TPU138 – 11 Actionable Tips to Elevate the Podcast Listening Experience for your Listeners!

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Dilip

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How can you give a top notch podcast listening experience to your listeners?

Podcasting is all about audio, good quality audio

But if your audio quality is poor, your conversation disjointed, your pacing off – you already have the ingredients for listener drop-off.

Crafting an exceptional listening experience is crucial for retention and growth.

In this episode we’ll uncover 11 tips to step up your podcast’s listenability!

Podcasting is all about audio. While some top podcasters do video as well, the medium is still an audio-only medium. And most listeners prefer listening to podcasts rather than watching a podcast.

It is precisely for this reason that YouTube too is pushing podcasts into their YouTube Music platform and giving you an option of listening to it or, watching it.

Irrespective of what method you are using to consume it, something that differentiates podcasts from videos is the listening experience. That’s experience in bold and underlined.

Because your listeners are not just there to listen to your episodes. They are there to experience your episodes.

Ever wondered why people listen to the Joe Rogan Experience in spite of it being almost 3-4 hours long?

It is for the experience.

No wonder he calls his show “The Joe Rogan Experience”.

You don’t necessarily need to be a Joe Rogan or, have to create a show like that to give your listeners the experience.

You can do that being yourself.

By providing good quality audio that is a pleasure to listen to.

And keep in mind that good quality listenable audio does not have everything to do with editing or, audio quality. There are a lot of many things in addition to that.

And in this episode I am going to share with you some of the very important things that you need to keep in mind and do, in order to provide that pleasure of listening to your audience.

Practical Strategies to Enhance Podcast Audio Quality and give a Better Podcast Listening Experience!

Something that a lot of new podcasters forget is that, podcasting is not about the audio file that you recorded or, edited.

It is also not the content of your episodes.

It involves everything from conceptualizing your show to scripting, recording and editing your show and then publishing it for your listeners to listen to.

Similarly good audio starts from the moment you decide on recording your episode and ends with your listener experiencing it on their listening apps.

These are some simple tips that you can follow in order to create a good quality audio for your podcast and it covers every one of the things involved in that journey.

Proper Microphone Technique

A good microphone is not enough. You also need to know how to use it.

From positioning to using the right pop filters to audio levels – optimizing your mic approach is extremely important. Here are a few things you might want to keep in mind –

  1. Place your microphone at an optimum distance.
  2. Be comfortable with the position – both the seating position and the microphone position.
  3. Learn the right way of using the microphone depending upon the kind of mic you have – dynamic or, condenser.
  4. Practice enough so that you are consistent on distance and volume and know what is the optimum in both
  5. Use the right gear – a boom arm or, a good desktop stand to prevent shakes
  6. Definitely use a pop filter. It is non-compromisable

Record it Right

It is not possible for every one of us to get access to a recording studio like that of Joe Rogan. It is also not an affordable solution for somebody who is starting out with their podcast.

But the truth is that you necessarily do not need to have a studio to get studio quality audio.

You can follow some very basic recording practices to improve podcast audio quality and get excellent quality audio from recording in your bedroom or, living room.

Here are a few tips for improving podcast audio quality –

  1. Choose a quiet space – All of our houses will have a quiet space or, corner in them. Find that space and set it up for recording your show
  2. Pick a quieter time of the day – Recording during the quietest part of the day is a recommended option. When we started off with our podcast, we used to wait until 12 midnight to record our episodes. The dogs barking at nights used to still create a problem. But we managed with it and then edited it out in our edits.
  3. Set levels correctly – Setting your audio levels correctly is extremely important. Check for your microphone for the settings. You might also want to do it on your audio recording software.
  4. Do sound checks and test recordings – Before you start recording, ensure that you are doing sound checks and some test recordings. Remember that it is not a one time exercise. You need to do it every time you plan on recording an episode. Things do change.

Remember, Good input means good output. And it is always better to record it right at the first place instead of spending hours editing your audio.

Silent Space

Finding a silent space in your house can be challenging. But the truth is that there are silent corners in every one of our houses. You just need to find them.

They might not be sound proof though.

So you will have to do some tweaks to get the required recording condition.

