what do i need to start my own podcast

If y'all're looking for a guide that walks you through how to start a podcast, yous're absolutely in the right place…

Starting a podcast isn't difficult, only there are a number of steps yous'll need to go through in order to become information technology launched.

In this podcasting tutorial, we'll walk y'all through every pace of the process:

• Choosing a topic & name
• Evidence and episode format
• Cover fine art creation
• Intro & outro music
• Equipment option
• Audio recording & editing
• Submission to Apple tree Podcasts (iTunes)
• Promotion tips

And much more…

Bonus: Free ten-Day "How To Start A Podcast" Email Course
Merely click the link and enter your electronic mail to get the beginning lesson:

Click Here To Get The Free "How To Start A Podcast" Email Course

Just a few of the things you'll acquire:

• What to podcast about
• Equipment y'all'll need
• How to tape & edit
• How to promote your podcast

Get started today!

Podcasting is a much less crowded and competitive space than blogging, makingnow the perfect fourth dimension to become started.

Equally of Apr 2022, there are simply over 2 million podcasts, merely over 600 meg blogs!

In case you're wondering, I've helped thousands of people beginning a podcast in the final several years and have started a few shows in different industries myself.

Looking to start a podcast quickly? Sign upwards with Buzzsprout, upload your sound files, and submit to Apple & Spotify.

Let's get started:

Planning

This is the initial (often overlooked) stage to make a podcast. You'll want to spend a good corporeality of time here before you lot move on.

Feel gratis to become out a notebook or a whiteboard and so you can start planning your podcast similar a pro.

Choose A Topic

You desire your podcast to be focused on a particular topic or niche.

Try to narrow it down to something you can speak nigh for many episodes (100+) but that isn't so broad that you won't entreatment to your potential audience.

For instance, instead of having an "outdoor" podcast, talk virtually hiking – or even more specific, like hiking 14ers.

You can always aggrandize your topic afterwards as you get more than pop.

Important: see the department about choosing a name to make sure you don't limit yourself.

Pick A Co-host (optional)

Do you have a friend, business organisation partner, or coworker that you want to co-host with?

It tin be much easier to starting time podcasting if y'all take a co-host.

You lot volition naturally have a more engaging chat if y'all both share your points of view on a topic. Information technology can as well be helpful to accept someone to keep things on track.

Plus, you tin can split boosted tasks of editing, promoting, and more.

In that location can be downsides though.

Yous'll want to brand certain both of you are committed to it for the long term. And it helps to set a schedule from the showtime and then you know when you volition be recording every calendar week.

In that location aren't rules here though. If your co-host drops off, you could notwithstanding continue the podcast without them. Or you could outset solo and add together a co-host later.

The important thing is to only become started.. so allow's cull a name:

Choose A Name

If y'all look at the top Apple Podcasts charts, you'll see a multifariousness of different names.

Some are descriptive of what the show is about, while others don't mean much.

I'yard actually going toseemingly contradict what I said before: You desire to choose aname that is broader than your topic.

Using the hiking example earlier, if we choose "The 14er Cast" equally our name, what happens when we want to talk about backpacking & ultralight camping too?

Instead, choose a proper noun that will allow you lot expand if you lot decide to later. Possibly "Mountain Adventures (Above & Below 14K ft)" would piece of work as it gives a hint to hiking 14ers but gives you the option to talk about all kinds of stuff if yous desire.

I but came up with that as I was writing this, I'grand sure you could do ameliorate!

Action Step:Purchase a domain proper noun (opens in a new tab) for your podcast.

Another option is to become a gratis domain name with a Bluehost web hosting programme. You tin can search right here on this page – effort it out!

Please enter your domain.

Please verify that yous are non a robot.

I also accept some more tips on choosing a domain proper noun hither if you want.

Bear witness Format

Length

You'll detect a number of "experts" merits that sure lengths are perfect for podcasts. The problem is that'southward just BS.

You don't need a 28-minute podcast considering that'due south the boilerplate driving time. Or under an hour because people can't pay attention longer than that.

