6 Steps to a simple Published podcast
Starting a podcast can be a minefield, especially when there is a plethora of kit, hosting platforms, and ways to record out there. The tech geeks will literally wax lyrical for hours on the recording equipment to use, what microphone produces the best sound, whether you should use Audacity or Zoom until the sheer volume of information leaves you procrastinating for days! So I’ve put together a super simple list of kits that you need to get going, there are other companies to use, another tech to buy I’m sure but this is what has worked well for me over the 3 seasons I have been producing podcasts.
Who is your podcast for?
Getting clear about who you want to speak to from the get-go will make producing your show super simple. Do you want to use it to promote your business and make you a thought leader in your specialist area? Or is this more of a passion project and you want to talk about something you are really interested in? In either case, you can identify your “why” here. That's important to keep in mind so that you can stay motivated, even when you're finding it difficult to get a show out.
Next, you need to work out who your podcast is for, just like you would create a client avatar if you are a marketer, create a listener avatar. Sketch out exactly who it is that you'd like to listen to your content. That persona is something to keep in mind every time you plan an episode: “Would Joanna, our listener persona, like this? Is this focused on what she likes, what she's interested in?”
DO I need an audience to start a podcast?
This is probably my most asked question and the answer is, you probably already have one! Your Social Media followers, your email list (if you have one) and if you don’t have any of these the truth is it doesn’t matter! A survey from The Podcast Host latest Podcast Discovery survey found that potential new listeners don't care if they've never heard of you. In fact, it's the least important factor they'll consider when weighing up whether or not to hit play. Thank goodness for that!
“When choosing where to podcast, get yourself a quiet, tiny space. I’ve heard of people using their wardrobe! I wrap myself in a blanket for an intimate sound. ”
3. Recording equipment
Now here I am going to make this super simple for you, the bare minimum you need to start recording an episode is a computer, wifi and a USB microphone. There I said it! But, if like me you want your listener to have the best listening quality available you’ll want to invest in a bit of kit here. I started with the Samson Q2U microphone which is both affordable and has quality sound, plus it could pretty much last you for years. I was then lucky enough to be gifted the fabulous Blue Yeti for my birthday last year which has higher quality sound. Maybe treat yourself when you get your first 500 downloads? Whatever you decide on, it’s a good idea to make sure you test your mic for sound quality before you record. In my second episode, I forgot to do this and my sound was appalling!
“I batch record for an upcoming season so I have plenty of episodes ready to go. I also have a podcast editing day, where I get the bulk of my editing done.”
4. Recording and editing software
When you plug your USB microphone into your computer, you will need some software to actually record and edit the audio. The good news is that there are a few options for this, and one of them doesn't cost you anything! Audacity is good quality, free-of-charge audio editing application. For the majority of people, it caters to all your podcasting needs. Most podcasters I know go for this option. If, like me, you are looking for the easiest possible way to create a podcast then go for Alitu: The Podcast Maker This is a web app that can automate audio cleanup, it adds music and publishes to your host. It also offers great editing and episode building tools. I’ve personally used this since I started and found this the fail-safe way to produce my podcast.
If you, like most of us in this time of pandemics are recording interviews remotely, you’ll need to use Zoom or Squadcast, which uses ‘double-ender' recording. This means that the recording is recorded by each participant on their own computer and you don’t get the connection glitches often presented in Zoom.
“If your interviewing, practice on someone, my poor husband takes the brunt of this! I plan out a draft of questions beforehand and send them to my interviewee in advance so I don’t ramble.”
5. Choosing your podcast hosting
When it comes to getting your podcast out there for everyone to hear, you’ll need a podcast hosting account. Media or Podcast hosts are services that store your audio and allow your listeners to listen, download, and subscribe to your podcast. You’ll need to sign up to one of these to host your audio files, which you can either use a website set up on their site or use your own. My top three are:
Buzzsprout is the cheapest top option, & most popular ($12/month) This is one host I use and is very easy to navigate.
Captivate has great growth & private podcast features ($19/month)
Transistor also offers private podcast feeds, & is super simple ($19/month)
Any good host – and all three I've listed above – will have a decent set of auto-submit or guided-submission tools. So, they make it easy to get your show into Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and other popular spots.
6. It’s Launch Day!
Now we get to the exciting bit, launch day! It’s a good idea to have a launch date in place so you can start to talk about it on Social media and get a buzz going. You will need to submit your first episode and artwork to Apple well before your launch date as they are notoriously slow when it comes to approval, Spotify will be almost immediate. Then talk, talk, talk about your upcoming episodes on Social Media. Building up that anticipation really helps. Finally, and I know this may trigger a bit but don’t forget to remind people to rate, review and subscribe. It really does help to boost your ratings.
“I wrote down my dream podcast guests before I asked them, most said yes! Now I’m on season 3 I actually get people asking to come on, it’s got so much easier!”
Still need some more help and guidance? I offer Podcast Power Hours where you can pick my brains on all things podcasting, from podcast cover art, to music choices and episode brainstorms. You can book your spot here:
