(Click Here) for the podcast version of this article

I find it amusing how many people seem to think all you have to do is pick up a microphone and talk into it and you have yourself a podcast. Admittedly, there are some who simply have the knack or ‘gift of gab’ and can talk on any subject at the drop of a hat, but, many people don’t have that gift. Just put a microphone in their hand and they may immediately start talking, (maybe because they already have their first two lines worked out in their minds), and then they just as quickly begin to stumble around for words and eventually start with the ‘ums’, ‘and-uhs’, ‘I-uhs’ and ‘what do I say now’s.’ (Just for the record, it is my opinion that that won’t cut for long with their audience.)

Personally, I sometimes like to go to “mypodcast.com” to check out the new podcasts as they come out. You can always tell the brand new people from the ones that have done at least a few by the way they start. I am not at all surprised by what I hear. I’ve been there myself, (although it was some time ago and probably would still happen if I did more ‘spur of the moment’ talks or teachings.) I really got a kick out of one I heard. The person opened with a few words of welcome and then began to tell what the intention of the podcast was. Shortly after that couple of opening statements, he began stumble around a bit and search for words and then said, “I didn’t think this would be this hard. In the future I’m going to have to write down what I want to talk about . . .”

I can’t think of a better example of what I’m trying to point out to you. This person recognized almost immediately how important it is to have an idea of what it is you want to talk about. How important it is to ‘know what you want to say and what you want to do.’

I remember several years ago I wanted to start a radio station or, at least, be a DJ. I even made a tape I could hand out to people –(mostly friends of mine)– to show them the type radio show I wanted to do. I used the station call letters of “W-H-E-A-D”, (five letters so no one would mistakenly think it was a real station and yet, it did sound as if it was coming from the radio instead of a tape.) The talk would go something like, “Hello, I’m Russ and this is W-H-E-A-D Radio; Head radio, where the music we play is music for your head . . . music that makes you think and talk that does the same.” (Trust me when I tell you, I had a lot of fun doing that but never really followed through on that pursuit. I went on to other things. Now, it appears I may get the chance after all.)

Probably the hardest thing for me to do for that project was the talk between songs. I quickly realized that I just didn’t talk well from ‘off the top of my head’. I had to think about what I wanted to say first and even make notes so I wouldn’t be stumblin’ and mumblin’ around while the tape was rolling and I was getting ready to play the next song. Although I didn’t really know what I was doing, the final product turned out pretty good. Several of the people that heard it as they rode along with one or another of my freinds asked what station it was, when it had come on the air and how they could get it on their radios. Needless to say, I was pleased that they wanted to know what to tune their radios to, but I never did start an actual radio station nor did I become a DJ.

If you have a desire to be a podcaster and just want to jump right in, go ahead and do it, you might just be one of those that can. But, if you want to get started right, there’s a few things you might want to research and think about first. You’re not going to disappoint anyone –not even yourself– by being well prepared for whatever it is your podcast is about. That doesn’t mean everything has to be completely structured and that you can’t depart from the direction you’ve planned for your podcast to be going if an alternate direction seems more promising as you progress.

First, you’ve gotta know what you want to do. The better prepared you are to accomplish the original plan, the easier it is to recognize a detour that takes you exactly where you want to be.

See ya next time . . .

(Click Here) for the podcast version of this article

Okay, we’ve spent some time discussing several sites that are good places to go for information and input, but have you really gone and checked any of them out? If you have, you have already taken a big step towards ‘getting started right’. If you haven’t, you really should because there is some really good information out there and you might as well take advantage of someone else’s investment of time and effort. You will simply just be that much further ahead of the game.

Look at it this way, if you check out someone else’s podcast and get a good or maybe even a great idea or tip for your own podcast, what have you lost? Maybe a little bit of time had to be invested, but, you have an opportunity to gain input from some of the best in the business and you can quite often gain that input for little, or no, financial investment. What could be better?

What I’m trying to say is, if you want to turn out a good product but you don’t quite have it all together as far as technique and ability yet, you absolutely need to get the input of others even if it is to become absolutely certain of what you DON’T want to do.

Not everyone of you wants to follow in the footsteps of the status quo. Some of you may have great ideas for really dynamic podcasts that totally depart from the norm and that is wonderful, BUT, you might want to consider listening in on some others to be sure it is what you want to do and how you want to do it.

One thing I have learned is that a podcast doesn’t have to contain flawless diction or be technically perfect, but it does have to have reasonable flo and worthwhile content. (I can say that even though I may not like your podcast and you may not like mine.) Some things are just ‘givens’. People want to be motivated, educated and entertained. Some even like to be shocked on a regular basis, but they still expect you to present it to them in a reasonable and understandable manner.

There comes a time when we all have to make the decision to get down to business and start doin’ that thing that is burning within us. We need to make the decision to get the right equipment, choose the proper format for our presentation, pay attention to what we are doing and get started. There is no other way to see if your idea is going to fly until you actually start producing it.

If you want to ‘get started right’, know this. You will not be wasting your time by spending some of it listening to others that are more experienced. You could very possibly pick up on some little tidbit of information or technique that could make your podcast better and easier to produce.

In all honesty, it has never been easier to produce and distribute an audio or video podcast. The people that have gone before us have done a lot of the hard work. You can easily find the type of equipment that is perfect for your need. The same holds true for software. Some of it is free, some of it will cost you a little and some of it can cost a lot. The best way to decide which one is best for you is to see them in action. Quite often, trial versions (or lesser versions) are available to try before you have to make a major investment. Listening to what others produce with different equipment and software can demonstrate the quality of product that can be accomplished with each.

Many podcasters are more than willing to share what they use to make their podcasts. They either talk about it in their blogs or they love to answer your inquiries via comments or emails. As I have said before, “The only deep, dark secrets in podcasting is that there are no deep, dark secrets in podcasting.”

When it comes right down to it, to “get started right”, there is no substitute for gettin’ down and doin’ your podcast. You want to try your ideas out, so, get out there and do it!

See ya next time . . .