There are v minutes podcasts and there are 6-hour podcasts. Notice whatever works for you lot and run with information technology!

What I would attempt to avoid is making it longer than information technology needs to be because you lot went off-topic for fifteen minutes.

Here's a great image from Pop Up Podcasting that shows "easy, good, or long – pick 2":

Style

Interview shows are pop, but that doesn't mean you have to practice i.

Yous can practice solo (or co-hosted) shows half the time and interview shows the other half.

Ane big benefit of doing interviews is that they help a ton with getting new listeners – especially if you make it like shooting fish in a barrel for your invitee to share with pre-written templates and graphics.

Episode Format

So what does a specific episode sound like? I wrote this post about podcast intros, but information technology has a agglomeration of examples of different episode formats for popular podcasts.

Here'southward one example:

• Teaser
• Intro Music
• Welcome
• Ad Spot
• Interview
• Call To Action ("Review us on iTunes!")
• Outro Music

Get creative with this part.

Unlike segments make information technology easier to share small clips on social media too.

But remember that for every episode you put out, you will have both repeat listenersandnew listeners so you should try to speak to both of them.

Grooming

Now that yous've written down your topic, format(s), and secured a domain name, we'll need to get a few things prepared ahead of launch…

Create Encompass Art

Your cover art is the first impression most people will see equally they browse through Apple Podcasts or their favorite podcast app.

It'due south might likewise be the image someone sees when you share your show on social media.

Buzzsprout has written an excellent article nearly designing cover fine art, so I would definitely showtime there.

If y'all have a lilliputian flake of a budget, I highly recommend 99 Designs to become yours created.

You'll get hundreds of unlike designers to produce a draft – and so you tin can cull the ones yous like to have them further refined.

Get A Professional Intro (Optional)

Music Radio Creative is the best place to get professional person-quality voiceovers and intros.

Having a tertiary-political party introduce you just takes your perceived value up a notch, which is a bang-up way to stand up out when first starting a podcast.

Choose Intro Music

I'grand a big fan of PremiumBeat for podcast music.

It'due south easy to search, you get a full license, and they take a bunch of unlike styles.

Take a look at this mail service on royalty-complimentary music for more options.

Nearly people don't need an unlimited subscription-style music service – just a vocal or two.

Go A Microphone

Audio quality is important simply it doesn't have to cost a ton to get a good quality microphone for podcasting. One of the virtually pop podcasting microphones is the Sound-Technica ATR2100x-USB (brand new version for 2020).

Information technology's both a USB microphone and has an XLR connection which lets you upgrade your recording equipment without needing a new mic.

I recommend taking a look at our podcast starter kit mail for more options hither, especially if y'all programme on having a co-host or two.

Podcast Guests

If you are doing an interview bear witness, now is the fourth dimension to get a listing together of who you desire on your podcast.

Then start reaching out to them.

It tin help to use a service similar Acuity Scheduling so people can volume right on your agenda when it's convenient for you.

This saves the headache of going back and forth working out a meeting time – and means you lot can focus on getting more guests!

Plus you can enquire them for certain info like their Skype username or an intro you tin read when they schedule with you lot.

To record your interviews when yous're not in-person (or if your co-host doesn't record in the same room with you lot) I apply and recommend Iris.

Recording & Editing

Alitu (The Piece of cake Way)

If you haven't used editing software earlier, even simple deportment in GarageBand or Audacity can be quite intimidating.

It'south understandable: audio product is completely full of jargon!

If that's the case, and then Alitu might be the way to go.

It's a 'podcast making' tool that automates a lot of the confusing technical parts, and practically builds your episode for you. Information technology's all based right inside your browser, and then no software to download, and it works on any estimator connected to the internet.

It is congenital to be super unproblematic to use and does pretty much everything:

• Takes care of sound cleanup
• Lets you add music
• Helps you piece together your sound segments
• Has direct publishing of your episodes.

All you demand to do is upload your recordings, and use the fool-proof podcast-specific editor to take out any big mistakes. Alitu does the rest!

