Let’s talk podcast upgrades. If you’re a podcaster, we know you want to take your podcast from good to great. You’ve done all the do’s and don’ts of podcasting, but you still want more. This post is for you! There are many different ways that can help improve your show and take it from good to great.
For example, getting a new mic is an easy podcast upgrade that will give your podcast better sound quality without breaking the bank. Another way to increase production value is by adding music or sound effects – we’ll talk about how these upgrades and more can help make your show reach its full potential.
The Basic Do’s and Don’ts of Podcasting
In podcasting, there are some basic things that you should and shouldn’t do. These should be the starting point for taking your podcast from good to great and serve as a good first checklist for you.
List of things to do when podcasting:
- Record in a quiet space with enough room to move around.
- Use an external mic rather than the one built into your computer or phone – this will give you better sound quality and reduce background noise.
- Save every new episode as its own file rather than using default naming conventions, like “podcast_episodetitle” which can cause issues when trying to find old episodes on your hard drive later down the road.
List of things not to do when podcasting:
- Do not speak too close to the mic, as this will cause distortion.
- Do not eat, drink or chew gum while recording – you’ll sound like you’re eating a bag of chips on air.
- Do not have loud noises in the background, like dogs barking or construction work going on.
Audio Improvements for Podcasters
Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to start thinking about ways that you can improve your podcast audio quality. Here are some suggestions:
Get a new mic: This is probably the easiest and most affordable way to improve your podcast’s sound quality. There are many different types of mics available on the market, so do your research and find one that fits your budget and needs.
Use an audio editor: If you’re not happy with the sound quality of your podcast, or if you want to add music or sound effects to your show, using an audio editor can be a great way to improve your production value. There are many different types of audio editors available, so do some research and find one that’s right for you.
Record in a studio: If you have the budget, consider recording your podcast in a professional studio. This will give your show a more polished and professional sound.
Add music or sound effects: Another way to add production value to your podcast is by adding music or sound effects. This can help set the tone for your show and make it more engaging for listeners.
Microphone Upgrades
Your microphone is a critical piece of equipment. It takes in everything you want to deliver to your audience. Upgrading your microphone could be one of the biggest and first upgrades to address for your podcast because it will make such a drastic difference in sound quality. If you’re using the built-in microphone on your computer, it’s time to invest in an external mic – and there are many great ones out there for very reasonable prices.
Dynamic vs Condenser Microphones
When shopping for a new mic, you’ll come across two types: dynamic and condenser microphones. Dynamic mics are more durable and can handle louder sounds without distorting the audio signal. They’re also typically less expensive than condenser mics. While not as durable as dynamic mics, condenser microphones offer much better sound quality. They capture more detail in the audio signal. So if you’re looking to take your game up a notch, investing in a condenser mic is the way to do it.
Plug-in Mics vs Standalone Mics
Another thing you’ll need to decide when purchasing a new microphone is whether you want a plug-in mic or a standalone mic. Plug-in mics are used with computers and other audio devices, while standalone mics connect directly to recording equipment or an interface. If you’re looking for greater flexibility in terms of where you can record, then a standalone mic might be the right choice for you.
Noise Reduction
One downside of using external microphones is that they often pick up more background noise than built-in microphones. This is especially true if you’re podcasting from a busy environment like a coffee shop. To combat this, invest in a microphone with noise cancellation capabilities. This will help to reduce the amount of ambient noise that’s picked up by the mic, resulting in cleaner audio for your listeners.
Microphone Costs for Podcasting:
- Plug-in Mics: $50 to $100
- Standalone Mics: $200 and up
Podcasting Software
Once you have a new microphone, you’ll need some software to help you record and edit your podcast episodes. While there are many different options available, we recommend Audacity – it’s free and easy to use. With Audacity, you can do everything from simple editing tasks like trimming down clips to more complex tasks like adding sound effects and music.
Music and Sound Effects
Adding music or sound effects to your podcast can really enhance the listener experience. It can also add production value and make your podcast stand out. If you do choose to add sound effects or music, be sure that it’s royalty-free and doesn’t contain any copyright restrictions – otherwise, you could end up in some legal hot water.
