After being a co-host on Across The Sound – the new marketing podcast of Joseph Jaffe and then hearing a follow-up episode of ATS where CC Chapman co-hosted, I decided to throw my hat into the podcasting ring. With little more than college radio training and the occasional interview on talk radio, I created my own podcast, Six Pixels Of Separation.
Now working on my sixth episode, here are six lessons I’ve learned about Podcasting:
# Speak from the heart: if you don’t know or care about the topic, it comes through with every syllable.
# Find the right mix of software and a decent mic: I am using CastBlaster and a more premium Logitech headset/mic combo. If I get more into it, my guess is I will upgrade to better hardware and software, but for now, it’s fine.
# Prepare show notes and use that as your talking points: Nobody likes someone rambling with no set destination in mind. Prepping your show notes will keep you focused and you’ll know, as your recording, when you have to step it up or take more time on a segment.
# Start off slow: a lot of podcasts creep past the one hour mark. I guess it depends on the individual, but my thoughts are start small and build as needed. The first episode of Six Pixels Of Separation was under ten minutes. I’ve added some interviews to the show and now they are closer to twenty minutes. How much time do you think a listener will give you?
# Make sure all of your RSS feeds are enabled and that you are listed in all of the important directories. When I created the Pilot Episode of Six Pixels Of Separation it was essentially a digital download. Now, you can subscribe to the podcast or find it at iTunes, Podcast Alley, Podzinger, Feedburner and more. What makes your show a podcast is the ability for people to subscribe and receive it via a feed.
# Think Slivercasting. Choose a topic that no one (or not a lot of people) are covering – create your own niche. Slivercasting is broadcasting your message to a very specific sliver of the market. What are you passionate about? Create a podcast that speaks to your passion and others who are equally excited about it.
The last component I have been struggling with is the actual branding of the podcast. Not the name, logo or blog design, but how this podcast affects people’s expectations of who Mitch Joel is and what Twist Image can do for them. I record Six Pixels Of Separation completely live: one shot, no pauses or re-takes. Does the final product truly represent what my company stands for? My hopes are that as I get more comfortable, I’ll learn from my listener feedback and improve with each recording.
The main idea was to start another conversation. To begin a dialogue about digital marketing, how closely connected we all are and to discuss how this new marketing is changing the way marketers do their work.
Take a listen to Six Pixels Of Separation (better yet, subscribe to it) and let me know what you think.