No matter what you want to talk about, there’s a podcast for it! But the main thing is that you should pick something you care about and enjoy discussing. Some questions to ask yourself are: What do I want my listeners to learn from this? What are they likely to tune out if I don’t keep their attention? Is there anything in particular that excites me about this topic? If so, what makes it exciting? Have there been episodes of other podcasts on this subject that inspired me? Stick around and read this article to find out how to start a podcast in great detail!
Step 1: Choose Your Topic.
Before you start a podcast, you choose a topic. You should pick something you are passionate about to speak with enthusiasm and authenticity. You should also choose a topic that you can research easily and that will be relevant to your audience. Your podcast should be about an hour long, but if it’s too short or too long, people won’t want to listen!
Step 2: Pick A Co-host (optional)
If you don’t have a co-host, that’s fine! You don’t really need one to start a podcast. But if you do, it might be helpful for your listeners to hear from someone else on the show. In addition to taking some of the pressure off of you and making it easier for others to connect with your podcast, having a co-host can provide some interesting perspectives on the topics being discussed.
Finding and choosing a co-host is similar to finding someone who’d make an ideal guest on one of your episodes—but with more emphasis on the chemistry between yourself and the person. You should consider what kind of dynamic would work best for each episode: Would it be better if both hosts were introverts or extroverts? Do they like similar music? Do they have similar backstories or beliefs? Are they open to discussing controversial topics? Remember that while all people are different in many ways, there is no such thing as one perfect type (that would be boring), so try not to make too many assumptions about what works in most situations. Instead, focus on whether or not these two people will get along well.
Step 3: Get Clear On Your ‘Why’
Before you even begin to think about the mechanics of how to start a podcast, you need clarity on your “why.” You should be crystal clear about why you are starting this podcast and your ultimate goal.
Your answers will depend on who your audience is and what they want from the content that they consume. For example, if my target audience is mothers who are home with young children and I want to educate them on how they can start their own small businesses while still caring for their families (something I have done myself), then my “why” would be:
To help mothers learn how to take advantage of economies of scale and pursue entrepreneurship while still having time for themselves and their families.
Step 4: Choose A Name
Choose a name that is easy to spell and pronounce. When you start a podcast, you want your audience to be able to find you with ease, so choose a name that is simple and easy to remember. Avoid names that are too similar to other podcasts in your niche. This will ensure clarity between shows, which could lead listeners away from yours altogether.
Avoid names that are too long or short; both can be difficult for people to recall easily when searched for or heard by others around them.
Step 5: Show Format
Now that you have the idea, it’s time to discuss how you want to present your podcast. What format will work best? Your options are:
- Monologue – The host speaks alone in front of a single microphone while they describe their thoughts, ideas, and opinions on the topic (e.g., This American Life).
- Interview – Two or more people engage in conversation about a topic (e.g., Radiolab).
- Roundtable – A group of people chats about various issues related to the topic at hand (e.g., Freakonomics Radio).
- Group Discussion – Several hosts discuss current events from different perspectives within the same episode (e.g., Bullseye with Jesse Thorn).
Step 6: Create Cover Art
Now it’s time to create your podcast cover art. This image will be displayed on iTunes and other podcast directories, so make sure it isn’t copyrighted and is easy to read. Also, ensure the small file size so listeners can download the episode quickly. You can use images from sites like Unsplash or Pixabay for this step. Make sure they come from a reliable source so you don’t violate copyright law!
Step 7: Get A Professional Intro (Optional)
If you have a budget, it’s worth getting a professional intro. The intro should be short and sweet, highlighting your podcast and how to listen to it. It should be easy to listen to, catchy, and have a call-to-action (such as subscribe).
Step 8: Get A Microphone
Step 8: Get A Microphone
A podcast is only as good as its audio quality. A great microphone can make all the difference in how people perceive your show, so it’s important to choose wisely. The best way to do this is by listening to your favorite podcasts and seeing what kind of microphones they use. You can also ask your co-host what mic they’re using if you have one already in mind that sounds especially good on their recordings (I’ll talk more about co-hosts later). Some podcasters recommend getting a USB microphone because there are fewer things for you to worry about with them. But if you have a bigger budget or want more flexibility in what you can do with your podcast, consider an XLR or condenser mic instead. They tend to provide better sound quality over time than USB mics do. Dynamic mics are another option for beginners. These come at lower prices than other types but still produce decent results for most podcasts out there today.
Step 9: Choose Recording & Editing Software
If you’re using GarageBand or Audacity to record your podcasts, that’s great. If not, there are plenty of other options available. For example, iTunes allows users to create podcasts directly from the program and make them available in the iTunes store. If you want something more professional-looking than what iTunes can do, though (and if you want an editor that’s not Apple-specific), we recommend looking into Adobe Audition or Logic Pro X.
Step 10: Select A Hosting Site
A podcast is a series of episodes you can listen to on the internet. The episodes are usually around 20-40 minutes long and are released once or twice weekly. You can use your blog to deliver valuable content to your audience in a form they will enjoy and remember. The more people you have subscribed to your podcast, the more likely someone will listen when you have something important to say!
The best thing about podcasts is that anyone can do them – even if you don’t have any experience with audio editing! In this post, I’ll show you how easy it is to create an awesome-sounding podcast so that even beginners can create great quality audio for free using Audacity software, which is pre-installed on most computers already.
Step 11: Launch Your Podcast & Submit It To Directories.
Once your podcast is ready to launch, it’s time to submit it to the iTunes and Stitcher directories. These directories are searchable by users looking for podcasts that they can download on their mobile devices or stream online.
Next, choose a platform to submit your podcast, usually Google Play Music or Spotify. We’re submitting your show to these two platforms because they both have a recommendation algorithm based on what you’ve listened to in the past, which means that submitting there makes it more likely for new listeners to discover your show.
Conclusion
Since we’ve covered a lot of ground, I want to ensure you get some help getting started. This post is great for learning the basics of how to start a podcast, so get right on it!