Tricks Of The Podcasting Masters

OK, so I’ve got my microphone and I know how to record MP3 files. I have a Blog set up and an RSS feed so that people can either log on and listen or download the content to listen offline. All I need now are some subscribers to my podcast. Which is where Tricks Of The Podcasting Masters comes into the picture.

This isn’t a ‘to do’ book for complete podcasting novices. If you haven’t yet figured out the hardware and software required to record, edit, upload and distribute your audio files, you would be better off with Podcast Solutions – a book which we reviewed previously. However, if you’ve got past the initial stages and now want to find out how to make your podcast stand out from the crowd, Tricks Of The Podcasting Masters could be just what you need.

In around 360 pages it takes you through the details of making a podcast sound more professional (scripting, interviewing techniques, editing, music and so on), then it moves onto marketing and promotion (everything from finding listeners to generating revenue) and it wraps everything up with some useful tips on recording techniques (how to use that darn’ mike) and the ins and outs of the ‘creative commons’ licence.

The real strength of this book is its concentration on making your podcast interesting to your (potential) listeners. This may sound like an obvious requirement but, if you’ve listened to any number of podcasts, you’ll know that it is a requirement which is rather rarely fulfilled. The trouble is that most podcasters have no prior experience of presenting a show and the arts of writing, pacing, editing and all the other skills that go into making good radio are unknown to them.

The authors of this book tackle all these subjects in depth. I particularly like the mini-interviews they give with a range of experienced and successful podcasters. Everyone from serious political broadcasters (Senator John Edwards even writes the foreword to the book) to ‘comedy casters’ and indie music obsessives.

In brief, if you’ve started podcasting but don’t know what to do next or how to make your podcasts better, get this book!