Quick Daily Podcasting Tips by Alitu

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about making mistakes during recording. Stumbles and stammers are natural. But, if you always stop and start again, thinking “I’ll just edit that out”, then your podcast is going to become time-consuming or expensive to create. With minor mistakes, just quickly correct yourself, make light of it, and press on. Of course, there are times when you’ll want to get something spot on. Maybe you’re presenting a fact, or making a very serious point. When you make a mistake here, just pause, click your fingers three times in front of the mic, then start again. If you do this, you’ll quickly and easily spot essential edit points in the production phase. And as for the minor stuff, just let it go. You’ll grow into a much more accomplished presenter over time this way, as opposed to the folks who use editing as a crutch in an attempt to make them sound flawless. For a deeper dive on this topic, head over to https://www.thepodcasthost.com/editfaster

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how it’s not the size or the shape that matters, but how you use it. We’re talking, of course, about mic technique. The optimal positioning of a mic depends on your own unique voice and style. A good starting point, though, is the distance between the tips of your thumb and pinkie on an outstretched hand. Then, adjust accordingly. Always try to mount your mic in a stand or boom arm, rather than holding it. This will give you a lot more consistency of sound, and prevent unwanted handling noise. Finally, use a windshield or pop filter on your mic, especially if you prefer to get right up close to it when talking. Using your mic well in a treated environment means you’ll get good audio even with the most low-cost setup. So follow these quick steps and your podcast will sound much more professional. For a deeper dive on this topic, head over to http://thepodcasthost.com/mictechnique

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about minimising interruptions to your recording session. These are the low-hanging fruits of making your podcast easier to edit, sound better, and generally cause you less frustration. To deal with the digital side of things, you should close any apps that are going to ping or distract you when you’re recording. I’m looking at you, Slack. Then, it’s worth telling anyone you live with that you’re going to be recording for the next hour or so. An extreme measure might be a “do not disturb” sign on your door, but most people will only need a quick heads up. Finally, get that phone on silent and keep it away from you during the show. These are three quick and simple tips, but they really can make a world of difference. For a deeper dive on this topic, head over to http://thepodcasthost.com/noise

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about what you should eat before a recording session. It’s worth saying right away, that, unless you run an ASMR podcast, you probably want to avoid eating *during* a recording session. Some podcasters feel they have more energy if they’re in a bit of a fasted state when they get behind the mic. Others will snack beforehand on foods that aren’t likely to dry out their mouth or cause brain fog. Many voice coaches swear by green apples for hydrating the mouth. Some other podcasters we know use liquorice to soothe their throats. Nuts and seeds also make for useful pre-recording snacks, whilst common things to avoid are dairy, overly-salty foods, and refined sugars. But, you should always get to know your own body and your own reaction to foods. Everyone’s different, after all. So only ever do what works best for you. And, for a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/food

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about what you should drink before or during recording. Getting behind the mic whilst dehydrated is a bad idea for a couple of reasons. Firstly, you’re just going to have less energy and feel a bit groggy. Secondly, you’re going to make more dry lip-smacking mouth noises that’ll have your listener reaching for the ‘unsubscribe’ button. So be sure to have some water before and during your session. Don’t go overboard, though, as over-hydration can lead to excessive mouth noises, too. Plus, There’s nothing worse than needing a pee ten minutes into an engaging interview. For some podcasters, coffee is their superpower. For others, it can really dry out their mouths. Only you’ll know best what camp you fall into here. In summary, though, a moderate amount of water before and during recording works best for the vast majority of podcasters. But, for a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/drink

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about pre-recording practicalities. This is the less glamorous but still vitally important side of recording. Your gear and environment aren’t the only factors that’ll determine whether you sound like a seasoned pro or a complete beginner. As the old saying goes - “failing to prepare is preparing to fail”. Or, here’s a good one to test your mic’s pop filter - “prior preparation prevents poor performance.” On the next few episodes, we’ll take a look at things like mic technique, minimising interruptions, and even how what you eat or drink can affect your show’s audio quality. Finally, we always love to hear your feedback on Pocket-Sized Podcasting. What do you like about the show? And what might we do to make it even better? Be sure to let us know, quickly and easily, over at http://ThePodcastHost.com/PSP

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about what to include in your podcast outro. Just like the podcast intro, there are no “rules” as such, but if you want to close your episode effectively, think about the following. Send them to ONE place - your website. Here they can find show notes with links to everything mentioned in the episode. Put transcriptions and follow-up resources here, too. Next, include ONE ‘Call to Action’ - for example, “subscribe to the podcast”. If you give them too much to do, chances are, they won’t do any of it. Other CTA options might be things like “tell a friend”, “buy the book”, or “support the show”. Finally, if possible, offer them a teaser for the next episode. Whet their appetite for what’s in store, and keep your show fresh in their mind until a new one drops. For a deeper dive on this topic, head over to http://thepodcasthost.com/outros

