: This is the most popular way to access not only my podcast, but thousands of others. Simply download the iTunes app on your phone, laptop, or any other device. Use the search function to find Digital Well Publisher.
Stitcher: This is probably the second most popular choice for those that don’t use Apple products. I have an Android phone. I mostly listen to podcasts on the go, so I find it easy to plug in my earphones and listen to podcasts on my commute, while doing chores, while walking, etc.
Buzzsprout: This is the direct rss feed for the Digital Well Publisher podcast.
How do I find more podcasts to listen to?
I recently did a podcast episode called 5 Podcasts Every Wellness Entrepreneur Should Subscribe To. This is a great place for you to start if you are looking for more ways to build your business as well as get access to some great personal development tools.
I would love to stay connected with you! Download your complimentary publishing toolkit and learn 28 ways to grow your wellness business with a book!
Halona Black
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