10 Beginner Tips To Start a Podcast

In this voice-controlled world, how does a company position itself to become an authority? Podcasting is the solution!

Creating Podcasts is a new and fascinating media type that has exploded in popularity over the last few years. The rate of podcasts’ popularity is unsurprising given our audio-first culture.

It’s a terrific way to create new or repurpose old content. You may easily convert video classes or written tutorials into podcast episodes.

Podcasting caters to those who prefer to receive information in a passive manner which means that they choose what they want to listen to when they want it.

According to Statista, there are about 86 million podcast listeners in the United States in 2019 and this is predicted to exceed 160 million by 2023 at an annual growth rate of 17%.

Starting a podcast is like owning your own media company. You need to learn the ropes to have a successful venture. So, how do you begin?

Not to worry, I’ve got ten top tips to help you start your podcast and get it off to a great start! These tips have helped many individuals and companies increase their business reach and sales via Podcasts.

Let’s dive in!

#1- Define the purpose of your podcast?

First and foremost, why do you want to create a podcast?

Do you want to leverage podcasting to establish authority in the industry while providing valuable and interesting content to your consumers and target audience?

Or are you considering podcasting as a side project? This could indicate that you’ll be working on a show in your spare time. And the topic will be something you’re enthusiastic about.

In either case, you’ll be able to pinpoint your “why” here. That’s crucial to remember so you can stay motivated, even if getting a podcast out is proving challenging.

#2- Define your audience?

Get the big question out of the way first: Who are you doing this podcast for?

You have no hope of building an audience unless you know exactly who you’re making your program for and why you’re doing it.

If you’re approaching it from a commercial standpoint, and you’re a business development coach who wants to start a podcast, your target audience would be those who are interested in growing their business.

Drawing out your listener’s persona is very important to prepare your podcast in line with their needs. While you’re planning your podcast, you could ask yourself: “Would this appeal to Robert, our listener persona?” Is this centered on what he enjoys and is interested in?”

That persona and those questions will help you keep your show on track and focused, which will help you produce more interesting content.

#3- Choose the Name, Look, and Sound of your Podcast

Podcast Name

Your podcast’s name, like any excellent brand, should be succinct and memorable. It could be a catchy phrase that encapsulates the core of your podcast’s content.

It will assist your listeners in remembering your show and will make it easier for new listeners to locate your podcast when searching for it.

Here are a few nice title examples:

The Youngest Millionaires
How I Made It
Smashing Goals Consistently
The Smart Business Men’s Tribe

Cover Art

The next thing is your cover art. As people browse through their favorite podcast app, your cover image is the first thing that captures their attention. Your listeners see your cover before they hear you. It can compel them to listen to your podcast or repel them if it’s not catchy enough.

You may make the initial impression count by selecting a photo or graphic that is relevant to your theme. You can also just use the title of the podcast as the cover.

Flickr, Unsplash, Pixabay, and Google Images are great places to look for photographs with a creative commons license that is free. You could also try Adobe Stock or Shutterstock if you don’t mind spending a little money.

Sound

After you’ve decided on the image, the next thing you should consider is how you want your podcast to look: Music for the intro and outro might help your listeners relax and become more familiar with your episodes. Free music can be found on websites like Free Music Archive and Musopen.

#4- Shop For The Best Equipment

Make a list of the items you’ll require. You don’t need expensive equipment to start a podcast, but having good equipment will help you produce higher-quality content.

Your smartphone’s microphone will most likely be insufficient to generate a high audio quality that your listeners will appreciate.

However, the good news is that high-quality podcasting equipment does not have to be prohibitively expensive. A microphone and good headphones or a headset are all you need. You might also need an audio recorder if you’re recording with several hosts.

#5- Create a Format For Your Podcast

The format you choose is personal and is determined by the number of people involved! If it’s just you, you’re probably not going to do a co-hosted program anytime soon.

The following are the types of format you can work with:

Interview Show

Doing an interview program allows you to have a conversation with someone you’ve always admired.

Your guests will likely have their audiences who will listen to the interview and possibly subscribe to your show as a result. If done correctly, this method can help you build a large audience.

However, do not approach the A-listers in your field right away. Interviewing guests is also a skill that you will need to hone through practice. You’ll need to discover and approach possible guests regularly, schedule interviews, and count on them to show up (in person or digitally).

