Podcasts are fast becoming one of the world’s most consumed media. Also, they are pretty easy to start, with just a good idea and a couple of pieces of equipment. If you are thinking of starting a podcast yourself, this step-by-step guide should help you get started, all the way from concept to completed project.
1. Decide on Topic and Theme
First thing’s first, you have to know what you want to talk about. David, a podcast specialist, and writer from https://www.voices.com/blog/planning-your-podcast/ said “The fundamental foundation block of a good podcast is a good idea. Whether it’s about food, music, news, or something more niche, it needs to be a good starting point to build from.” So, what’s your idea? Do you want to talk about current affairs with a humorous spin? Or, maybe you want to specifically discuss 90s music? Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you enjoy talking about and can be passionate about.
2. Naming and Artwork
Got your theme? Now it’s time to come up with a name. Some of the most downloaded podcasts across the globe are ones with catchy names. Obviously, the content has to be good too, but a catchy name can help you stand out from the pack. The artwork has an important effect, too. As you scroll through thousands of podcasts on whichever app you use, what makes one jump out at you? Bright, clear, fun imagery could certainly help, so the artwork is definitely important.
3. Grab The Right Gear
The podcast theme, name, and artwork are all sorted. Great! Now it’s time to gather the right equipment for your podcast to be recorded. If you have a laptop or computer, you’ve already got the most expensive piece of equipment you need. On top of this, you’ll need a simple audio interface, a microphone (or two), and some sound recording software. You might also want to consider some mic stands and a small backup recording device, in case your computer or hardware fails.
4. Plan Your Intro, Links, and Music
Next, you’ll need to start to build the overall feel of your podcast. What will your listener hear every time they press play? Will it be a simple intro from you, a theme song, or some regular music? Assuming you use a combination of these, plan each one properly. Do you want to have a regular introductory segment to create familiarity, for example? If so, start writing and plotting it out. If you want music, get creating or ask someone to write something for you. The more theme, intro, and music planning you do in advance, the more complete your pod will feel.
5. Start Recording With or Without Guests
Now you have every part of the pre-planning sorted, it’s time to start podcasting. Whatever your chosen topic and whoever you are hosting the show with – if anyone – it’s time to think about your first few episodes. What are you going to cover in your first few recordings? Do you want to have some guests on the pod in the beginning? Get those ideas down on paper and then… start recording! You may struggle at first but trust us, you’ll soon find your flow.
6. Promote Your Pod
If you haven’t already, start sharing your podcasting journey on your social media and other platforms. Create a website, forum, and social channels for the pod itself. Ask all your friends to share, like, comment, and subscribe to get the initial numbers creeping up. This will also help you get some ad revenue yourself. The better the numbers across the board for your podcast, the better the chances of you getting advertisers signed up to your channel.
7. Submit to Podcast Platforms
You must make sure your podcast is being synched and submitted to all the major podcast platforms including Apple, Spotify, Acast, and more. Some services will do this for you if you use them to host and upload your podcast, which makes your life a little easier. If you want to do this yourself you’ll need to create an RSS feed and ensure that it is feeding into all the appropriate places, ensuring as many potential listeners as possible have access to your new podcast.
Following these steps carefully will put you in place to be a successful new podcast. Remember to be prepared, knowing what you want to talk about and who you want to talk about it with. Do this legwork first, then you will be left with more time to enjoy the podcasting process itself.
“A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.” – Jeff Bezos.
