In just a few years, podcasting has gone from a niche audience to the mainstream.
A podcast is a digital audio series that can be downloaded and listened to at any time on a personal device. Each episode is between 20 and 60 minutes long and focuses on a specific theme or issue.
In this article, we’ll lead you through every step of the process to help you become the next big podcaster – from planning to recording to publishing and advertising.
Characteristics Of A Good Podcast
Although good podcast traits are subjective, most popular podcasts share the following basic characteristics:
- They prioritize their audience in their content.
- The hosts are enthusiastic about what they do, which shows in their final product.
- They have a format that they stick to throughout the podcast.
- Keep to a single theme or central concept.
- Maintain a regular publication schedule.
- They give the audience a reason to listen to their podcast.
Planning The Podcast
We’ll begin by laying out the groundwork for each podcast. This is the first and foremost step in the journey of making a podcast. Every basic planning step is covered in this portion.
Define Your Objectives
It’s essential to understand your podcast’s aim, even if it’s simply to have fun with friends.
To generate leads for a business or to entertain listeners are one of the two strong reasons to start a podcast.
Furthermore, you can establish yourself as an industry leader or send a powerful message using your podcast. Podcasting provides many advantages for brands and enterprises, but you must be realistic about your objectives.
Unrealistic objectives have been the main reason behind the demise of many podcasts.
Choose A Topic That Is Both Distinctive And Intriguing
The second step in starting a podcast is to come up with a topic. There are podcasts on almost any topic, so figure out what your expertise is and how you can use it to produce something unique and intriguing.
This could be based on your research, although it should be a specific topic that people will search for. But you also need to consider your passions. Starting a podcast about something you’re not interested in simply because it’s popular is not a very wise decision.
You should choose the topic based on the following criteria:
- It should be relevant and timely.
- Find a unique angle for topics that have already been covered.
- You must enjoy your topic.
- It must have an audience, and you should have knowledge of the thing that will attract them.
- Availability of content is also pretty important.
Define Your Target Audience
Your podcast should primarily target a specific audience because if no one is interested, you will be speaking to an empty room.
You should describe a specific type of audience and what they care about. It will help you learn their language and determine how to interact with them. You should think from the perspective of the audience when planning your episodes. Try to think about the following:
- Their relationship with the topic.
- The expected attitude of the audience towards the topic.
- How they will be affected by it.
Podcast Format
The beauty of podcasts is that they come in different formats. Some are conversational and interview-based, with one or many hosts bringing on guests, while others focus on storytelling.
It’s up to you to choose which format best fits your theme. Keep in mind that certain formats require more production than others.
For example, fiction podcasts require more editing than interview podcasts. You can either construct your own structure or use one of the popular podcast formats:
- The solo show, also called the monologue
- Co-hosted podcasts
- Docudrama
- Scripted non-fiction
- Roundtable
- News recap
- Scripted fiction
- Interview based podcasts
- Storytelling podcast
- Documentary
- Panel podcasts
- Educational podcasts
Name Your Podcast
The name of your podcast is an important component of your brand. It gives listeners a good first impression and sets the tone for your podcast.
Choosing a name can be fun, but it’s vital that your podcast has a clear and succinct one.
Make your name unique. Short names usually pack a larger punch because they are easy to remember. Here are some helpful tips to remember when selecting a name:
- The name should never be too complicated. After all, having to explain the meaning of your name can create a drop in listeners.
- Make it short and sweet, but remember to include keywords.
- Keep in mind that you’ll be saying the name out loud and writing it down. Make sure it’s not too long and always comes out clearly.
- Obtain a domain name and social media handles for your podcast na,e.
If you still haven’t figured out a good name, you can try our podcast name generator for inspiration. Our generator will help you create hundreds of ideas to choose from.
Set Up A Website
It’s time to put up your website once you’ve decided on a podcast name. To attract listeners, your podcast will almost certainly require its own website. It’s where you’ll save all of your podcast-related materials, including show notes, transcripts, episode descriptions, host descriptions, and more.
It also improves organic traffic to your website, allowing you to attract more listeners.
You will first need to pick a reliable web hosting provider for your website. All web hosting services appear to be the same on the surface. Better services, however, offer more advanced features to help you grow while keeping the basics.
Remember the following key factors when choosing a hosting provider:
- Think about your short and long-term storage requirements.
- Features such as transcription services, audiograms, and the conversion of episodes into video can all help to make your podcast more accessible.
- Ability to examine audience analytics insights.
We recommend you pick one of our recommended web hosting providers. We have a dedicated page where we review the best web hosting companies on the web.
Write A Compelling Description
To connect with your audience, you’ll need to create a description paragraph. This is the description people will read after arriving at your show page and deciding whether to stay.
