August was a big month at Blogchatter for podcasts. We discussed #AllAboutPodcasts and had experts giving us their golden bits of advice on how to go about exploring this new and exciting world.
We don’t know about you but it was a lot to take in for us. Let’s look at the important bits of everything that was discussed over the last few days.
We realised that podcasts are still in their initial phase in the country but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Not many people are familiar with the concept but that just means there’s more to explore. One of our community members compared this as a dive into the wide blue ocean. There is no end to what one can do and experiment with.
In a panel talk with our podcasting experts Atul and Alpana, we went through all the technicalities that are involved in the production of a podcast. We also discussed why it’s beneficial to attach a podcast along with your blogposts. Our experts agreed that podcasting allows the listener or the audience to multitask and there is no need to sit down and pay undivided attention. This especially comes in handy right now, when we’re all working from home and have not many options when it comes to sources of entertainment.
WHAT DO I NEED TO START A PODCAST?
Although not a lot is required in the way of equipment, our experts suggest investing in a good mic or at least recording when the background noise is minimal. Atul suggests investing in acoustic pads to reduce the echo in one’s recording. After all, the only thing the audience has is your voice, so you need to make sure that you are heard clearly.
In addition to this, there are various voice editing softwares like Audacity which can help ensure that the quality of your voice is as seamless as it can be.
A COMPANION FOR YOUR BLOG
Podcasts are not only a great standalone medium but can also be used to accompany your blog. Sometimes we wish to send across a message that is more efficiently delivered via voice. There is a certain sense of intimacy one can experience through voice that is not always possible to convey via text. Not only that, one can also use an audio file as an alternative to the blogpost that is being presented. Audiences love choices and in case where someone is unable to sit and read what you’ve written, they can always choose to hear you talk about it.
UNEXPLORED AVENUES
Talking to one of our experts, Prateek Sharma of MotorMouth Podcasts, we found out that podcasts don’t always have to be in the audio form. Although the audio is what is famous globally, podcasts can also be made as videos. There are also creators out there who are creating text-based podcasts. Although the popularity of these is much less than the audio medium, Prateek believes that these are untapped reservoirs with a lot of potential.
A FRIEND IN NEED
In a world where we’re all forced to be at home devoid of much social interaction, podcasts can offer a connection to the outside world. Listening to a podcast can be very much like talking to a friend and exchanging information with them. You get a chance to learn about new things while going about your usual business. Podcasts offer companionship where none is available or in the case of a global pandemic – possible.
PODCASTING IS STORY-TELLING
All our experts agree that while it is important to have a script, it is not advisable to just read off one. One has to treat a podcast like a two-way conversation. It is not just about talking, but also about telling a story, says Prateek. Anyone can start a podcast but it is important to have an idea of what you’re talking about. Research is always important.
Like all other mediums, it is essential that you keep asking your audience for feedback and recommendations on what they want to hear. Although podcasting is still growing in India, there are opportunities to monetise the medium. As you keep growing, brands will approach you to advertise them and that is a wonderful way to make sure that podcasting is more than just a hobby for you.
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
All this discussion at Blogchatter has definitely revved us up to try out podcasting. Apple, Spotify and Google are some platforms which allow users to listen to and upload content for free.
You can also visit our Podcast Playlist on Facebook to know more. Happy experimenting!
