How to Start a Podcast: 5 Steps to Success

Intro: 5 Reasons Podcasts Are a Great Idea

Before producing your first episode, you must first understand what a podcast is (and you likely already do. But just in case…). A podcast can be described as a radio show that is broadcast on the internet.

The big difference between a podcast and a radio show is that a podcast is a digital recording that audiences can stream or download at their leisure and play on their own smart devices. Radio requires listeners to tune in at a certain time of day.

Podcasts generally take the form of a radio talk show format and cover a wide variety of topics. Politics, music, literature, and movies represent just a fraction of topics that are discussed on various podcasts. Chances are if there’s a subject you’re interested in, there’s a podcast that is dedicated to it.

Some podcasts grow to have very large audiences. Once a podcast develops to a noteworthy size, there is also the potential to monetize the show. There are several ways that podcasts have an advantage over traditional radio shows. Some of those advantages are:

1. Reliable analytics
2. Broadcast flexibility
3. Niche content
4. Minimal regulation
5. High growth potential

1. Reliable Analytics

It’s difficult to measure the audience reached by television or radio. The digital nature of a podcast, however, means it’s possible to generate a very reliable analysis of the audience.

Podcast host pages can record the number of visitors per day and even generate a very accurate assessment of the fan data. It’s possible for a podcast to know the age, gender, and even average income of its listeners. This kind of information is useful when combined with smart or digital marketing.

Podcasts also can determine their popularity by the number of subscribers or the number of people who download each episode.

More Targeted Advertising

Concrete numbers such as these make podcasts more attractive than radio in some ways, which can only broadcast their shows to a wide region but cannot measure listener engagement with the precision of a podcast.

Podcasts are a way for advertising agencies to get a much better return on their advertising dollar and are an attractive medium for precision marketing. Think about it—an advertiser only knows two things about a radio audience: 1, what kind of music the like, and 2, they’re close enough, geographically, to pick up the station.

Podcasts usually have narrow enough niches that they draw in people with similar (and specific) interests. Podcasts are gold for advertisers.

2. Broadcast Flexibility

Digital audio files are relatively small, especially when compared to digital video files. Digital audio files are also simple, and most smart devices can play the audio files for most podcasts.

Easy Access

Podcasts upload their latest episode on their host page, and then listeners either download the episode to listen on their device, or they stream it directly from the host page or a streaming platform, like Apple, Spotify, or YouTube. A download takes only a few minutes, depending on the internet speed, so podcast files are easy to obtain and very portable.

Access Anytime

The podcast model has several advantages over radio or television. A radio show is only available at a certain time of day, so users must arrange their schedule around listing to the show, rather than have the show to listen to when they have a moment of leisure.

Also, as the audience of a podcast grows, the early shows will experience greater visibility. Radio shows are not usually accessible after the initial broadcast.

Unlimited Range

Last, radio shows can only be heard within the broadcast range of the station. Podcasts can be accessed anywhere in the world where a good internet connection is available. Therefore, a podcast has a much higher potential to reach a larger overall percentage of the entire world population.

3. Niche Content

Those learning how to start a podcast may already know about niche content. Podcasts have the flexibility to exclusively dedicate their content to niche subjects.

Radio shows broadcast to all listeners in an area and thus have an obligation to engage in a wide variety of subjects that will appeal to the greatest number of listeners. A podcast is accessible to a much larger population base and can seek fans of niche subjects who are distributed worldwide.

The niche content concept of podcasts also means that individuals who have not historically been interested in the general content which is provided by radio might become new media consumers because they finally have a show that addresses their target concerns. Again, the niche concept is especially appealing to advertisers who often have a specific potential customer model they desire to reach.

4. Minimal Regulation

Because podcasts are not on the radio, they are not regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This means that podcasts can engage in subject matter and use language that is not appropriate for radio. Although this might be considered a deterrent to some listeners, the increasing popularity of podcasts shows that there is a vibrant marketplace for unregulated entertainment.

Although podcasts are not regulated by the FCC, there are other regulating agencies that have authority over podcast content, depending on where the podcast is released/broadcasted.

When learning how to start a podcast, knowledge of these regulating agencies is important. For example, there are regulations from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that stipulate requirements about informing the audience regarding payment received for advertising products.

