Are you tired of creating the same old content? Blog posts and social media are the core of most content marketing strategies. However, trying something new can be a nice change for content creators and consumers alike. Creating a podcast is an excellent way to share stories and produce a wealth of content to boost SEO and attract new leads.
There are many steps involved in creating a podcast, and each takes effort and dedication. However, once you’re familiar with those steps, free online resources and a decent microphone is all you need. I recently created a podcast and, thanks to these five tools, it was a breeze.
Proper Microphone
In order to produce a professional podcast, you must focus on capturing high-quality sound. Even those with vast experience in audio editing can’t fix all of the problems with sound that was terribly recorded. Don’t overestimate the quality of your computer’s built-in microphone or your smartphone–opt for borrowing or buying your own external microphone. I’ve used microphones ranging from $50 to more than $100, all of which worked well. Here is a list of 10 different microphones that I would recommend checking out.
Copyright Free Music
When finished capturing audio, you should look for music to play in the introduction and anywhere else throughout the podcast. My favorite site for copyright free music is the Free Music Archive, but there are plenty of other resources with free and legal music. It can be tricky to find music that fits the tone of your podcast while also having the proper license. If creating a podcast for a client, you’ll want to be sure the track is copyright free for commercial use, and you’ll most likely have to give attribution at the end of the podcast.
Audio Editing Software
Finally, after you have gathered all of the soundbites and music tracks, it’s time to put them together and edit out unfavorable sounds. If you have access to the Adobe Creative Suite, I would suggest using Audition. It is very user friendly and offers a vast amount of editing techniques. Audacity is a software that you can download from the internet for free. Although it doesn’t allow for many audio editing capabilities, it provides the essentials and is straight-forward to use.
Online Tutorials
Using an audio editing software to mix multiple tracks isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. Familiarize yourself with the software and you’ll soon understand how simple the process is. However, it’s likely you’ll run into some roadblocks on your way to creating your podcast. Luckily, there are countless online tutorials that will help you surpass any confusion. Just use Google or YouTube and be as specific as possible with your search terms.
Podcast Directories
Once your podcast is ready to go live, you need to find a home for it! Submit your podcast to iTunes first, but there are many other directories with a wide reach that you should submit to. If your podcast lives in many popular sites, it will have a better chance of people listening to and sharing it.
Now you’re ready to take your content strategy to the next level! Don’t forget to share your podcast on the appropriate website and on social media platforms. If you need a little inspiration to get started, learn what our team at Suite 4 does to get motivated to achieve our goals!