Behind the scenes - 5 steps to a professional podcast
With the right preparation, a manufacturing sector podcast can be a great addition to your content strategy. Around 464 million people globally listen to podcasts, with 40 million of these tuning in between 2022 to 2023 alone, so there’s a good chance that the audience you want to reach is ready to be engaged!
At EMG, we know that professional approach and relevant topics are the groundwork for elevating your podcast to stand out above the competition. Here are some of the tips we give our industrial clients to help them prepare and maximise their investment:
- Bring passion and expertise on your area of expertise to the conversation, but make sure that you can add to your target audience’s knowledge by shedding light on news, challenges, opportunities or trends that actually matter them.
- Decide on the tone, form and segments with your guest(s) in advance. Informative podcasts can range from broad industry analysis to technical advice on specific issues, but there are a few basics that apply regardless of the direction:
a. Agree on who is handling what. Avoid awkward moments by making sure the host and guests know which parts of the script and conversation they need to take care of and at what point in the programme.
b. Questions: Focus on four to five main questions, with seven to eight secondary questions in-between to steer the conversation. This may vary from episode to episode but always outline the scope and main messages beforehand so everyone knows what is to be shared. Prepare and memorise a list of “go-to” phrases and topics in case the conversation thread gets lost.
c. As podcasts are a dialogue format, use “I/We”, decide on the tone – formal and friendly, technical, polite or relaxed and give the speakers room to show that they are an expert on the topic, they understand the issue at hand and that they are active in the field.
3. Personal preparation is vital!
a. Practice answering the questions days before the recording to identify strong points, weaknesses, complex parts and also potentially conflicting or sensitive topics. If these come up, we advise using general statements, such as a possible course of action and past industry experiences, and focusing on the positive with encouraging comments without pinpointing negative events on specific parties.
b. Get plenty of sleep the night before. Quality of sleep directly impacts the pitch of the voice.
c. 20-30 minutes before the recording, warm up your voice and jaw. Humming from low pitch to high pitch is great for the voice. Put your finger on the tip of your nose; if it starts vibrating, you’re doing it right! Tongue twisters or speaking clearly in full syllables are great jaw relaxers.
4. The “Technical Stuff” matters.
a. Use good microphones with clear sound and efficient volume – if possible, with a guard/pop filter for optimal recording quality. Sit 15-30 centimetres away from the microphone to most effectively capture a speaker’s natural tone.
b. Make sure the recording room is quiet without ambient sound, visual distractions, or open windows. Check for potential squeaks/noises when repositioning in a chair, placing arms on the table, etc.
c. Check that the internet connection is stable, have a glass of water within arm’s reach, and switch off all phones.
5. Listeners are gripped more by genuine conversation than impeccable speech. Talk as if you’re addressing the host/guest and the audience, and remember that mistakes happen. It’s always possible to stop and re-record. Most importantly, smile! You might not be on camera, but it works wonders for uplifting the room’s mood, your confidence and adds warmth to your voice.
With our expertise in B2B PR and integrated marketing communications, we help clients to establish clear podcast goals and to identify engaging manufacturing and technical topics to connect with and inform their most relevant audiences.