Standard liability laws are also in effect as well as copyright protections. Podcasts that routinely engaged in inappropriate material are subject to legal action and may be removed from their host platform.

Still, Do Your Due Diligence

Anyone wondering how to start a podcast should familiarize himself or herself with the nuances of legal liability in broadcast media. However, as a general rule, if you do not engage in copyright infringement, hate speech, the release of private information, or other forms of harassment, your podcast will operate within the legal requirements of the law. It is important to consult with a lawyer if you have any concerns over the legality of how to start a podcast.

5. High Growth Potential

The internet and social media offer a dramatic growth rate. Ideas are often proliferated and discussed on the internet at speeds that cannot be duplicated by traditional marketing strategies. Podcasts, therefore, have the potential to reach huge audiences quickly. As more and more people make the internet their main source of entertainment, podcasts will only continue to grow in importance.

Step 1: Getting Started – How to Start a Podcast

Before you make any investments of time or money into your efforts on how to start a podcast, there are several important things you can do.

First, know that starting a podcast is a lot of work, and it requires time to develop critical skills and abilities. Just as a writer does not sit down and write a classic novel on his or her first try, a podcaster anchor does not record a successful podcast on his or her first effort. The good news is that money will not hold you back from completing the first few steps of how to start a podcast.

The first steps of starting a podcast involve recalibrating your thinking from consumer to content creator. Develop a different perspective and an awareness of what does and what does not please an audience. Here are some initial steps in how to start a podcast that can be done with little to no investment:

1. Listen to other podcasts
2. Become active in a podcast community
3. Practice your public speaking
4. Develop a concept
5. Record a basic test podcast
6. Bonus:  Use resources such as Fiverr to outsource any material such as intro music or voice-overs

1. Listen to Other Podcast Episodes

Anybody who knows how to start a podcast will tell you to study others in the business. All forms of artistic expression involve some level of merging new ideas and concepts with ideas that have come before.

It’s important to listen to successful podcasts and see what features they have, which have allowed them to achieve their popularity. Some podcasts have the advantage of hosts who began their shows with a pre-existing celebrity. Although these podcasts are entertaining, if you are not a celebrity yourself, they do not represent a model you can easily follow.

Successful podcasts incorporate good sound, interesting guests, professional audio mixing, and effective sound effects. It can seem overwhelming at first; remember that at the foundation of any podcast is good content. A musical score that announces the beginning and end of a podcast is desirable, but not having one will not stop your podcast from succeeding.

Pay attention to the audio rhythm of podcast hosts. Note how they can anticipate when the audience might be losing interest and are able to change up the discussion. Pay attention to hosts as interviewers; note the kinds of questions they ask and when they push to get more out of their guests. A greater interviewer gets their guest to reveal lots of personal information, without ever coming across as pushy or abrasive.

2. Become Active in a Podcast Community

The best way to learn how to start a podcast is to note how popular podcasts create user engagement online. Once you’ve found a podcast you enjoy, be sure to examine how that podcast is represented on various social media platforms or podcast directories. Often, different fan groups develop on sites such as Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, and others. Gauge how often podcast hosts interact with fans on the social media fan pages. Take special note of what kind of comments are made both by fans and by the individuals engaged with the podcast.

It’s also important to call into established podcasts. Many podcasts offer a voice mail number where fans can call in. Sometimes these voicemails are used on the show. If you call into a podcast and your voicemail is used, it affords you a great opportunity to see how a large fan base might respond to your audio sample. Call into podcasts frequently with relevant responses to the topics of recent episodes. If your voicemail is played, check the social media fan groups and see what kind of response you generate. Develop a thick skin and learn from any criticism you receive.

When possible, try to be invited as a guest on established podcasts. This gives you the opportunity to practice the art of podcasting to a pre-established audience. You will learn early in the process whether your aspirations to start your own podcast were a flight of fancy or a true calling. Always pay attention to how your appearances are received, and be sure to interact with the fan base.

