Podcasting can be a great way to build your brand as an author and an expert. Think of a podcast as your own radio show — you can say whatever you want to a potentially huge audience. Listeners can hear and/or download your podcast by going to various “catcher” sites such as iTunes, Ipodder.com, or podcastalley.org. iTunes provides everything you need to transform an audio recording into podcasts.
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You’re On the Air!
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Link Your Content to Your Book. The goal of the podcast is to support your book in some fashion. A cookbook author might offer some additional recipes. The author of a book on computer repairs might offer a tip of the week. A poet might do an on-air reading and a fiction author might offer an audio reader’s guide.
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Plan Your Broadcasts. Once you figure out your topic, plan out at least a half dozen “shows” two to 30 minutes in length. While podcasts tend to be informal, ad libbing will grow old quickly.
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| Don’t Think of Podcasts as Free Advertising. With podcasts, content is king — no one wants to listen to audio ads for your book. |
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| Observe Copyrights. If you’re going to add sound effects or music, make sure they’re royalty-free; you can’t simply snag some music from a CD or a Web site and make it your theme song. Look up “royalty free music” in the search engines to find sources. |
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| Rehearse. You don’t need to be a Shakespearean actor or actress to do a great podcast. But rehearsing, and doing a “vocal warm-up” before you record, can make all the difference between a great show and just more noise on the Net. |
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| Record Well. It’s not necessary to invest in a studio-grade microphone or recording gear. But do make sure that your recording quality is the best you can afford. If you’re planning on producing ongoing podcasts, investment in a quality mic and computer soundcard or a digital recorder and microphone. For exceptional results, you might also consider going to a local studio to record your segments. |
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| Find a Good Time and a Quiet Place. If you’re recording at home, and background sounds aren’t part of the show, find a time that will be interruption-free and a place that’s free of household sounds, conversations, ringing phones, etc. |
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| Speak Up! Talk directly into the mic; however, if you tend to “pop” your “p’s,” try turning your head slightly to the side when you utter “plosive” sounds. Also, a microphone stand is a worthwhile investment — you’ll get better results than you would by holding the mic in your hand. |
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| Vary Your Pitch and Speed. There’s nothing more boring than a monotone. And there’s nothing easier to change than monotonic speech. Vary your pitch and vary your speed to make your style more dynamic and appealing. |
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Enthuse! Most people are afraid of having too much energy when they record, that they’ll be “over the top.” Upon listening to the recording, though, they’re surprised at how natural they sound.
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