New to the world of podcasting? You are perhaps questioning, nicely, what a podcast is. And the way do they work? In this article, I’ll cover what a podcast is, what they’re used for, and tips on how to get started as a podcast listener or creator. Plus, I’ve a number of free assets for you on this web page that can assist you get started instantly.
What’s a podcast, and how do they work?
A podcast is a digital audio “present” or program you can obtain or stream from the web on your smartphone, pc, or tablet and listen attention when it’s handy for you.
A podcast “episode” is a single occasion of a podcast, very similar to the episode of a TV show.
Right here’s an instance—an episode of our very personal SPI Podcast, which has been working since 2010:
For lovely, easy-to-embed podcast gamers just like the above, look no additional than Fusebox — the official podcast participant of SPI! [Note: I am a compensated affiliate for Fusebox.]
Podcasts are a particularly common type of media that’s rising quickly. The primary podcasts have been produced by people; however, now they’re additionally made by firms, information retailers, and other organizations. Podcasting has turned into a massive enterprise, with firms like Apple, Spotify, iHeartMedia, and SiriusXM closely invested in podcasting.
For the listener, podcasts are a flexible medium! The audio-only format of podcasts makes them straightforward to consume in varied settings, corresponding as while commuting, cooking, touring, or working.
You’ll be able to consider podcasts as “background” content material; however, it’s also possible to give them your full consideration in case you like.
Talking of content material, podcast matters can cowl an enormous vary, from true crime to enterprise methods to parenting tricks to comedy or youngsters’ content material. If in case you have a subject in mind, there’s most likely a podcast on the market for it! And if there isn’t, that may imply a chance so that you can begin your personal podcast on that matter!
Podcasts are usually out there both in seasons with a set variety of episodes or in an ongoing collection. Our podcast Flops got here out with an eight-episode season in 2021, whereas different SPI Media exhibits like AskPat 2.0 and The Neighborhood Expertise have been launched weekly (till being sunsetted last year). The Sensible Passive Revenue Podcast remains to be launched each week on an ongoing basis.
How podcasts began (a short historical past of podcasting)
Podcasts have their roots again within the Nineteen Eighties, however they didn’t take off till the early 2000s. In September 2000, the corporate i2Go launched a digital audio information and leisure service known as MyAudio2Go.com that allowed customers to obtain information, sports, leisure, climate, and music in episodic audio format. The next month, tech entrepreneur Tristan Louis proposed attaching sound and video records in RSS feeds (see beneath). This concept was constructed over the following few years, and in 2004, the time period “podcasting” emerged to explain this new manner of distributing audio content. In 2005, Apple added a podcast subscription feature to iTunes 4.9 and launched a podcast listing within the iTunes Music Retailer.
Since then, the sky has been the restrict for podcasting, with somewhere between 3 and 5 million podcasts on the earth proper now!
What are podcasts used for?
So what’s the purpose or goal of a podcast? What are they good for? An entire lot!
For the listener, a podcast is a good way to study a given matter—and/or be entertained!—in a manner that’s handy to them. Podcasts are free (for probably the most part) and straightforward to find, and given their rising recognition, cover a wider and deeper variety of matters than ever earlier than.
For the podcaster, the uses of and advantages of a podcast could be huge. Podcasts are a good way to construct and serve a viewership by entertaining and/or educating listeners on a given matter.
One of many key benefits of a podcast for the podcaster is that you get to talk to individuals, utilizing your voice. Your podcast episode could also be heard by 1000’s and even tens of millions of individuals; however, for every listener, it’s simply you and them.
It’s been mentioned that podcasting is one of the best ways to scale intimacy and make a direct reference to every one of your listeners.
What’s a podcast host, and why do you want one? (How an RSS feed works)
Podcasts are made out there to listeners through an Actually Easy Syndication (RSS) feed.
An RSS feed permits content creators to publish notifications of new content material corresponding as blog posts or, in fact, podcasts.
Right here’s how that works. The podcast creator submits their podcast’s RSS feed to a listing, which makes it out there to listeners through a podcast app or the creator’s website.
A podcast listener can obtain new installments or episodes of a podcast automatically by subscribing to the podcast’s RSS feed in their chosen podcast app.
However, how do you create your podcast’s RSS feed?
That’s the place a podcast internet hosting platform (or podcast host for brief) is available in.
A podcast host is a service that gives a spot to retailer and distribute your podcast’s audio files through an RSS feed. The podcast host robotically generates the RSS feed to your podcast, after which it submits it to podcast directories, corresponding as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and others.
You are perhaps considering, Do I’ve to make use of a podcast host? Can I host my podcast on my web site? The quick reply is sure—however, hear me out.
