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But first, what is podcasting?

Podcasting is a relatively new kind of technology so here is a bit associated with background for these who haven’t run into this term however. The definition about wikipedia is fairly good:

“Podcasting” is usually making audio files (most commonly in MP3 format) available inside a way of which allows software to automatically download the files for attending with the user’s convenience.

The way I see podcasting is a cross among a radio exhibit and a website. The best thing is anyone can make a podcast with very little outlay and simply sensitive knowledge associated with IT. Once you have created a podcast you can allow visitors to subscribe to receive updates when these people are uploaded to your site. This is performed in a very similar method to using a good RSS reader to syndicate blog/news nourishes (more on this later).

How would I make in addition to publish my first podcast?

Step one intended for me was research. I wanted to find out the other podcasts sounded like and what additional people were previously doing (particularly throughout my field of private finance). This was also an helpful activity to get rid of any fears that will all of typically the podcasts already developed would be of a new highly professional quality — some are, but most are not!

Once I had developed established that no person else was performing what I organized to perform (with the exception of Charlie Lewis, the Funds Saving Expert, but this is more about saving money than financial planning) that was time for you to function out how in order to record my 1st show.

I prepared to record five minute shows which usually would cut down on generation time and in addition keep the data file size quite small. Because this is definitely an audio file hosted on our site I wanted to ensure that it had been not too significant (to keep down load times fast although also save on bandwidth restraints).

To be able to record the articles for my podcast I first tried using ‘Sound Recorder’ that comes together with Windows XP. This had not been ideal for a pair of reasons. The recording time is confined to 60 seconds which would include meant cutting my planned show directly into ten perfectly timed segments then editing them all jointly. Additionally, it wouldn’t have allowed me to be able to speak over backing music (something I felt was significant for a professional sounding show/introduction).

I actually searched the net and found some free to consider software on get. com. This computer software is called Promoción 1. 0 plus it offers a complete solution to the can be podcast creator. I downloaded the trial offer to be able to ensure it performed everything I desired it to plus then shelled out the particular $49. 95 in order to activate the entire type.

I wanted to ensure my podcast was not ten minutes involving me talking regarding pensions so My partner and i asked my sibling to record a few sound bites intended for me. These have been just simple bits of audio of which I could make use of to introduce the show, break up the content and use to end the podcast (my regulatory warning/disclaimer).

Throughout terms of components I just utilized a microphone headsets; the identical system My partner and i use for Skype. This require me to pay �10 in Dixons plus does an excellent job in words of recording a single voice.

Using Promozione I could record content for the show, line up as many as sixteen different audio monitors (including some backing music) and have fun with with the time. This whole procedure took just below 2 hours before We were satisfied with the particular final version.

Creating my podcast

The particular Propaganda software makes this pretty easy as well. Essentially there will be three steps to posting the podcast.

a single – create a great MP3 file of the podcast. MUSIC seems to get the most typical file structure for podcasts and so I stuck with tradition. Propaganda permitted me to change the 16 monitors of audio I had lined way up into a single MP3 data file and choose the most appropriate data file quality. I prefered something mid-range, certainly not too low because the sound quality suffered and not too much to keep typically the file size reasonable (under 4MB).

2 – host the AUDIO file on your current website. I take advantage of MASTER OF SCIENCE Frontpage to design the website and some free FTP software in order to transfer files by my PC in order to the Internet. To host the data file Also i built some sort of basic website webpage that would notify prospective listeners a lot more about my podcast in general and even more about this particular podcast show.

three or more – make a RSS OR ATOM feed. Again, Propaganda did this for me personally with its syndication feature. The FEED feed may be the supply feed that allows podcast players to find your current podcast and subscribe to updates. When you produce a new podcast show a person update this FEED feed (which will be hosted on your website) and the various podcast gamers notice the upgrade and download the brand new podcast for the particular listener.

Promoting my personal podcast

Now that I had some sort of podcast I had to find listeners! I actually posted a get for help about an online network, Ecademy. com, and got some very useful responses. It seems that the main podcast directory is usually Apples iTunes and so I started generally there. It is genuinely painless to have listed as all they need to realize is the hyperlinks to your podcast, website and RSS feed. There exists a vetting process so I acquired to wait a couple of days to get shown but by On the morning I found my link and even was able to use iTunes to download, listen to and sign up to my podcast.

You will find tons of other podcast directories but one which caught my interest was Britcaster. com. As this only lists UK podcasts (most of typically the directories, including iTunes, are US centric) it should cause a more relevant target audience.

As well because listing within the numerous directories I added a blog about my website and a mention on my personal Ecademy signature. Typically the combined effect involving these two things is to obtain a high result on google. co. uk when the particular search term ‘personal finance podcast’ is used.

I think that will I a new pretty good story to tell the press now as this particular is an initial for an UK podcast (personal finance from your Independent Financial Adviser). I have previously had some beneficial responses from the trade press therefore this week My partner and i plan to proceed onto the buyer economic press.

What up coming?

Well, in addition to operating on show number two I plan to improve the production good quality of the show because time goes on. I would consider receiving some ‘jingles’ developed that I could mix into typically the show to enhance the feel and even quality of the particular production. There will be, of course, a company motive for making this podcast since (I hope) it is going to lead to innovative enquiries and a higher profile on the web plus in the press.

For anyone that is considering their particular own podcast (or has read this article and feels it may be something that they could do) I would suggest move for it! Podcasting is still in a very early stage and not necessarily lots of people in typically the UK have caught onto the technologies just yet. Along with the explosion in iPod along with other AUDIO player ownership each of the predictions are regarding massive growth within the podcast market.

Since relatively few men and women produce their very own podcasts now is some sort of good time in order to get your individual show up and even running before the competitors catch on to the idea.