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(By Traci Long DeForge) You’ve got podcasting questions, and Traci Long DeForge is here to answer them. Traci is the founder of Produce Your Podcast and a member of the PBJ Editorial Board. Today, Traci answers questions about which day you should publish, closed captions, and how a newbie launches.
1) How did you choose which day to release your podcast? There’s no right or wrong answer to this question. The most important factor when choosing the day and time to release your show should be decided by what’s realistic for you based on other business and life commitments which could support or prevent you from launching consistently. The quickest way to establish credibility and grow a loyal and engaged following is to release your show as promised and the quickest way to lose credibility with your audience is to not release your show as promised.
2) How do I use closed captions when I upload my podcasts on YouTube? The use of closed captions broadens the accessibility of your audience and is a strong visual complement to your podcast when released in a video version. YouTube uses speech recognition software, so it is not always exact and can be time consuming to edit. If you don’t have the time to edit the captions automatically generated by YouTube, invite community contributions so your viewers can collaborate on your transcription. You can also use a voice-to text-transcription like Sonix.ai or Rev.com and upload the transcript file by selecting “edit” for the video you want to add a transcript.
3) I’m a total newbie. What does a podcast launch entail? This is a great question that doesn’t have a short answer! Your podcast launch process should be customized to you in a way that fits into your life and/or into your business. The primary logistic components of launching a podcast are centered around getting the equipment that fits within your budget, choosing the right podcast hosting platform for your show, and securing Apple Podcasts’ approval. It can be as basic or elaborate of a process as you want or need. Get started by asking yourself these questions:
- How would you like your graphics to look? Show tile art is required for Apple Podcasts approval and will be important for marketing the show in the future.
- Will you be uploading the show to your website? This is optional but it does give you a better opportunity to be found in search and, according to the latest Edison Research, the number one way people are finding podcasts is by searching the Internet.
- Will you be creating a separate introduction or open for your podcast? This ties into the audio brand of your show. Think of it as a logo for your podcast. Do you want music? Music is a great way to add another signature element to your podcast. Make sure to research music licensing and make sure the music you decide to use is indeed licensed for use. Will you interview guests on your podcast? Guest interviews are a popular format for podcasting. It’s important to have a well organized system around guest outreach, and follow up. Once you answer these questions, your vision of the show will become more clear and you’ll have a good idea of how to integrate the answers into a timeline and a task line, and you’re ready to set a launch date for your podcast to be live into the world!
_Traci Long DeForge is the founder of Produce Your Podcast, and a consultant, speaker, and strategist. She can be contacted at traci@produceyourpodcast.com or 912.223.9525. Visit her websites atTraciDeForge.com and ProduceYourPodcast.com. _