If you’ve heard it once, you’ve heard it a thousand times. Content is king.
With everyone pumping out content hand over fist, though, what you say is no longer enough. Quality also has to figure into the equation.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in the world of podcasting. The podcasting industry exploded during the pandemic, with listenership skyrocketing to a staggering 80 million people per week in the U.S. alone.
This massive influx of listeners has raised the bar on podcast quality. Shows that sound like they were recorded in the host’s parent’s basement are no longer good enough.
How to Take Your Podcast Further
If a podcast is going to gain a decent chunk of the current listening audience, it needs to be high quality. Here are a few of the best tools to help you do that.
1. Use Remote Recording for Studio Quality
Back in the day, recording artists needed to pack up their gear and physically travel to a different geographic location to get a good recording. They also needed to drop a ton of money on renting a studio and hiring a professional sound technician to capture, mix, and master a high-quality version of their audio product.
As expectations rise, podcasters must produce similar levels of professional audio, whether they have the means to do so or not. Fortunately, there are third-party tools, like SquadCast, that are making this affordable and accessible through remote recording.
As you might expect, remote recording allows podcasters to access a professional recording studio platform remotely. The tool uses cutting-edge software to capture crystal clear audio and video. This allows content creators to regain a sense of professionalism in their recordings without ever having to step outside of their home studios, let alone break the bank on recording fees.
2. Build a Website to Showcase Your Brand
As a podcast host, it’s tempting to spend all of your time producing quality content. But you need to look further than the content itself if you want to take your podcast to the next level. One way to improve your podcast is to build a website for your show.
Podcasts are hosted on one site and distributed on countless streaming services from there. This creates a decentralizing effect. A podcast website can serve as an online hub that can be the central point where all things related to your show reside.
You can use your website to host conversations and receive feedback from your audience. You can also post transcripts and links to all of the different podcast directories where your show is available.
There are many elite website-building tools that make building a podcast website easy. Classic options like Squarespace and Wix can give you drag-and-drop editors that can be customizable to whatever feel you want. There are also podcast-specific sites, like Podbean, that offer templates designed for the genre.
3. Invest in Post-Production
So much of the podcasting process focuses on what happens before you hit that big, red record button. But the real magic often happens when you’re finished recording and you head into post-production.
The ability to clean up a recording, mix it well, and then finalize a product that will sound good even when it’s played on different devices can be challenging. Making sure your post-production activity isn’t just good but also consistent is even harder to maintain.
There are tools that can help with this process. For instance, Buzzsprout has created its “Magic Mastering” tool. This utilizes advanced technology to improve audio files, optimize them, and make sure that they are consistent from one episode to the next.
This has a two-fold effect on the quality of your podcast. First, it helps you improve the actual sound itself and provides a sense of consistency and predictability for your listeners. Second, it streamlines the post-production process, freeing up more time for artists to focus on the content brainstorming, development, and recording end of the deal.
4. Always Be Learning
The podcasting world is still in its infancy. As it continues to develop, there are always more tools coming out to speed up production, improve quality, and otherwise help artists produce highly professional content.
This continual evolution of the industry requires a steady investment in learning. Look for resources that can serve as tools to sharpen your podcasting acumen.
For instance, if you’re just getting started, consider taking veteran podcaster Pat Flynn’s free step-by-step guide on How to Start a Podcast. If you prefer to be able to ask questions, you can sign up for a membership to the Podcast Success Academy where they host live Q&A and accountability sessions.
Podcasts are a dime a dozen these days. If you want your pod to stand out, you need to make it special. This starts with good content and an engaging format that will attract listeners. If you want to retain your audience, though, you also need to invest in the quality of your show.
Use the above tips to elevate your podcast quality. That way you can wow your listeners on every level from the second they hit play.
Image Credit: Andrea Piacquadio; Pexels; Thank you!
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