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re asking the question “what makes a good podcast outro?”. The final minute or two of your episode goes towards creating a lasting impression in the mind of your listener. You might have done a great job with the intro and main content. But if the show ends poorly, this can be the difference between a new listener hitting subscribe or not. The job of the outro is essentially to thank the listener for their time. Then, point them in the direction of any vital resources mentioned in the episode. It’s also the part where you can ask for something in return. If a listener has stayed to the end they’ve probably enjoyed the episode, so they might be more willing to respond to your request for something like a rating, review, or even a sale. For a deeper dive on this topic, head over to http://thepodcasthost.com/outros

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the “Cold Open”. You know when you sit down to watch your favourite TV show and the episode starts before you’ve even opened your bag of Doritos? Then, after about five minutes, the intro kicks in? Well, that’s what’s known as a “cold open“. Many podcasters use cold opens at the beginning of their episodes. You’ve probably heard them before. You hit play and immediately seem to have landed bang in the middle of a guest explaining “…so it was at this point I decided to wear a diving suit made of sirloin steaks and go swimming with sharks.” Obviously, the idea is that you think “wait, how is this idiot still alive to tell the tale? I need to get the full story.” And you keep on listening. Cold opens can be a compelling way to hook listeners. And, for a deeper dive on how to get the best from them, head over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/ColdOpens

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about hooking your listener early. Podcast listeners are selfish. I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s just that everyone tunes into content with one question in mind - “what’s in this for me?”. If anything is drawn out, confusing, or ambiguous, it’s easy for them to lose interest and switch off. You always have creative freedom with your podcast. But here’s a template you can use as a starting point. “Hello and welcome to the *blank* Podcast. This is the show for *blank*, all about *blank*, and on this episode, have you ever struggled with *blank*? Well, that’s exactly what we’re going to help you with on this week’s show, where you’ll learn how to *blank*” Your target listener hears this and thinks “this is exactly what I’ve been looking for”. And then, all you need to do is deliver on your promise... For a deeper dive on this topic, head over to https://www.thepodcasthost.com/strongstarts

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about what to include in your episode intros. There are few “rules” in podcasting - it’s a creative medium, after all. With that said, you can really optimise the intro of your episodes if you include the following things. Firstly, let the listener know who they’re talking to. So, whether you go by your real name or a nickname - introduce yourself. Next, - the title of the show. You might assume they already know it. But they might be working through a huge playlist of new podcasts they’re trying out. Then, crucially, tell them who it's for and what’s in it for them. So, the overall podcast topic might be “to learn Spanish”, and the subject of this episode might be “ordering at a restaurant”. We’re going to cover this in more detail on the next episode when we talk about hooking your listeners early. For a deeper dive on this topic, head over to https://www.thepodcasthost.com/strongstarts

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about introducing and ending your episodes. Obviously, the most important part of any podcast episode is its main content. But the way you open and close your episodes is vital when it comes to listeners even getting to that stage. Think about it, each episode you release is going to be someone’s first impression of your show. On top of that, you only have five minutes to “hook” a third of all podcast listeners. That’s according to recent data from our Podcast Discoverability survey. So you need to leave them in absolutely no doubt that this episode is a must-listen. Then, after you’ve delivered on your promise, you need to finish strongly enough that they’ll come back for more. On the following episodes, we’ll have some tips and pointers to help you do just that. For a deeper dive on this topic, head over to https://www.thepodcasthost.com/strongstarts And, remember to leave your feedback for Pocket-Sized Podcasting at http://ThePodcastHost.com/PSP

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the rough podcast script. This one is near the ‘make-it-up-as-you-go-along’ end of the scripting spectrum. Here, you’ll mainly use bullet points to remind you where you’re going. You’re relying on your expert knowledge on the subject to fill in the gaps. This leads to the most conversational type of podcast and is often the most engaging. When you’re speaking from experience, your voice becomes a lot more active, and a lot less monotone. The problem, of course, is that there’s a chance that you’ll miss stuff out or maybe even get something wrong. So the time you might’ve saved in doing a more detailed script can easily be spent on extra editing or re-recording. For an in-depth look at podcast scripting, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/scripting And on top of that, we’d love your feedback on Pocket-Sized Podcasting, which you can quickly and easily leave for us at http://ThePodcastHost.com/PSP

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the ‘detailed episode plan’ podcast script. This is the most common way of scripting a podcast. It’s a great alternative to the word-for-word method. Here, you can write down every point you want to hit, every resource you want to mention, and every story you want to cover. You’re not trying to script every single word, though, so you still have that freedom to talk naturally *with* your listener, instead of reading *at* them. Your personality can shine through here, without the risk of going off-track or forgetting something. For an in-depth look at podcast scripting, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/scripting On top of that, we’d love your feedback on Pocket-Sized Podcasting, which you can quickly and easily leave for us at http://ThePodcastHost.com/PSP

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the word-for-word podcast script. This method is great because you’ll never forget or leave anything out. It can also help a lot if you lack the confidence to speak for any length of time. But, there are big cons, too. Scripting a show this way takes ages. Few podcasters can also pull off word-for-word reading and make it sound conversational. You run the risk of your episodes being a bit flat and monotone. By all means, give it a shot. But it’s likely not going to be the best option for you in the long run. For an in-depth look at podcast scripting, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/scripting On top of that, we’d love your feedback on Pocket-Sized Podcasting, which you can quickly and easily leave for us at http://ThePodcastHost.com/PSP