There are a number of advantages to utilizing a podcast host as a substitute of DIYing it. A podcast host can:
- Present storage to your podcast episode recordsdata, and permit them to be downloaded by listeners.
- Automate the creation and syndication of your RSS feed to podcast directories.
- Provide built-in analytics, so you may see how your present is rising and which episodes are the most popular.
Sure, you may technically host your podcast’s RSS feed on your website. And sure, most podcast hosts price cash, with these prices usually growing as your present grows.
However, for many creators, internet hosting your podcast on your website is far more hassle than its value.
You may save a couple of bucks; however, in our opinion, the dearth of analytics alone makes internet hosting your podcast on your website a poor alternative.
Varieties of podcasts and podcast examples
As a medium for entertaining and sharing data, podcasts can take many alternative varieties! Listed below are a number of the commonest podcast codecs, together with examples.
- Interview: A number of invitations to a number of companies to debate a given matter. This present format requires analysis and outreach to seek out companies for every episode. (The Sensible Passive Revenue Podcast, Armchair Professional, Recent Air)
- Solo Speaking/Storytelling: Because the identity suggests, a single host “runs the present.” The time that might be spent on visitor analysis and outreach for an interview presentation is substituted with directed approach towards analysis and preparation of the presentation’s content. (Hardcore Historical past, Revolutions)
- Cohosted: A present with two or more hosts who can present totally different personalities and views, and typically humorous banter. (Stuff You Ought to Know, My Favourite Homicide, Flops, The Neighborhood Expertise)
- Roundtable: An expanded model of a co-hosted podcast with extra hosts who interact in conversations and banter around a given matter. (SmartLess, Pod Save America)
- Documentary: Much like a TV documentary, this podcast format usually has a narrator, and might embrace interview segments, sound effects/music, and even scripted scenes. (Serial, Startup Podcast)
Notice that many podcasts are a hybrid, incorporating parts of a number of codecs. For instance, The New York Times’ The Each Day is a cohosted podcast that comes with interviews.
Who makes podcasts?
Podcasts could be created by nearly anybody, from a person to a small staff to a big firm!
What’s a podcast producer?
In relation to podcasts, a producer is somebody who works behind the scenes to ensure the present is nearly as good as it may be. They usually put on a number of hats, and their duties might embrace discovering company, organizing the episode schedule, overseeing the recording and modifying processes, selling the present, and extra.
Find out how to listen to a podcast
How straightforward is it to listen to a podcast? Fairly darn straightforward! Right here’s what you’ll want:
- A smartphone, pc, or tablet with a web connection.
- A podcast app
You’ll want an internet-connected gadget, corresponding to a smartphone, pc, or a tablet, to entry podcasts. Because you’re already studying this publish, I’m guessing you’ve got this one covered. 😉
Whether or not you’re trying to find a particular podcast or wish to seek out a brand new one, a podcast app will come in useful. Listed below are a number of the hottest ones:
Every one of those apps could be downloaded to your gadget or accessed online.
So which one do you have to select? To be sincere, there’s not a ton of distinction between them, particularly in case you’re just getting started as a podcast listener.
In the event you’re a Mac/iOS person, then Apple Podcasts is your go-to, and in case you use an Android cellphone, then the Google Play Music app is the best choice.
Every app additionally supplies a podcast listing you can search to find new shows. Many of those apps may even present personalised suggestions based on the exhibits you listen to on the app.
If you end up turning into an avid listener of numerous podcasts, you may discover profit from utilizing an app like Pocket Casts, which is designed to filter and arrange numerous podcast subscriptions. However, for 99 % of listeners, most apps will just work effectively.
When you’ve discovered the podcast you wish to listen to in your podcast app, you may either stream it or download it to your device to listen attention later. Your podcast app also needs to let you “subscribe” to a present so that you’ll be alerted when new episodes are launched.
Some podcast creators additionally make their podcast episodes out there immediately on their website through a web-based podcast player.
Right here’s an instance of tips on how to use an embedded web player like Fusebox to play a podcast episode proper on a webpage:
Find out how to begin a podcast
In the event you’re keen on tips on how to begin a podcast, you’re in the best place! At SPI, we’ve got a ton of assets for first-time podcasters (and extra superior podcasters too, however let’s not get ahead of ourselves…).
As a way to begin a podcast, you want several key substances:
That’s not all, although, and if you’d like the total scoop, take a look at our “Find out how to Begin a Podcast STEP-BY-STEP” information.
