Showcase your brand’s personality and expertise with a podcast
Online, on the radio and in your pocket, podcasts are everywhere. As of April of this year, there are over 29 million episodes out there. A podcast series is a great way to get your name out there and raise awareness about your brand. Not sure where to start? No worries, we’ve got you covered. Read on for the five key steps to launching your first podcast series.
1. Choose a Topic
Pick a subject that resonates with your target audience and, most importantly, your brand. Each episode should enhance a consumer’s experience with your brand. Make sure your topic isn’t too niche—you want to be able to produce many episodes. To help map out your episodes and recording schedule, decide on an episode length. Keep in mind that your target audience members probably have busy schedules, so don’t make them commit to an episode they don’t have time to finish. Making your episodes manageable in length will keep your listeners coming back for more.
2. Get the Right Gear
Having the right gear is the first step to making a great podcast. However, you don’t need state-of-the-art equipment to make a professional-sounding recording. With a laptop and some basic accessories, podcasting is available to anyone. And while you don’t need a fancy studio to make each episode come to life, you will need a quiet space. Seek out a location that is free of excessive background noise—this will make your life easier when it comes time to edit.
3. Start Recording
At Yakkety Yak, we use Adobe Audition to record some of the hottest podcasts in Chicago. This software enables us to produce high-quality recordings. If you don’t want to pay for a subscription, you can also use the free and user-friendly software, Audacity. Whichever service you choose to use, make sure the mic and software are connected before you press record.
4. Edit, Edit, Edit
After you’ve wrapped up the recording process, you’re ready to start editing. Be sure to cut out all the empty air, coughs and off-topic discussion. Doing so will help make sure your podcast host and guests can be heard clearly throughout each episode. Once you’ve polished off the speaking segments, find a musical intro and outro to add a little flair to your episode. Find a jingle or beat that aligns with your brand––you’ll want to keep the musical clip consistent across each episode. Just be sure you own the copyright to the music before adding it to the podcast, or that you use royalty-free music that is available to the public. Keep in mind that any music that’s not original may need attribution somewhere in the podcast.
5. Publish and Promote
Now, it’s time to put your episode out there. Decide which platform you’ll release your podcast on—SoundCloud, iTunes and Spotify are popular podcast hosts. Once you’ve settled on your platform, design some creative cover art for your episode. Your cover art should align with your brand, but stand out from the rest of the podcasts in your space.
Finally, start promoting the first episode on social media. Keep in mind that it might take a few episodes before you hit your stride, so be patient. Bring your unique perspective and personality to each episode and you’re sure to catch your listeners’ attention and keep them coming back for more.
If you’re ready to tell a great story and make your brand stand out, reach out to us today.