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about writing a podcast script. Podcast scripting is a very personal thing. Some hosts script their whole show, word for word. Other hosts write down the episode title and just ad-lib it from there. Neither way is right or wrong and, in reality, most people go for something in-between. Scripting can be viewed as a spectrum, with `fully-scripted` and `not-even-slightly-scripted` covering each end. That means it’s impossible to tell you exactly how to do it. But, we can tell you a *few ways* to do it. You can try each way out, and tweak them for your needs. With a bit of trial and error, you’ll find the type of scripting that best suits you. We’ll cover the three main options for scripting your show in the following episodes, so be sure to subscribe to Pocket-Sized Podcasting and get new tips delivered daily!

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the how-to method, when it comes to creating shareable content. This is the classic problem-solution pairing. What are your audience struggling with? What do they need help with? You might already have a decent idea of this, based on our recent ‘Question Research’ episode. Starting your title with, “How to” is arguably the most effective way of getting folks to click on it. You might say “well, that’s just clickbait”. But is it really “just clickbait” if it delivers what it promises? Some examples of ‘how-to’ episodes that’ll have their target audience hitting play without a second thought are - ‘How to become a scratch golfer’ - ‘How to improve your sleep quality’ - ‘How to talk to your kids about grief’ - And, ‘How to pass your driving test’ For an in-depth look at creating shareable content, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/shareable

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the case study method, when it comes to creating shareable content. Case studies use examples of people doing things, or events taking place. For example, a biking podcast might do a deep dive into how one rider prepared for and won a big tournament. Or a football podcast might chronicle the journey of a team of underdogs from a small village who won a national trophy. You can almost think of it as a movie. It’s a great opportunity to tell a story - and stories are the ultimate and oldest form of shareable content. Try to answer questions like “what’s their main motivation?”, “what are their biggest obstacles?”, and “what are they doing differently?”. This is going to leave your listener feeling clued up, motivated, and inspired! For an in-depth look at creating shareable content, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/shareable

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the cost method, when it comes to creating shareable content. When people buy things these days, they do their research online first. So here’s where you can help your target audience get the info they need. What cost-related questions do you think they might commonly type into Google? For example, a nutritional therapy podcast might run an episode titled “how much does a food intolerance test cost?”. Or a show about living off-grid might run one about, “how much does a wood burning stove cost?”. You might even do a costs list where you compare your own product or service to your competitors. This honest approach can help build trust and authority, too. To sum up, cost episodes are helpful, discoverable, and highly shareable. For an in-depth look at creating shareable content, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/shareable

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the comparison method, when it comes to creating shareable content. Mac versus PC, Pepsi versus Cola, Nike versus Adidas. This is the celebrity death match episode format where you’re going to throw two rivals into the arena and see who comes out on top. Here, you’d tend to look at key relevant factors such as cost, quality, and ease of use. This is almost like the review method but you’re looking at two things, rather than one. We’ve created these ourselves in the past where we’ve had showdowns between popular mics or audio software programmes. Again, this is totally topic dependent. Do you podcast about mountain biking? Well, let’s hear your take on the two most popular brands of tyres. Are you more of a business coach? Then maybe your listeners would like your help deciding on one of two popular types of accounting software. For an in-depth look at creating shareable content, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/shareable

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the review method, when it comes to creating shareable content. Before people try or buy things themselves, they generally like to hear the opinions of others. You probably do this yourself each time you nip on to Amazon. Reviewing products, services, or other topic-relevant things can help your listeners to make more informed decisions. They’ll really appreciate you for this, and they’ll want to share these episodes with others each time they see this particular thing being discussed in future, too. It’ll always depend on exactly what you’re reviewing, but common points to hit are factors like cost, quality, and ease of use. Can you write up a list of four or five things you think would make for great review episodes on your own show? This is another super-shareable type of content, and it can be handy for SEO, too. For an in-depth look at creating shareable content, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/shareable

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the list method, when it comes to creating shareable content. Let’s face it, we all love lists. There’s something compelling about content that promises knowledge like “the top 7 guitarists of all time”, or “the best 11 beers in the world right now”. So it’s just a case of taking this method and re-working it for your own topic. You can base this on products your listeners might use, places they might visit, recipes they might cook-up, or movies they might watch. Don’t get overly hung up on the word “best”, too. Just be clear that this is your personal opinion, and that you welcome all feedback and differing viewpoints. The engagement these episodes brings is all part of the fun - and, the wider benefit! For an in-depth look at creating shareable content, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/shareable

