Launching and building a podcast takes time, effort, and money.
There are so many podcasts, kit, and strategies out there, how do you know what is right for you?
Starting a podcast is easier than ever these days. There are many different platforms available to create podcasts, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Play Music, Spotify, SoundCloud, etc.
And you can always get ideas listening to other people’s podcasts.
Here are 16 tips to help you get started:
1. Choose a Topic That Interests You
A podcast is basically a series of audio files that are uploaded to the internet. The topic of the podcast determines what kind of content you create.
For example, if you’re interested in politics, you could create a podcast about current events. Or, you could talk about a hobby you enjoy, such as cooking or gardening.
Whatever you choose, make sure that you’re passionate about it. Otherwise, people won’t listen to your podcast.
2. A Good Name
First off, you need a name for your podcast. This is going to be the first thing people see when they search for your show. Make sure it’s catchy and memorable.
You can use an app like Buzzsumo to find other podcasts with similar names. Alternatively, you can start searching for your own name on YouTube.
3. Find Your Audience
Once you have a good idea of what type of content you want to produce, you’ll need to decide who your audience will be.
This means finding out where your listeners live. For example, if you’re creating a sports podcast, you might want to target men aged between 25-45 years old.
If you don’t know exactly who your ideal listener is, try using tools like Facebook Audiences to discover demographics.
4. Pick podcast recording equipment
Now that you’ve chosen a topic and found your audience, it’s time to pick up some microphone equipment.
There are plenty of options out there, but I recommend choosing something affordable and easy to use.
Here’s our list of the best USB microphones under-$100.
I personally love the Blue Yeti USB Microphone because it has great sound quality while being compact and portable. But thats my choice. Go and pick what works for you.
5. Pick podcast recording software
After picking out your mic, it’s time to record your episodes!
The most popular option right now is called Anchor. It’s simple to set up and offers lots of features.
When looking at software you should look for something that makes it easy to edit your recordings later on. Besides Anchor there is also another option called Podbean which is free and very easy to use.
Audio editing software lets you add effects to your audio files. These include things like background noise reduction, echo cancellation, and pitch correction.
Other features include automatic volume control, equalization, and compression.
Using these tools will improve the quality of your podcasts.
6. Find a Platform
There are many different platforms available for creating podcasts. Some of the most popular include Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Soundcloud.
However, not all platforms are created equally. To ensure you reach your maximum potential, you need to find one that suits your needs.
Here are my top picks:
- Apple Podcasts – Apple’s platform is by far the biggest player in the industry. They offer high-quality production value and excellent customer support.
- Google Podcasts – Another big player in the market. The interface is clean and intuitive. You can easily upload multiple shows at once.
- Spotify – With over 150 million monthly active users, Spotify is the world’s largest music streaming service. If you already have an account, you can create a podcast directly from your playlists.
- SoundCloud – One of the oldest players in the game. Their focus on original content means their catalogue is constantly growing.
Apps allow you to upload your media files directly from your computer. But before you do so, make sure that you have enough storage space.
7. Create A Content Plan Before Starting
Before you begin recording, think about what you want to say. Write down your ideas and then organize them into a plan.
Now that you’ve got everything else set up, it’s time to think about content. What kind of shows do you want to produce? Do you want to interview experts or share stories?
This will help you avoid wasting time talking about topics that aren’t interesting to you. It’s also helpful to write out what you want to say so that you don’t forget anything important.
8. Choose The Right Length Of Episodes
You’ll need to decide how long each episode should be. There’s no one answer here. Instead, you’ll need to consider your goals.
For example, if you want to build trust with your audience, you may want to keep your episodes shorter. On the other hand, if you want to grow your reach, you might want to go longer.
It’s also worth noting that longer episodes tend to perform better than shorter ones.
9. Find People Who Are Already Doing What You Want To Do
Once you’ve chosen a topic, find people who are doing something similar. For example, if you’re going to do a podcast about politics, you could interview politicians or political commentators.
Alternatively, you could talk to someone who works in a related field. If you’re producing a podcast about music, you could interview musicians or producers.
10. Start With An Intro And Outro
An intro and outro are two segments that appear at the beginning and end of every episode. They give your listeners a reason to listen to your show.
Your intro can be as short as 5 seconds. However, an outro is usually longer than 10 minutes. This gives you more time to get to the point.
11. Make Sure You Have Enough Time to Prepare
Don’t try to rush this step. You need enough time to prepare before you start recording.
The more time you spend preparing, the better your podcast will sound.
So, take your time and make sure you have enough time to finish your podcast.
12. Prepare questions and talking points for your interviewee
If you’re interviewing someone, you’ll need to prepare some questions ahead of time. This helps you stay on track during the conversation.
Think about what you want to learn from the person you’re interviewing. Then, ask open-ended questions like:
- How did you come up with that idea?
- What was it like working on that project?
- How has technology changed since you started?
13. Record Your Voice First
When you record your voice first, you can edit later. This means that you can cut out any parts of your speech that aren’t relevant.
It also makes it easier to hear yourself speak. If you record your voice last, you’ll have to rerecord everything.
14. Create A Show Schedule
A schedule is a list of when you plan to release new episodes. You can use a calendar or Google Calendar to create your own schedule.
A schedule is great because it lets you know when you need to release new episodes.
15. Start Small And Build Up
Don’t expect to create a successful podcast overnight. Instead, focus on building slowly.
Start by recording one episode per week. Once you feel comfortable with this approach, you can increase the frequency.
This will allow you to work through all of your ideas without burning out.
16. Promote Your Podcast
Promoting your podcast is essential to its success. Share your podcast on social media, email lists, websites, etc. If you are using iTunes or another podcast directory, make sure that it’s listed there. You can also use your website and blog to promote your podcast. 6. Create A Website For Your Podcast
A podcast website will help increase the number of people who find your show. It should include information about your episodes and other content like photos, music, etc.
This is where listeners can find your podcast. They can subscribe to your feed and listen to episodes right away.
17. Get Reviews From People Who Listen To Your Show
Getting reviews from listeners is one of the best ways to get more exposure for your podcast. Make sure that you ask them for feedback after listening to your show so that you can improve it.
Last but certainly not least, you need to get yourself online. Create a Facebook page, Twitter account, Instagram account, etc.
18. Listen to feedback from your audience.
Once you’ve created a few podcasts, you’ll start getting feedback from your audience
What do they want to hear about? What topics do they want to learn more about? How can you improve your show?
The answers to these questions will help you grow as an interviewer and producer.
It’ll also help you create a list of topics to cover in upcoming epsiodes.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, we’ve covered a few tips for launching and building a successful podcast. We’ve also discussed ways to promote your podcast. Now that you know how to launch and build a podcast, you’ll want to share your knowledge with others.
So, what are you waiting for? Get up and start putting it together.