Embedded Files
Primary Research:
Primary Research:
I decided to conduct interviews for my primary research, interviewing six individuals from different demographics. I asked each participant four questions: "Do you listen to podcasts?", "How often do you listen to podcasts?", "What types of podcasts do you usually enjoy?", and "What do you value most in a podcast?".
The participants varied in age, ranging from 16 to 42 years old. I intentionally included a range of ages to obtain a broader perspective on my target demographic. I placed particular emphasis on participants aged 16 to 19, as I thought this might be my ideal audience, and I could relate to them due to my own age.
The younger participants seemed to prefer entertainment and comedy-based podcasts, while the older participants generally favoured more educational and guest-oriented content. All of those I interviewed reported that they frequently listened to podcasts, often in the background while completing other tasks or during their commutes, and they appreciated the comedic elements.
Participants, especially those aged 16 to 22, mentioned that they look for relatability, comfort, and good audio quality in podcasts. Conducting this research has inspired me to think about how I can apply these insights to develop my own podcast and incorporate them into my final project.
Secondary Research
Secondary Research
Editing and Recording methods
Editing and Recording methods
I decided it would be important to understand the different recording and editing methods, this way I could observe what types of styles and methods are being used in popular podcasts and media. I knew that if I researched the different styles I could see which style would best suit my podcast.
Content Creation Techniques
Content Creation Techniques
I know that the key to successful content lies in the techniques used to engage a specific yet broad audience. I knew that finding out what these different techniques would be helpful for me as it could inspire me to use them in my podcast. These were the different techniques I was able to find:
Narrative Construction- This technique is often used in television and film, it involves a compilation of different stories and experiences that can resonate with the audience watching. I think that this would be a good technique for my project as I am creating a podcast. Because podcasts are mainly reliant on dialogue, it would be important that the dialogue remains interesting and contains personal stories and narratives that keep the audience engaged.
Visual Storytelling- This technique uses imagery and visuals to evoke a feeling and tell a story, this is often used in different types of media. Visual storytelling would be more fitting for an animated video rather than a podcast because of this, I don't think that I will be using this technique much in my project. However, I do think that this would be important in a video that is more visually focused.
Audience segmentation- Audience segmentation refers to the process of dividing a larger audience into smaller segments based on their specific preferences, needs and characteristics. This is important in all types of content creation as it allows you to adapt your content to appeal to a broader audience. Common ways to segment an audience are gathering research based on the demographic, psychographic and behavioural factors of an audience and finding a way to integrate that into your content. I think this is necessary for creating a successful podcast and I will be gathering this information to ensure I can integrate it into my content, making it appeal to a broader audience.
Interactivity- Interactivity requires the content creator to interact with the audience. This could be as a poll, questionnaire or interactive story, any feature that allows the content creator to have some interaction with their audience is an example of interactivity. This allows the audience to give feedback and present new ideas and things they would want to see, which can also help build the target audience and cater to their preferences. This technique also helps the content creator seem more authentic, building trust between the viewer and the creator. I will be incorporating this, I could do this by creating polls and surveys, asking what people would like to see and what interests my audience may have.
Another important aspect of content creation is deciding what impact you would like the content to have on the consumer, often this falls into one of a few categories:
Information and Education- Information and education-based media often rely on providing the consumer with information on a specific subject, this can be on varied topics including news updates, world events or any specific topic. This genre aims to leave the viewer feeling inspired and motivated with a new attitude and understanding of the topic.
Entertainment- Media that focuses on entertaining an audience is commonly used as a form of escapism, this type of content must be engaging for the audience. This can be done through captivating dialogue or fun visuals. This type of content aims to leave the audience feeling good and distracted from stress or hardship.
Social Connections- Media in this genre, tends to depend on providing a community through shared experiences that foster a sense of relatability, evoking conversations where people feel safe to share their own stories and connect to others. This type of content targets to leave consumers feeling understood and seen in situations where they may not already.