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how to create shareable content. Word of mouth is one of the most effective ways to grow your podcast. According to our Discoverability survey, over 33% of listeners find new shows to listen to based on what others have shared or recommended. So how do you make your podcast episodes shareable, or “recommendable”? There are actually six frameworks you can build your episode around. And, after hearing them, your listeners will be dying to tell others about them, too. These frameworks are - lists, comparisons, reviews, case studies, how-tos, and costs. Over the next six episodes, we’re going to take a look at each one and see how you might best use it in your own podcast. So make sure you’re subscribed to or following Pocket-Sized Podcasting in your app of choice - trust me, you won’t want to miss these! And, for an in-depth look at creating shareable content, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/shareable

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about doing question research. One of the best ways to come up with episode ideas is simply to answer the common questions your audience is asking. But what if you don’t have an audience yet? Well, there are a couple of handy and free ways to find these questions. The first is simply to type something you think your avatar would ask into google, then scroll down to the bottom and you’ll see suggestions of what they’re also asking. Another is a service called http://Answerthepublic.com - here, you just type in your main topic, let’s say, “sharks”, and it’ll spit out every single question people ask around that thing. From “what do sharks eat?” and “where sharks are found”, to “how sharks sleep” and “were sharks before dinosaurs?”. Your listeners will love these episodes, and they’ll throw up some great compelling episode titles, too. By the way, are you enjoying Pocket-Sized Podcasting so far? If so, could we ask a quick favour that you give us a rating and review on your listening app of choice? That would really make our day, here at this humble wee podcast. Cheers!

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about coming up with episode ideas. As is often the case in podcasting, this depends a lot on your topic. But there are some common themes we see with podcasters coming up with episode ideas. Maybe a recent personal experience or funny anecdote can tie in to your subject or topic. Maybe there’s a lesson to be learned from a book you’ve just read, or a movie you’ve just watched. Or maybe there’s something in the news right now that your audience would be interested to hear your take on. It’s a good idea to keep a document of all the evergreen episode ideas you think of, too. That way, you know you’ve always got something to fall back on if you go through a challenging creative period in the future. For a deeper dive on how to come up with fresh podcast episode ideas, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/ideas

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about planning your episodes. Great podcasters and terrible podcasters both have one thing in common - they make it sound like they haven’t planned their episodes. For the great podcasters, it’s because they plan them so well. For the terrible podcasters, it’s because they don’t plan them at all. An episode plan doesn’t need to be an in-depth dissertation or treatment. It’s more about asking some top-level questions like “Why this topic right now?”, “What problem will this solve for my audience?”, and “How will this provide value?”. When we cover scripting, we’ll talk more about how you bring that plan to the recording booth. But before then, we want to take a look in the next few episodes about fleshing out those ideas. You want to create compelling and shareable content that your listeners will love, right? Well, make sure you’re subscribed to Pocket-Sized Podcasting in your listening app of choice, and those episodes will drop into your feed the minute they’re published!

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about how to link to and share your podcast. This is a big mistake many podcasters make when they promote their content - they share a link to somewhere like Apple or Spotify. Sure, these places are where a lot of podcast listening happens. But remember, there are hundreds of other apps and directories, too. You definitely can’t link to them all, especially not in a tweet, so what do you do? Quite simply, you send them to one place - your website. We’re going to take a deeper dive into making your podcast website on a future episode, but you already have one as soon as you’ve signed up for your hosting account. You can even buy a domain name and have it point to that whilst you work on setting up something a bit more personalised. And, for an in-depth look at how to link to your show, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/sharing

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about getting listed in any directories and apps your show isn’t yet appearing in. As we mentioned before, the fact that you’re in Apple Podcasts means you’re automatically in a hundred other places. Google Podcasts will start noticing you without you needing to do anything, either. Well, they are in the search business, after all! But, there are three other platforms you’ll want to log in to or create an account for, in order to submit your RSS feed to. Those are Stitcher, TuneIn, Amazon, and Audible. I know, I know, that’s actually four. But if you’re in Amazon, you’re in Audible, and vice-versa. We’ve got full guides on submitting to each of these platforms, which you can find at http://ThePodcastHost.com/directories

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about getting listed in Spotify. Spotify is hot on the heels of Apple when it comes to global podcast consumption. You’ll definitely want to get your show listed here. And, it’s even easier than submitting to their fruit-loving rivals. Most hosting providers have simple one-click “submit to Spotify” buttons in their distribution sections. What’s more, some of our recently launched shows have appeared on Spotify less than an hour after submitting. You can easily submit manually, too, if your host doesn’t have a one-click button. Just copy your RSS feed link, go to http://podcasters.spotify.com and paste it to the ‘Add a Podcast’ section. The novel thing about the Spotify podcasters portal is that you’ll see some data on what music your listeners tend to enjoy. Can you imagine the irony of your death metal podcast throwing up “favourite artists” like The Cheeky Girls and S Club 7? By the way - if that happens to you, please let us know! And, for a deeper dive on submitting your show to Spotify, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/getonspotify