3. Write Show Notes and Practice Your Public Speaking

If you’re learning how to start a podcast, it’s also very important to learn to be a good public speaker. Vocalized grunts such as “um” or “like” can quickly become irritating and undermine your ability to engage listeners. There are many local groups such as “Toastmasters” where adults may go to practice their public speaking skills. You also have to learn to speak with good intonation and at a reasonable pace. If you have a habit of slurring your words, or speaking too slow or too rapidly, you cannot host an effective podcast.

It’s important to cultivate an ability to listen to your own content with a critical perspective. You must also be open to listening to criticism from others. Nobody likes to be told that they need to improve, but the better your podcast is, the more your audience has the potential to grow. Listen to recordings of yourself and also listen to criticisms of those recordings from both friends and strangers.

4. Develop a Concept, a Podcast Name, Podcast Format, and Cover Art

Developing a concept for your podcast show starts with picking a podcast topic, and this is a critical step for those learning how to start a podcast.

It’s also important to consider a show format. Most good podcasts have a show structure that the hosts can use as a skeleton for their podcast performance. Creating a format is like coming up with an outline before writing an essay.

As a podcast host, you must introduce the topic of the day, discuss the topic, and arrive at a conclusion. It’s critical to have an organized approach that your listeners can come to expect. A format helps your listeners orient themselves within the concepts you’ll be discussing.

5. Start Recording Several Test Podcasts

You should record several test podcasts before you purchase any recording software to make a professional podcast. For your test podcasts, you can use your laptop or even your cell phone recording feature. If you are doing a co-hosted podcast, record with your co-host, and pay special attention to your interplay. Don’t talk over your co-host, but also limit the moments of dead sound between ideas.

Be critical of each other and keep recording test podcasts until you can produce semi-clean audio with few grunts, talk-overs, or lapses in content. When you record professionally, you want to produce the cleanest possible initial audio to reduce time spent in editing.

When you have succeeded in achieving a quality sample podcast on amateur equipment and find you still have the passion for starting a new podcast, you can begin to invest in the essential podcasting software and hardware; these will be important tools while learning how to start a podcast.

Step 2: Recording – Podcast Recording Equipment… Software and Hardware

Once you have completed the foundational steps of how to start a podcast, you’ll be ready to move on to creating a professional sounding recording. When investing in equipment and software, it’s important to have a budget.

It’s possible to get a great sound with low to mid-tier equipment. However, the better the equipment you can afford, the better your podcast will sound. Content will determine whether your podcast achieves a massive audience, but poor sound quality can ruin an otherwise good podcast.

There are fundamental hardware and software components you must have to record a podcast. There are also optional pieces of equipment that can improve your sound and provide other technical benefits to your show.

If you have a limited budget, start with the basic equipment and integrate the improvements as you become financially able to do so. Here is a list of software and hardware necessary to create a quality product for podcast listeners and to take the next step when learning how to start a podcast:

1. Computer
2. Microphone
3. Headphones
4. Editing software
5. Recording Software (Can Be the Same as Editing Software)
6. Mixer or Audio Interface
7. Other Equipment

1. Computer

You’ll need a computer to record and edit your audio files. If you are financially able, it’s not a bad idea to have a computer that is solely dedicated to your podcast.

Having a podcast dedicated computer allows you to keep all your files in one place instead of having to jump back and forth with hard drives. A work computer also allows you to keep your work area free of clutter or distractions. Even if you have a podcast-only computer, it’s important to back up your hard drive regularly. You don’t want to lose all your podcast archives.

2. Microphone

Your computer comes with a built-in microphone that is effective enough for a Skype or Zoom call but is not appropriate for a professional podcast. You need to have the best quality sound recording possible, and for that, you will have to invest in a decent microphone.

You have the choice between a USB microphone, which will tend to be less expensive, and usually of slightly lower quality since it does not have the capability to hook up to an audio interface.  XLR cable microphones tend to provide a higher quality since they require an audio interface.

Blue Yeti USB microphones represent a popular mid-tier podcasting microphone available for around $100.  If you are looking for more versatility, the Audiotechnica ATR2100 offers the option of plugging in directly to your Mac or PC with a USB cable, or for hooking up to an audio interface and will run about the same price as the Blue Yeti.

