Guest Speakers: John G. Hartness, Cat Rambo, Shannon Strucci
You may be wondering, how is this pertinent to writers? The answer is simple: marketing. Whether you realize it or not, if you want the word of your books, short stories, poems, etc. to sell, then the majority of advertising falls on you. Podcasting is one of many options, and I will certainly attempt to utilize it in the future (hopefully in the second half of this year!)
How do you surface above the crowd? Podcasting has become increasingly more popular, and your pool of competitors is not slim. To stand out from the others, you’ll want to incorporate music, sound effects, and a level of entertainment for your viewers/listeners.
One of the first questions with podcasting is Audio vs. Video? Do you feel comfortable being on screen with engaging facial expressions and body language, or are you better suited to carry your personality through voice alone?
You will need a computer and a microphone. If you’re looking for video editing software, iMovie is an option made by Apple for Macs and iPhones. An alternative option for similar software is Movavi for Windows. Audacity is another free editing software.
You’ll want to make pre-recorded snippets of “Please subscribe” or “If you’d like to support my content, here’s my Patreon” or “To see more of my work, please go to TheRavensQuarter.com!” You can insert these phrases wherever they are best suited in your videos or audio podcast.
When it comes to your recording environment, make sure to eliminate background noise as best as you can: turn off your air conditioner, put a blanket or towel over a humming computer or nearby vents, temporarily lock your pets in a dungeon–I mean separate room. These are cheap fixes until you’re confident in moving forward with this hobby/career path, and you’re able to afford better sound-proofing equipment for your recording studio room.
A pop filter and a shock mount will go a long way in creating a smooth audio flow and experience for your listeners. A pop filter is a barrier between you and the microphone which will soften the “p” sounds and similar consonants. These puffs of air translate through audio harsher than you may think. A shock mount will keep your mic steady, so that any nearby vibrations on your desk, or caused by you, do not interrupt the flow of audio quality. Both of these tools will serve to lower the amount of effort you’ll put into your editing phase.
When it comes to distribution services, bear in mind: there is cheap, and there is easy. There are not really any in-between’s. Good options are Soundcloud, Spotify, and Libsyn.
Additionally, you’ll want to upload all of your episodes to YouTube. If you don’t feel comfortable showing your face on screen, that’s fine – many people use character drawings of themselves while implementing other visual effects or slideshows. If you don’t know how to draw well, then you’ll want to find animators, and some can even put together a sketch for a theme song you might have in mind. Twitch is also a great option for podcasts (often used by gamers), and can be cross-updated with YouTube.
Solo podcasting can be more challenging than with a team or collaboration with other guests. However, if you do decide to work with other people, you MUST all be on the same page! Also, you don’t all have to be scheduled at the same place or even the same time. This is an advantage of pre-recordings and online/remote access. As a team you will definitely want to get your recording technology right from the start – similar audio, headphones, professional editing software, etc. Most podcasts are not well-produced, and if your team is synchronized, then the listening experience will be far smoother and potentially superior to your competition.
There are several types of mics, the popular ones being a “shotgun” mic and an “omni” mic. The shotgun mic points directly at you, whereas an omnidirectional mic picks up noises from all around. You definitely want to get the shotgun mic! Good options are Blue Yeti and Snowball. Zoom H1 has an SD card and is a great mobile option if you’re recording on-the-go.
Skype has a good plug-in for a call recorder, and it’s free to use. The quality is decently good so long as everyone in the group call has reliable internet connection. Quicktime will record only yourself. The importance of saved back-up’s cannot be over-emphasized!
Now, in terms of time, what is the sweet spot for the length of a podcast? Bear in mind, this varies depending on the speaker and subject matter. Some do 90 minutes (roughly one hour of content, and 15-30 min of Q&A.) Others conduct everything in 30 minutes – timing also depends on your audience and what they expect. 5-10 minute bursts are common for YouTube segments.
Accessibility is something else to keep in mind. For those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, a transcript is a nice option–or closed captioning for YouTube. This can greatly expand your audience, and many listeners really appreciate it! Do not rely on auto-captioning! YouTube has a feature where you can type the captioning yourself, though if you don’t want to do that (for whatever reason) then there are other solutions. Fiver is a service where people will transcribe for you at $5.00 per 15 minutes.
That’s it for now in regards to the merged subjects of writing and podcasting! If you’re a writer, does the thought of podcasting excite or unnerve you? Does the idea open up new possibilities for you, or are you already there and what has your experience been like? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the Comments Section below!
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Featured Image: https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/28/blue-yeti-nano-usb-microphone/