Many moons ago in a small island nation far far away, I had the \u201cquestionable\u201d distinction of hosting a nightly three hour evening radio talk show. I thought I was doing a good job at it until one caller stopped me dead in my tracks by commenting: \u201cyou may be the most intelligent and insightful radio host in the country, but you sound like a canary on meth.\u201d Not only was that the night I decided to get out of the radio business, but it also pointed out a very critical aspect that applies to all podcasters. To evoke Herbert Marshall McLuhan the medium is the message, and your podcasting message is going to be interpreted by your audience as a reflection of how you deliver it!<\/p>\n
Whether your podcast is video-based or audio only, you need to pay very close attention to how your delivery is coming across to your audience:<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a lot more to the proper delivery on your podcast than even the way you speak or the clothes you\u2019re wearing. Are you displaying some form of unconscious habit or tick that is distracting your audience from the content you\u2019re presenting? Are you one of those incurable ummers who speaks umm like this umm until your umm audience umm switches umm off in umm disgust? A great exercise is to deliver a few paragraphs of your podcast in front of someone who will hit a bell every time you say umm. You may be amazed that you\u2019ll hear 20 or more bells per paragraph!<\/p>\n
Video is even more unforgiving than audio as you\u2019d be amazed how many video podcast hosts exhibit nasty habits on screen. Some will pick their ears, eyes, noses, or even scratch themselves (sometimes in unmentionable areas) while conducting their podcasts. I once saw a podcast host stick his hand inside his t-shirt, scratch his armpit\u2026 then smell his fingers! Eeeeewwwwww!<\/p>\n
Yes, it may be \u201cjust\u201d a podcast so no one is expecting you to adopt the delivery of a major television network news anchor, but you should strive to portray professionalism and propriety!<\/p>\n