How To Start Your Own Podcast
Podcasts have become a powerful medium for people to share their stories, ideas, and expertise with a global audience. The media format has seen considerable growth in recent years, especially with the boom in listenership influenced by the 2020 Covid-19 lockdown. According to statistics, there are over 420 million monthly podcast listeners worldwide today. So, it’s unsurprising you are here to know how to start yours.
Starting your own podcast can be a rewarding endeavor, but it is also often intimidating. Whether you are doing it as a fun hobby, side hustle, or business, it requires a lot of effort in terms of planning and execution. But you can ease the process by knowing just what to do.
In this guide, we’ll provide a step-by-step guide that covers everything you need to know about starting your podcast from scratch. Let’s dive right in!
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Define Your Podcast Concept: Purpose, Niche, and Target Audience
The first step to success in any endeavor is to have a purpose, and your podcast journey is no exception. First, you must identify what you want to achieve with the show. Are you looking to build a community, generate leads for a business, or do this as a hobby? After finding out your why, you need to define your niche and identify your target audience.
A successful podcast is one that makes its listeners feel it was specifically made for them and directly touches their pain points. To achieve this, you need to narrow down your niche to cater to a specific target audience. This will help you create content that resonates with your followers, gaining their trust and loyalty.
For instance, instead of making your podcast about “sports,” you can niche down to NBA, NFL, wrestling, etc. You can even decide to focus on the betting aspect, garnering the attention of sports bettors wanting to up their chances. While you are here, you can visit this website for more information about betting on your favorite sports and games.
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Choose Your Podcast Format
The next step after defining your podcast concept is choosing a format that complements it. This choice is crucial to your podcasting journey as it sets the tone for your show and audience engagement. The decision is totally up to you, but you must consider certain essential factors.
First, you must ask yourself, “What’s the best way to convey my topic/niche?” For instance, an interview format will be ideal for a sports podcast to borrow expert insights and contributions. You should also ensure the format you choose plays to your strengths and skills, such as communication, humor, ability to ask intriguing questions and hold engaging conversations, etc.
Below are some popular podcast formats to consider:
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Solo Show: You host the podcast alone, sharing your thoughts, expertise, or storytelling.
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Interview: You interview guests, experts, or interesting individuals on your podcast.
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Panel Discussion: You host a group of people discussing a specific topic or issue.
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Co-hosted: You co-host with another person, offering different perspectives and banter.
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Narrative/Storytelling: You tell a story or series of stories, often with a narrative arc.
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News/Updates: You provide news, updates, or commentary on current events.
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Invest in the Right Equipment
Followers will only be able to hear your voice in a podcast, so it is only proper that you should give them the best of that. Investing in the right gear brings quality to your podcast and keeps your listeners glued. On the flipside, nobody wants to plug their headphones into poor-quality audio for too long.
When considering equipment for podcasters, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the microphone. A good microphone captures high-quality sound and reduces background noise, saving you a lot of time and effort in editing. Top recommendations in this category include the Blue Yeti, Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB, and Shure SM7B.
Headphones are another essential piece of podcast equipment for monitoring recordings. They help ensure that your audio levels are okay and there are no issues with background noise. Any decent pair of headphones will work, but we recommend over-ear headphones for comfort and sound isolation.
Lastly, you need good recording software that can efficiently capture and edit your audio files. Note that you don’t need to spend money on these, as there are a number of available free options, such as Audacity and GarageBand. These tools help you remove background noise, add sound effects, and improve overall audio quality.
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Record and Edit Your Episodes
After getting all the necessary equipment and testing them to ensure they are in good shape, what’s left is getting down to business. Depending on your podcast format, ensure you have prepared and mastered the script before hitting “record.” You can create a bullet-point outline for a free flow of thoughts and conversations.
As a beginner, you can make these outlines as detailed as possible, then work on more flexibility as you go. Don’t be afraid to take as many breaks as possible when you are just starting. And most importantly, spend quality time on editing, as it might make all the difference.
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Choose a Podcast Hosting Platform
You have recorded, edited, and produced your first podcast episode. Excellent! Now, you need to get it across to your target audience, and this is where a hosting platform comes in. A hosting platform is crucial for distributing your podcast to major directories like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. Before making this decision, you should consider the features of the hosting media, cost, ease of use, analytics, and monetization.
Popular options to consider include:
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Podbean
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Acast
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Captivate
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Buzzsprout
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Spotify for Podcasters (formerly known as Anchor)
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RSS.com
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Launch and Promote Your Podcast
To launch and promote your podcast, start by creating a trailer episode to introduce your show. Then, leverage social media to share your podcast and connect with listeners. You can also use email newsletters and press releases to reach a wider audience.
As your podcast grows, it's essential to engage your audience. Encourage listeners to leave reviews, respond to comments and messages, and consider creating a community around your podcast on social media or a platform like Patreon.
Final Words
With the right preparation and dedication, starting your podcast can be an exciting and rewarding experience. By following the steps outlined in our guide, you can build a successful platform to share your voice and build a community around your passion. Keep in mind that growth is a process as a beginner, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself.