The Beginner’s Guide To Starting a Podcast
If you have been on the internet long enough, then I’m sure you’ve come across podcasts a few times. Podcasts are simply a series of audio files uploaded onto a podcasting hosting website. Think of it like hosting your solo radio show or audio blogging if you may.
Podcasts are beneficial to so many groups of people irrespective of what your reasons for podcasting may be. For aspiring creatives (artists, poets, disc jockeys, talk show hosts), running your own podcast is a great way to push your work and get your name out there. For business owners and organizations, podcasting is a great way to build a relationship with your current and potential clients. According to Edison Research, about 42 million Americans listen to podcasts on a weekly basis. A survey conducted by Ofcom (the communications regulating body in the UK) revealed that the number of weekly podcast users in the UK stood at 5.3 million as of 2018. So, if you have ever wondered about starting a podcast, the time is now.
I know the next think on your mind would be, “how much is this going to cost me anyway?” Hold on a little bit. Before we start talking podcast pricing, let us discuss the benefits of podcasts for your brand and your business. That way, you can decide for yourself whether these benefits are real and if they can be applied to your business.
Why You Should Start Podcasting
As a business owner, or someone who is trying to build their brand and push out their products and services, podcasting is a good place to start; and if you are still on the fence about why you should give in to peer pressure and join the bandwagon of podcasters, here are a few reasons to push you over the edge.
Podcasts build relationships:
Just like blogs or weekly newsletters, podcasts help to build a relationship with clients, potential customers and even employees. However, with podcasts, there is more intimacy. Hearing your voice regularly helps to humanize your business and give it a personality. Also, you are able to articulate your thoughts perfectly without having to worry about losing context (as is common with text).
Podcasts are a great marketing tool:
If you are just starting out or you’re trying to establish yourself in your industry, podcasting is an amazing tool for that. It helps you build a reputation from the ground up and carry your listeners along every step of the way. You can also sell your services or drive traffic to your website/online store by either adding backlinks to your podcast directory or simply including a call to action in every podcast episode.
Podcasts help you address issues as they arise:
With podcasts, you can attend to specific issues as they arise. You are able to attend to your customers as quickly as may not be possible with other marketing mediums. Your customers do not have to wait for you to come up with a lengthy explanation on your blog or social media page; you could just turn on the mic and let them know what is going on. At the end of the day, your listeners just want to hear what you have to say.
Podcasts have an advantage over other forms of media:
Asides podcasts, all the other advertising and marketing mediums (social media, commercials, brochures etc.) are visual in nature. This means they are all competing for the customer’s undivided attention. With podcasts, however, the audience can listen to them while getting other stuff done. That way, your current and potential customers are not too busy to get your message. They can listen to it while cleaning, driving, eating or even reading a book.
Now, that we have answered the why, let us move on to the next question on your mind – the how.
Do You Really Need a Podcast Production Company?
With podcast mics going for no more than £100 on Amazon, it is very easy to think, “Can’t I just do this on my own?” Well, if you are just an adult looking for a creative outlet, sure you can. However, if you are a business looking to increase your market share through podcasting, you may want to go the extra mile and hire a professional podcast production service.
For professionals, podcasting is more than just having something to say. A lot of work goes into the technical aspects of it. Podcast production services do not just record your voice, they help you choose the right equipment, design the cover art, and even upload them to podcast directories and hosting websites.
Finally, we are going to answer the most important question - the who.
Our Podcast Services
There are several podcast production services and it is up to you to do our research and decide which one best fits your needs. However, if you are in the London or Maidenhead area, we are bringing the solution right to your doorstep. And what is that solution you may ask? Fox and Falcon.
At Fox and Falcon, we are a team of experienced professionals who are dedicated to making sure your listeners never have to click the skip button. Whatever kind of podcast you want to host, we are well equipped to handle it. Our podcast production services include but are not limited to:
Solo Podcast Production:
This normally just involves one host and it is a relatively easy podcast to produce. This type of podcasts are delivered as monologues and can be used to introduce new business concepts or policies to your customers. You could also decide to host a call-in show where listeners can call in and ask questions or give opinions in real time. As a podcast production company, our job is to ensure that even though it is a solo podcast, it doesn’t come off like you just recorded in your living room with a £100 mic from Amazon.
E-commerce or Infomercial Podcast Production:
These podcasts usually include tips and information about your products and services. These productions would require more technical expertise than the solo podcasts as they need to grab the attention of your listeners right away.
Behind the scene productions:
We understand that you may need behind the scenes films of your podcast recording sessions. Well, as a video production company, Fox and Falcon are perfectly placed to provide this service.
Technical Services:
While the aforementioned involve the full production process, we understand that some people just need help with specific parts of the process. This service would generally involve editing, sound engineering, mixing and mastering, transcriptions, show notes etc.
In addition to the above, we also offer consulting services to those who just want to know what podcasting entails. Now while this seems like a lot of work, we assure you that our podcast pricing is highly competitive. If you are in need of a London or Maidenhead production company, you can visit our website for more information on our podcast production price packages. Better still, you could book an appointment with us to discuss custom offers.