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about getting listed in Apple Podcasts - AKA, iTunes. Apple has always been - and remains - the number one place where podcasts are consumed. We also know that, by being listed here, your show will automatically pop up in a trillion other apps you’ve never heard of. To submit to Apple you just need to create a free Apple ID. Or, you might have one already. Bottom line, you need to log in to [PodcastsConnect.Apple.com](http://PodcastsConnect.Apple.com) and click on the ‘Add’ button. Then, just copy and paste your RSS feed from your hosting account, check the details, and submit. It can take 2-3 days for your podcast to appear in Apple Podcasts, so don’t panic if you don’t see it in there right away. Apple will email you if there’s any issues, too! For a deeper dive on submitting to iTunes, including screenshots and a video, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/ApplePodcasts

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about getting listed in podcast directories. People listen to podcasts on hundreds of different apps and platforms. In a previous episode, we learned that you only need to upload your content to one place - your hosting account - and it’ll appear in all these places automatically. But how do we make sure these directories know our podcast exists in the first place? For this, we use a unique URL called an RSS feed. You’ll get one of these when you create your show in your hosting account. You can easily submit this to any directory or app you like. And because Apple Podcasts and Spotify account for about 65% of global podcast listening, you’re over halfway there simply by being listed in those two. And there’s more good news. Being listed in Apple Podcasts means you’ll automatically be listed in almost all of the other apps and directories out there. So what initially might’ve looked like a mammoth task is really just a few minutes of work! For a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to ThePodcastHost.com/directories

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about the myth of the podcast “launch”. The term “launch” is ambiguous, because, creating your show and publishing your first episode means you’re “launching” your podcast. But we might also think of our launch as something glitzy and hyped-up, like the release of the latest iPhone or Xbox console. When new tech, or even new books are released, they only have a few weeks to “sink or swim” because of how sales and charts work in these fields. The good news? This has absolutely nothing in common with podcasting whatsoever. Some of the most successful podcasters spent months or even years talking to tiny audiences, before their consistency and hard work eventually paid off. So, sure, promote and market your new pod as best you can when it’s released. But the most important thing isn’t how much hype you drum up - it’s how soon you get back to work on your next episode! For a deeper dive on your podcast launch, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/yourlaunch

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about why you might make an ‘Episode Zero’. This is the name given to a type of introductory or “pre-launch” podcast episode. It isn’t *essential* to create an Episode Zero. But many podcasters do – and there’s a few good reasons why it might be worth considering for your own show. An Episode Zero can be similar to a promo trailer in the way it introduces your show and your topic. The main difference is length. An Episode Zero would ideally still err on the shorter side of, say, 3-6 minutes. But that still gives you a lot more time than a 30-second trailer. One of the biggest benefits of an Episode Zero is that it gives you that “one published episode” needed to submit your show everywhere. That means your podcast can be fully set up and ready to go by the time you publish your first “proper” episode. For a deeper dive on this topic, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/epzero

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about creating a trailer for your show. A promo trailer can help you win over potential new listeners by giving them a flavour of your podcast. They can easily be played on other shows, too, which can help you grow your audience. A podcast trailer should be between 30 seconds and 1 minute. The shorter, the better. There are certain things you *definitely* want to mention in your podcast trailer. What’s the show called? What’s it about? Who is it for? And where can we find it? If you can add a bit of creative tone, personality, and production, too, then great. But these things are “icing” and shouldn’t go in at the expense of the key details. A podcast trailer is also useful because you need at least one published episode on your feed before you can list your show in places like Spotify and Apple. As far as these platforms are concerned, even a short trailer counts as “an episode”. Another option here is to create an Episode Zero, which we’re going to look at next. In the meantime, for a deeper dive on creating your trailer, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/promotrailer

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about podcast hosting options. Your podcast hosting provider - also known as your “podcast host” - is *the* place you create your show and upload all of your episodes to. There are plenty great hosting options out there catering to all needs and budgets. Hosting providers will offer you stats so you can see how popular your show is. Some of these go really in-depth and can give you geographic and device stats, too. Hosting providers will also give you a basic website for your show. Some offer tools for monetization, growth, and even for creating private “members only” podcasts. A few of our favourite podcast hosts are Captivate, Transistor, and Castos. You’ll find a full rundown of these services and their offerings at [http://ThePodcastHost.com/Hosting](http://thepodcasthost.com/Hosting) And, our podcast-maker tool Alitu also has hosting included in your subscription. That means you only need one login to record, edit, and publish your podcast, which keeps things cost-effective, and super simple. Thanks very much for listening to Pocket-Sized Podcasting. And, for a deeper look at podcast hosting, and a full range of options, features, and prices, head on over to [http://ThePodcastHost.com/Hosting](http://thepodcasthost.com/Hosting)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about publishing your podcast. This stage can cause some confusion for new podcasters. You might think that you need to upload your episodes to listening platforms like Apple and Spotify, but that isn’t the case. Instead, you create an account with a podcast hosting provider. That’s the place your podcast “lives”. Your cover art, your show description, and your episodes all go in there. Then, there are a couple of small steps needed to “tell” platforms like Spotify and Apple that your podcast exists. After that, your show will be listed there, as will each episode you publish within your podcast hosting account. So you only ever need to upload to one single place to have your episodes pushed out to hundreds of listening platforms. To use an analogy, if your podcast was a magazine, your hosting provider would be the printing press, whilst all of the listening apps and directories would be the shops that your magazine could be found in. For a deeper dive on how to publish a podcast, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/upload

