Learner's Permit
Coming into vogue along with Apple’s iPod—where the term “podcast” originated—podcasts are multimedia digital files, consisting of an audio recording and (sometimes) a video element, which can be listened to on a computer or personal media player. Podcasts can be listened to on any computer or media player—they are not an Apple product, although Apple’s iTunes store represents more than 75% of the traffic for podcast consumption, according to Liberated Syndication, a podcast-hosting site.
More than an audio recording
What makes podcasts different from other audio recordings found online is users can subscribe to them using an RSS feed. An RSS feed, or “really simple syndication,” allows users to subscribe to a certain Web site or podcast and, when that site or podcast is updated, the new content will be sent to the subscriber automatically, without the user having to go search for it independently. The option to subscribe to an RSS feed is seen on Web sites as a small orange button with three “radio waves” emanating from the corner.
Why you might want to podcast
Podcasts are similar to blogs in that they give you an opportunity to publicize your company’s thought leadership capabilities. Blogs may be better for getting more in-depth on a subject, because the user has to read the entry. However, podcasts, which can be listened to on the go—on a commute, on the treadmill, or while doing other office “busy work”—can and should be of a lighter nature. (In general, any form of oral communication needs to be kept more basic than written communication, as the receiver of the message can’t “listen” at his own pace as one can read at his own pace.)
Podcasts also differ from blogs in that they can include more than one voice at a time. You can record a podcast with several people talking and produce a roundtable discussion. You can record an interview with a client about his experiences as a plan sponsor, or you can record a conversation with a new hire at your firm and have him talk about his previous experience—it’s really up to you.
The basics
To make a podcast, you need software on your computer to allow you to record and edit audio. There are several programs that can be downloaded off the Internet for free: Audacity, Power Sound Editor Free, and Music Editor Free are three options. There are also audio-recording programs that offer a free 14-day trial of the software, and then make you buy the program for approximately $50—NCH Software offers a few of these. There is also a bundled package of two programs, FeedforAll and RecordforAll from NotePage, Inc., which combine recording needs and support for creating the RSS feed.
One other tool you’ll want to invest in is an external microphone. Most computers have microphones built in but, to get better sound quality, it’s best to buy one that can be plugged into your computer.
Once you’ve recorded your conversation and saved the audio file on your computer, it is time for editing. Occasionally, if you worked from a script and your sound quality is good, you might not need much editing. Other times, however, you’ll find a need to eliminate some of the “filler” words (um, you know, like, etc.) that maybe have come up in your recording. Also, if the sound quality is not great—if you recorded an interview with a client over the phone, perhaps—you might want to rerecord your questions and insert those over the original file. You also can edit out ambient noise, or at least diffuse it, putting your content front and center.
Finally, once the audio file is ready, you can upload it to any of the myriad podcast hosting sites available today. Some sites that host podcasts include BlogTalkRadio, Podbean, and PodOmatic. Detailed instructions on how to upload your podcast can be found on these sites. You’ll also want to submit your podcast to iTunes. iTunes has its own set of requirements that can be found at www.apple.com/itunes/podcasts/. —Nicole Bliman