Podcasting is fantastic for holding lengthy discussions with celebrities and influencers to entertain the audience. But starting a Podcast from scratch isn’t exactly a piece of cake. In fact, the very question of how to start a Podcast is a nightmare for new Podcasters these days.
Why is that? Well, because most aspiring Podcasters don’t know anything about setting up a Podcast. They don’t know what to do or where to start, so they get scared of taking the initiative. But don’t worry, because today we’ll help you with that.
In this article, we have explained some simple tips for starting a Podcast. We’ve also thrown in a couple of tactics as a bonus that you can use to boost your new Podcast. Enough with the introductions; let’s get to the topic now, shall we?
9 Simple Tips to Start a Podcast
These tips are a step-by-step guide for starting a Podcast. Follow them exactly in the order they are mentioned to launch a perfect Podcast that attracts listeners.
1. Planning is Priority
Starting a Podcast without any proper planning can end your Podcasting career before it starts. You need to study some famous Podcasts, learn from them, and then plan out your Podcast. Here are some of the aspects you need to cover in your plan:
- What will the Podcast be about?
- What will be the Podcast’s primary topic?
- What will be the format of a Podcast? (Segments and sections)
- What kind of influencers will be interested in speaking at your Podcast?
- What kind of equipment will be necessary for recording and streaming?
Don’t even think of starting a Podcast until you cover all these aspects. Draw a plan to answer all these questions and once you get the answers, proceed to the next step.
2. Choose Your Topic
A crucial part of the planning phase is to choose a primary topic for your Podcast. Experts always recommend picking a topic that you are passionate about. If you like video games, start a gaming Podcast. Or you can create a Podcast about health if you’re a fitness freak.
Selecting a topic that aligns with your passion will benefit you in two ways. First, it will help you attract a specific audience interested in that niche. Second, you will be able to upload episodes consistently since your Podcast’s core topic is the same as your passion.
You must pick a topic before starting a Podcast to get on with it quickly. Try keeping the topic vague in the niche to attract listeners easily. For example, avoid orienting your Podcast around a particular game if you talk about video games.
3. Purchase High-Quality Equipment
Investing in high-quality equipment can help provide your Podcast with a smooth start. Because when it comes to Podcasts, the quality of equipment directly affects the quality of the stream. So, before starting your stream, buy the best possible equipment for better quality.
First, you need a top-notch studio-quality microphone that perfectly captures your voice. Buy a USB microphone as it is more popular nowadays and provides better audio quality. You can also use analog ones if you like their sound quality better. Second, purchase a professional DSLR camera for perfect picture quality.
You can skip this equipment if you’re going to stream on an audio streaming app. And finally, you need a powerful computer to compile a perfectly recorded and edited audio file. You can with these three things and buy more equipment later to expand the scope of your Podcast.
4. Pick a Unique Name
Create a unique name for your Podcast that can instantly grab a listener’s attention. The title should be so quirky and attractive that it could make someone want to check out your Podcast. Now, there are three things you must remember while naming your Podcast.
First, keep it similar to your Podcast’s niche, so your target audience can find it relevant. Second, make sure the name is not weird. Draw a line between creativity and weirdness while naming. Third, see if you can add a keyword in the name. It will enhance your Podcast’s discoverability on your native website (on which you’re streaming) and other search engines.
5. Write a Creative Description
Once you have picked a name for your Podcast, it is time to write a creative description. Write a concise, straightforward description that can tell potential listeners about your Podcast. Do not get too poetic in the report, as it might make it difficult for people to understand.
Also, search for trending keywords of your niche and add them to the description. Doing this will also increase the searchability of your Podcast and make it easier for people to find it. You can also add your social media links in the description section to redirect the traffic.
Remember that a Podcast’s description can convince listeners to check out some of your episodes. Therefore, take this business seriously and produce an eloquent description.
6. Decide on Your Podcast’s Format
If you have heard a Podcast, you must know it is not about dragging a topic for hours. Podcasts have a format and segments to keep things exciting and prevent listeners from getting bored. And that is what you need; a format for your Podcast.
A Podcast’s format depends on many things, like the core topic, maximum episode length, etc. You must keep all aspects of your Podcast in mind while designing a format for it. It’s best to check out some famous people’s Podcasts and see how they lead their streams. You can learn from them and develop an original format of your own by mixing multiple formats.
7. Create an Attractive Artwork
Believe it or not, if you give your Podcast episodes attractive thumbnails, they will get more listeners. See, the thing is that most listeners judge a Podcast by its cover. So, use this observation to your advantage. Make attractive and eye-catching thumbnails for your Podcast episodes to mesmerize listeners and make them want to click.
Remember to keep the artwork relevant to the Podcast’s topic, or it might mislead the audience. Many easy online tools like “Canva” or “Adobe” make it easy for non-designers to create artwork. So, use them to make pretty thumbnails for your Podcast and get more listeners.
8. Edit Your Podcast Episodes
Editing is the most important part of Podcasting. Listen to your every episode carefully after recording and isolate messy parts in them. For example, parts that contain some inappropriate language or comment, microphone malfunction, etc. Once you isolate them, remove them from the Podcast or cover them up if possible.
