How to Create Your Podcast for WordPress

During the days when analogue devices ruled the airwaves, radio programs are the way of the future. All you need is to turn that dial on if you need to know about the news and the latest trends. If you want to be heard by the general public, you need to go to a radio station, or better yet own one! But of course, you need to have a lot of connections (or money) to have that! Now thanks to the Internet, you need not own a radio station to connect to the public. Now with the advent of the digital age, have radio programs changed lately? True enough, these programs still exist today. It has somehow evolved into something digital recently like Podcast.

What is a Podcast?

Podcasts are any form of media, either audio or video, available on the Internet for downloading to a computer or a mobile device. It is free! It allows Internet users to download audio files (usually *.mp3) from a podcasting website to listen to on their mobile phones or computers. The word podcast comes from a combination of the words iPod and broadcast. Although you can download a podcast from any mobile device nowadays; before, a majority of people were using iPads then.

It was in 2003 when the launching of what is commonly believed to be the very first online podcast by Matt Schichter, “Backstage Pass.” In 2004, podcasts began reaching to a larger audience, and people began to gain more interest about it Adam Curry’s show, The Daily Source Code. Now, podcasts come in different forms such as a series, where people listen to advertisements & promotions, commentaries, interviews, etc. It can either be educational or informational, and it should also be entertaining.

What are the Steps in Podcasting?

1) Get the Right Equipment

Getting the right equipment is the key to making a great podcast. You need not get the most expensive gear available if you are still starting. You need to get the gear that would suit your needs at the moment. Below are essentials for podcasting.

• Microphone. Try to get a microphone that has USB-connectivity so that it can connect directly to your computer

• Boom Arm. It allows you more flexibility compared to a mic stand. It’s sturdier (because it’s clamped to your table), and it can allow your hands to move the mic at any angle or height you need.

• Shock Mount. It suspends the microphone in mid-air, which means, the vibrations coming from your table, your computer, and any other equipment on the table, or perhaps the accidental bumps you made on the table using your knees or elbows, is going to be absorbed, thus, less noise during podcasting.

• Pop Filter / Windscreen. It reduces the popping sounds made by your mouth whenever you pronounce words that start with the letters B and P.

• Editing Software. It is how you are going to create your broadcast. These are software that can record your voice, insert music or sound effects, and allow you to edit your recordings before launching it.

2) Choose a Topic and Define your Audience

Choosing a topic will define the direction of your podcast. The best practice here is to choose a topic where you feel you can talk comfortably and confidently. It can range from a variety of topics. The topic that you choose can define your target audience.

3) Pick a Show Title or a Podcast Name

You can pick any name for your podcast. Let your imagination soar high!

4) Come up with a Show Description

It is the summary or pitch on why people are listening to your show, and this is what people will read online, and later decide on whether to pick your show or not.

5) Create a Podcast Artwork or Cover Art

It is the face of your podcast. It’s the first thing people see whenever they’re browsing on the different directories where followers or potential-followers find podcasts.

The size of a podcast cover art should be 3000 pixels by 3000 pixels. It will look great anywhere because it can always be scaled down depending on the platform or device it’s shown.

6) Build a Website

The first thing to do is to signup for a web hosting provider, and then you can now start building your website. Building a website on WordPress is highly recommended. It’s cheap, easy, and you maintain complete control over your website. You won’t have to do any custom coding if you choose the right WordPress theme.

7) Choose a Podcast Hosting Service

The podcast hosting is simply the place where you put your audio files on the web to deliver them to your listeners. You could choose a host that offers a good dashboard or user interface to work with, and stats and tools. There is a variety of Podcast Hosting Services nowadays; you only have to choose which one suits your current needs.

8) Meta-Tagging your Audio File

Meta-tagging is putting the necessary information to the audio files, so when it delivers to your RSS Feed, it will show up on the right manner inside a player. It is a form of SEO that will help your audience find you and find out more about you.

9) Share your RSS Feeds to Followers and Send to Directories

Once you have meta-tagged your audio file, It’s important to send your podcast to different directories all over the Web. This way, your podcast would be easier to access, even if you are using many different kinds of platforms. But first, you need to create an account for each directory where you will send your podcast. After that, you can now submit your RSS link. How many times do you have to do it? Just once. It’s that simple! Whenever you upload a new part or episode on your directory, it will automatically update itself.

10) Launch your Podcast and Grow Your Audience

After all the things said, or rather broadcast-ed and done, it is time for the world to know about your podcast. Congratulations! Now watch as you slowly rise into fame!