Stop Using Zoom to Record Your Podcast

11/07/23 • 7 min

2 Listeners

Streamlined Podcaster: Tips to Help Solopreneurs Improve Their Podcast Systems

In an episode of the now-retired show Podcast Pontifications, Evo Terra drops a truth bomb for all the “record to tape” or “record and release” podcasters:

But if you look at the larger universe of podcasting, which is now millions of podcasts strong, you’ll see that podcast listeners are voting for the kinds of shows that take more time and care than can be put into a linear record and release style of podcast.

He was talking about people who record a show and then release it as is (known as record and release, or record to tape). But from that ailment comes another symptom: people using Zoom to record.

You need to stop using Zoom.

Similar to Evo’s point above, listeners today more than ever expect quality. They want you to sound like you’re in the room with your guest.

And that’s easier than ever with great tools like Riverside.fm, which records everyone’s audio locally, and separately. No weird robot video from bad internet connections here.

This is important because bad audio can erode trust, which could stifle your podcast’s growth, and your ability to establish expertise.

One of the reasons I feel my show grew quickly is because I’ve added a commitment to the best possible audio quality from the very beginning.

If you’re not sure where to start, I strongly recommend Riverside.fm. It’s affordable, well-made, and the most reliable of the tools I’ve used.

Want to start 2025 off on the right foot? What if you had an expert ready to give you the exact steps you need to take to get unstuck — in your podcast, your business, and your process? You can with the Unstuck Sessions. Get the most valuable part of my coaching at an incredibly affordable price. Get Unstuck Today.

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In an episode of the now-retired show Podcast Pontifications, Evo Terra drops a truth bomb for all the “record to tape” or “record and release” podcasters:

He was talking about people who record a show and then release it as is (known as record and release, or record to tape). But from that ailment comes another symptom: people using Zoom to record.

You need to stop using Zoom.

Similar to Evo’s point above, listeners today more than ever expect quality. They want you to sound like you’re in the room with your guest.

And that’s easier than ever with great tools like Riverside.fm, which records everyone’s audio locally, and separately. No weird robot video from bad internet connections here.

This is important because bad audio can erode trust, which could stifle your podcast’s growth, and your ability to establish expertise.

One of the reasons I feel my show grew quickly is because I’ve added a commitment to the best possible audio quality from the very beginning.

If you’re not sure where to start, I strongly recommend Riverside.fm. It’s affordable, well-made, and the most reliable of the tools I’ve used.

★ Support this podcast ★

Previous Episode

The Perfect Way to Describe Your Podcast (and get more listeners)

1 Recommendations

Does anyone know you so well, they can describe you in a single sentence?

When I was at Craft + Commerce, Mike Pacchione gave some great advice for when you tell stories:

When describing someone, use a single sentence that instantly tells the listener who they are. Here’s an example:

My dad always told people, “Joe would argue with Jesus Christ if he came off the cross.”

You probably think I’m...opinionated, to put it nicely.

You should do the same thing with your podcast, and episodes.

What would that look like?

If I’m describing my show How I Built It , I might say, “You get free coaching sessions from the best creators.”

I can then extend that out to specific episodes. “You get one coaching session from Mike on Public Speaking,” for example.

For this show, I can say, "Bite-sized tips to help you improve your podcast process."

As you figure out the best one-liner for your podcast, keep your show’s mission in mind.

The one-liner can be based on the mission, or even define it.

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Next Episode

Everything That Goes Into Making a Daily Podcast

There’s a myth that if you do something for 21 days, it becomes a habit. I say it’s a myth because it’s been debunked. Several times.

The truth is, no matter how long a habit takes you to form, the more complicated it is, the more easily broken it is.

So producing a podcast is likely not a habit you’re forming. It’s work you’re doing, as efficiently as possible, without sacrificing content. But listening to a podcast, that can be a habit.

It’s why I often tell my clients and students that you don’t need a weekly show, but a monthly show can be a tough sell if you want to be part of someone’s routine.

So as I work on the next deep dive, I thought I’d share what I’ve learned about how to produce a daily podcast, and where I can improve.

👉 IN THIS EPISODE