The majority of people judge new podcasts based on their description, a podcast’s summary must appropriately define the show’s value and provide more details about what a listener can expect.
This is where you can experiment with keywords a little more. Include whatever keywords and key phrases your target audience will use when searching for interesting podcasts.
Keep in mind that there are two types of user descriptions. The first is for people to find your podcast, and the second is for search engine algorithms to find your show.
Setting Up The Podcast
One of the best aspects of creating a podcast is how easy it is to set it up. You can start your show with equipment that is relatively cheap. All you need are the following items:
Studio
Minimize ambient noise as much as possible when recording a podcast because it can distract listeners. As a result, it’s critical to record in a calm, soundproof environment.
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
The headphones are useful both when recording and in post-production since they allow you to monitor and detect sounds. Over-the-ear headphones provide improved noise cancellation, sound quality, and comfort.
Microphone
Rather than using the built-in microphone on your computer or phone, invest in professional microphones. Try USB mics because they are the most economical and easiest to work with.
Other popular professional mics include dynamic mics, which are known for rejecting background noise. Condenser mics are known for audio quality and sensitivity.
Recording Software
Now that you have all of the necessary devices, you’ll need to record using professional software. Recording software allows you to record sound from your microphone and outputs an audio file.
Podcast recording software will allow you and your guests to connect as well as record your talk if you’re performing podcast interviews.
Editing Software
For new podcasters, the editing and production process is frequently the most difficult. Because for many of us, this is our first encounter with master audio files, which means we have a long way to go.
It entails including music and ad spots, as well as removing any content that does not fit. You can utilize editing tools such as Audacity, Adobe Audition, and Descript, which all have different editing options.
Recording The Podcast
So now you’re ready to record. Because you’re still in the early phases of creating your podcast, this is the ideal moment to make notes on how you can enhance it and put them into practice before it goes live. To ensure your success, follow these three actions.
Make An Outline For The Podcast
The most common mistake that every new podcaster make is rambling. Writing a podcast script or outline is the greatest approach to combat rambling.
Depending on the format of the show, a podcast script can be written word-for-word or as a basic framework; choose the best way for you.
Staying on topic is crucial for crafting compelling podcast content, so take advantage of this opportunity. Speaking into a microphone involves skill, as does maintaining a consistent speed and preventing abnormal vocal changes. Having a script helps you avoid making these mistakes.
Select A Suitable Recording Location
Be aware that not all rooms in your home are suitable for recording. Avoid locations near high-traffic areas such as the kitchen or restroom when choosing a space.
Record in a calm area with a lot of furniture, drapes, rugs, or carpet if possible. Noise bounces off hard, flat surfaces, so avoid them wherever possible. You can also use foam panels on the walls to soundproof your home.
Assemble All Necessary Hardware And Software
Connect all of the hardware and software components together to achieve the greatest podcast recording experience.
Make A Test Track
Record yourself speaking at a constant volume from different angles. Then listen to the recording to see which location had the best audio quality.
Promoting The Podcast
It isn’t enough to have a brilliant podcast to attract listeners. To get it in front of your target audience, you’ll need to develop a solid promotion campaign.
The pre-launch is the initial step. Promotion should begin before your first episode airs rather than after.
Share the podcast on existing and new platforms. For example, you could begin by establishing a social media presence and uploading a few posts to count down to the premiere of your first episode.
Prioritize promotion on those channels if you’re just starting out. Don’t forget about your existing audience if you already have a blog or a newsletter. Be constant with your promotions after your show debuts. Stick with what your audience reacts to once you’ve identified it.
Drive Traffic To Your Podcast
A podcast channel is an excellent approach to expanding your audience. It helps you gain more awareness, trust, and respect in your field. Here are some suggestions for publicizing your podcast channel and episodes:
Collaborate With Other Podcasters
Compare notes with other podcasts with similar audiences. You can appear on their podcast as a guest and contribute to it, while promoting your own. Moreover, you can also invite other podcasters to be guests on your show to expose yourself to their audience.
Engage Your Audience
As we already discussed earlier, you can engage your audience by sharing episode updates, creating stand-alone images, and teasing the audience by sharing, re-sharing, and putting countdowns of your podcast.
Seo Options
If you know what you’re doing, the appropriate keywords can help you get your podcast to the top of Google. You can do it yourself or hire a professional to do it for you.
Multiple Podcast Platforms
Make your podcast available on as many platforms as you can. This might assist you in reaching as many people as possible. Many individuals only visit one website, so leverage many platforms to increase traffic.
Conclusion
You know everything about starting and running a successful podcast. It’s your time to become the next podcasting superstar.
Go out and create an amazing episode that will keep your audience speechless.
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