Your Step-By-Step Guide to Starting a Podcast
By: WhisperRoom™
October 22, 2021
Got a good idea for a podcast? Want to find a new way to market to your audience? Maybe you just want to do something creative? Whatever the reason, podcasting is a great way to get your voice and message out there. Here’s your step-by-step guide to starting a podcast, so you can hit the ground running.
Do Some Planning First
You can’t just start talking into a microphone and hope that people listen. You need to have a plan, so you can get people listening to what you have to say. Here’s how to plan your podcast before you even start recording.
What’s the Podcast About?
Why are you looking to make a podcast? There are all kinds of reasons why you may want to. For example, you can make podcasts to market your business, or yourself if you’re a freelancer. It allows you to build an audience that you can rely on.
You may also want to start a podcast as a hobby. If you have a topic that you’re passionate about, and you think others would be too, then you can start a podcast about it.
Knowing why you want to start a podcast is the first step before you get into recording.
Who’s Your Audience?
Here’s another very important question. Who do you want to be listening to your podcast? If you’re a hobbyist, that’s easy to answer. You want people who are into the same thing you are to check your podcast out. If you’re creating a podcast as a marketing strategy, then you need to know who your target audience is. This is where you can use audience personas, so you can create content that’s geared towards your audience.
Name Your Podcast
A good name is vital, as that’s the first thing anyone will see in your podcast. You need something that will draw listeners in. Many like to use clever names that will stick in listeners’ memories, but you do need to ensure that it still describes what your podcast is about. ‘The podcast The Path Of Most Resistance uses the subtitle The Uncommon Leader’s Guide‘ says blogger Joyce Sheppard, from Paper Fellows and OX Essays. ‘That allows them to have a good name while still explaining what they’re about.’
You also have the option of using a descriptive name. For example, a podcast about healthy eating could be called The Healthy Eating Podcast. This works, but may not be the most memorable approach.
Planning Your Episodes
Now that the groundwork is done, you’re ready to start making episodes. Formatting the episodes is vital, as depending on your subject and audience, you’re going to want to make something that suits them.
For example, how long should your episodes be? Many say that 25-45 minutes is about right, but don’t feel the need to pad out or cut down your content if it doesn’t fit. It’s better to have good content than rigid time constraints.
Also, how often will you release episodes? The best schedule is one you can realistically stick to. If you can do it weekly, that’s great. Otherwise, try going once every two weeks, or monthly. You also have the option of podcasting in seasons. This allows you to create a block of episodes in one go, and then release them regularly.
Hosting Your Podcast
Picking a host format is important, as you need the right format for the type of show you’re doing. Here are some options that you can choose from:
Solo Show
‘You’ll need to go this route if you’re looking to start up on your own’ says writer Cerys Clay, from Custom Essay and Essayroo. ‘It’s also a good option if you want full control of the show.’
Co-hosted Show
Having a co-host gives you someone to bounce ideas off of, and helps give your podcast more energy.
Interview Show
This allows you to borrow the expertise of others, and get new and exciting ideas for your audience.
Get the Right Equipment
Finally, you’re ready to start recording. You’ll need the right equipment to get going, so what do you need? If you’re starting from scratch, the bare minimum you need is a laptop and a microphone. That’s a good way to start, but it will limit the sound quality of your podcast.
The best upgrade you can make is to your microphone. The good news is that you don’t need to spend a fortune to get better sound quality this way. There are lots of guides online that will help you pick out the perfect microphone.
With all this out of the way, you’re ready to get started podcasting. With a little planning, you can hit the ground running and create something that people want to listen to. After your podcast gets started, you can focus on growing your audience.
Emily Henry is a podcast expert, creating content on podcasting for UK Writings and Academized. She also tutors at State Of Writing.
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