You might want to treat your walls to soundproof your recording area. You can find very cheap and economical solutions on Amazon like foam boards etc.

Work on the space available and make it as noise free as possible.

Remember that background noise is distraction. So get rid of it.

Good Microphone

If you are wondering how to make your podcast sound better, then start with your microphone.

A good microphone is the absolute basic that you should start your podcasting journey with. You don’t need expensive microphones. You only need a good microphone.

Hence invest in a quality microphone that complements your voice.

I recommend going with a dynamic microphone because it captures less background noise and delivers good audio.

If you are looking for a good microphone I would recommend the Samson Q2U. I use it and would recommend it because it is the best microphone without burning a hole in your pocket.

Remember – The right mic delivers crisp, professional results.

Let your Guest Speak

If you are running an interview podcast, then there are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

  1. Don’t interrupt or talk over your guests. Let them speak and finish their thoughts fully.
  2. Keep the conversation balanced. Remember that your guest is the expert. So let them talk more. But at the same time share your thoughts and perspective as well.
  3. Use verbal nods minimally. It should not come as annoying for the listeners.

Interviewing is a technique that you should learn. At the same time interviewing etiquettes are also something that is important and that you should learn.

And if you are planning on recording interviews for your show, please refrain from using Zoom just because it is FREE.

Instead use a good quality remote recording service like Zencastr to get the best audio quality for your interviews. Use my special link here to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan. 

Minimize Verbal Tics

One of the things that a lot of beginner podcasters spend a lot of time editing is filler words.

All of us have a tendency to use filler words. While some of it is okay, excessive usage of filler words can ruin the listening experience.

Try to limit filler words like “um”, “like”, “you know” etc. as much as possible.

It will come with practice and can take time. But put in the effort to work on it.

Reducing the usage of filler words can improve the flow of the conversation.

Use Music Thoughtfully

Most beginners have a tendency of using a lot of music in their intros and outros.

While using music is good and can help with branding your show, too much and mindless usages can go against the listening experience.

Add intros/transitions. But don’t distract from content itself.

I would recommend using the same music as much as possible in order to stay consistent with your brand.

Remember – Your music should enhance the listening experience and not overwhelm it.

Avoid Dead Air

A lot of times we tend to have a lot of dead air when recording our episodes. This usually happens if you are recording without a script or, if you are unsure about the next sentence that you need to speak.

These dead air can be pretty annoying.

Keep your conversation flowing naturally. Try to avoid the dead air as much as possible.

But if you see some dead air, tighten the gaps in editing. Remove long pauses.

Pleasant Tone

Talking in a pleasant tone can soothe your listeners and give them an enjoyable experience.

Don’t shout into your microphone. At the same time, don’t appear too soft as well.

A conversational, warm tone makes listeners comfortable and engaged.

And if you are able to use the right intonation and voice modulation, then the listening experience become all the more enjoyable.

Editing the Audio

Finally, edit well and right to improve audio quality.

You might want to spend some time to edit your episodes the right way in order to make it pleasant for your listeners.

You can clean up some of the filler words (if you have used a lot of them) and the long breaths and pauses.

Normalize the audio levels and match the loudness across segments.

Don’t forget to add some base and treble to your audio in order to make it punchy.

Quality post work is key.

Conclusion – How to Make Your Podcast Sound Better!

Those are 11 tips to make your podcast easy, smooth and enjoyable to listen to. Follow these to give your audience a pleasant podcast listening experience.

Remember – Treat your listeners well and they’ll reward you with their attention.

If you got value from this episode, please leave a quick review – it truly helps!

I appreciate you joining. I’m Dilip – thanks for listening and see you next time!

Show Notes:

Here’s what we discussed in the episode on how to make your podcast sound better –

  1. The importance of giving your audience a good podcast listening experience
  2. 11 simple tips for improving podcast audio quality
  3. What is the best way of embedding a podcast episode

This episode is sponsored by Zencastr. Use my special link here to save 30% off your first month of any Zencastr paid plan. 

Thank You for Joining

Thank you all for joining me on the show today.

If you enjoyed this episode then I am sure you will love some of the previous episodes as well. Pick your favorite ones and give them a listen.

