How effective is podcasting

Like any media outlet podcasting is only as effective as you make it. So when creating your podcast you are going to want to create an effective podcast so that you can keep your listeners tuned in. Here are some rules to follow to help make your podcast effective.

Rule one:
Make sure that you have something to say. Do not create a podcast just because everybody else is doing it that is the fastest way for your podcast to fail. You can choose to ramble on for a period of a few minutes to a half hour but what people are looking for when it comes to podcasts is somebody that has a unique voice or somebody that is really funny. If you are just going to read what you have typed onto a blog it would be better off just sticking with the blog, one it is easier to do and can save you time, and two it is easy for people to read it to find out what you have to say rather than reading your blog and then listening to the exact same thing on your podcast.

Rule two:
Before you start make sure that you are prepared. Before you start talking be sure to write down some notes to help guide you through your podcast, while some people can improvisefor a half hour (stand up comedians) not everybody have so having your notes handy will help to keep you on track. If you are going to be interviewing somebody be sure to write down the questions ahead of time as well. But keep in mind this does not mean you can only cover what is on your notes, if you find something else you want to say that will add to your podcast you always have that option.

Rule three:
Always keep your podcast short and simple. This does not mean that you can not have podcasts that last an hour, but more listeners tend to respond to the shorter podcasts, especially the ones that are just starting out that they have no idea of what to expect. So by starting off with shorter podcasts you can give your listeners a taste of what you have to offer to see if they like it. Once they decide if they like your shorter podcasts they are more likely to listen to your longer ones. But do not just talk about anything and everything to fill up the time, this is called rambling and does allow your podcast to be very effective.

Rule four:
When you are recording your podcast you want to make sure that you are using good recording equipment so that your podcasts come across with good clear quality. Listeners don't want to listen to recordings that are poorly made. So before you publish your podcast you will need to learn how to record, edit and produce a podcast. This can take many trial runs but the end result will be worth it.

Rule five:
Don't try and be somebody that you are not. Listeners can tell the difference between people pretending to be somebody and somebody who is actually that type of person. Relax and talk about things that are interesting to you and that you know a little or a lot about. By trying to talk about something that you have no clue about you are degrading yourself and your listeners won't come back for more podcasts, they will go to where they can get real knowledge.

Rule six:
Be unique. When creating a podcast try to come up with a subject that is unique and original. When people choose podcasts to listen to they tend to go for the ones that stand out and are not like every other podcast on the same subject. Like writing you want your podcast to be creative and all about you, so like it says in rule number five be yourself and the rest will come naturally.

Rule seven:
When providing notes on your podcast be sure that they are detailed. This will let your listeners know exactly what is going on and what they can expect and when. This way your listeners can navigate through your podcast if they want to replay certain parts or have to stop listening during the podcast they can pick back up where they left off.

Rule eight:
If you are going to have music in your show don't use it just to fill up space or too punctuate your show. If you are going to use music treat it like music and let it play as music. But always keep in mind the copyright laws before you use somebody else's music.