Tips for better podcasting

No matter how long you have been making and creating podcasts you always have room for some tips of improvement. So whether you are a novice or advanced user here are some tips for better podcasting.

Tip one:
Because your podcast is an audio recording you are going to want to get a real microphone. While some computers come with a microphone they are a very low quality microphone and will record your audio at a lower quality. Since you want to create better podcasts you should take the time and invest in a decent microphone. The best type of microphone for podcasting is a studio microphone because they are sensitive and low-noise, which means you won't get nearly as many background sounds in your podcast. Studio microphones cost around $100. If you get a studio microphone you should also invest in a preamp box so that you can provide power to your microphone since you can't just hook a studio microphone into your computer directly.

Tip two:
Make sure that you are using the proper microphone technique, which means you need to get close, but not too close. In general you should be about a hand's width away from the microphone when you are talking into the microphone. The closer you are to the microphone the more bass in your voice that it will pick up. Another thing to consider is the microphone placement; on average you want the microphone above you and to the left or right of you up to 45 degrees. The best way to get the right sound is to try different positions until you find the one that works best for you.

Tip three:
Prepare yourself ahead of time with notes. But do not write out the entire script and just read from it. The notes are there just to help remind you of what you are talking about and helps create a more natural flow, where as reading a script tends to sound stiff and unnatural.

Tip four:
Being that microphones have no filter to help block out noises, actually they tend to pick up all of the sounds you are going to want to have a quiet environment when recording your podcast. Having a quiet background will help cut out the unnecessary noise and it can also save time on editing. Other noises that can be picked up on microphones are fluorescent lights, fans, air conditioners, etc try trying off as many of these appliances that you can or create a room where none of those devices are used. You can also try recording in a closet full of clothes as the clothes will act as a sound barrier or cover your head with a blanket to cut down on the excess noise.

Tip five:
Come up with some kind of a format for your podcast. And use the same format for each of your podcast in the series, do not change formats in the middle of a series as it could cause confusion with your listeners. If you decide to change formats do so at the beginning of a new series of podcasts.

Tip six:
Make sure that you develop some type of schedule for your podcast. The schedule allows for your listeners to know about when to expect a new show and keeps them coming back for more. If you follow your schedule you will look even better to your listeners. But hey sometimes things happen that make it hard to keep to your schedule so you should at least take the time to let the listeners know about the delay, doing this will make them feel valued.

Tip seven:
Slow down and relax before you do your podcast. First time podcasters might find themselves full of fear about creating their first podcast, so take the time to relax and slow down; a few deep breaths should help. Also slowing down helps to prevent you from talking to fast, when you are playing back your recording be sure to listen to your speech carefully because while you are recording you might not notice how fast you are talking, which can be hard for your listeners to follow.