B2B Podcast Guest Checklist
So you’ve made it this far and you’re gearing up to be a guest on a podcast. Whether you’ve been a guest on multiple podcasts in the past or it’s your first time, this post will be a great refresher on how to record high-quality audio and ensure your episode is as close to studio quality as possible!
Why is podcasting important to B2B Businesses?
Today podcast adoption is growing at an exponential rate, with podcasts covering just about every topic and need. According to the SVP of Edison Research, Tom Webster, podcasts are now reaching over 100 million Americans each month. So with the recent and growing popularity of podcasting, it’s no surprise companies are launching their own. The benefits are clear, podcasts are a great way to produce content and engage with your user base/prospective clients.
So, how do you go about being interviewed remotely for a B2B podcast?
With all of the audio recording tools available to us today, we often get asked what the best way to record high-quality audio from home is, after all, while audio editing is available, you will still want to record high-quality audio to ensure the best end result.
Podcast marketing opportunities don’t stop with just one interview, however. Since each podcast is archived, a wider audience will have access to them over time, bringing your voice and content to many more than you realize. This is why you need to provide the best quality recording possible.
If you’re being interviewed as a professional expert and have access to your company or organization’s Audio/Visual Department, enlist their help. In many instances, they will have the highest quality audio equipment and can help you record your interview. Another option is to ask them to loan you the necessary equipment for your interview at home.
If professional help isn’t available, there’s no need to panic. There are practical steps you can take on your own to ensure you provide the highest quality recording possible.
How to Record a B2B Podcast Interview
To record a B2B podcast interview and ensure the highest quality audio, please carefully read through this entire checklist.
1. Limit Excess Background Noises and Distractions
The fewer background noises and distractions you have, the better. To accomplish this, try any or all of the following:
- Choose Recording Location Wisely
Be sure to scope out a recording location that provides the most privacy and quiet. Naturally, you won’t want to position yourself next to running water or a running appliance such as a refrigerator or fan.
- Schedule During Quietest Time
Determine the quietest time of day to record your guest spot, in whatever location you have available. For example, if construction is going on in or near your location, avoid recording during the hours they are working. Instead, settle in for a late afternoon recording session when things have calmed down outside.
- Create Privacy
Close all doors and windows so outside noises won’t drift in. Also, avoid interruptions by making sure people around you know that you mustn’t be disturbed.
- Consider Your Setting
If you want to sit in your favorite office chair while recording, be sure it doesn’t squeak, especially if you are prone to shifting your position every so often. Also, position the chair far enough away from other furniture to avoid bumping into something.
- Wear Headphones
If possible, wear headphones. This will help reduce sounds made by others on the podcast from bleeding into your recording. Keep the volume on your headphones to a minimum to avoid your microphone picking up the hosts voice.
- Position Microphone
Position your microphone in a way that will provide the least need for adjusting it during the interview. You will want to avoid touching the microphone, banging into it accidentally, or having it fall or scrape another object.
- Eliminate Sounds from Other Devices
We are continually surrounded by our cell phones and computers, all of which make their own sounds such as beeping or even speaking these days. Sounds such as these can disrupt your thoughts during the interview and cause you to repeat yourself. If included in the recording, they may degrade the quality of the interview overall. Another potential outcome may be the removal of an entire section interrupted by such sounds, which can include an important talking piece you hoped would be included in the episode.
2. Enhance the Sound of Your Voice
Enhancing or optimizing the sound of your voice is an important aspect of a professional recording. Ways to do this include:
- Use a Headset Microphone
Depending on whether you plan to do just a few guest spots on a podcast, or you want to become more of a professional at it, microphone choice is of utmost importance. A headset microphone is a good choice. This can be either a professional headset or a less expensive option such as a smartphone headset with a cable microphone. Both of these options are superior to your laptop’s microphone, for a variety of reasons, including:
-Consistency of Distance: Consistent audio quality throughout the interview is imperative. To accomplish this, it is best to keep a consistent distance between the microphone and your mouth. Often you may need to change positions in your chair, and with a headset, you can avoid changes in sound quality when you do so. One speaking trick used by professionals is not to move the mouth away from the microphone at all.
-Optimal Distance: When recording, the issue of “signal to noise ratio” is an essential element. In essence, you need the sound of your voice to be significantly louder than any other noise in your surroundings, even potential echoes that may occur. You also don’t want your voice to be overly loud. Use a decent headset that maintains an optimal distance to the mouth. Avoid placing the microphone far away from you, as this will worsen the recording results.
- Avoid the Echo Effect
Often, larger rooms present a stronger possibility of producing distracting echoes. For this reason, choose a smaller room, preferably with carpet and with covered walls. Closet-size locations are often used by podcasters for this very reason.
- Do a Voice Warm-Up
You know how your voice sounds first thing in the morning, or after being quiet for a long period of time. It may crack or may even sound an octave lower or higher than your normal voice. For this reason, be sure to warm up your voice before the interview begins. Try singing a tune, reading something out loud, or try any other type of voice exercise to get ready.
- Treat Dryness
You will want to project a strong voice, so be sure to avoid dryness in your mouth and throat. Drink plenty of water.
3. Increase Quality Via Local Recording
Recording your voice locally, instead of over the internet, can increase the sound quality expeditiously. Today this is easier than ever to accomplish. While online software and smartphone apps are available these days, here at NonZero Media we use ZenCaster to record your portion of the audio locally on your computer.
Your B2B podcast host will send you a link to Zencastr, which works right in your browser. This allows your audio to be recorded on your end and then streamed automatically to the host’s Dropbox account. This is an improvement to the junky audio of the past and provides crystal-clear audio that sounds as if the interview occurred with both of you in the same room. Here is all you need to do:
- Plugin your headset or other type of microphone.
- Join the interview by clicking on the link from ZenCaster sent to you by your Podcast Host.
That’s it. After some pleasantries and answering any questions you might have, you will be ready for production and your B2B podcast host will begin the recording from their end. Your voice and responses will be captured in a local file then sent to the host for review and any necessary editing. This way, you can focus on presenting rather than on the technical concerns.
