Want to hear my podcasting hot take? All podcasts should be edited! Yes. I know. Controversial. So, before I go any further, I would like to state that the thoughts expressed in this post are my own. And so if you want to come for anyone with any disagreements or questions on anything said in this post, it should be me. And you can do so here at jennay@weeditpodcasts.com. But based off that aforementioned “hot take”, today, I want to dive into the world of podcast editing and give you the reasons why a) I believe that all podcasts should be edited, and then b) why you should consider hiring a podcast editor to edit your podcast.

Let’s start with that hot take, shall we…

Why (I Believe) Every Podcast Should Be Edited

I’m just going to come right out and say it. I firmly believe that all podcast episodes require at least some basic editing. And, to be clear, I’m taking about content editing. Audio leveling, taking out those awkward pauses, coughs, “hmm-hmms” (Top tip! Mute your mic when your guest is responding!) and any excessive use of filler words like “ahs” and “ums” are a given.

That kind of editing is just necessary to give your listeners a great listening experience. Remember, a podcast is primarily an audio medium. So, another given, you have to focus on great sounding audio if you want your show to do well. Bad audio quality will make listeners tune out quicker than you can say…well, “Bad audio” I guess? 

So, that kind of editing should always be done. As I said, the editing I’m talking about is content editing. I.e removing actual chunks of audio.

This is where the controversy enters the chat. I know some podcasters are “against” this idea of ‘editing’ their podcast because they don’t want to lose the “natural conversation” that’s the hallmark of great podcasts.

I get that. I don’t want you to lose that either. Because it is part of the charm that makes podcasts so special. But content editing your episodes won’t make you lose that magic! When done well, your listeners won’t even know you have edited anything out.

And the above is actually part of the problem. When you think about some top-notch interview podcasts, it never sounds like the conversations have been edited. It just sounds like they pressed ‘record’ and went for it. Then they added their intro and outro, a bit of music, and hit “publish”. And so the thought process that has been born because of this is that if the “podcasting greats” are doing that, shouldn’t I been doing that, too.

Related read: A Case Study of the Best Podcast Intro: Steven Bartlett’s The Diary of a CEO

The problem is, I don’t think that’s exactly what the greats are doing. 

Let me unpack this. Let’s think about those podcasts that we think of as being something special again. (One of my top picks would be The Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett.) Yes, they sound natural. But there is something else that has set these apart. They are jam-packed with value. For beginning to end, you are engaged with the conversation, and you stay engaged, because everything they’re offering has value.

Now, there are two possible reasons for this

1. Absolutely everything they say and absolutely everything their guests say from the second ‘record’ has been hit is amazing…

…or…

2. There has been some content editing after the fact so that all we, as the listeners, get is highly valuable content.

And I’m willing to bet that 95.5%* of the time it’s the latter.

Because you always want to give your listeners episodes that are jam-packed with valuable content. You also want to be respectful of their time and their commitment to you and your show. Rather give them 30 minutes of fantastic content, rather than the whole hour of conversation that actually happened but not everything offers your audience value.

(*PLEASE NOTE: This statistic is just a guess. I have conducted no hard research other than my conversations with some top-notch podcasters who I know are content editing their episodes. But again, they’re doing this so well that we, as listeners, would never know!)

You can give your audience highly valuable episodes every single time and keep that natural, easy conversation if you carefully content edit your episodes.

But, as I’m sure you can gather, this kind of editing takes time. And a fairly comprehensive set of editing skills so that you’re keeping that natural sound, while taking out anything that dilutes your content.

And that brings me to my next point, why it can be really beneficially to outsource your podcast editing to a professional podcast editor, or, better yet, a full-service podcast production agency…

But I’m not just here to tout my thoughts without also giving you some solid evidence. So, without any further adieu, take a look at the 7 benefits of hiring a professional podcast editor (or podcast editing company!) to handle your podcast editing.

7 Benefits of Hiring a Professional Podcast Editor to Edit Your Podcast

So let’s just dive right in, shall we? I’m shooting from the hip here. I know there are logistics to consider, I totally get that, and we will get into that. But for now, I’m simply stating the fact that hiring a professional podcast editor or podcast production company to edit your podcast will offer you several key benefits.

1. Professional Quality

Production companies specialize in audio production and editing – this is literally what they do. Meaning they have the expertise, professional resources, and the experience to deliver high-quality audio. (Obviously, this is dependent on the quality of the raw audio that they have to work with. Even the best in the business can’t do all that much if the raw audio sounds like it was recorded with whatever mic they use do to the announcements at grocery stores!)

But you give them good raw audio, and reputable, a professional podcast editor can work some real magic!

2. Access to Expertise

Working with professional podcast editors or a podcast production agency gives you incredible access to expertise. Well-established podcast companies have a team of experienced professionals who specialize in various aspects of audio production. (As well as other aspects of the podcast process! If you’re also looking to outsource your show notes, transcripts, and even your podcast marketing assets. You can check out all We Edit Podcasts offers here.) 

