Lawyers Who Podcast - Part II
Preparing to Record
Hi All,
Welcome back to part II of the Lawyers Who Podcast mini-series. As we discussed in episode 46, which is part I of this mini-series, we had no experience in podcasting when we decided to pursue our own podcast. We had to learn everything it took to start, launch, and continue to produce a weekly podcast. After a year of podcasting we have decided to share our podcasting start with you because podcasting can be an amazing tool for networking and marketing, especially for attorneys.
In part I we covered how to hone in on your niche, topic, and format. We also gave you some homework. If you are considering starting your own podcast, part I of the Lawyers Who Podcast mini-series is not to be missed. This week we are going to build from there. We will discuss choosing a name, the mechanics of getting started, buying your tech, and a life-saving time-saving hack that will make your entrance into podcasting so much easier.
Choosing a Name
There are many important points to consider when selecting your final name. It will represent your brand. It should give listeners an idea of what your podcast is about. But first you need to have an idea for a name.
Just like with the episode ideas, we recommend starting with a master list. Once you have started working on a list then you can start researching those names that you like. This is an important step. You need to know if someone else is already using that name and also what people will find when they search your name.
Do not forget to separately search podcast directories in addition to your general internet search. You certainly want to make sure that no one else has the same name for their podcast because when your audience goes to search for your show you want to make sure they find you and not someone else.
As you narrow down your name you also want to consider what the name tells your listeners about your podcast. Is your name a play on words? Does that make sense for your business and your brand? What does it say about the topic of your podcast? The selection of a name, while strategic, is also very personal.
Mechanics of Recording
How will you record your podcast? If you have a solo show then this one is fairly simple. You’ll need a good quality microphone and you will need to have a program on your computer to record your audio. If you have a solo show, we would personally recommend Audacity for both Mac and PC as your recording platform. You can then edit in that same program.
Since we record our episodes together, we record in a very user friendly program called Zencaster. Zencaster is a streaming audio recording service that allows you to record audio and video to be uploaded and edited. We don’t record video for this podcast, but when we record an episode we do select the option to see the video because we like to be able to see each other while we are recording. Recording with guests is also so simple through Zencaster. There are many different services that you can use to record your podcast, but we have used Zencaster for the last year and have had a great experience with them. Here’s the best part - you can get unlimited audio recording for free.
After we are done recording we upload the audio to Audacity to do the editing in that program. Once the episode is complete, we then run the audio track through Auphonic to process the audio, which basically cleans it up and improves the sound quality. With Auphonic, you get two free hours of audio processing per month.
Equipment
One thing that you will have to spend a bit of money on it is your equipment. It is worth a little bit of an investment to get a microphone that is a better quality than what you will find built into the headphones you use for phone calls.
Click here for our favorite podcasting equipment.
Podcasting Hack
As you are learning the steps you need to produce and edit your podcast - WRITE IT DOWN. It sounds so basic, but there are a lot of steps. Haley did not take any notes when she was originally learning, and after finalizing the trailer, she had to go back and relearn everything in order to do the first full episode.
A podcast can allow you to expand your reach and serve your audience like never before. Starting a podcast is not easy, but it is absolutely attainable. Make sure you subscribe to our podcast and our RSS feed so you will be notified as soon as part III of Lawyers Who Podcast is released!
Have a great day!
Haley & Amy
Photo by Austin Distel on Unsplash
We make absolutely no guarantee, expressed or implied, that by following the advice you will make any money or improve current profit, as there are several factors and variables that come into play regarding any given business or career. Primarily, results will depend on the business model, the conditions of the marketplace, the experience of the individual, and situations and elements that are beyond your control. As with any business endeavor, you assume all risk related to investment and money based on your own discretion and at your own potential expense.
Nothing contained within this podcast is intended or should be construed to be legal advice and does not create any attorney client relationship. No material on this site, social media, or in the podcast is intended to be a substitute for professional medical and/or mental health advise, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advise your physician or other qualified provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
