How to Plan an Amazing Podcast
Podcasting is “narrowcasting,” which means that you can have a podcast about anything. Want to do a show about making cheese? Go for it! How about pet spiders? Any topic is likely to have at least a few other people searching for information on the same subject, and that is the beauty of podcasting: you are talking directly to the niche of people who are interested enough in your subject to find you and listen.
Making Your Podcast Plans
Let's assume you already know what the basic subject of your podcast will be. The first step in making a plan for your new podcast is deciding what kind of format (if any) you want to use. A format is the sequence or order that the shows production elements go in. For instance, some podcasts always address listener calls at the end of their show. Most podcasts have intros and a farewell statement, and many podcasts leave the listener with a teaser for next show. Figuring out how you want to arrange the content in your podcast is going to be to determined by some basic questions:
1. Who is your audience?
Who are you trying to communicate with, and what are their needs and interests? Are you going to incorporate voice mail or email messages from listeners, or live phone calls?
2. What subjects or material are you covering?
How long do you need to communicate your information? Podcasts usually range in length from about fifteen to forty-five minutes. Does your audience want short blasts of information or in-depth analysis?
The length of your podcast could directly affect the next question, namely:
3. How often will you have new podcasts?
Keep in mind that it takes time to produce podcasts. Many podcasts “podfade,” or die off, because their makers couldn't find the time to continue producing them. How much time do you have to devote to podcasting? A good strategy is to pick format that will allow you to make regular updates. Longer shows take longer to produce, as do shows with complex music mixes and edits. Shows that are predominately speaking are faster to produce.
4. Are you going to use music?
I am not a lawyer, and the music legal field is strewn with land mines, so I will be as simple as possible here:
Record companies and musicians make their money off of the copyrights of their work. If you plan to use music produced by a record company, (which probably includes every big song you've ever heard on the radio), then you need to get the permission of the copyright holder before using it, or you you are violating their copyright. Even if the artist or company is obscure, you still probably need their permission to use their work. There are a few easy ways around this mess for podcasters, but unfortunately, none of them involve being able to use major label music:
- Use Podsafe Music
Podsafe music is music which independent musicians have cleared for use in podcasts with no legal problems. A number of podsafe music sites exist, including: Soundclick and PodSafeAudio.
- Independent Musicians
Some podcasters make deals with independent musicians who allow them to use their music in return for mentioning them or promoting their work to their listeners.
- Make Your Own
Easy to say if you own a recording studio, but what if you aren't musically inclined? The good news is that computers have made it easy for anyone to throw a simple tune together, even if you don't play an instrument. Software like Apple's GarageBand and Sony's Acid Xpress allow you to use prerecorded music loops to create songs and music beds which are royalty free, which means they are podsafe.
Does it Pass the Test?
One final test you can run your plan through before you take your podcast into production: would you listen to it? Would the segments and content be something you would get excited about or find useful? Remember that in podcasting, content is king! So, if you think your podcast is something you wish that you'd found as a listener, then it sounds like you've got a strong plan, and you are ready to go!