The Monologue Show

For this type of podcast, you don’t have to rely on others to record your episodes, and you’re establishing yourself as an expert on your topic. Because the podcast is entirely yours, you have complete control over sponsorship and income. You also don’t have to share the profits with anyone.

The only challenge is that for a new podcaster, this is probably the scariest form of show. One of the most difficult aspects of performing a solo concert is getting over the notion that you’re “talking to yourself.”

Co-Hosted Show

This is making a presentation with a buddy or colleague.

Chatting on the program with someone else is an excellent method to overcome “mic fright”. You’ll have someone to bounce ideas off of, discuss with, or even jock with.

The presenters on certain co-hosted podcasts have a lot of chemistry. This can result in an exceptional listening experience. The downside is that there may be conflict of interests in the long run.

The point is, while it’s helpful to have an “average” format so your listeners know what to expect, you don’t have to keep to it every time.

#6- Create a Schedule For Your Episodes

Once you’ve decided on a theme for your podcast, consider how frequently you’d like to release new episodes. Keep in mind that each episode necessitates some planning, recording, and editing time.

If you’re just getting started and have a busy weekly schedule with work and daily life, a weekly calendar can be intimidating.

The advantage of creating your own podcast is that you are in charge: you set the tempo. Once you’ve gained some experience, you can always go from a biweekly to a weekly timetable.

However, you need to be consistent. If you continually alter the rhythms and publishing dates of your podcast, listeners may become frustrated and lose interest in it.

#7- Edit Your Recording

Don’t worry if you flinch at the sound of your voice; we’ve all been there. Some of your audience might think your voice is quite natural, however, it’s best if you edit your recording.

When editing, working in two stages can be beneficial:

The first thing is to go over the tape and make any necessary changes to improve the clarity of the content. Perhaps you got off track someplace and had to go back and repeat a statement. Remove everything that isn’t necessary.
Then, in a second-round, edit for style, removing expletives such as coughs, and other noises. After that, you can apply certain filters or effects to the audio to make it more polished.

Once you’re satisfied with your recording, simply export the file in an mp3 format and you’re ready to release your first episode!

The majority of podcasters record directly into their editing program. And many of them rely on open-source software.

Garageband, a free audio editing program is included with Apple products. Audacity is also a free audio editing program that works on both Macs and PCs.

#8- Choose A Podcast Hosting Service

You need to locate a service to host your podcast. Media or podcast hosts store your audio and enable your listeners to listen, download, and subscribe to your podcast.

There are numerous podcast hosting options available. Almost all of them offer various plans, some of which are free.

Be careful that free plans may have restricted audio storage or other limitations, so if you plan on releasing episodes frequently, you may run out of space.

Most hosting services offer varying quantities of audio storage, a web player to embed on your website, and full data on your viewership, best-performing episodes, and so on for a nominal monthly price. Buzzsprout and

Your podcast’s RSS feed will be provided by your hosting provider. Your listeners can listen to your program on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Amazon, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, Overcast, and other platforms by entering the RSS feed.

Each platform has a quick start guide that explains how to submit your feed to them.

#9- Promote Your Podcast

When your podcast is live and available to the public, you can start thinking about promotion and growing your audience.

You now want people to hear it, so let them know you’re available!

Promoting your show on social media is the best way to get people talking about it. Choose the platforms that work best for you and start posting nuggets, teasers, and trailers about your show.

You may make brief audio teasers to distribute online and attract listeners to tune into your podcast.

#10- Transcribe Your Podcast

Search engines (such as Google) love transcriptions because they allow them to “read” your podcast episodes. They also provide a simple option for your viewers to look anything up.

You don’t have to start with them, but it’s another feature that will distinguish you.

Final Thoughts

One of the important attributes you need to possess to start a podcast is consistency. If you don’t consistently show up for your audience, you’ll lose them in the long run.

Let’s face it, success in most endeavors involves forethought and consistency. Right now, having the discipline to be consistent can pay off handsomely in the world of podcasting. So, follow these tips and stay consistent to reap the huge returns of podcasting.

Are you going to start your podcast? Let’s know in the comments section.

Ask Nick Foy Training Courses & Resources

0 Shares