Why Should You Focus on Audio for Your Podcast?

One of the best parts about podcasts is the ability to listen to them while you’re doing something else. Maybe that’s going for a walk or working out. Cooking or cleaning. Commuting or working, if your task allows for it. The fact you can do any of these things while taking in fascinating and inspiring stories through your ear drums is what makes this medium of podcasting so special.

I’m all for video content, and there’s no question it’s the most engaging form of content. And there’s a lot of upside to recording your podcast on video. But when it comes to podcasting, the vast majority of your listeners are likely going to be listening only. Whether your podcast is audio-only or includes video, here’s how to keep your focus on the audio.

How do I optimize my podcast for audio?

Here’s how to keep your podcast audio-first, even if you’re using video:

• Maintain good mic technique
  • Follow the 4 Finger Rule as much as you can: keep your mouth ~4 fingers length away from your microphone, if you’re holding your hand and fingers up vertically (test this, as it does vary by mic). If you’re recording your podcast on video, this means positioning your mic close enough where you can speak at this distance without jumping off screen.
  • Speak a little to the side of the mic, or “past” the mic, as opposed to right down the center of the mic. This sounds a bit better.
• Wear headphones
  • Nobody wants to hear echo from their favorite podcast host when their guest is talking. And vice versa. Wearing headphones is your best defense for echo. Just make sure you don’t keep your ears super close to the mic as your guest is talking, as your mic could even pick up some of the sound through your headphones.
  • Most headphones work for podcasting. If you already have AirPods, they’re perfect.
• Avoid making visual references
  • If you start commenting on your guest’s shirt, or what you’re seeing in the background, or starting to draw something out on a whiteboard you’re referencing, you’ll immediately become irrelevant to those who are listening to your podcast. You might even piss them off. Avoid making references like this as much as you can. They’re not needed in your final podcast episode.
  • If you absolutely need to diagram something out, be over-the-top articulate so your listeners can clearly visualize what you’re doing and immediately understand it. On that note, don’t bother sketching out something complex.
• If you’re not doing anything with the podcast video, record with audio-only
  • You can record a podcast interview over Zoom with video off. This allows you to:
    • Avoid the distraction of video and eliminate visual references.
    • Likely be much more comfortable, along with your guest.
    • Use muuuuch less bandwidth, which improves the sound quality.
    • Wear whatever you want, look wherever you want, take as many ferocious notes as you’d like, and make goofy faces at your screen if you want.
  • You can still take behind-the-scenes interview pics (see below), or even record a few-minute teaser clip to help promote the episode on social media.

So, how do you keep your podcast focused on audio?

Audio is what makes podcasting unique, and it’s incredibly important to prioritize your podcast audio, even if you’re recording using video. To keep your podcast audio-first, remember to maintain proper mic technique, wear headphones, and avoid making visual references. And if you’re not planning to do anything with your podcast video, record as audio-only for a better experience and final product.

If you have any questions on podcasting or podcast production, you can always reach me at . If you enjoyed this post, or it made you say “Hmmmm,” you’ll also appreciate my blog post on “How Do You Record a Podcast Interview Using Zoom?” and any of the 100+ episodes of the Wild Business Growth Podcast. Thank you for your time. Pod on!