Something else you will want to look for in a quality microphone is a boom arm, which will allow for proper height adjustment.  You will also want to look into a pop filter, which will help eliminate “plosives,” which are strong “s,” “p,” and “b” sounds and other background noise.

There are some very expensive, high-quality microphones on the market, but a mid-range affordable microphone will allow you to create a podcast that will not be undone by its audio quality. Knowing how to start a podcast includes knowing the importance of a decent microphone.

3. Headphones

Headphones allow you to listen to the sound as it is being recorded. If your voice is too far away from the microphone or too muffled, you can hear it right away and make position or tone changes without having to restart the recording.

Headphones also allow you to hear your voice the way a listener will. We listen to our own voices through our cheekbones, so it’s sometimes a surprise to hear how we speak to others. It’s very important to practice vocal control when podcasting, so getting a sense of your true voice sound is a very important part of knowing how to start a podcast.

Headphones also allow you to interact with a co-host or guest without allowing your microphone to pick up inadvertent noise. To have the best audio track, it’s important to adopt good recording practices. A decent set of headphones is a critical piece of podcasting equipment.

4. Post-Production Audio Editing Software

After you make a professional recording, you will be able to further improve the sound of your podcast by subjecting it to editing. Editing allows you to cut out awkward pauses, or perhaps whole sections of content you feel are ineffective.

Editing also allows you to add sound effects or music. There are several free versions of editing software online that you can download and use at no charge. Audacity, Garageband, Adobe Audition are two good places to start.

It is a good idea to at least begin with a free version of editing software and work with it for a little while. This allows you to understand what features you prefer in a piece of editing software so you might shop the market as a more informed consumer. If you have developed a relationship with other podcasts, inquire what editing software they prefer.

Remember that there are a lot of different forms of audio files, and one of your objectives in creating your podcast is to achieve viral success. You need to familiarize yourself with the advantages and limitations of various digital file formats. This will help you when you make requests to have your content featured on other popular podcasts.

5. Recording Software (Can Be the Same as Editing Software)

While it’s best to use (and likely will be) the same software to record and edit your podcasts, it doesn’t have to be. For example, if you want to include video with your podcasts, and you’re interviewing guests remotely, you might consider a software like Zoom to record your call, as well as your videos (similar to Skype, but Zoom is really taking over).

6. Mixer or Audio Interface

A mixer is your control panel for audio recordings; it allows you to change the volume levels for in-studio guests or people that call in. The mixer is especially important for guests who are phoning in because there can be wide ranges of volume for different forms of input or quality of connections.

Once your podcast develops to where you need to mix the sound while recording, you may need to consider having a dedicated audio engineer. The podcast host must be focused on the topics of the show and the live discussion and sometimes does not notice audio quality problems as a result.

Just as a writer needs an editor, a podcast needs an audio engineer. In the beginning stages, when the budget is tight, you probably won’t be able to afford a professional. However, if you have somebody willing to learn as you go, your podcast will benefit greatly from the addition.

7. Other Podcast Equipment

You do not have to build a professional studio in your home to start a successful podcast, but as your podcast grows in popularity, there are many things you can do to improve sound quality. You can also take action to improve your working conditions and comfort.

Mic stands are great in that they allow you to move your microphone for better sound rather than force you to twist your body so you’re speaking into the microphone. A pop filter over your microphone will improve sound quality by dampening consonants that cause bursts of air to be expelled from your mouth.

Accessorizing your podcasting studio is like decorating a house. There are many improvements you can make that will cause tweaks to your overall sound quality. It is important to focus on achieving a quality recording studio, and then to make the minor refinements as you go. If you try to have it perfect before you get started, then you will never begin. Resolve to learn and improve as you go; you can’t improve on something that does not yet exist.

Step 3: Distribution – 7 Podcast Hosting Services and Platforms

Once you have developed the capacity to create high-quality audio files, you need to figure out a way to make these files available to the public. Hosting a podcast is very much like hosting a web page. Your listeners have to interact with your content and either download it or stream it live. Hosting a podcast requires storage and bandwidth. You want to make sure you have enough bandwidth so that your page doesn’t crash if you become popular.

