Podcasting 101

Although I would like to think that I am technologically sound, I’ll admit…I was very uncertain about making a podcast for my English class. While I enjoy listening to podcasts, I couldn’t imagine myself walking around with a voice recording and talking into it like an FBI agent on a stakeout. After reading about podcasting tips, however, I feel more comfortable about this project, even though it may be a bit out of my comfort zone.

Mashable is a news website and internet blog that focuses on social media, while also discussing news in entertainment, technology, science, and business. In the article “7 Tips for Launching a Successful Podcast“, Brian Casel, web designer and co-host of Freelance Jam, gives readers several tips on how to start up a podcast, or improve on an old one:

1. Choose a topic you’re passionate about: While I am only doing this podcast for an assignment, it doesn’t mean that I can’t choose a topic I am interested in. My topic will be second-hand use and the public attitude that comes with it. When I was young, my mom was a single parent and didn’t have a lot of money, so for a while, all of our clothes and toys were from Goodwill or some other thrift store. Today, I still continue to shop at second-hand stores, just not exclusively, and I don’t see anything wrong with that. You can find some really great things at these stores that you can’t find anywhere else.
2. Brand your podcast: I never even thought about a topic before I read this article, but as Casel points out, a good podcast begins with a good name, so I better start brainstorming.
3. Format and structure: I think I would like to mix video and audio podcasting for this project. As Casel notes, I will also need to decide on a length for my podcast.
4. Plan your content: This part will probably be the most important part of my podcast, apart from the finished project itself. This will include preparing interview questions and laying out the order of my podcast.
5. Record, broadcast, and edit your podcast: I will be using Audacity and iMovie to help me edit my podcast.
6. Grow your audience and 7.  Monetize your podcast: Although these tips would be good tips for people who are serious about making some money from podcasting, they are not relevant to me.

After reading Casel’s article, I feel more comfortable with this project and am excited to get started.