An entry-level mic should cost about $100 or so. The two choices are between a condenser and dynamic microphone.

A condenser mic offers you a richer sound quality but has the challenge of being more sensitive to the surrounding sounds. If you go this route, it's more important to find the right location for your recordings.

The dynamic mic operates on a narrow range of frequencies so the sound is a little less rich but it picks up less of the ambient noise. Again, consider your environment when choosing your mic.

I use a Samson Meteor Mic, and I find it is great for my simple needs. It only cost me about $50 three years ago.

Make it a conversation

I listen to a number of different podcasts, and every one of them is generally two or more people having a conversation. Unlike blogs or videos, podcasts modeled after radio talk shows are built around a discussion between a host and a guest or two. As a result, the burden of creating quality podcasts is shared and less stressful.

But with multiple people comes the inevitable need to accommodate participation from different locations. Skype or Google Hangouts can open up the conversation to others outside your location, but capturing their contribution as part of the podcast at a good quality sound level isn't easy.

The best approach is to have local participation. Have a conversation with your head of customer service to talk about some of the common questions your clients have. Or bring in clients for lunch and record a podcast with them about their business and what you've been able to do for them.

There are many topics that you can focus on with people right in your area. Certainly, if you write a blog, those same topics could be expanded on or given a unique perspective by bringing the right person for their take.

Learn how to edit and stream

Editing tools and the means to distribute the podcasts come in different setups. How you record and edit will depend partly on what type of computer you use: Windows or Mac. I use either my iMac or MacBook Pro and the free application that comes with it, Garage Band.

I love the system because it's easy to edit out my “ums” and “ahs” so I sound smoother than I really am. It also will save the podcast directly to my iTunes Library. I then upload the MP3 file to SoundCloud.com, give it a description and keywords for SEO, and publish.

I always add a short opening and closing music string (about six to eight seconds each), which eases the listener into the podcast. I have a subscription to AudioBlocks.com, which is a resource for unlimited downloads of royalty-free production music and sound effects. I use it for both my client podcasts and videos. It's a great source for sound.

Convenient consumption is critical for getting your information out. Podcasting lends itself to myriad options. Try it.

Rick Gilman, APR, CMP, is president of South Orange, N.J.-based APPsolute Marketing, a communications and public relations consulting business specializing in mobile marketing and app development for small business.