After researching this, I have decided that I want my podcast to be a place where people can escape, learn and feel understood. I will aim to incorporate different stories and experiences in my podcast, while still keeping it entertaining, relatable and lighthearted. I aim for this project to leave the audience feeling motivated, understood and better about their situations.
Comparing Podcasts
Comparing Podcasts
To complete my secondary research, I wanted to compare different podcasts. This included podcasts from different genres, popularity, and reviews. I started by using the Spotify charts website. Here, you can compare and rank podcasts of various genres and popularity on Spotify. This was incredibly helpful for my initial research, directing me to the most and least popular podcasts of contrasting genres and countries.
I wanted to first start by analysing different aspects of some of the most popular podcasts in the uk and using my findings to understand why these podcasts are so successful in what they do and how they do it.
UK Top Podcasts & How They Succeed
UK Top Podcasts & How They Succeed
Number One, The Joe Rogan experience
Number One, The Joe Rogan experience
Through this website, I found that the top podcast for the UK and USA was 'The Joe Rogan Experience'. After doing some more research I found that this podcast covers a range of genres including comedy, technology, sports and MMA. I also found that as this podcast covers a range of topics, it successes by having differing guests with their own experiences and views. This allows the audience to gain knowledge from the content. Joe Rogan is also a comedian, this invites an audience of people who value comedy and entertainment even if they aren't as interested in the knowledge aspect. In order to gather more information about how this podcast succeeds and falls short, I decided to use a website called 'Podchaser' to do this because the site allows reviews and critique.
From this I was able to understand different perspectives and subjective opinions as to why people enjoy the podcast and why people don't. Researching this I found the following trends, Most people enjoyed the aspect of covering various topics and gaining knowledge from the guests on the other hand, many people found that the podcast largely relies on the guests to be interesting alluding to the idea that people prefer a host who has completed the relevant research on the topic so that they can provide their own knowledge and opinions'.
Target audience and demographic
Target audience and demographic
The target audience for this podcast is quite broad because of the different topics and genres, leaving it to appeal to a diverse audience. Primarily, the podcast tends to be particularly popular with men between the ages of 18-45. This is most-likely because of the main genres that are more male dominated like MMA and hunting. The podcast also targets people with an interest in open and unfiltered conversations, this is because of it controversial and conversational style. Lastly, this podcast aims itself toward those who enjoy listening to other perspectives on topics, it succeeds in gathering this audience due to the different guests and opinions creating new discussions.
The Louis Theroux Podcast
The Louis Theroux Podcast
Target audience and demographic
Target audience and demographic
This podcasts is solely made up of a demographic of 25-40 year olds, the target gender is quite broad, leaving it to be liked by all genders. Keeping the target gender broad is important as it brings in a bigger audience by not being over 'laddish' or 'feminine'. Louis Theroux, the host is well known for his documentaries and journalism, this in itself brings in an audience of people who enjoy his past projects. The podcast tends to focus on topics such as current events and thought provoking interviews with different kinds of guests. The tone and style of his podcast is often conversational and reflective, this makes
The third most popular podcast in the UK is 'The Louis Theroux Podcast'. I found that, like 'The joe Rogan Experience' podcast, it successes in its coverage of different topics by staring relevant celebrities. This idea of getting relevant celebrities on, really helps to keep the podcast current and up to date, I have found that the common trend within popular podcasts is talking about current events and controversies. When a topic is trending, people tend to search it up looking for answers and that means that the streaming website is more likely to promote the video or podcast and place it on peoples feeds, allowing more people the opportunity to view the post. Louis Theroux is also a public figure, famous for his numerous documentaries and amazing interviews.
My Ideas and aims:
My Ideas and aims:
I aim to base my podcast on my own experiences
I plan to do this by creating notes of what i can talk about and in what order.
I aim to create something both relatable and motivational
I will do this by being as honest as possible.
I still want my podcast to feel quite casual, like a conversation between friends.
