Start now - but fix and fiddle as you go 🧰
I have definitely looked like a proper rookie in front of guests when it comes to podcasting technology.
If you're going down the free as possible route like I did, you are going to have to get your hands dirty! It's okay to still be learning a tool or process when you record your first or even tenth episode, but make sure you are iterating and learning from what went wrong. It can be super easy to feel like a failure or embarrassed, but don't let it take over.
One of the reasons I started my own podcast was to up-skill myself in digital tools, but I also wanted a challenge and to create an opportunity to learn. Commit to it, and give yourself some space to be creative, passionate and maybe even a little bit messy in the process.
Be honest and authentic 🧡
If other people hadn't been honest and open about their trials and tribulations, I definitely would be waaay less informed as I started the INNER AVENUE Podcast... But I've also used it to my advantage by tying it into my brand as a creativity podcast.
My first ever episode recorded with someone I didn't already know, in my head, had a great video with dual angles and great audio... In reality I pressed the wrong button in the software and cut the video instead of just video preview, but I was transparent about it. I posted the clip I did have, warts and all, and it did really well. People seemed to love the fact that I'd turned it into something genuine, and it created space for other people to make mistakes while they're learning and creating too!
People want to talk - especially about themselves 🎤
What's one topic that an individual will always be the world's no.1 expert on?
Themselves.
One of the biggest things to scare me away from even starting a podcast was the lingering fret that nobody will want to get involved... Oh how wrong I was! This connects with my next point of having a clear theme or topic, but if people understand and connect with your "mission", they are usually more than happy to help out and take part.
Have a clear topic or theme
The first step of creating a decent podcast in my opinion, is being clear about what you're all about. This is particularly true if you're starting a podcast as a personal project like me, and slightly different if you have an existing audience by tacking it onto a business or you're a known personality, like a content creator etc. It's fine to create a podcast that is more chatty and casual in the topics, but you need to have a really engaged audience to get away with that in terms of regular listeners.
Say no to swivel chairs ❌
I've had much to learn about audio, and I honestly don't know if anyone has said this before, but stay away from swivel chairs.
Do we ever truly get over the ability to spin around? I don't know that either, but I can tell you from experience as soon as you put a guest in a swivel chair and they're nervous, they fidget.
I use a Blue Yeti mic and that comes with the ability to switch it to multiple recording patterns, which is great, but not when you can hear your guest is spinning around! If you're not sure what I mean, it's basically like driving past someone on the phone, or someone trying to talk to you while they're on a roundabout. I was so pumped about a lush burnt orange velvet swivel chair in my ideal podcast set, but 9 months in I can safely say that is definitely not happening. Like ever ever.
Consider a set or staging 🪑
This doesn't have to be luxury, first and foremost. Having a somewhat consistent set or staging for your video podcast doesn't have to involve loads of cash money. I just say this from a branding perspective, if people see your videos somewhere they will always be able to tell it's your podcast, even if the clip features just your guest. Sets and staging for video podcasting can vary from little branded items on a table and certain colours, right up to a fully decked out room with neon logo and much more.
I very much chose to go down to "grower" over "shower" route. If you're starting from scratch you need to get your audio in tip-top condition before faffing with anything else. Content may be king, but audio is the true power.
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