Pod Pointers

In the world of remote meetings, we’ve all experienced a poor connection. If you’re interviewing a guest remotely, be sure to let them know how critical a strong internet connection is to the interview. If they are on a weak connection, consider having them disable video to improve their audio quality. If the guest’s connection is incredibly weak, you’ll be better served to reschedule when you can meet in person, or they can connect from another location. You won’t be doing yourself any favors by having them dial in by phone if their internet connection is weak. Most interviews held over the phone capture an immense amount of background noise, and if your guest is like me, you’ll record every step they take as they pace around the room.

When interviewing a guest, especially if you’re doing so virtually, give them an overview of best practices before you begin. Keep in mind, your guest wants to come off sounding just as good as you, and technically they are the featured component of that particular episode. One important thing to remind your guests is to lean into their microphone. As you chat, guests have a tendency to get comfortable and lean back in their chair. The problem is that as they lean away, their voice will become distant, and the sound quality will be degraded in post-production editing. Remind them to keep those lips close to the mic to ensure they sound clear and crisp.

Podcasts are typically thought of as audio content consumed from smart devices. This is true, but as we’ve seen in recent years, the phones we carry around, as well as cellular service providers, are getting faster and better at supporting HD video quality. With this in mind, think of your entire audience. From the MySpace to TikTok generations, each likes to consume content differently. Recording your podcast sessions is one more content medium you can share and promote through YouTube and other video platforms to expand and maximize your audience reach.

There is a lot of fancy equipment out there today. From mixing boards to microphones, you could easily spend thousands of dollars for what is promised to be the best possible sound quality. If you’re just starting out, don’t drive yourself into debt by trying to buy the best-in-class items. Focus on quality content and consistent episodes. If these items are intact, utilizing the microphone within your laptop is going to be fine in the short term, and you can clean up echoes and static in post-production. Listeners will be more forgiving of the occasional sound hiccup if the content quality is consistently delivered. When you are ready to invest in equipment, be sure to check out our blog at thepodops.com/blog, where we cover microphones and headphones at several price points and quality levels.

Being a good conversationalist begins with being a good listener. When you have a guest on, you should have prepared for the interview in advance by researching the individual, getting to know a little about their area of expertise, and having prepared questions to drive the conversation forward. As your guest begins to open up and share, be sure to listen for interesting points. These may change your line of questioning, but having a genuine interest in your guests also puts them at ease, as well as makes them comfortable to share more personal details. You’ll find some of the best one-liners and soundbites come from those unplanned moments that arise when the guest is sharing their story.

I hate to say this, as it has become a marketing term that is vastly overused, but you need to be authentic, as in your real self when recording. If you create a persona for your podcast, keep in mind you are committing to acting for each and every episode. This can be exhausting as well as come across to your listeners as being fake. When you are not yourself behind the microphone it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to speak from a place of experience. If you find your personality and the content aren’t enticing listeners, consider pivoting the show to topics more in line with your voice, or consider adding a co-host. A second personality can positively change the dynamic and place less pressure on you as a host to carry the show.

You have a podcast. You have a website. These are two key pieces to your podcast platform, but in general, they are typically one-way communication paths. Your audience may be able to leave a comment, but they aren’t that likely to see a reply, nor have the ability to deep dive into a discussion with you or other listeners. By creating a Facebook group, you are giving your audience the ability to build a community around your podcast. As you release new episodes, you can direct listeners to your group, where timely episode-based discussion topics are posted. This gives your audience a way to connect with your content and one another in a more meaningful way.

As podcast hosts, we are very familiar and comfortable being behind the computer screen. Tucked away in our homes and studios, we have a non-physical wall between ourselves and the audience. By creating a podcast hotline, you can give your audience a place to call and leave voice messages and commentary on episodes. You can also promote this at the end of your episodes by featuring clips of messages that have been left by listeners. Be sure to ask people to leave their name and location along with their message so you can call them out by name in future episodes. It’s one more way to grow and deepen your audience relationship.

There are all kinds of events, not just about podcasts, that are opportunities to make connections. Do you have a podcast about beer? Search the web for beer related events or festivals in your city. Show up with your podcast logo on your shirt, hat, or whatever it is you’re wearing. Work the room and meet as many people as possible. It’s a great way to find potential guests, as well as spread the word about your show and gain a few new listeners. Like any business opportunity, being able to give someone a card with your contact information and website is a good approach and ensures they won’t forget you after you walk away.

Many podcasts are heavily scripted, almost like a television sitcom. There’s nothing wrong with this. It’s not the only approach. You can also have high level bullet points for your discussion or interview points, or if you’re feeling really wild, go completely unscripted. Some of the best content is produced when you are not reading a script but being present in the moment and speaking as the industry expert you are. Don’t be afraid to make a mistake or trip over your words. You can do some polishing in production but leaving the occasional mistake or stutter in also helps humanize you to the audience, creating a rich listener experience.