In this article, you will learn how to start a podcast and launch your show in no time. We will provide you a simple step-by-step guide and the basic information you need to know to start a podcast.
Podcasts are becoming more popular these days. This is because podcasts are more convenient than blog posts and vlogs (video blogs). People can listen to podcasts while driving, doing house chores, or even while exercising.
Creating a podcast will allow you to reach a broader audience. According to Edison Research, 51% of Americans who are 12 years and above listen to podcasts. 43% of monthly podcast listeners say they listen to podcasts on Spotify, and 35% on Pandora.
Why should you start a podcast?
If those numbers mentioned above are not convincing enough and you are still on the fence about starting your own podcast, here are the top reasons why you should consider it.
Audio contents are more convenient
Other sources of information and entertainment available to us grab 100% of our attention, like reading an article or watching a video). This makes it difficult for us to do other things. The great thing about podcasts is that it is in audio form, which makes it convenient and easy to consume. Listeners can multi-task and do something else while listening to podcasts.
Opportunity to earn money
Starting a podcast opens up new financial possibilities. Podcasts can be profitable enough that it can replace a full-time job.
There are a few different ways you can monetize your podcast.
Sponsors and advertising
You can advertise during your show by charging a sponsor to be featured in your podcast to get exposure. Remember that you must have 5,000 to 10,000 listeners a month so you can work with sponsors and advertisers.
Affiliate marketing or affiliate sales
Another way that you can earn from podcasts is through affiliate marketing or affiliate sales. Affiliate marketing uses the partnership of brands and individuals (called affiliates, partners, or publishers) in promoting products or services. You will make money as an affiliate partner because the brand will pay you for every sale directed to the brand.
Promote your own products or services
Podcast is the perfect tool to promote your products or services because your ideal customers are already listening to your show. You can mention these things in your episode, casually or scripted. The good thing is that you can promote your products and services for free because you run your own podcast.
Establish a more personal connection with your audience
Conveying your emotions in written words can be difficult. That is why it is incredibly personal when someone hears your voice, emotions, and excitement. When your audience listens to your voice, they feel that you are just next to them having a conversation and they begin to develop a connection with you.
Starting a podcast is easy
Starting a podcast is not that complicated. To start a podcast in no time and with minimal up-front investment, you just need to follow these steps to get your own show up and running.
How to Start a Podcast: A Complete Step-By-Step Guide
1. Come up with a podcast name, topic, and target audience.
You want your podcast to focus on a particular niche or topic. This is to maintain cohesive content, and you will appear an expert on a certain topic. As a result, it will be easier for you to secure sponsors or advertising. Marketing and sales would rather place their advertisements on businesses attracting people to certain expertise.
To help you plan for your podcast, you can ask yourself these following questions.
- Why do you want to make a podcast?
- What’s your podcast for?
- Who are you making this podcast for?
- What are your passions?
- What problem can I solve?
- Is there a market for my niche?
- What is your expertise?
- What is your brand?
When it comes to deciding your podcast name, you should consider a few things:
- It should be clever or catchy.
- Incorporate a description of your show into the title.
- Choose a name that is broader than your topic.
- You can use your own name but incorporate it along with something descriptive. To stay on top of constantly changing social media marketing trends, check out this article here.
2. Decide on your show format
The length of your podcast depends on your content and how expert you are on a topic. There are podcasts that run in just 5 minutes, and there are 2-hour podcasts. The key here is to find whatever words on your show format and run with it. Avoid trying to make your show or a topic longer than it needs to be. On that note, we also recommend you take some time to learn about how to write the ideal script for your podcast.
3. Create a catchy cover art
Your catchy podcast name should also have catchy cover art. These two are what your prospect audience will first see, and we all know how important a first impression is to become successful.
Also, you need to consider the restrictions and requirements for podcast cover given by your podcast directory or directories, e.g., Soundcloud, iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, etc. You can take advantage of using Adobe Illustrator to help you design your podcast cover art.
Recommended courses for you
4. Record and edit your podcast content
The basic equipment you will start a podcast recording is a computer with a good quality USB microphone and access to the internet. Here are the top recommendations for podcast microphone if you have a budget or a few cash to shed for a good quality microphone:
Budget
- FiFine K669B
- Samson Q2U
- Rode NT-USB Mini
Mid-Range
- Blue Yeti
- AKG Lyra
- Rode Procaster
Pro
- Aston Stealth
- Electro Voice RE320
- Shure SM7b
Now that you have recorded your audio content, it’s time to edit your audio. You can start by using free programs, such as Adobe Audition and Audacity. These tools can give you a lot of options for post-production. If feel you may not be using email campaigns correctly to grow your company, check this article.
5. Upload your audio file to your podcast hosting platform
You need a media host for a podcast hosting account to get your podcast out there for your audience. These are services or platforms that store your audio and allow your listeners to listen, download, and subscribe to your podcast.
There are many podcast hosting out there, and it can be difficult to find out which platform is best for you. To help you with your search, here is a list of the top podcast hosting companies.
2020 best podcast hosting companies
Recommended online courses on how to start a podcast
Skill Success has a lot of online courses for people who want to learn how to start a podcast. For starters, we recommend the online courses below:
Ready to learn how to start a podcast? Click here to get started.
Your privacy is secured and your information will not be shared
