• Add a short clip of music or a jingle which indicate a start and an end to the podcast.

• Use the fade in and fadeout options if available.

• If more than one person in the podcast, use some Q&A to stimulate a natural conversation.

• Make the podcast no longer than 10-15 minutes as learners can "switch off" - though this may depend on the subject content and the voice of the speaker.

• Have an introduction so that the learner knows what the podcast is about.

• When making a podcast, if given the option to enter extra information about the file such as artist and title etc, do so, as this will help when searching for files on the MP3 player - most players can display this information.

• Use either a headset which has a microphone attached, or if you do not have one, use a normal microphone but do not have it on the same table, so that it does not pick up movement or vibration.

• Keep the microphone as far away from electrical equipment as possible, to avoid picking up buzzing noises.

• Try to record your podcast in a quiet room away from external noise.

• Don't worry if you make mistakes when recording, you can always edit it later.

• If you make mistakes, leave a few seconds of silence, this will make it easier to edit.

 

Have a look at Kirk's Eight Rules of Effective Podcasting