By working with a podcast production company to edit your podcast episodes, you gain access to a wealth of expertise and knowledge that can elevate the quality of your podcast and help you achieve your creative vision.

3. Time Savings

Here’s possibly the biggest benefit of hiring a professional podcast editor or podcast editing company to edit your podcast…the time factor.

Editing a podcast (yes, even if you’re not editing your episode content) can be time-consuming. This is especially true if you’re new to the process or have limited editing skills. Outsourcing editing to a production company frees up your time to focus on other aspects of podcasting, such as content creation, marketing, and audience engagement, allowing you to grow your show more efficiently.

Which brings us nicely to…

4. Scalability

I’m willing to bet that every podcaster enters the space with the goal to grow their podcast and achieve podcast success – whatever that looks like to you as a podcaster. But the potential for a podcast to grow is directly related to your ability to grow it. I’m talking about scalability. 

Podcast growth requires you consistently do all the things that podcast growth entails. Besides putting out your (high-quality!) usual podcast episodes, you may need to up your guest appearances, increase your marketing efforts, or even increase the frequency of your episodes – whatever your show and your audience need to grow.

But whatever it is, it all means much more time and effort needs to be funneled to your podcast. Time which you may not have. Professional podcast production companies or agencies have the capacity to scale their services to accommodate your evolving needs, whether you’re producing more frequent episodes, upping your marketing strategies, or exploring other opportunities for collaboration and expansion.

5. Consistency

The next benefit of hiring a professional to edit your podcast is consistency.

Consistency is key in podcasting, both in terms of release schedule and audio quality. Production companies can help maintain a consistent standard across episodes, ensuring that each one meets your desired level of quality and aligns with your podcast’s overall tone and style. Again, this is what they do. This is what We Edit Podcasts does. And we do this for all our clients.

Take a look at the packages We Edit Podcasts offers here.

6. Prioritization

Which brings me to a really important benefit of hiring a professional to edit your podcast, prioritization. When you’re the one editing your podcast, especially if your show is a side hustle, editing and anything related to your show is usually a “as I have time” situation.

But when you outsource your podcast editing, your podcast becomes someone’s priority. And when it comes to We Edit Podcasts, provided we have all the necessary assets, we can edit your podcast episode and get it back to you in *48 hours! 

You just send off your assets to us, and you let our audio engineers work their magic. And “Hey, Presto!” You’ll have your episode ready to go, all while you kept doing everything that you’ve got to do!

*NOTE: There are circumstances that can change this, but this will always be communicated with the client. 

7. Customization and Creative Input 

And finally, when you choose to have a podcast editing professional edit your podcast, you can get access to new creative input and customization to help you make your podcast all you’ve dreamed it to be and more. Particularly if the podcast production agency you pick offers premium and custom launch packages…

With these types of launch packages, you’ll get a team that will work closely with you to understand your vision, goals, and preferences for your podcast.* They can offer creative input and suggestions to enhance your content and make it more engaging and compelling for your audience. Basically, choosing a full-service podcast production agency can give you options and assets you probably wouldn’t have access to if you were doing every part of the podcasting process on your own.

*Editing company and package-offering dependent, obviously. 

To Hire a Professional Podcast Editor or Not? That Is The Question…

So, in closing, I’ll say it again (and probably again, and again…and again) I firmly believe that all podcast episodes require at least some basic content editing. Yes, you want your conversations to sound natural – that is part of the charm of podcasts after all. I get that. But you always, ALWAYS, want to give your listeners episodes that are jam-packed with valuable content and are respectful of their time and their commitment to you and your show.

And unless you can ensure that your entire conversation, and every answer from your guests is abundantly valuable, you should edit out anything that dilutes your episode. I promise, you can do this AND ensure that your conversations sound natural.

You just have to know how to edit.

Which is why outsourcing all that editing could be the best move for your show in the long run. There are obviously always factors to consider, budget being a top one. But in many cases, that financial output pays back its dividends through all the benefits you gain access to. Not to mention the “price” of all the time you’ll get back!

Overall, hiring a podcast production company to edit your podcast can provide you with the expertise, professionalism, and support you need to create a successful and impactful podcast. By outsourcing editing to professionals, you can focus on what you do best – creating great content – while leaving the technical aspects of audio production in capable hands. This will ensure that you’re always putting out the best possible episodes for your audience. And this will always be vital for longterm podcasting success!

Ready to try a podcast editor to edit your podcast?

So if you’re ready to experience all the benefits of choosing a professional podcast editor to take care of your podcast editing, why not reach out to us? You can schedule a free call with one of our team here. Or, you can even give our editing a go with our free trial episode offer! We would love to help you make your podcasting dream come to life!

NOTE: Again, the thoughts expressed in this post are my own. If you take umbrage (one of my favorite words, btw) to anything I’ve said, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’d love to hear your thoughts on the topic!