Three Easy Steps to Add Podcasts to Your Blog

By Jim Kukral | Published: June 28, 2010

Too often new, and seasoned, bloggers focus on only one type of content: blog posts. Blog posts are great, and if written well enough, with great keyword rich headlines, you can generate positive search engine rankings and traffic.

However, straight text is not the only type of content you need to create. While there are a number of alternative formats, you should definitely consider podcasting as readers can build more of an emotional connection when they hear your voice and it increases the ways they can can connect with you (some people prefer listening instead of reading).

As Bernie Borges mentioned in a recent post, using the interview format is a great way to get started. This posts takes you through how to actually record and get podcasts on your blog.

Easily record your podcast

Too many bloggers don’t even attempt to create podcasts because they think it’s too hard to do. Actually, it’s very easy.

Did you ever use Skype? It’s a free online communication tool that allows you chat with others around the world through your computer. Once you download Skype, you can use some very inexpensive software that will record your conversations and turn them into audio MP3 files. Do a search for “Pamela Skype” and “Ecamm Call Recorder” and you’ll find two very simple applications that allow you to do that.

Edit and upload your podcast to your blog

Once you record your podcast, you make need to make some edits before uploading the file to your blog. I recommend a free audio editing program called Audacity. Download this program for free and use it to add/edit your podcast before uploading.

Set up your podcast to play in your blog

Next you need to get your podcast on your blog. If you’re using WordPress, there are several free plugins you can use to let your podcast play in a blog post. Powerpress is a popular choice, but many more exist. Do a search in the WordPress support site for more.

Check out this example of a great podcast

JB Glossinger runs a business called MorningCoach.com. To help promote his business, he creates a daily podcast that runs about 15-minutes long where he gives out free motivational and inspirational advice and tips. The “CoachCast” is ranked as one of the highest subscribed shows on iTunes and has over 12,000 people a day listening to it, and growing.

Why can’t you spend 15-minutes a day creating a simple podcast that you can give away that helps you draw in sales and leads and publicity for your business or brand? It’s as simple as figuring it out and making it happen. Go out there and get it done!

Do you know of any other bloggers who have a great podcast? Share it with us in the comments!

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Author: Jim Kukral

For over 15-years, Jim Kukral has helped small businesses and large companies like Fedex, Sherwin Williams, Ernst & Young and Progressive Auto Insurance understand how find success on the Web. Jim is the author of the book, "Attention! This Book Will Make You Money", as well as a professional speaker, blogger and Web business consultant. Find out more by visiting JimKukral.com. You can also follow me on Twitter @JimKukral.

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  • http://blog.junta42.com Joe Pulizzi

    Great tips Jim and thanks for the post. In talking with marketers, they all too often disregard podcasts as something their customers would not be interested in. What would you say to that? Should they be testing first?

  • http://twitter.com/magalogguy Mike Klassen

    I won't tag my own podcast as “great” yet, but I'm happy with my start. I have a radio background, so it kind of felt like a natural to add a podcast.

    For the most part, I'm simply re-using my blog content on the podcast. No reason to let that “intellectual capital” go to waste.

    I'm also slowing going to incorporate interviews.

    If anyone is interested, the iTunes link is:

    http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-magalog-guy…

    What led me down this road was the realization that:

    1. Podcasting is free.
    2. iTunes has millions of eyeballs on it and you never know when a search might expose you to someone you wouldn't have otherwise reached.
    3. As I mentioned, no reason not to reuse content I've already created.

    The bottom line for me is that it's fun. I think you're going to have more success and be more committed to those marketing activities you actually enjoy.

  • http://twitter.com/MarilynOliva MPowerPhilosophy

    Thank you for this great advice and most of all for the easy steps to follow!

  • http://twitter.com/JimKukral Jim Kukral

    I'm glad you found it helpful!

  • http://twitter.com/JimKukral Jim Kukral

    I love reusing content as well Mike. It's so easy to record your voice nowadays, with any computer. Heck, with your iPhone! I also like to take articles and not just do voice, but talk them back over a PowerPoint presentation and make a screencast video, very powerful!

  • http://twitter.com/JimKukral Jim Kukral

    Well, the thing is that there are so many people with iPods and iPhones and in general smart phones now that there is a lot of opportunity to let your audience listen instead of have to read. Many people like to download podcasts (audio and video) into their devices and listen to them on the subway, or on the treadmill.

    Sure, test first. It's so easy. Follow the steps above and make a few and make them available to your audience. See if they like it. Put it up on iTunes and see if you can build a following. The podcast I listed in the article from JB the MorningCoach is the number one rated podcast in his category, where at last count he gets 12,000 listens to it every day. What, you wouldn't like to have 12,000 potential customers listening to your message every day? Of course you would. :)

    Go try it!