Many blogs and websites have begun incorporating podcasts into their content strategy — and quickly realized the benefits. That said, the quality of your podcast equipment is incredibly important — in fact, it can make or break your product. If you want to stand out from the crowd and build your own audience, you’ll need to acquire all the right equipment.
Let’s take a look at some of the essentials you’ll need to produce a successful podcast.
Why podcasting?
Podcasts are very popular right now, and the numbers are only expected to grow. According to research gathered by OptinMonster, almost half of internet users between the ages of 25 and 34 listen to podcasts daily. In the U.S., the number of people listening to podcasts on a weekly basis doubled from 2013 to 2017.
With that in mind, it’s clearly a great time to launch your own podcast.
What will you need?
Modern smartphones and laptops, which have built-in microphones and speakers, are more than capable of simple recordings. However, if you want to present a professional image, you may want to consider investing in podcast equipment. This would include, first and foremost, a high-quality microphone and headset.
A good place to start might be a combination of the two, like the Sennheiser SC 30. With its high-definition sound and noise-canceling microphone, it’s a great starter set for your podcasting journey.
As your audience grows, you may find yourself in a position to acquire a dedicated microphone for clearer audio. In this case, you can’t go wrong with the Samson Meteor. It provides a crisp, clear audio recording, and the fold-back legs allow you to find the best set-up position. You can also fold the microphone up and pop it into your laptop bag for remote podcast recording sessions.
If your budget allows, another popular option is the Blue Yeti. Though more expensive than the Samson, it’s the most versatile, as it can record great audio in almost any situation or angle.
If you do go with a dedicated microphone, and you intend to interview guests on your podcast, it’s wise to get a quality pair of headphones, like the Sennheiser HD280 PRO, as well. This will make it easy for you to hear your guests clearly and eliminate any unwanted feedback from your speakers.
Do I need any special software?
You can use virtually any audio recording software to create your podcast. If you plan to podcast with others, using online services like Zoom and Zencastr can make things easier. It also helps if you include video chat in your podcast recording process, as you can see and respond to visual cues from your guests.
When the time comes to edit and produce your audio, the open-source application Audacity will be your best friend. It runs on both Windows and Mac and provides a straightforward interface for the novice — as well as powerful audio editing tools for the more experienced.
How to add your podcast to your website
Fortunately, WordPress.com includes free podcasting abilities that enable you to add podcast episodes and audio to your site. You can also create and manage your podcast RSS feed, which is necessary to submit your podcast to distribution services such as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.
If you want more than the podcasting feature allows, you could also try a WordPress.com plugin like Seriously Simple Podcasting.
Available to install on your WordPress.com site if you upgrade to a WordPress.com Pro plan, Seriously Simple Podcasting strives to make managing your podcast as simple and satisfying as managing your blog. Beyond the basics, it includes several other features, including the ability to manage multiple podcasts on one site and host your audio files on third-party audio hosting services.
Podcasting is no longer only available to those with professional audio recording experience. With the right podcast equipment, a WordPress.com site, and the ability to create regular, interesting content, you can claim your place in the podcasting world.
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