Essential Tech for West Virginia Storytelling
Hey y’all, Coop here.
I wanted to give you a glimpse into the tools we use at Mountaineer Media. Since this is a passion project and not our full-time jobs, being resourceful and efficient with our media toolkit has been key. Below is a detailed list of the hardware and software that bring our West Virginia stories to life.
It's worth mentioning that we didn't have all these tools from the start. So, if you're considering getting into digital media storytelling, don't feel overwhelmed. We began with the basics – borrowed headphones and our trusty iPhone. It's all about starting with what you have and growing from there!
In 2023, these stories made quite an impact, generating 7.3 million views across all our platforms. To get a sense of how big that number is, click here to visualize it!
Take a look at the list below, I'm really interested in hearing your thoughts or any tips you might have.
Hardware that Mountaineer Media uses to tell West Virginia stories
Logitech for Creators Blue Yeti USB Microphone: We really love this microphone! It’s easy to use & affordable. The USB-C Digital AV Multi-port Adapter lets you connect your USB-C-enabled Mac, iPad, or iPhone to an HDMI display, while also connecting a standard USB device and a USB-C charging cable.
12.9 inch iPad Pro: I could not exist on this earth without my iPad Pro! I seriously use this every single day. IMO, it’s so much more versatile than a traditional laptop, but just as powerful. CJ uses a Macbook, but I’m team iPad for life!
DJI Mini 3 Drone: As Mountaineer Media expanded, we wanted to capture West Virginia’s majestic landscape from the air. It’s a great “starter drone” that packs a punch with HD video. Check out this Instagram Reel of Blackwater Falls!
DJI Mic (2 TX + 1 RX + Charging Case), Wireless Lavalier Microphone: Easily the best bluetooth microphones out there for the money. We use these when we are out in the field, interviewing folks or recording voice-overs for TikTok videos. Here’s CJ interviewing Charles Wesley Godwin at Healing Appalachia this year using these mics!
Software that Mountaineer Media uses to tell West Virginia stories
Right from the start, Mountaineer Media has operated remotely. We've never had the luxury of a fancy studio or much time to collaborate in person. Back in 2020, while I was in Washington, DC, and CJ was in Charleston, we had to devise effective systems and processes to grow our digital media agency.
Over time, we've evolved these systems, switching providers and expanding our toolset. Below, you'll find an up-to-date list of the software we currently use in our digital arsenal.
Anchor: is a free podcasting app that makes it easy to record and publish your own content. It’s not the fanciest back-end system to use for podcasts, but for us it gets the job done. We upload here, and then it distributes to our Spotify and Apple Podcast profiles.
Google Workplace: Our go-to for everything from managing emails with Gmail to organizing marketing materials, contracts, and spreadsheets in Google Drive folders. Its simplicity and efficiency are unbeatable. Additionally, it facilitates seamless syncing of our passwords across all of our social media profiles, ensuring we have consistent access from any device, anywhere.
Zoom: Remember those early pandemic days when extended family Zoom parties were all the rage? Turns out, Zoom is also the most user-friendly and dependable app for remote podcasting we've come across. Its ease of use is a big plus – no need for fancy downloads or complicated setups. We prefer using video calls for our podcast recordings; making eye contact really enhances the conversation. Afterward, we extract the audio from these video sessions to produce our podcast episodes.
Squarespace: As Mountaineer Media expanded beyond just podcasting, we realized the need for a central hub. That's when we decided to build our website using Squarespace. The best part? No coding skills required! It's incredibly user-friendly while maintaining a professional appearance. We utilize it for various purposes: creating landing pages for special events like the Almost Heaven Classic, managing email marketing campaigns, publishing blog posts, and aggregating all our podcast episodes.
Canva: We're constantly creating content, ranging from eye-catching episode thumbnails to dynamic graphics that showcase West Virginia's incredible people, places, and things. Canva has been a game-changer for us – it's incredibly user-friendly and versatile. We highly recommend it for anyone looking to produce professional-quality visuals with ease.
Finance: As Mountaineer Media started collaborating with other West Virginia small businesses, we recognized the need to streamline our financial operations. We've adopted a mix of Professional Venmo, PayPal, and banking services with Chase to manage our transactions efficiently. For small companies just starting out and looking to establish business credit for their LLC, we highly recommend the Chase Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card. It's been an excellent tool for us in building a solid financial foundation.
CapCut: When it comes to vertical video editing, Capcut stands out. It offers a comprehensive suite of editing tools right within the app, making the process seamless. What's more, exporting your creations for platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, or YouTube Shorts is straightforward and user-friendly.
I hope this has been informative for you! Since our start in 2020, we've made significant strides. As we continue to learn and adapt our operations, we believe the lists provided above serve as a valuable reference for anyone keen on storytelling online. We're excited to keep growing and sharing our journey with you.
Drop comments below with any new ideas or constructive feedback!
Coop