February 13, 2018 marks the celebration of World Radio Day under the theme: "The power of radio and sports."
The common use of the internet has become a defining trait of our lives and podcasts are proving to be a more sensible alternative for consuming information. Listeners can download the audio files and listen at their convenience, on condition that they have internet connection and a smart phone or a computer.
Podcasts allow listeners to access various topics of interest while driving, jogging or even when exercising.
According to Edison Research, podcasting continues to be a growth medium: 40% of Americans aged 12 years and older say they have ever listened to a podcast while 24% say they have listened to one in the past month (http://www.edisonresearch.com/infinite-dial-2017/). South Africa is more likely to follow suit.
We spoke to Eldos FM (South Africa) station manager Lorreal De Lange about what constitutes a good podcast. Here are her tips:
Have catchy and concise headlines - A headline should attract your desired audience within seconds. Use numbers and emotive descriptions to give a brief idea of what your podcast is about.
Have a specific focus - Try not to talk about a lot of things. Rather decide on a specific focus and break it down with verified information.
Define the topic and paint a context for the listener - Define your topic by having a short introduction with background and a summary of your points of discussion.
Use different voices - Having different viewpoints eliminates biases. It also broadens your discussion by offering an assortment of perspectives and facts.
Mind your sound quality - In addition to using good equipment, also be cognisant of background noise and try to have good themed music for your audience.
Be knowledgeable and interesting - Conduct research on the topic. You don’t want to sound like you are speaking from the top of your head. Being knowledgeable of the subject will establish you as a reliable source of information. Also keep your audience listening by sounding interested in the topic.
Open feedback channels - Keep the conversation going by allowing your listeners to engage. WhatsApp voice notes, tweets, email and Facebook engagement are good platforms for feedback.
Be consistent - Have a schedule of how often and when you will be uploading your podcasts and stick to it. Regular uploads will score you regular listeners.