Month: August 2007

Things To Consider For The Main Body Of Your Production

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(Click Here for the podcast version of this article)

Now we come to the main body of your audio podcast. I can’t really tell you too much about the body of your podcast. It is up to you, your subject matter and the format you decide to use with your podcasting idea. What I can tell you is that there are several ways in which you can present it.

The choice is naturally, up to you in how you want to present your information or interviews. I personally like a couple of ways. One is without a music floor and one is with. For those of you that are totally new to some of this, I offer this short explanation as my interpretation of a ‘music floor’.

A ‘music floor’ is some kind of music, usually instrumental, playing beneath your talking or reading of your scripted material. My musical choices are very likely going to be different than yours. Some of you really like to “rock out” and some of you are really into that “head bangin” stuff. Those are fine if that is your taste and choice. Others will choose “heavy metal” while still others will choose some more laid back types such as “easy listening”, “jazz” or even “classical.”

Any of these are reasonable choices because it doesn’t really matter that much what type you choose, but there are a few things to consider while you make your choices in types or styles.

One of the most important things to consider is to make completely sure that the music you choose is not overpowering what you say and the second most important is right there with it.

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Things To Consider When Working On Your Podcast Closing

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(Click Here) for the podcast version of this article

You have to know and you have to understand that the closing to your podcast is also an important part of your production. Some of your listeners will get to the end of your podcast and be ready to move on. If you work the transition of the closing of your podcast into the ending of the body of your podcast properly, the listener will generally hang around for any important info you include in your closing. It is important to have a closing if for no other reason than adding a bit of finality to your podcast. You can use it to point the listeners to more of your information and podcasts, or to other sites of interest. It can also be a great way to transition to an insertion of a spot for your advertisers.

Many of the same rules apply as you think about how you want to close your podcast as when you thought about your opening. Both are important and both should have a specific and definite purpose. The opening was to introduce you and your subject(s) and the closing leaves the listener with a good taste in their mouth about your podcast. As they leave your podcast it gives them something to remember you by and perhaps want to check out more of your available podcasts and information.

As was the case in the previous article, this one also is one you will want to listen to the audio podcast version while you read along (or instead of reading along), because it will have some examples of closings that are better heard than read. (Besides, I won’t be writing out the examples anyway.)

There are only a few things I want to say about the closings. I have a way I like to close mine and that is what I will demonstrate, but remember, a closing needs to be something your listener won’t want to turn off. It needs to smoothly transition them into action of some sort.

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