There are many platforms that have a large variety of features. Don’t be too dazzled or pay too much for a monthly fee. Remember that just because you are paying a huge fee to a top-end podcast host does not mean a huge audience will discover your podcast. At the end of the day, the quality of your content is what will determine whether your podcast succeeds. You can always start with a basic host and then change, or add features as you learn more.

Some podcast hosting platforms are:

1. Apple Podcasts
2. Soundcloud
3. Libsyn
4. Simplecast
5. Podbean
6. Blubrry
7. Spotify

1. Apple Podcasts (Formerly a Part of iTunes)

Apple iTunes has been around for a while. They first started hosting podcasts in 2005, and are one of the leading platforms. In 2018, iTunes hit a staggering milestone of 50 billion podcast downloads.

In 2019, iTunes separated into three platforms: Apple Podcasts, Apple Music, and Apple TV.  Putting your podcast on multiple platforms is important—definitely don’t skip Apple Podcasts.

2. Soundcloud

Soundcloud has been hosting podcasts since 2015. They allow you to upload podcasts for free, or have paid options. It is nice to experiment with Soundcloud’s free services when you’re just starting out. The free account allows you to upload three hours of content per month. The free account also gives you some statistical insight, but the full statistical features available from a paid account are far superior. Paid hosting can be as low as twelve dollars per month.

3. Libsyn

Libsyn has been around since 2004 and offers plans starting as low as five dollars per month. Like Soundcloud, they also give their users storage and analytics that can be upgraded for a fee. It’s worth experimenting with several podcast host sites before deciding where to host your podcast.

4. Simplecast

For plans beginning at twelve dollars a month, you get great analytics and no upload caps. Simplecast allows you to give them a trial run with a 14-day initial plan.

5. Podbean

Podbean also has a free option, but the benefits really begin at their twenty-nine-dollar-a-month Unlimited Plus plan. Podbean is a great resource that helps you get your podcast featured on iTunes, Amazon Alexa, Google Play, and more. The more venues that feature your podcast, the quicker you will develop an audience, but these companies will not push your podcast for free.

6. Blubrry

If you already have a popular WordPress blog or web page, Blubrry allows you to integrate your podcast with the Powerpress WordPress plugin. The most inexpensive Blubrry hosting plan is twelve dollars a month and offers one hundred megabytes of storage.

7. Spotify

Known most popularly as a music streaming application, Spotify now hosts podcasts. The company didn’t introduce podcasts until 2015, but in 2020 the company offered Joe Rogan 100 million dollars to move his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, to Spotify starting September 1, 2020, and exclusively by the end of 2020.

Spotify also started allowing certain users (including Rogan) to post videos. We’re hoping to see this feature be extended to all users in the future.

Some other highly recommended Podcasting Platforms Are:

• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher

Step 4: GROW – Persistence, Content Creating, & Marketing

This is really the meat and bones of your success as a podcaster—the most difficult part of your journey. And a necessary one before you can even consider trying to monetize it. After all, what advertisers are going to pay you for ads if you have no audience?

Now What?

So you started a podcast. Everyone will just flock to it and listen for hours on end, right? Wrong.

During this phase, you need to create content consistently, and a lot of it. Potential listeners need to be able to tinker around and see what you have to offer.

On top of that, you need to get the word out to your target listeners that you have a podcast—and why they should listen to it.

The more specific your niche is, the easier they should be to find (as long as it’s not too specific). Before you get started, go back to step 1, and first make sure that you have a sizeable, yet specific, target audience to begin with.

Because build it, and only build it—and they will not come.

1. Make sure you have a reasonably-sized potential audience to begin with when picking your niche
2. Create, create, create
3. Market yourself to that target audience
4. Create, create, create

After you have a growing audience, only then can you begin Step 4: Monetizing your podcast.

Marketing

As we mentioned above, once your podcast is available on the market, your next task will be to grow your audience. Launch your podcast along with a web page, social media accounts, and all over so that listeners will know where to find you, and where go when a new episode is released.

Create text introductions to the various topics of the day can also help reach new listeners, and they can provide new links that you can promote on social media.

Just a Few Ideas to Get You Started

Email Marketing

Get to know your audience by creating a mailing list going. Provide them with free and valuable content so they stick around, and let them know when you release a new podcast.

