It’s #internationalpodcastday and time to teach the world about podcasting.
Should you think about podcasts?
Did you know:
- 464.7 million people listen to podcasts and expected to reach 504 million by 2024. Around 1 in 5 internet users listen to podcasts.
- Over 5 million podcast with over 70 million episodes and available in 150 languages.
- The United States has the most podcast listeners in the world. It is predicted that over 100 million active podcast listeners will be in the U.S. in 2023.
- 50% of UK adults have listened to a podcast and 25% of UK adults are regular podcast listeners.
- Podcast listening is highest in the morning, and most of the podcasts are listened to on a mobile phone. 22% of people listen to a podcast while commuting.
- Spotify is currently the leader in podcast streaming followed by Apple podcasts which leads on podcast downloads.
- Podcasts are most popular among people aged 12-34, followed by 35-54 years age group.
Hopefully, you are already a podcast listener – there is one to suit nearly every preference or perhaps you are considering telling your business story or raising awareness for a cause through podcasting. Well, this article is for you if you are looking to get started with a podcast.
My podcasting experience
I am now 2 years, 6 seasons and 80 episodes into my podcasting journey and my passion project Meet the Mancunian podcast: social impact stories from Manchester (www.meetthemancunian.co.uk) continues to grow.
I have learned a lot more about podcasting and continue to learn new things all the time from newsletters, articles podcasts, other podcasters. I am continuously focusing on making my podcast even more listener-focused.
My podcast was recently shortlisted for the Best Business Podcast award at the UK’s first Independent Podcast awards and has been ranked in the best social impact podcasts in the world and the UK. It’s still a tiny indie podcast with me acting as researcher, interviewer, editor, producer with a dear friend Mahua Roy who designs the wonderful creatives that bring the Mancunian spirit to the podcast. You can listen to my podcasting journey on my website.
Advice for new podcasters
I wrote my first two articles – So you want to Podcast -1 and So you want to Podcast -2 when I first got started with podcasting and then 1 year in. Both have some very useful tips and tricks.
I add to them – focusing on the making of a podcast & some things I wish I had known when I got started. I hope you find it useful.
- Topic and theme: Choose a genre and a podcast topic you are super passionate about. Podfade is a real concern. Guard against this by choosing something you believe the world needs to know and hear. It will keep you inspired.
- Podcast title: Choose a name and tag line which tells people what your podcast is about. Use clear podcast episode titles which tell people searching what the episode is about and who it features.
- Listener focus: Have a clear idea of who your ideal listener is and what their needs are. Ask and act on feedback. Keep improving your podcast so you offer what they are looking for.
- Equipment: Invest in the best mic, headphones and quiet space you can afford but you can also make do. Always use headphones please. Having a quiet room, turning off your notifications and using carpets and clothes to create a good recording environment.
- Recording: Use a platform meant for podcasting rather than a generic conference platform. I use Zencastr now and find it very good, however, guests do need to log in from a desktop or a laptop.
- Interviewing: Use a script or talking points, but don’t be afraid to take a detour or follow up on something your guest said that was ‘podcasting gold’. Try to bring your life experiences and views into it while still making it all about your guest.
- Editing: Use an editing software to remove gaps and filler words and try text-based editing. Descript does a great job there. You can add a soundscape to paint a picture with audio effects, background sounds etc.
- Guest instructions: For some of your guests, this interview would be their first brush with podcasting. Help them prep, encourage them to create a good sound environment, close windows and doors, turn off notifications etc. It may sound basic, but not everyone does it.
- Website: Create a podcast website as soon as you start. It’s super easy and will do a lot for podcast discoverability. I use Podpage which allows you to create a good one in a few minutes. I wish I had known how important this is when I started.
- Transcript: Create written transcripts for accessibility and to help people for whom English is not their first language or who find accents difficult to understand. It also helps with findability and search engine optimisation.
I am always happy to hear from listeners, fellow podcasters and any one else who is interested. So do drop me a comment or message me on Linked In or on my website www.meetthemancunian.co.uk.