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about where to get your podcast transcribed. There are two types of transcription service out there - human, and AI. The AI options are cheaper, but generally less accurate, especially if you speak with a Scottish accent. An AI transcription might take a wee bit more time to run through and correct manually. Our podcast-maker tool Alitu now automatically generates transcriptions of all your episodes, so that’s one single place you can go to record, edit, publish, and transcribe your show. Alternatively, if it’s human transcription you’re after, then our favourite option here is Rev, which you can find at [ThePodcastHost.com/rev](http://thepodcasthost.com/rev) Obviously, with any human service, it’ll take up to a few days to get your transcriptions back, whereas, AI can do it almost immediately. There’s no right or wrong approach here, though. Only what works best for you. For a deeper dive on podcast transcriptions, with a full range of options, head on over to [http://ThePodcastHost.com/transcription](http://thepodcasthost.com/transcription)

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about why you should be providing transcriptions of your episodes. Podcasting *is* predominantly an audio medium, and so, word-for-word episode transcriptions were traditionally seen as a luxury form of bonus content. These days, however, things are different. Podcasters should *always* be providing transcripts for each new episode they publish. This is for two main reasons. Firstly - accessibility. Millions of people out there are deaf or hard of hearing. Providing a transcription means that you’re not shutting them out from any insights or info on your show that could potentially benefit them. Secondly - you’re keeping yourself on the right side of the law. We’ve seen recent examples of podcasters facing legal action over their failure to provide transcriptions. It goes without saying that you don’t want to risk joining that club. Transcriptions can be pasted directly into your shownotes, or, you can link clearly to them on a separate page on your site. Some hosting providers even offer dedicated sections where you can publish your transcriptions. Fortunately, there are plenty of options for getting your show transcribed, too - as we’re going to cover on the next episode. In the meantime, for a deeper dive on this, head on over to http://ThePodcastHost.com/transcription

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about, funnily enough, Podcast Maker tools. A ‘Podcast Maker’ is basically an app or tool that brings everything like recording, editing, production, and publishing together into one place. They can be less flexible and powerful than having a dedicated tool for every job, but so much more simpler, convenient, and cost-effective. Naturally, because we run Alitu, we’re a bit biased and think it’s the best option out there. We certainly strive to be. But that said, we recognise that there are a few other great options out there too, and we always want to help you make up your own mind. Podcast hosting giants Podbean, Spreaker, and Anchor each have their own Podcast Maker tools. Their editing and production options can be a bit more limited, but they really shine for those looking to do live shows with real-time audience interaction. We can’t speak for the other platforms here, but we’re constantly working on new tools and features in Alitu to make it the world’s best all-in-one podcasting software. We’d love you to be part of this journey too, so be sure to try us out free for 7 days by going to [Alitu.com](http://Alitu.com) And, for a deeper dive on all the best Podcast Maker options, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/maker

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to talk about Digital Audio Workstations, AKA - DAWs. A DAW is a term used to describe software that you use to record, edit, and produce audio. Most of them are designed and built with music production in mind, but can work brilliantly to create spoken-word content if you know what you’re doing. A famous free DAW is Audacity. Audacity is popular because of its price, or lack of one. It has everything you need to record and produce a podcast, but it suffers from looking a bit clunky and dated. Adobe Audition, Reaper, and Hindenburg are 3 other popular options amongst podcasters. These are all paid DAWs, but they’re a definite improvement on Audacity. The downside of DAWs tends to be their steep learning curve. Because they’re so powerful and flexible, they can take a lot of time and effort to learn, at even a basic level. Most DAWs don’t work as remote call recorders either, unless you have lots of extra equipment. If you’re looking for the simplest DAW that’s designed with the spoken-word in mind, then Hindenburg is worth checking out. Or, if you’d prefer to avoid DAWs altogether, then be sure to have a go with our very own Alitu ‘Podcast Maker’. For a deeper dive into DAWs, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/DAWS

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking remote recording software. Many podcasters run interview or co-hosted shows, and with call recording software, location is no barrier to who you can chat with. Online call recorders do exactly what they say on the tin. Two of the most popular options out there are Squadcast and Riverside. These are what’s known as “double ender” tools which record each participant locally, on their own computer. This makes them safer from wonky wifi connections, crashes, and the sound quality is generally better, too. They also both record video, as well as audio. On top of that, our own Alitu has a call recorder feature - one that we’re constantly working on and improving. The big benefit of using Alitu is that it handles all of the syncing, processing, cleaning up, and volume levelling automatically. Its editing tools are also powerful, but at the same time, stupidly simple to use. Of course, everyone on the planet has spent the past few years using Zoom, and you can use that to record remote calls too. You just need to have the right software and know-how to edit and produce them into decent-sounding episodes, afterwards. Why not give Alitu’s call recorder a spin on your next podcast episode, though? You can try it out free for 7 days by going to [Alitu.com](http://Alitu.com) And, for a deeper look at remote recording software options, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/Onlinerecording