Ensuring proper editing is necessary to confirm that you present the best version of your episode to the audience. If you’re not good at editing, hire a professional editor that can do this job for you. However, it’s best to do it yourself because you, as the creator, know better what to delete and keep.
9. Launch Your Podcast
Once you’ve successfully covered all the above aspects, you can launch your Podcast. It’s best to start your Podcast on a well-renowned platform with many listeners.
You should go with Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Buzz Sprout, or SoundCloud, as these are the major Podcasting platforms. You can also start an independent Podcast on your website without any outside affiliation.
Also, here are some things you must do before launching your Podcast:
- Let the world know you’re launching the Podcast by promoting it. You can use social media platforms for this purpose.
- Double-check your pre-recorded episodes and ensure there’s nothing wrong with them.
- Ensure your internet is stable if you plan to do your first Podcast on the live stream.
Keep in mind that the launch week is a critical time for a Podcast. You must engage and attract as many listeners as possible in this period to build up your Podcast. If you successfully jump-start your Podcast with enough listeners, the only job will be to retain them.
Essential Ways to Grow Your Podcast
Once you start a Podcast, you must learn how to grow it and obtain more listeners. Following are some potent expert tips that can help you with that.
1. Invite a Guest and be a Guest
Podcasting is all about having discussions with interesting people or being a part of an exciting conversation. That’s how most famous Podcasts work, as their hosts invite guests from different fields and do the same for others. You should also try to get some famous influencers or celebrities on your Podcast as guests.
Of course, it can be hard to convince renowned people to join your Podcasts. So, until your Podcast doesn’t get famous enough to attract celebrities, you can be a guest on other Podcasts. This strategy will help expand your connections in the Podcasting industry and attract more listeners using those connections.
2. Spread the Word
Spread the word about your Podcast like wildfire. Ensure that everyone in your circle knows that you have started a Podcast. You can approach people directly and ask them to check out your stream.
Or you use social media platforms for this job. Social media can be beneficial in reaching a greater audience and thus attracting potential listeners. You should post your Podcast’s link on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc., and tag friends, so they know.
If you’re running a Podcast about professional issues, you must share it with your colleagues and peers. The best way is to share the link on your company’s intranet. Or you can send the link to your whole mailing list to let your peers know about your Podcast.
3. Create a Website
Creating a website for your Podcast is the best method to make it more legit. It’s also great for adding additional content related to your Podcast. For example, you can make a whole section for stuff like show notes, raw footage by accidentally pressing the record button, etc.
A website also allows you to turn it into an archive for your episodes. You can upload your show highlights and full episodes there for new listeners.
4. Get Transcriptions
Be considerable of your audience and always get transcriptions for all your episodes. Try to upload them on the platform, or you can attach them to your Podcast clips on the website. Doing this enhances the quality of your Podcast and makes it easier for people to enjoy it.
Many free transcription tools online can generate a text file by listening to your content. However, most of them are not so reliable, so it’s best if you do it yourself. Or you can hire a professional if you want to save time.
5. Create Show Notes
Adding show notes to your Podcast can help the listeners grasp the full scope of your discussion. It can help people understand complex terms, slang, references, etc., without busting their heads. Therefore, try to create and upload show notes for all your episodes. It will add value to your listeners’ lives and might also improve your knowledge about some topics.
6. Submitting to Directories
Podcast directories are websites that feature famous and rising Podcasts, so their visitors can check them out. Listing your Podcast there can help you get more exposure and draw the attention of more potential listeners. Interestingly, sites like Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, etc., also work as Podcast directories.
It means that even if you’re not hosting your Podcast on these platforms, you can still use them. It’s best to list your Podcast on all the famous directories for better growth. You can limit the number of platforms later when you decide to sell premium subscriptions to your Podcast.
7. Buy Podcast Listeners
The fact that you need more listeners on your Podcast can’t be emphasized enough. Listeners are like the backbone of a Podcast – they are the fuel that keeps it running. You must focus on attracting as many listeners as possible to see your Podcast succeed.
However, considering the brutal competition in the Podcasting world, pulling off this task is tricky. Besides, it takes a lot of time to establish a Podcast and secure enough listeners to keep it running. The best way to deal with this situation is to buy Podcast listeners from Media Mister.
Providing high-quality authentic Podcast listeners is our forte, and we have been doing this for a decade. That’s right! We have delivered millions of Podcast listeners so far and helped many Podcasters succeed. Also, since we understand how essential listeners are for a Podcast, we always ensure to provide quality listeners.
All the listeners we deliver come from authentic sources and immediately uplift engagement and interactions on a Podcast. So, visit our website to explore all the services we offer for Podcasts. Enhance your social presence and boost your Podcast’s growth with Media Mister.
Conclusion
Starting and running a podcast is not a game. It takes articulate planning and hard work to make your dream podcast a reality. But if you are passionate about sharing your wisdom with the world, this process will become fun for you. It’s also important to remember that promoting your podcast is crucial to reaching a wider audience and growing your listener base. By following the tips in this content on how to promote your podcast, you can increase your visibility and attract more listeners.
We earnestly hope that you found this article helpful and easy to understand. Also, We’re always happy to help! Keep in mind that building a successful podcast takes time, patience, and persistence. With dedication and hard work, your podcast can become a valuable resource for your listeners and a source of pride for you. Good luck with your podcasting journey!