Even better, Alitu includes a library of music and jingles which you lot tin can utilize every bit your theme melody, or as transitions between segments.

Whether you lot're a complete beginner, or an experienced podcaster looking to drastically cut down on your production time, you should definitely give Alitu a attempt. Information technology comes with a 7-day free trial, so sign up here and try it out!

GarageBand (Free Option)

I'g going to evidence yous how to use GarageBand for recording and editing.

Other audio editing software is similar but most take more advanced features that yous don't demand when getting started. Popular options are Adobe Audience & Audacity (both piece of work with Mac & PC).

You lot tin also cheque out our total mail service on podcast editing software.

Create A Template

Before you lot get started, information technology volition be much easier if y'all create a template that y'all can reuse every time yous tape a podcast episode.

What this means is that yous will have your intro & outro music already placed, space for advertizing spots, every bit well as your tracks for your vocalization or an interviewee.

Keep in mind this will expect different depending on your episode format – create a podcast template that works for you. Here's one I use:

I'll only open the template up, click File -> Save As, and save the file as my episode proper name (i.east. 008-episode-8-title).

This volition also keep any effects you have applied to the tracks, including pinch, EQ, or annihilation else. I'll show y'all the settings I use in the editing department below.

Tape Your Starting time Episode (Or three)

Solo

If yous're just recording a solo episode or want to record an intro to an interview yous did, simply select the track you want to record to (encounter the low-cal grayness Podcast Sound rail selected above) and click the ruby Record button up height:

Multiple Hosts

If you lot have multiple hosts, yous'll need to click Track -> Configure Rails Header and check Tape Enable.

This volition requite you the option to enable multiple tracks to record at in one case and you'll see the Tape Enable push button on each rails:

You'll click that push on each track y'all want to record, then click the big record button up top. Easy plenty!

Remote Interview

Many people utilise Skype for recording remote interviews and the easiest way to actually record the sound (or video) is with Ecamm Phone call Recorder For Skype (Mac merely) or Pamela (for Windows).

If you desire better audio quality than Skype or Zoom allow, or a way to have individual audio files for more than two people, services like Iris are excellent. They are designed for remote recording and podcast interviews.

When you are done recording, you'll have two separate tracks that y'all volition place on superlative of each other like this:

This as well shows some other template that yous may want to use. The Podcast Audio track is only used for solo shows, and the Interview tracks are only used for interview shows.

Edit Your Episode

There are a couple of things you lot tin can easily set up once (and relieve in your template) that will brand your podcast (and your vocalism) audio much better.

Proceed in mind that everyone'south voice is dissimilar and then at that place aren't perfectly universal settings, but these may give you a expert starting point:

1. Select the track you want to work with (start with your voice)
2. Click an empty space in the Plug-ins box
3. Add compression past going to Dynamics -> Compressor:
4. I use these settings (sometimes I'll add more gain): Play around with them and merely click the power push button side by side to the compressor plugin to easily compare.
5. Next we're going to add together EQ (under EQ -> Channel EQ).
6. Hither are my settings:

• 100 Hz: 24dB/Oct curl off, Q: 0.79
• 160 Hz: -2.5dB, Q: 2.20
• 500 Hz: -1.0dB, Q: 0.71
• 930 Hz: -0.5dB, Q: 3.20
• 3400 Hz: +0.5dB, Q: 0.71
• 5400 Hz: +2.5dB, Q: 0.71

I'm not going to get into what all that ways, simply if you just practise one, the low-end roll-off (on the left) volition be a good start.

Or you can just download my Podcast Vocal EQ settings here (.pst file on Dropbox).

The concluding step I'd recommend is going to Auphonic to apply some normalization for loudness (LUFS), leveling, and filtering. It will also automatically add ID3 tags should you demand them.

Launch!

Get A Podcast Host

I apply and highly recommend Buzzsprout podcast hosting subsequently trying many dissimilar companies over the years.

Plus y'all'll get a free $20 Amazon souvenir carte after you sign up for a paid plan!