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to start thinking about podcasting software. The term “podcast software” is pretty general. It could be used to describe the programme or app you use to record, edit, or publish your episodes. Some platforms only focus on one of these aspects, whilst others will do all 3. It’s common for editing software to double up as recording software. Prime examples of these are Audacity, Adobe Audition, and our own Alitu. Many online call recorders don’t have editing functions though - or, if they do, they tend to be really basic. Podcast publishing or hosting software might also offer some basic recording and editing features. We’re going to take a deeper dive into some options here in a future episode. Transcription is also important from an accessibility and legal point of view. There’s plenty of software options on that front, too, as we’ll soon find out. You might even think of your project management or scheduling tools as podcast software. These are tools like Trello, Asana, Notion, Calendly, and Book Like a Boss. For a deeper look at podcasting software in the meantime, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/software

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re answering the question “should you record your podcast outdoors?” On the previous few episodes, we’ve talked about the importance of good recording environments. Well, one of the best is actually right outside your window. I’m talking, of course, about the great outdoors. If you’re plagued by reverb, loud distracting background noise, or a simple lack of space, then I’d encourage you to try recording your next episode whilst out on a walk, or sitting on your favourite park bench. Sure, there can be plenty “noise” outside. But this often works in an ambient sense, rather than a distracting or annoying one. Recording outdoors can also help with your presentation style. If you’re out a walk, the blood is flowing and you tend to feel more energetic, too. This is especially good if you suffer a bit from “mic fright”, or lack of confidence. Equipment-wise, your smartphone can work well, with the right recording app. Or, you might want to get yourself a digital recorder and lavalier mic. We take a deeper dive into some gear recommendations, additional tips, and case studies at http://ThePodcastHost.com/Outdoors

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about background noise. Let’s clear up a bit of confusion amongst podcasters - the difference between sound treatment, and sound *proofing*. On the last episode we talked about reverb, and that’s very much in the sound *treatment* camp. But many folks mistakenly believe that, once they’ve stuck up some acoustic tiles, they have sound *proofed* their room. If Dave Grohl was to move into the flat next door and start playing his drums, you’d quickly find out that your room hasn’t been sound proofed at all, though. Eliminating unwanted background noise can be harder than *treating* the sound of a room, for obvious reasons. There are some low-hanging fruits, though. Getting rid of that annoying clock, closing a window, or giving Dave next door a crisp 20 to nip down the pub for the next hour. The good news is that most unwanted background noise will be too minimal to be picked up by your mic and cause any distraction on your audio. A dynamic, cardioid microphone like the Samson Q2U, for example, does a great job of rejecting unwanted sounds around you. So do your best to minimise background noise, but don’t obsess over it. Conditions will rarely be perfect, after all. And you can’t let them get in the way of your progress as a podcaster. For a more detailed look at dealing with background noise in podcasting, go to http://thepodcasthost.com/noise

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about reverb or echo - and - how to get rid of it. Excess reverb can make even the best podcast sound amateur. This unwanted echo effect happens in smaller, boxy rooms with a lot of hard surfaces. Here, the soundwaves of your voice will bounce around the room like a ball. Typically poor-sounding environments include caves, the bottoms of wells, and in the average person’s bathroom. It’s unlikely you plan to record in any of these, but the room you’ve set aside for your recordings might actually sound like it’s one of them. So, what can we do about it? Well, you could simply record somewhere else. Typically, bedrooms are softer sounding environments. Some podcasters swear by recording in their closets, for example. Alternatively, you can create temporary recording havens by using duvets, towels, or dedicated acoustic blankets. The beauty of these is that they can be tidied away afterwards, if space is at a premium in your home. If you have the luxury of a more permanent setup, you can buy acoustic foam tiles at a reasonable price and stick them to the walls, and even, the roof of your room. The thing is, though, you don’t actually need to sound treat entire rooms - you only need to deal with the small area where you and your mic are set up. Our favourite trick here is to buy a cat bed. You’ll get one of these in the pet shop for less than $15, and they make excellent little “studios” to place your mic in. Then, you just talk into it, and your audio will be free from reverb - even if you *are* recording down a well. For a more detailed look at podcast recording environments, go to http://thepodcasthost.com/homestudio

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re talking about your recording environment. It’s easy to think that your audio quality is determined by your equipment - and, to an extent, that’s true. But the room or place you record in has a much bigger impact on how your content’s going to sound. There are 2 main factors when it comes to your environment affecting your audio. Firstly, there’s the “sound” of the room itself. Echo or reverb can be a real problem for podcasters, and we’re going to take a look at it in more depth in the next episode - including - a tip to kill it in *any* room, for less than $15. The other factor is noise. Now, we’re not saying for a minute that you should have complete and utter silence when you record - very few people have that luxury - and, in the right context, a bit of gentle background noise can add ambience and atmosphere. We’ll talk more about this in an upcoming episode, too. The key is, though, that background noise should never be distracting, or compete with your actual voice. Your listeners should always be able to hear and focus on the content and message they’ve turned up for. If they can’t do that, after all, then the whole thing’s going to fall apart. For a more detailed look at podcast recording environments, go to http://thepodcasthost.com/homestudio