*There are many different options available for mics, recording software, and more – do your research before investing so that you can get exactly what fits into your budget and needs.
Recording in a Studio
This item is a bit controversial because not everyone has the resources to record in a studio, and many of the biggest podcasts in the world have never been recorded in a real professional studio.
The truth is, the internet has democratized production and made it easy for anyone to get into podcasting. You don’t need to have thousands of dollars to start, and you don’t NEED a dedicated space to do it. However, it can still be beneficial to create or rent a studio for your podcasting if you want to upgrade your podcast.
Renting a studio for recording your podcast can be great if you do a lot of traveling or can’t afford to commit to buying your own studio. If you do decide that recording in a real studio is for you, make sure to do your homework before spending the money – there are lots of bad deals out there, and it’s easy to get scammed!
If a dedicated space isn’t something that works with your lifestyle, don’t worry – podcasting doesn’t require all this stuff. You can still do great work with just an internet connection and a high-quality microphone on your computer. However, upgrading from good equipment to great equipment might be one of those small changes that go a long way toward improving the quality of your show over time!
If you would like to create a studio in a dedicated room or space of your home or office, then this is a great option. It creates a dual function for the space and costs a lot less than renting a full studio outside of your home.
The basic parts of a home studio for podcasting include a desk, chair or stool, lights for recording video clips, and multi-channel amplifiers, and sound insulation panels, including acoustic foam tiles to reduce echo and reverb in the room.
Podcasts do not need to be recorded in an actual studio which is why so many people do their work at home since it saves money on rent costs – however, having your own space can help you achieve better results. The cost to create a home studio for podcasting will range from $300-$800.
*This number can increase or decrease depending on the quality of equipment you choose to purchase.
Tips for creating your podcasting home studio:
- Do some research into what kind of software is available for podcasting and find one that is easy to use and fits within your budget.
- If you’re looking to add music or sound effects to your podcast, be sure that they are royalty-free and don’t contain any copyright restrictions.
- Consider renting a studio space if you want to take your podcasting up a notch, but make sure to do your homework before spending the money – there are lots of bad deals out there!
- Creating a home studio for podcasting doesn’t have to be expensive – between $300 and $800 will get you everything you need.
Naming Your Podcast Episodes
One of the most cost-effective and important ways you can implement podcast upgrades is by improving your podcast episode titles. Naming your podcast episodes is one of the final steps in publishing your podcast but is so critical because it is the cover that listeners will judge your book (podcast) by. Some of the important elements of a good podcast episode title include:
- Being clear about what the episode is about.
- Using keywords that people might use to search for content related to your podcast.
- Including the episode number and/or season number in the title.
- Making it interesting and catchy!
Some do’s and don’ts when naming your episodes:
- Do make sure that each episode is titled uniquely – you don’t want a listener to click on an episode expecting one thing, only to find another show entirely.
- Do consider adding keywords into your titles – this will help people find your content more easily.
- Do make sure that the title accurately represents the content of the episode.
- Don’t forget to include the episode number and/or season number in the title!
If you’re looking for inspiration for naming the episodes of your podcast, be sure to check out some of the top podcasts out there and see how they do it. Some great examples are “Serial” and “How I Built This.”
By following these guidelines, you can create titles that intrigue listeners and help them find your content more easily. Stay tuned for our final post in this series where we’ll talk about promoting your podcast!
A Musical Podcast Upgrade: How to Create a Jingle for a Podcast
One of the coolest podcast upgrades is to have a jingle that is catchy and easy to remember. This is an important branding exercise, as well, because it means you can put together a memorable impression of your podcast’s name, topic, and style. Some of the important elements of a podcast jingle include:
- Think about what you do and don’t like in podcast jingles – do they make sense? Do they sound professional? Does it fit with the style of your show?
- Feel free to be creative! Some people get fun with this part of branding their podcast, while others keep things simple. Either way is fine, but just remember that a jingle needs to represent who you are as well as how catchy it sounds/feels on the ears. Some examples include: “This American Life,” “Welcome to Night Vale,” and “Serial”.
You can create a great jingle for your own podcast by hiring someone else to do it or doing so yourself if you have audio production skills. To create your own jingle, there are a few processes to follow.
