Podcasts seem to be everywhere these days: Spotify is buying up industry players, Facebook is getting in the game, Netflix and Amazon have been hard at work in the space, and Apple made.headlines with their rough patch in podcasting as subscriptions and paid podcasts were pushed to the forefront. With 4K video, photo, and audio production and editing available on a device most of us carry with us every waking moment the game of media production is at its most-democratized in history which means that every one of us is a potential podcaster. (If you’re thinking “Did they say photo and video? I thought podcasting was only audio?” you heard correctly, more about that later) We’ve all heard mediocre podcasts or worse but by following just a few fundamental rules you can put out a podcast that sounds like a million bucks without spending nearly that much! So, without further ado, Does My Yacht Club Need a Podcast?

• Do you have racing events to promote and want to provide as much bang for your sponsor’s buck as possible?

• Do you have social events coming up and want maximum attendance?

• Do you want to promote the sport of sailing in your community?

• Do you want to draw new members through youth participation, racing, and socials?

• Do you want to keep your finger on the pulse of both your membership and the local sailing and boating community?

If your club would answer “Yes” to any of the above questions then YES your yacht club needs a podcast. Think of it as a newsletter open to public consumption. Episodes can be released as often or as rarely as you like but your listenership will appreciate a regular schedule if possible. This can be a great way to highlight members and their achievements, recruit new members, encourage participation in racing, and draw back in those members who maybe haven’t been around the club as much as they used to be and have recently had second thoughts about whether their dues are a good value at this point! Episodes can be a five minute summary of upcoming events, a twenty minute debrief of the most recent regatta, or a multi-hour interview extravaganza and your studio can be as simple as your laptop and just two or three additional pieces of technology (or even with your phone with a decent external microphone. And best of all, the cost of production could be easily offset by an ad or two for a complimentary industry business!

If you want to try your voice at podcasting but need a little help getting started Layline Digital would love to help you take those first steps and more. We can handle the editing, production, and promotion of your hot new podcast from episode 1-10 or 1-10000. Join the podcasting revolution with your club today!