5 Tips to Help You Prepare for a Great Podcast

5 Tips to Help You Prepare for a Great Podcast

Hey everyone! You've heard us talk about the power of video, but today I want to share some secrets about our other passion: podcasting. I know this can seem overwhelming, but believe me, with a little planning, you can create something truly special. Here are five things we believe are absolutely critical for a great show.

1. It's Not What You See, It's What You Hear

Your Podcast's Secret Weapon: Why Killer Audio Wins the War for Attention

As the documentary film director Michael Moore once said, an audience will forgive a blurry image, but they will never forgive bad audio. It's a truth we live by in the video production world, and it applies even more to podcasts. In the digital world, where every creator is fighting for ears and screen time, sound quality isn’t just a detail—it’s the first impression you make, and it has to feel right.

If you're reading this, you probably already know a lot about podcasting. These aren't new rules, but a quick rundown of some essential tips to keep in mind. You can have the most brilliant ideas in the world, but if your audio sounds bad, you're losing the battle before it even begins. Even celebrities with massive audiences can lose listeners over poor audio, so for a growing brand like yours, it's the single most critical thing to get right.

Don't let the technical side of things overwhelm you, though. The truth is, achieving great sound isn't about having the fanciest gear; it's about making a few simple, strategic moves. Your recording environment is far more important than any microphone you can buy. Echo is a podcast's worst enemy, as it’s nearly impossible to remove once it’s in your recording. It happens when your voice bounces off hard surfaces and gets picked up by the microphone a split second later. A simple fix? Lay down some extra blankets or throw rugs on the floor and walls behind you to absorb that sound.

When you're ready to invest in a microphone that delivers professional results, a great place to start is something like the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB, which is known for its excellent quality at an accessible price. Another major factor in sound quality is getting rid of "pops" (the loud bursts of air from words like 'P' and 'B') and "esses" (the hissing sound from 'S' words). A simple pop filter or windscreen can dramatically cut down on these sounds, giving you a clean, crisp recording.

For those who want to take a serious leap in quality and get that broadcast-ready sound, we often recommend the legendary Shure SM7B. It’s the microphone of choice for a reason. Its unique design helps it naturally reject background noise, so you can focus on your message, not your environment. It’s an investment in a clean, consistent, studio-quality sound with minimal effort.

2. Crafting the Perfect Conversation: The Art of an Effortless Interview

As professional video producers, we’ve recorded countless hours of interviews and podcasts, and we’ve learned a thing or two about what works and what doesn't. We’ve seen that a great conversation is your secret weapon for creating compelling content and winning over an audience. While some people are naturally great at it, for most of us, it’s a skill that takes a little practice. The good news? You don't have to be perfect; you just have to start. As we always say, "the enemy of good is perfect." The quest for perfection can stop you from ever getting off the ground, so don't be afraid to just start and find your rhythm. The more you do it, the more effortless it will become.

While spontaneity is key to a great conversation, so is preparation. We've found that a little prep ahead of time goes a very long way. We recently read a blog by Ringmaster where they gave some excellent advice on this very topic. They say that instead of sending a generic form to a guest, it is so much better to have a personal prep call with them before you hit record. This helps you to build rapport and discuss where you'd like the conversation to go without getting into all the good stuff on the call. The article also had a fantastic tip on how to ask great questions. They suggest that instead of asking a simple ‘who’ or ‘why’ question that can be answered in a few words, you should ask a ‘what’ question. This gets them to share their passion and expertise, and it leads to a much more engaging conversation.

We believe this kind of prep work is crucial for building a strong relationship with your guest, getting them comfortable on the microphone, and ensuring a smooth production. We try to set a friendly, relaxed atmosphere from the beginning, because a great interview should feel less like a Q&A and more like a genuine conversation between two friends. This is why, for every hour of content you plan to record, you should be prepared to spend about an hour on the scripting or outlining. It's the dependable blueprint that ensures your conversation is compelling, focused, and purposeful.

3. Know Your Purpose: What's Your Show Really About?

We've talked about what makes a podcast sound great and how to master the art of conversation, but none of that matters without a clear mission. A great podcast always begins with a well-defined purpose. Our philosophy is that podcasting, at its core, is a form of personal documentary. People don't just come to a podcast for information—they can get that anywhere online. They come because they want to connect with a human voice and a personal point of view.

This is why your show will resonate with people, and why you must define a purpose you are truly passionate about. When you've nailed down your concept—whether it’s for professionals in a specific industry or to simply share compelling stories—you've built the foundation for a winning show. This is precisely why you must bring your true self to the conversation.

Your passion is infectious, and your audience will feel that energy. This is a vital component for building a loyal following who will listen to every episode. Moreover, a genuine interest in your topic is what will keep you from burning out. The truth is, you simply cannot force a passion. There will be days when you don't feel like recording, but if you truly love the subject, you will always find the motivation to keep going. This is the difference between a show that lasts for a few episodes and one that becomes a long-term part of your business.

5. Optimize for Discovery

We always say that a podcast is a story, but you have to make sure the right people can find that story. This is where search engine optimization (SEO) comes in. We’ve found that even if you're not writing a blog post with every episode—which, by the way, here is a free piece of advice, you should write a blog post for every episode you do—there are still crucial ways you can help people find your content. It all comes down to keywords.

Just like with a blog or a website, you need to think about the words your audience is searching for and use them in key places. This includes your podcast title and a clear, concise show description that tells people exactly what your podcast is about. This is your chance to use those keywords to tell search engines who you are and what you do.

When it comes to individual episodes, you can optimize your titles and descriptions to help people find specific topics. If you're interviewing a particular guest, make sure to use their name and what they are known for in the title. When you release a new episode, think about the keywords you want to be found for, and be sure to put them in the episode's description. The goal is to make it as easy as possible for someone to find your podcast when they are searching online.

Bonus Tip: Focus on Your Passion, and Let Others Handle the Rest

Podcasting can be a lot of fun, but it can also be very time-consuming. If these tips seem a little overwhelming, remember that there are companies out there that can help. We, for example, do the production and editing for podcasts so you can focus on what you do best: creating great content and building your brand.