How to Make Your Podcast More Accessible to All Audiences
Podcasts are an ever-popular form of media that seem to be everywhere these days. It's so easy to start a podcast that basically everyone has one - in fact, you probably know someone who does!
However, when you dive into a new industry (especially in media), it's always best to understand the difference between simply getting content out and publishing content the right way.
Whether you're a brand new podcaster or a seasoned veteran, it's critical to know and implement ways to create a show everyone can engage with - and if you're looking to get started, you're certainly in the right place!
Here are five easy ways to ensure your podcast is and remains accessible:
- Ensure your Media Player is Accessible
Outside of creating your own content, there's plenty you can do to ensure the resources and platforms you engage with are doing their best to provide accessible ways to engage. Ensure the players, apps, and websites where your podcast can be streamed make access easy for all users and, in turn, your listeners. - Create an Accessible Website
Making your website accessible is a great move no matter what industry you're in, but this is specifically true in podcasting. It's especially recommended if you provide all your accessible resources on your website, because without making the website itself available to all users you're essentially trapping those resources behind a barrier. For resources that takes so much time and energy to put together, you want to provide them to your audience without a hassle. - Transcribe Your Episodes
Transcribing your episodes can boost your podcast's accessibility overnight. Having written content allows everyone to engage with your show no matter how they happen to enjoy it. Transcripts also allow for a more accessible environment during the production and editing processes, which ensures that no one on your team is left out while putting your show together. - Provide Links to Resources
Creating resources to engage in accessibility standards is great, but always ensure these are linked prominently in your episode notes and on your website. Make your accessibility accessible! - Accessible Marketing
With all these new steps you've taken, you're now set to welcome a slew of new listeners who are excited to engage with your show. But how do they know where to find you? Taking it one step further, it's always a good idea to push your newly adopted accessibility standards over to the marketing aspect of your work. Are you providing alt text on your social media posts? Are you adding captions to any accompanying video content? Have you double-checked marketing campaigns to ensure they're being shown on accessible platforms? Make sure your efforts in accessibility transfer over to your marketing to let potential new listeners know you're ready for them and all their accessibility needs.
If you're ready to improve your podcast's accessibility, one of the best ways to do this is by creating transcripts.
The quickest and simplest way to do this is by using automated transcription software, which is available right now at Vocalmatic.