I can try to do this by keeping the conversation as free-flowing as possible while still ensuring I get through all of the topics. I could also try to keep the setting more informal and ensure that the lights are warm-toned, making the atmosphere feel cosy and casual.
My idea is to create a podcast targeted towards people who may feel confused or overwhelmed about their education, in this podcast, i would like to explain the different options that are available even if you haven't just left school. Many people feel confused and alone when it comes to leaving school or going back into education. I would like this podcast to possibly help ease peoples worries, maybe answer some questions and overall, let people know they are not alone. By setting these aims for myself I can use it to hold myself accountable and ensure i stay true to what i intend to do. I will use this as a checklist, and will take mental notes that I have stuck to my ideas.
My demographic and target audience:
My demographic and target audience:
My primary target audience is people aged 15- 19, who are in secondary education, sixth form or an alternative route. They are also people who enjoy listening to casual and conversational podcasts and are interested in motivational content. The primary audience may also be people who have concerns about their future and are feeling overwhelmed.
My secondary audience may include people aged 20-25, possibly university students and people who took alternative paths and are now going back into education. My secondary audience will also include people who enjoy listing to others' experiences.
Creating a logo
Creating a logo
My podcast banner
I created my logo using Canva, where I was able to create and use elements. I first picked the background flower, i liked this because the colours are bright and could appeal to the age demographic.
Next, I chose the font, I chose this font as it is very clear and the bubble writing makes it clear that the podcast is more casual than serious.
My podcast logo
I also wanted to create a list of key things i aim to talk about, i decided i wanted to cover:
Intro
about my experience
the options
advice
outro
When designing my logo, I aimed to create something colourful, straightforward, and easily recognisable alongside my banner. I chose pink because it is bright and easily noticeable. While I understand that pink is often associated with being a 'girly' colour, I want my podcast to be relatable and inclusive for everyone. However, as a woman, I recognise that I may naturally resonate more with a female audience, which might be reflected in my design choices.
Editing and filming
Editing and filming
I first started by downloading the videos I had previously recorded, I used Premiere Pro to edit my podcast.
After importing the video, i made cuts where appropriate.
After this, I used the Lumetri Colour effect to give the lighting a warmer tone and make the podcast more cosy.
Final Product and Evaluation
Final Product and Evaluation
My podcast aimed to be relatable, comforting, and educational. My original idea was to create a show that focused on education, relatability, and the choices you can make after leaving school.
To create my podcast, I used different cameras, ring lights, and editing software such as Premiere Pro. One aspect that I think worked well in my podcast was the editing. I experimented with different colour temperatures using the Lumetri Colour feature in Premiere Pro, which contributed to a cosy atmosphere that made the podcast feel almost like a FaceTime call with a friend.
However, I initially had a lot more footage with a guest who looked much more professional. Unfortunately, I lost that footage, and due to time limitations, I had to quickly film and edit a completely new podcast using the same ideas. Next time, to prevent similar problems, I will ensure that I back up and save all of my footage. I will also allocate time for any unexpected issues, like this one.
I learned a great deal from the editing process, especially how to use effects in Premiere Pro. Before this project, I had never used the software, but after watching tutorials, I now know how to add effects, adjust colours, and better control audio levels to ensure they are at an ideal volume.
Although I enjoyed creating this project and believe I learned a lot, particularly about editing and the importance of backing up footage, I feel it had the potential to be much better if I had saved the original footage properly. Nonetheless, I think the final result captures a nice vibe, even though my original idea was definitely more polished.
If I were to redo this project, I would approach a few things differently. I would create a clearer and more professional background, and I would follow a stricter, written schedule to ensure I have enough time to handle any problems that may arise. Overall, while I tried my best to quickly resolve the issue of lost footage, I think this project lacks a bit of professionalism. However, I do believe that the message is still strong, and the result feels a bit more intimate, so I feel somewhat satisfied.
I have learned a lot from this project, particularly about editing and content creation.
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