It consists of the lowdown on issues like:
Choosing a podcast matters; you may decide to
- Writing a compelling podcast description
- Selecting a podcast internet hosting service
- Recording your episodes
- And far more
The “Find out how to Begin a Podcast STEP-BY-STEP” information makes beginning your podcast straightforward and doable so as to construct your viewers—and even begin and scale a enterprise with the assistance of your new present.
It’s also possible to take a look at our video information to begin your podcast.
What’s a podcast FAQ
Listed below are some generally requested questions on podcasts, and our solutions!
Why are podcasts known as podcasts?
The phrase “podcast” is a portmanteau (mixed phrase) of “iPod,” Apple’s authentic transportable music player, and “broadcast.” Some individuals have additionally urged “transportable on demand” as a “backronym” for the phrase “podcast.”
Podcasts vs. radio: What’s the distinction?
Are podcasts identical to radio shows? Whereas podcasts and radio share a number of similarities, since they’re each audio codecs, podcasts are extra versatile in a number of methods. You’ll be able to consider podcasts as the following “evolution” of the radio present.
Listed below are a number of the key variations between podcasts and radio:
- Podcasts are normally edited, whereas radio usually resides.
- Podcasts could be streamed or downloaded on demand, whereas radio exhibits usually should be listened to live. Radio stations are more and more making their previously aired exhibits out there online; however, most radio content should be accessed when it goes reside.
- Most radio content is aimed toward a broad audience, whereas podcast content could be extraordinarily area of extraordinary interest.
- Most radio exhibits have to fill a particular time block, whereas podcast episodes could be any size.
- Radio exhibits usually have larger manufacturing prices, so they include commercials to help offset these prices. Whereas podcast promoting is a rising trade, many podcasts don’t embrace adverts as a result of the fee barrier to entry for podcasting is a lot decrease than for radio.
Are podcasts free to listen to?
Among the finest issues about podcasts is that they’re normally free to obtain and listen to. Sure, you’ll want a tool to take heed of them and a web connection to obtain them; however, the content itself is mostly free of cost.
Lately, some podcasters have begun creating extra paid content for his or her subscribers. These paid podcasts have gotten more and more common, though free podcasts are nonetheless much more widespread.
What’s a podcast community?
A podcast community is a group of podcasts under the umbrella of a single firm, which produces, distributes, and/or makes these podcasts out there to advertisers. Podcast networks can present publicity and income for podcast owners and are an amazing choice to consider as soon as your podcast has grown a bit.
Some podcast networks are centered on a single theme, whereas others settle for podcasts on a variety of matters. The most important podcast networks embrace iHeartRadio, Wondery, PodcastOne, HubSpot Podcast Community, and Audacy.
What’s a video podcast?
Video podcasts are a more and more common type of podcasting. Because the identity suggests, they incorporate video and audio, permitting listeners to see and listen to your content. Including video to your podcast is usually extra work, however it could possibly assist expose your show to a wider audience by means of platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
What gear do you need to begin a podcast?
As talked about above in “Find out how to Begin a Podcast,” a microphone is a very powerful piece of equipment you’ll want to start out your personal podcast. Nevertheless, there are a number of different items of tech to contemplate:
- A desktop microphone stand
- An increased arm and shock mount to cut back undesirable vibrations
- A pop filter to cut back plosives (harsh sounds from certain syllables) in your recordings
- Software program for recording and modifying, corresponding to GarageBand or Audacity
- Sound-dampening supplies to cut back room echo
Do podcasters become profitable from their exhibits?
They undoubtedly can, and plenty of them do!
The most typical manner podcasts become profitable is through promoting or sponsorships. It’s also possible to use affiliate marketing online to advertise merchandise in your present and earn a fee when somebody purchases it using your link.
Are you prepared to start out your podcasting journey?
I hope this primer on podcasts was useful! Perhaps you’re impressed to go discover a new present to subscribe to, and even turn into a podcaster yourself!
Earlier than you leap, nevertheless, it’s vital to weigh the pros and cons of podcasting.
Pros and cons of beginning a podcast
The advantages of getting a podcast could be quite a few. A podcast may also help you:
- Develop your model or enterprise
- Meet new individuals
- Develop new revenue streams
- Broaden your viewers
At the same time, podcasting is probably not for everybody. It takes time, vitality, dedication, and assets to start out and keep a podcast. To achieve success, you might want to produce a high-quality presentation and publish it regularly.
Extra assets for the aspiring podcaster (or simply the pod-curious)
If the thought of beginning a podcast remains thrilling to you, nice! We’ve acquired a number of useful assets in case you’re able to continue learning about podcasts and what they’ll do that can assist you in developing your corporation and join along with your viewers.
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