Steps for Creating a Podcast Jingle
If you’re going to create your own jingle, there are a few simple steps that you can follow:
- Come up with a melody and lyrics that fit well together and represent your podcast.
- Make sure the jingle is short – between 15 seconds and 30 seconds is ideal.
- Find an instrumental track or beat that you like and fits well with the melody/lyrics of your jingle.
Once you have created a basic draft of your podcast jingle, it’s important to get feedback from friends, family, and listeners. Ask them what they think about the melody, lyrics, and overall sound of the jingle. Make revisions as necessary until everyone loves it! Once it’s finalized, be sure to copyright your jingle so that no one else can steal it and do something with it.
Eye-Catching Podcast Upgrades: Make an Awesome Logo
A second part of the branding of your podcast branding and something that will make your podcast more memorable is the logo. Podcast logos are relatively simple and inexpensive podcast upgrades that you cannot afford to ignore. Your podcast logo is like the visual identity of your show and should be something that listeners will remember. Some tips for creating a great podcast logo:
- Keep it simple – you want people to be able to see it quickly and easily, so don’t include too many elements.
- Make sure it represents who you are as a podcaster and what your podcast is about.
- Use colors that represent your brand/show.
- Make sure it fits well on all platforms – Facebook cover photos are typically much smaller than Twitter headers.
- Include some text in case viewers/listeners want to learn more about what your show is about quickly and easily without having to click through somewhere else.
- Keep colors consistent.
Once you have created a basic draft of your logo, again it’s important to get feedback from friends, family, and listeners. Ask them what they think about the design, colors, and overall feel of the logo. Then put that logo anywhere and everywhere that listeners might find your podcast.
This is important because it’s a great way to remind listeners about your podcast and it also represents the level of quality that they should expect. It is also a way for them to find your podcast if it is on a long list. Think of all the words they have to sift through to find just the right one, but if they know the colors and the look of your logo, it will catch their gaze as they scroll down and they won’t miss your podcast or click on another one.
Marketing Podcast Upgrades: Promoting Your Podcast
If you really want to take your podcast from good to great, you have to promote your podcast once the episodes have been published! This step is crucial in making sure people know when new content has arrived. Listeners will want to subscribe for future updates. Some important things to do include:
- Publicizing on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook.
- Sending out an email newsletter to subscribers letting them know what’s recently come out (and encouraging them to share).
- Posting links in relevant online forums (including Reddit).
- Cross-promoting between podcasts if they exist under the same network.
- Submitting your podcast to directories like iTunes and Stitcher Radio.
When it comes to promoting a podcast, there are many different avenues you can explore. By using a variety of methods, you can cast a wider net and ensure that more people hear about your content!
It’s in the Numbers Podcast Upgrades: Follow Up and Metrics
Make sure you are also following up with how your podcast is performing. Measuring the success of your podcast is a great way to find new areas of improvement and podcast upgrades in the future. Some of the ways you can do this are:
- Make sure your RSS podcast feed is up to date before publishing each episode.
- Consider creating show notes for each episode – this will give listeners additional information as well as help with SEO.
- Think about what format best suits your show – solo shows? Interviews? Panel discussions?
- Keep track of your download numbers and analyze where they are coming from (geographically and demographically).
- Reach out to sponsors and see if there is interest in sponsoring your show.
Getting Social with Podcast Upgrades: Publicizing Your Podcast on Social Media Platforms
One great way to promote your podcast is by publicizing it on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. This will help get the word out there about your content and encourage people to subscribe for future updates. Some tips for doing this include:
- Tweet out links to your episodes as soon as they are published.
- Use relevant hashtags that relate to your podcast/episode topic (keeping it within the appropriate character limit).
- Do not self-promote too much – keep track of how often you’re tweeting out links about yourself compared with other users on Twitter, if it’s more than a few times per day then you should tone back or consider making another account for promotional purposes only. On Facebook, make sure posts do not appear spammy, and stick to content relevant to what is happening at this moment rather than self-promotion because people tend to ‘hide’ those types of pages from their feed after a while.
No matter how you podcast, there is always more you could do. Keep these tips in mind when finding podcast upgrades to deliver the best experience for listeners.
