There are some controversial issues in the field of podcasting.
- Beliefs about what is right or wrong
- Practices considered best or worst
- Methods that should be shunned
When you ask almost any question about podcasts and podcasting, you’ll receive dozens of differing replies.
But the very best reply is Rule 8 in podcasting.
“It depends” is the answer to your question
The absolute, definitive answer is: It depends.
If you’re groaning at this so-called “rule” in podcasting, don’t run away.
“It depends” might not sound like any kind of answer at all, but when it comes to podcasting, it truly is the best reply.
Here is why.
Your podcast. Your choice.
And that makes questions about what to say and how to say it almost impossible to answer.
Since it’s your podcast, you can talk about anything you want. You can also present that anyway you want.
- There is NO content definition of a podcast.
- There is NO quality definition of a podcast.
Yes, there are technical standards that must be met for a piece of audio to be considered a podcast, but there is no content or quality standard. Any audio that fulfills the technical definition of a podcast IS a podcast.
You can talk about anything.
You can use built-in mics on your laptop or a record in a professional studio.
Example question
Should you edit your podcast?
Well, it depends.
- What are your goals?
- Do you even want to edit?
Do you care about occasionally mispronouncing words?
Do you care if you talk off topic, chase rabbits, and take too long to get to your point?
If you don’t care, then don’t edit.
If you do care, then do edit.
[ Well, there are two kinds of editing that you actually do need to do–leveling and overall loudness. Those are covered in Rule 5 in podcasting. Now back to my point. ]
Communication
If I can take that question about editing further, it’ll provide a great illustration that may apply to other questions you have.
Should you edit?
It depends on how you want to communicate with the people who listen to you.
I want to say it depends on your audience, but you might not have an audience yet. In that case, you need to decide who you would like to have as an audience and what style of editing or no editing that potential audience would appreciate.
Podcasting is about communicating something to someone.
If you want to have people listen, then you need to consider them and consider what they would like listening to.
Ability and availability
Also consider your ability to do things and available time to do them.
If it’s about editing, ask yourself how well you edit?
Do you really have time to edit?
Do you have money to pay someone else to edit?
Should you?
“It depends” is the only answer to the question of whether you should edit your podcast and almost any other podcasting question you can think of.
It depends on you, your goals, your intentions, your hopes, and your listeners.
When you ask your question in a Facebook group, people will tell you what they think. But most of that advice is based on their own personal experiences, goals, and what they think THEIR listeners want.
That’s why Rule 8 in podcasting is “it depends” is the answer to your question
It’s not that you shouldn’t listen to others.
Ask them for their insight and advice based on their experiences.
But after hearing from all those other people, you have to decide what works for you in your particular situation.
My Rules for Podcasting
Rule 1: Your podcast. Your choice.
Rule 2: Your choice. Your consequences.
Rule 3: Start with what you know. Learn as you go.
Rule 4: Start with what you have. Upgrade as you go.
Rule 5: Your podcast needs editing.
Rule 6: Technique is more important than technology.
Rule 7: Presentation is just as important as content.
Rule 8: “It depends” is the answer to your question.
Rule 9: Don’t talk about the weather!