Feel free to cheque out our consummate podcast hosting guide if you want to encounter other options, but another groovy choice for larger brands is Transistor.

You can also wait at this list of the best podcast platforms.

One time you've signed up, you'll need to fill out some required information about your podcast (name, clarification, categories, etc.).

Upload Your First Episode

If you employ Buzzsprout, this process is super simple.

If not, information technology'southward possible y'all need to mess with things similar embedding ID3 tags into your MP3. Sounds confusing and unnecessary – permit's not do that.

You'll but need to click the "Upload" push:

and they'll use some magic processing to your mp3 file.

Then you'll demand to make full out the episode title, clarification, summary, publish date, and episode #.

If you lot want to use Seasons, put a "1" at that place, otherwise go out it bare. If you use a lot of bad words, click the explicit checkbox.

It can be helpful to create a template for your episode description (in a divide text document) to reuse for every episode – I employ something like this:

Click salve and echo this stride for your initial release of episodes.

It's recommended to launch a podcast with more than one episode so that people don't have to look to hear more.

3 to 5 episodes is a adept number to start with.

Submit To Apple Podcasts (iTunes)

I accept a separate guide on how to submit your podcast to iTunes but within Buzzsprout just click Apple tree Podcasts under the Directories tab and follow the steps they've put together.

After that, grab your podcast RSS feed and submit information technology to other podcast directories besides.

Equally you upload new episodes, your host volition automatically update your RSS feed and any podcast directory you're listed on volition also update with your new episode.

Spread The Give-and-take

Use Buzzsprout's social sharing feature to generate teaser videos and start sharing!

Buzzsprout's congenital-in video soundbite creator.

At that place are other companies that will help you generate unlike styles of audiograms, but having it built into your host makes it actually easy to create (and it won't cost you extra).

Wavve and Headliner are two excellent choices if you want to create more than custom podcast videos to share.

Check out this article on podcast promotion to for a agglomeration of other marketing tactics. One of the most impactful ones is building your own website (see next step below).

Recommended Steps (After Starting A Podcast)

Your job isn't done once you start a podcast. Hither are my recommendations to help brand your prove more highly-seasoned and easier to grow:

Create A Website

WordPress (Easy To Medium Difficulty)

Podcast hosting companies usually give you a website, only if you want to exist taken seriously get yourself a separate WordPress host.

For beginners, Bluehost is hands the all-time selection (plus you'll get a gratuitous domain proper noun for the offset yr).

If you need a bit more than guidance, kickoff with this how to start a WordPress weblog post for the initial steps.

I have a listing of excellent WordPress plugins that a podcaster would need too.

And if yous need more help, I take a course called Podcast Website LaunchPad that walks you lot through everything.

Podcastpage (Easiest Method)

Podcastpage is a website builder and hosting all-in-1 fabricated specifically for podcasts. Kind of like Wix but designed for the needs podcasters.

No coding is necessary. You lot but choose i of their themes, customize to your liking, and optionally integrate electronic mail marketing or Google Analytics.

You can add pages or blog posts, customize your audio player, and brand it easy for your visitors to subscribe!

It works with whatever podcast hosting provider and pricing is fair, starting at $80/yr or $viii/month.

Cheque information technology out and sign up for a gratis trial here.

Go Transcriptions

Transcriptions are an excellent way for search engines (like Google) to "read" your podcast episodes. They too give your audience another way to expect something up rapidly.

You don't have to start out with them, merely information technology's another one of those things that will set y'all apart.

Buzzsprout has a built-in transcription service (on paid plans) that costs $.10/minute, but my favorite transcription service is Rev – give them a try.

Create Evidence Notes

Testify notes can be transcriptions like to a higher place, a simple summary of what y'all talked about, or a total web log post tailored more toward reading than listening.

Some people do a combination.

On this site, nosotros start with written content get-go and then create podcast episodes after.

Embed Your Episode

Take hold of your episode embed code and place information technology on your show notes page and then people can listen from your website.

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Source: https://www.podcastinsights.com/start-a-podcast/

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