Ensure that your podcasts are well-received by adhering to technical standards for artwork and audio. Check out some of the podcasting directories where you want to have your podcasts listed. And if you’re doing a podcast interview, a little prep time can save a lot of embarrassment.
© Indypendenz / Shutterstock.comHow to listen to podcasts
You can listen to podcasts in a variety of ways, such as telling your digital assistant (for example, Siri, Amazon Echo, or Google Home) to play the latest episode. Or you may choose a more traditional route and load an app on your desktop or mobile device to subscribe, so that the content is automatically downloaded when it becomes available.
For podcast producers, get to know the places to get your podcast published. The following links connect you to thousands of podcasts:
Popular audio recording and editing software
A major component of creating podcasts is the software used to record and edit your audio. Following are several suggestions for both PC and Mac:
Audacity (PC and Mac)
Logic Pro (Mac)
Audition (PC and Mac)
Podcast platforms
With your media recorded, edited, tagged, and ready for distribution, you need an online location to offer your podcast. The platform could be your own blog and plug-in combo, or an all-in-one podcasting solution.
When you’re ready to launch your podcast and as you continue to produce and post episodes, you’ll want to turn to a podcasting platform:
Tips for preparing for a podcast interview
Interviews are your opportunity to engage with amazing and interesting individuals. You’re turning your show over to a guest who will have a platform to promote themselves, a charity, a special event, or something important to them. This unique opportunity introduces new voices to your podcast and expands the scope and reach of your show. When you open your show to guests, keep the following points in mind:
- Know who you’re talking to and what you want to talk about. It’s a good idea to visit the guest’s website and do research. You don’t have to be an expert on their subject matter, but you should be familiar with it.
- Follow a logical progression when asking questions.
- Prepare twice the number of questions that you think you’ll need. Then if your guest gives brief answers, you’ll have a stockpile of questions to call upon.
- Never worry about asking an obvious question. Chances are, your audience has never heard it answered.
Suggested settings to compress MP3 files
It’s easy to create an MP3 file; but with so many options available, what are the desired settings for compressed audio files? Too much compression and the audio will be altered, usually compressed to a point where the listening experience is unpleasant. Too little compression and your files will take longer to load and stream.
When making an MP3 file, you want to strike a happy medium between data compression and audio quality:
- Bit rate: 128 Kbps (best quality for both voice and music)
- Sample rate: 44.100 kHz / 44,100 Hz
- Joint Stereo
ID3 tags defined and implemented
Keeping your podcast files organized helps both you and your listeners. Good naming practices make your files easy to sort. Applying consistent ID3 tags lets listeners know what’s they’re listening to.
Here are the ID3 tags, both essential and optional, explained in podcasting terms and why they matter:
- Name: The name or number of this particular podcast episode. For example, Technorama Ep 511: Adama’s Beard.
- Artist: Your name or the name of your podcasting team. For example, Chuck Tomasi and Kreg Steppe, Grammar Girl, Tee Morris.
- Album: The name of your show. For example, Technorama, Happy Hour from the Tower, The Topic is Trek.
- Track Number: (Optional) The sequential order of the podcast. For audio books released in chapters, the track numbers are chapter numbers.
- Year: The year the episode was produced.
- Composer (optional): Your engineer’s name or the originators of the material. For example, in Tee’s podcast, MOREVI’s artist is listed as Tee Morris, but the composers are Tee Morris and Lisa Lee because the original work was cowritten.
- Genre: We recommend Podcast for most, but choose accordingly and be consistent.
- Comments: A quick two or three lines of show notes for your podcasts. This is similar to description in your blog post. It’s a good idea to include your contact information here also.
Artwork parameters for podcast show art
After your show is edited and given ID3 tags, you’ll want to incorporate show art for the episode and then upload show art for your podcast where directories and podcast apps can access it easily. Depending on the nature of your podcast, you may want to change your show art season by season or episode by episode. When designing and posting show art, make certain your artwork meets the following criteria:
- Minimum: 1400 × 1400 pixels, both in width and height
- Maximum: 3000 × 3000 pixels, both in width and height
- 72 dpi resolution
- 8-bit channel, RGB Mode
- JPEG (.jpg) or PNG (.png) format