The podcasting university is available on all podcasting platforms. You can pick your favorite one to listen to the show there. The links to some of the prominent ones are mentioned below.

CASTBOX: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/castbox
STITCHER: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/stitcher
TUNEIN: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/tunein
GOOGLE PODCASTS: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/googlepodcasts
APPLE PODCASTS: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/itunes
PLAYER.FM: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/playerfm
SPOTIFY: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/spotify
HUBHOPPER: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/hubhopper
AMAZON PRIME: https://thepodcastinguniversity.com/prime

Recommended Resources for Podcasting

Here are some of the recommended resources for Podcasting. These are the ones that I personally use and am satisfied with and hence am recommending them.

  • Acast Podcast hosting – Acast is my favorite podcast hosting company. They have excellent customer support, have a pocket-friendly plan, and even have a free option with no limits.
  • Behringer Audio Interface – You will need an audio interface if you are using an XLR microphone. This is my recommended audio interface.
  • Zencastr – Zencastr is the easiest option to record interviews, both audio-only and audio+video. This is a must for an interview podcast. Go to zencastr.com/pricing and use my code “thepodu” You’ll get 30 percent off your first three months of Zencastr professional.
  • Audacity – This is the best and the most feature-rich free audio editing software. It gives you a lot of options while editing your interviews.
  • Blue Yeti USB Microphone – My recommended microphone
  • Tidycal – My recommended calendar and booking solutions
  • Fusebox – Embeddable Podcast Player
  • Descript – Audio Editing, Transcription and Video editing software

AMAZON DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The Podcasting University is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

MICROPHONES –

  1. ATR-2100x
  2. MAONO AU-HD300T : https://geni.us/ro48q
  3. Maono AU-WDM01 : https://geni.us/PhZ3V2v
  4. Samson Q2U – https://geni.us/k9cuk
  5. Audio Technica AT 2035 – https://geni.us/g2URDI
  6. Rode NT USB – https://geni.us/O6b65K
  7. Shure MV7X – https://geni.us/w7rZ4

LAVELIER MICROPHONES

  1. Boya ByM1 Auxillary Lavelier Microphone – https://geni.us/boyabym1lav
  2. Boya ByM1 Pro Lavelier Microphones – https://geni.us/boyabym1prolav
  3. Digitek Wireless Microphone – https://geni.us/R3cGd
  4. Boya – BYXM6 Wireless Microphone – https://geni.us/OS6gq
  5. Vook Dual Channel Wireless Microphone – https://geni.us/V9YBO1i

PORTABLE RECORDERS –

  1. Zoom H5 Portable Recorder – https://geni.us/rVTAIAV
  2. Zoom H1N Portable Recorder – https://geni.us/dOaDg

AUDIO INTERFACE –

  1. Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 – https://geni.us/gBCjm
  2. M-Audio M-Track Solo – https://geni.us/RnhHr
  3. HAYDEN HY-229 – https://geni.us/c80KbWB

MIXERS –

  1. HAYDEN 4 Channels – https://geni.us/cXQ0
  2. Behringer Q502USB

MONITORING HEADPHONES –

  1. Oneodio Studio Pro-10 : https://geni.us/IQI88Se
  2. Maono AU-MH501 : https://geni.us/AbNrU
  3. Audio-Technica ATH-M20X : https://geni.us/eEUf9

POP-FILTER –

  1. JEYANG Metal Pop Filter – https://geni.us/JMfuY
  2. Wright WP 101 – https://geni.us/OcOAzj

DESK-STAND/BOOM ARM –

  1. MY-STANDS MC 18: https://geni.us/Lwnb
  2. Bulfyss Professional Recording Microphone Stand: https://geni.us/mV4S

If you are on Pinterest, do pin the below image there.

podcast listening experience
About the Author Dilip

Podcaster, Blogger and Affiliate Marketer, I love the internet for the many opportunities that it offers.
I started my first podcast way back in 2009. Till now I have released more than 600 episodes including my own podcasts and some episodes that I did for my clients.
I share all of those simple, practical and implementable podcasting tips in my show, "The Podcasting University".

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