Expert Podcasting Practices For Dummies®

Chapter 5. Stick to the Script!

In This Practice

• Putting together an intro and outro

• Verbal branding

• Structuring your content

• Writing material for your podcast

Formats. Scripts. Formulas. It's enough to make many podcasters dash for the torches and pitchforks, ready to shout, “Death to the confines of traditional media!” as they storm the castle. Relax, enraged mob; we're not suggesting that you fall prey to the tyranny of the radio‐show‐format clock, the vile 3:05‐minute broadcast‐friendly song, or the servitude of sticking 15 minutes of commercials in with 45 minutes of content.

Forget all the negative things you've heard about formatting from your anarchistic podcasting buddies. Contrary to popular belief, having a format is a Good Thing. And (surprising as it may sound) some of the most loose‐sounding podcasts are planned to sound that way. For this practice, we show you how to apply solid formatting applications to your podcast (with the finesse to make them transparent) so you can stop worrying about the clock and stay focused on your topic at hand.

Of Intros and Outros

All good podcasts have a beginning and an end. This helps everyone know when the show is starting and when it's over. Seem a bit basic? Listen to a few new shows, and you'll see that it's far from obvious. In fact, several show hosts themselves don't seem to know when a show is starting and stopping. Imagine what that must be like for the listener!

The following sections give you some tips for creating smooth transitions ...