Planning is an essential part of the podcasting process. By knowing what you are going to say and preparing any other resources you want to include you can save yourself time, effort and frustration when you sit down to create your podcast. Laying the groundwork saves you getting into a pickle and ensures a smooth recording without the bumpy ride!

Get into the habit of following the 5 steps below so that there'll be less time spent pulling your hair out and more time spent getting a great business podcast out into cyberspace.

Step 1 - Email participants and permission requests in advance.

You've decided to make a show about business owners where you want to interview people and use clips from other people's podcasts. If you want to record your show at the end of the week, really think about gathering permissions at the start of the week or else you might just come unstuck.

People are busy and their time is precious. Try to think ahead about who you would like to invite on to your show and get their permission way before you sit down to record. Always have back-up ideas too, just in case you just can't get to people in time.

Step 2 - Choose clips and interviewees before writing the scripts/planning your links.

If you want to use parts of the interviews or even pieces from other people's shows, it's always wise to know which clips you'll use before you write your notes or script. This means you can then write the script in a way that introduces what participants are going to say or you could comment on what they've said at the end of the clip.

Step 3 - Have a script.

Lots of would-be podcasters feel 100% confident that they know what they're going to say and intend to have a slick, fluff-free delivery. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men? It's a really good idea to have a script of some description so that your points follow a rational and well thought out process and your listeners get maximum value out of your podcast. You don't have to write a detailed script and then reel it off word for word if you think this will make you sound wooden (most non-professional broadcasters would have difficulty making it sound otherwise), it's more about knowing what you're going to say, knowing how your points are going to pan out and, if you have guests, having a few notes about them and the kind of questions you could ask them.

Imagine the pain of starting to introduce a guest and then completely forgetting their name. Having a script or some notes will prevent this from happening and make you feel relaxed, much in the way flash cards help you stay focussed during presentations.

Step 4 - Prepare yourself.

This may sound like an obvious preparation step but it's one that many neglect. Imagine getting up in the morning and everyone is out of the house; there's nobody to talk to. You go into your office or studio and switch your mic on, ready to record your podcast. You clear your throat a little and then start. How do you sound ? A bit like a zombie from Night of the Living Dead? So, what to do instead? Have a chat to the cat or sing in the shower to get the vocal chords loosened up and work the body out by carrying out some breathing and stretching exercises. Have a warm drink (but avoid milk as it clogs up the sinuses) and, last but not least, put a dab of lip balm on your lips (yes, it's so that they move smoothly over one another when you speak, reducing any unwanted noises).

Step 4 - Prepare your environment.

An essential element in making sure your podcast runs smoothly is to prepare your environment as well as you can. Turn off any phones that might disturb you, 'dampen' your room as much as you can (I know of someone who records under the desk with a blanket draped over it), make sure you have everything you need.

If possible, try not to time your recording to coincide your with the time the cats need feeding or your spouse will be home. Take care to ensure you will have as much peace as possible.

Sticking to these 5 pointers will really help you get your voice heard by the right people with the minimum of fuss and pain.