Thanks all who could make it last night to our monthly meetup. Here are my notes and links from the presentation.
Podcasting
Assume you have a website running WordPress. If not, that’s step one!
Preperation
Luck favors the prepared!
Script
- This can just be an outline, major beats
- Use Google Doc, share show notes with your co-hosts or guests
- Don’t forget to thank the sponsors
Questions
- Do your research
- Know what you’re taking about – Cunningham’s Law
- Build trust
- Ask your interviewee to pronounce their name, product, etc.
- Be unique! https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/bullseye-with-jesse-thorn/
- Be engaging – don’t ask questions that can be answered with a yes or no
- Keep it positive! You can frame your questions with a slightly negative spin, but don’t be downcast.
- Assume nothing – set the stage
- Common terms like “mortgage” don’t need to be explained sure, but sub-prime mortgage?
- Remember folks can’t see what you see! – Describe succinctly
Record
- Audio is important!
- Good quality Mic
- no background noise
- no echo (use a blanket!)
- Keep things consistent (Between folks being recorded)
- Don’t record remote audio, share the local file!
- Use a clap to sync audio
- Go slow!
Edit
- This is where you’ll spend most of your time!
- Audacity
- Garageband
- Normalize your audio
- Remove unnecessary bits and filler words
- https://umbegone.com
- https://www.descript.com – edit audio with text
- This is editing like editing a story. Keep focus. You might ramble, you might have interruptions (like kids!), so be ready to make the hard choice.
Publish
- Upload audio to WordPress like any other media
- Add Audio block
- RSS – This is the magic that makes podcasts happen
- Really Simple Syndication
- Instead of visiting every site, you go to your one location (pod catcher, RSS reader) and it pulls the feeds down to you.
- Apple – iTunes
- Spotify
Market
- Spread the word
- Invite guest speakers from the field
- Engage with audience
- Give them a way to contact you
- incorporate feedback and give shout outs
- Be genuine
Plugins
Other links
- https://codex.wordpress.org/Podcasting
- https://www.audacityteam.org – open source audio editor
- https://www.descript.com – edit audio with text
- https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/step-by-step-guide-how-to-start-a-podcast-with-wordpress/ – good introduction
- https://stevestewart.me/blog/ – local podcaster and member of our community
- https://podcastingwithwp.com – a podcast on podcasting with WordPress
- https://www.godaddy.com/garage/how-to-start-a-podcast-with-wordpress/
Chris’ Favorite podcasts
- Robot or Not? – https://www.theincomparable.com/robot/
- Bullseye with Jesse Thorn – https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/bullseye-with-jesse-thorn/
- Flash Forward – https://www.flashforwardpod.com
- Serial – https://serialpodcast.org