Later on, you can use this same emailing system to generate revenue in various ways (Affiliate marketing, selling an Ebook, product, etc… but don’t jump to this too soon.

Start Blogging (Keyword Research and SEM Marketing)

Build a website that includes some blogging that relates to your content to help your website appear higher on the google search, helping you to bring in new listeners.

First, use a keyword research tool, like aHrefs, to research keyword terms that your potential listeners might be searching.

Second, analyze the competition. See if you have a shot at ranking for those terms. If not, go back to step 1, and continue until you find (1.) a reasonable search volume and (2.) low enough competition to rank for those terms.

Third, write blogs. Use a tool like Clearscope.io to help write your blogs. Clearscope can shed some light on what Google is already ranking for these keywords, and what you can do to increase your chances of ranking.

Post Content on Social Media

Again, provide free and useful value, and people will follow. For example, if I’m an Audio Engineer that specializes in Mixing & Mastering (which I am), I could start an Instagram channel, when I’m consistently sharing tips and helping my target audience. (To grow exponentially, I could also consistently post on Facebook and YouTube and grow audiences there).

Eventually, your following will get to know you, and they’ll want more. Boom. Podcast.

Maybe not the best example, because a podcast about Mixing & Mastering would get a tad mundane, but you get my point.

Step 5: Monetizing – How to Monetize Your Podcast

Now that you have growing audience, you have the opportunity to monetize. And there are many ways that you can do this.

Advertising and Sponsors

The most obvious way to monetize your podcast is to run ads from advertisers. If your following is big enough, advertisers may reach out to you. But don’t hesitate to reach out to them.

Maybe they’ll just want to sponsor your podcast in exchange for ongoing compensation, or maybe they just want to run one ad in the beginning, middle, or end, of your podcast.

Email Marketing

As we mentioned before, email marketing is a great tool for growing and keeping your audience listening. But it’s also a great tool for monetization.

When you can reach out to your audience via email, it’s an easy way to send them a link to something to purchase. Whether it’s your product or a product you’re getting kickbacks from, email is fantastic.

Contrary to what you might think, with smartphones, email is far from extinct.

Influencer Marketing

Influencer marketing is becoming a larger part of the digital marketing strategy. You can use the analytical data supplied by your podcast host to approach marketing agencies about your services. An advertising page on your podcast web page can also provide contact information for individuals who wish to engage your services.

Patreon

Services such Patreon also exist that allow people to sponsor your podcast with monthly pledges. On Patreon, you set various subscriber levels, and then offer bonus content for individuals willing to pledge more to your monthly content creation. Bonus material can be bonus episodes or access to video live feeds of your podcast performance.’

Patreon is a great way to try to monetize a podcast when your following isn’t that big yet. Maybe the few listeners you have REALLY like your podcast, and would hate to see it go away. They like it so much that maybe they’re willing to contribute a monthly payment to help keep you going.

And Many Many More

Once your following continues to grow, your monetization options also grow. Again, look at Joe Rogan. He’s been podcasting for so long and grew such a huge audience, Spotify forked up $100 million dollars for him just to move his podcast to his platform. Incredible.

Obviously, it’s unlikely that will happen to you—BUT, that doesn’t mean you can’t make a living from a podcast. But don’t forget, monetizing is the LAST piece of the puzzle, and much easier than all of the necessary parts that lead up to. So don’t jump the gun.

Use Caution

Also, exercise caution when choosing your monetization options. Don’t make your listeners think that you sold your soul by overdoing it, or trying to sell them something they’ll hate. Know your audience, respect your audience, and exercise caution. Stay you!

What Are You Waiting For… Get Started!

Podcasting is a phenomenon that only continues to grow in popularity. More and more individuals are growing frustrated with the mainstream media and are actively seeking new and different perspectives.

There are a lot of fascinating individuals out there who have not had a platform for sharing their thoughts until now. Once you learn how to start a podcast and you begin creating and releasing quality content, you might be surprised at just how big of a market exists for your material.

Through advertising and sponsorship, your podcast might become large enough to allow you to podcast full time. With the proper equipment, hosting, and dedication to your craft, you can be part of the new media revolution. The foundational stages are free, so why not hit the record button and try it?