The thing about listening to audiobooks is that you will reach a different audience. Those who prefer to get their information through their auditory sense. So consider creating a podcast to reach that audience.
To create a podcast you must first record your show. I used the Garageband software that came with my Apple computer. It is not that hard to learn and there are plenty of how-to videos available on Youtube to help you through the process.
The key to a podcast is having a topic that will attract your listeners. Once you have recorded your show, you will need to go back and brand it with an intro stinger as well as an outro. Make sure you delete all the dead spaces and the mistakes made on the podcast recording so that it sound as professional as possible. Consider interviewing guests or collaborate with other teachers and librarians to create the podcast.
Once your podcast is saved as an mp3, you will need to decide where to host your podcast. Ther are many podcast hosting sites available. Josep has tested out several and recommends some providers for ease of use, to use professionally or those that are free. With that information, I tested out three, and here are my thoughts.
BUZZSPROUT
Buzz sprout allowed me to easily upload my podcast. However, there is a time limit to their generosity. A user only receives 90 days of free publishing before your content gets deleted. I was also allowed to create a sound bite as a preview in order to attract more listeners. It was easy to share the link to my social media sites. The last useful tool I saw was that a podcaster could also track how well the podcast is doing by seeing how many clicks, likes, and playing time.
SOUNDCLOUD
Soundcloud’s upload load service is just as simple. During the upload, I easily added tags and edited the name of the podcast. I was able to add my artwork to brand my podcast. It was also easy to share my podcast on social media sites. Soundcloud also allows the user to follow other podcasts.
PODBEAN
Podbean made me sign up before using the service. Podbean felt like a social media sigh in the sense that it asked me what kinds of podcasts I wanted to follow with topics such as Education, Music, etc. As I clicked through, Podbean offered a webinar to learn their platform. A minor drawback for me was not being able to upload my artwork. Instead, Podbean attached my default picture to the podcast. However, it conveniently allows a content creator to configure the podcast for Apple or Google. This may be the greatest advantage of Podbean, it allows you to bring in your Podcast from another podcasting service provider with a simple link. The upgrade version allows a content creator to edit their homepage have unlimited uploads and bandwidth, even use your own domain.
The podcast provider that suited my needs as an amateur podcaster was Podbean. This may also work very well for the classroom or library. Consider podcasting book reviews, school announcements, book fair promos, or have students create their own podcast showcasing their 21st-century skills.
Have you tried podcasting yet? Let me know you how it’s working out for you?
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