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to answer the question “what are polar patterns?” These are also sometimes called “pickup patterns”, and they’re essentially the settings that determine the area a mic will focus on when recording sound. To think about this visually, imagine your mic as a torch or laser. The area it shines light on is the area it’s “hearing” your voice. Most microphones you’ll come across - including the Samson Q2U - have a ‘Cardioid’ polar pattern which means they’re designed to record one person at one time. Other polar patterns include: Omnidirectional - for recording multiple people. Bi-directional, or, Stereo - for recording 2 people. And Shotgun - for a laser-focused pickup of an audio source that blocks out everything else around it. Think of a news reporter, chatting away in a busy street, but you can still hear them clear as day. Polar patterns are represented by easy to understand diagrams. For example, Cardioid is heart-shaped, whilst Omnidirectional is a circle. These are like birds-eye views of where the pattern is picking up sound. To get a look at these diagrams, and to learn more about polar patterns in general, head on over to http://thepodcasthost.com/patterns

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to answer the question “what is a Dynamic microphone?”. Dynamic mics tend to be tougher and more durable than their Condenser counterparts. A Dynamic mic can be looked at as something you’d typically use in “live” environments, and rougher “on-the-go” settings. If you record live, on-location, or just like having a mic on you at all times for ad-hoc recordings, then a Dynamic mic is a great option. Most Dynamic mics only have a Cardioid polar pattern, however. This means they’re generally designed for single person use. We’re going to talk more about polar patterns and why they matter on the next episode, so make sure you’re subscribed on your listening app of choice and that’ll be delivered to you, automatically. Bottom line, though, if you’re using Dynamics for in-person interviews then you’d either need to get two, or, hold one in your hand and constantly point it back and forward between you and your guest. Dynamic mics are powered by whatever they’re plugged into, meaning the recording signal isn’t quite as strong as it would be with a Condenser. This means you either need to turn the gain up more, or, bring the recording level up in the editing phase. Either way, that’s going to raise the level of hiss in your audio. But, this is far from a deal-breaker, and often, the pros outweigh the cons with Dynamic mics in podcasting. Our most recommended mic, the Samson Q2U, is a Dynamic model, which means it’s durable, flexible, and doesn’t require a perfect environment to sound good either. That’s what makes it such a good option for beginners on a limited budget! For a deeper dive on this subject, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/dynamicvcondenser

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to answer the question “what is a Condenser microphone?”. “Condenser” and “Dynamic” are two of the most common types of mic. The terms refer to how they’re built, and how they function. We can get really technical with stuff like this, but I’d rather keep things simple. That means I’ll make some generalisations that aren’t *always* the rule – now and then you’ll find exceptions. But here’s a good starting point for differentiating between the two. A Condenser mic can be looked at as primarily something you’d use to record vocals in a professional studio environment. Condenser microphones can often be more sensitive, and easier to break. Their sensitivity means they tend to pick up more sounds from around your recording environment. This can be a pro or a con depending on what you’re trying to do. Most are designed for more permanent setups on mic stands or boom arms, as opposed to being carried around, and shoved in and out of boxes or bags. A Condenser mic is powered either by having its own battery, or by using a function called *Phantom Power* on your mixer, preamp, or recorder. This is why Condenser mics can usually record at a much lower gain than dynamics. Gain is essentially your input recording volume. The outcome is that lower gain means less hiss in your recording. Condenser mics often have multiple polar pattern options, making them versatile for different types of recording needs and setups. On the next episode, we’re going to take a look at Dynamic mics and how they compare to their Condenser alternatives. In the meantime though, for a deeper dive on this subject, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/dynamicvcondenser

Welcome to Pocket-Sized Podcasting, brought to you by Alitu: The Podcast Maker. And on this episode, we’re going to talk about podcast equipment for recording multiple people, locally. If getting people in the same room together is the key for your podcast, then there are a few different options out there. On the previous 2 episodes, we’ve mentioned the Samson Q2U mic and the Zoom PodTrak P4 podcast recorder. Get yourself a PodTrak P4 and then a Q2U for each person you’ll be recording, and you’ll have a brilliant set up for only a few hundred dollars. With the PodTrak P4 you don’t need a computer as it records independently. If you’d prefer to record into a computer, though, then you could get a USB audio interface and plug your mics into that. Our favourite USB audio interface is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, but be mindful that this only runs 2 mics at any one time. A couple of the more high-end options if you have a bit of budget behind you are the Zoom H6 digital recorder, and the Rodecaster Pro podcast recorder. These are premium options and if you pair them with mics like the Rode Procaster or Shure SM7B then you’ll have a better setup than 99% of other podcasters out there. Of course, there’s no need to spend a fortune on your podcasting kit, so for most folks, a handful of Samson Q2Us running into a Zoom PodTrak P4 will be more than good enough. For a more detailed look at choosing the right kit for you and your podcast, go to http://ThePodcastHost.com/equipment