How to Start a Podcast in 2022

Introduction to Podcasting

Podcasting is exploding in popularity and it’s easy to see why. Podcasts are great for sharing information with your friends, family members, coworkers and fans without having to schedule time on the calendar or take up their precious time when they could be doing other things. We have transitioned from ‘appointment television’ to entertainment-on-demand. Netflix releases the entire season of a show at the same time and I can’t remember the last time I watched live television.

Podcasting is the ultimate in on-demand entertainment that people can take with them in their pocket and enjoy at their convenience.

Podcasts also allow you to share details about yourself that may not otherwise come out in conversation due to nervousness or shyness. And podcasts are enjoyable! It’s much easier to learn about new topics by listening than reading–and you can do it while driving, cooking dinner, running errands . . .

Podcasts have been around for over twenty years since they were called apple podcasts, but only recently has there been an increase in production rates among podcast listeners. A 2011 study showed that only 10% of Americans listened to podcasts, but by 2014 that percentage had increased to 32%. Ten years later and your average adult listens to more than seven hours of podcasts a week.

People are listening to podcasts more than ever before, and now’s the time to start your own. You don’t need a lot of equipment to get started. For an investment of under $100, you can launch your podcast and start building your fanbase.

Most Podcasts Fail

We both know this is true, so rather than avoid the elephant in the room, let’s stare it straight in the eyes. Most podcasts die by the sixth episode and most high-quality guests have an episode number requirement. I know guests who won’t be on a show until episode 100, 200 or 400. They don’t want to invest the time and energy into appearing on a show that’s going to disappear. They want to get maximum result for their time.

There are a few main podcast killers and if you don’t prepare for them, they might take you down before you get started. The first is that podcasting is hard and it takes time. You’re not going to get a million downloads your first episode. Especially if you have no pre-existing fanbase. I know podcasts that took nearly a decade to become profitable. They had to stick around for hundreds of episodes and that’s really hard. You don’t have to wait that long, but please realize that a podcast is a business and needs to be treated seriously.

Second, every step of this article is important. If you start a podcast without reading the whole thing, you’ll miss a critical step and you’ll stumble. I’m going to cover everything from your idea to getting listeners, so stay til the end. Most podcasters are surprised by at least one of the steps on this list and that causes them to stumble.

Third, the actual podcast is the easiest part of this entire process. Sitting down and recording for thirty minutes is the only part of the podcast process that will match your expectations. You have to invest in podcast equipment and learn to improve the sound quality of your episodes. You have to edit each episode, add music, tweak volume levels, write a description and create additional content to point people toward each episode. IF you aren’t expecting all that backend work, your planning will not match reality. And this is where many people quit.

Fourth, they focus on the wrong things. I’ll mention some really expensive equipment in this article and you can easily invest twenty thousand dollars into a premium podcast studio. But it’s a terrible investment. Far better to invest in growing your audience and use the profits to improve your show quality over time. This will give you the maximum return on your investment. Start small so that you can manage your expectations.

What You Need to Get Started

At a most basic level, you need a place to record your content and a microphone. A lavalier microphone and a smartphone are more than enough to record your first hundred episodes. I’ve recorded a ton of episodes this way walking around the beaches of my island. This allows you to get started and really see if you like podcasting before you start spending money.

In addition to your basic equipment you need an idea that can last. A topic you can podcast about for a long time and won’t hit a dead end. Some great podcasts crash when the television show they were talking following gets cancelled. Once they discussed every episode there is nothing left. You want an idea that can last for decades just in case your podcast become a mega hit. Plan for success.

Finding content for a podcast is the most challenging part of starting one. Many pop culture podcasts use current events as a starting place for creating their material, and others interview celebrities or other people in the news. There are also informational podcasts that could be helpful to your listeners–such as a gardening podcast by someone who knows a lot about plants or an art history podcast by an expert in the field. And if you have any skills for drawing, photography, singing, music-making, or video editing, you could also make a podcast about those things and share your talents with the world!

What is a podcast and why should I start one

A podcast is a digital audio file that can be downloaded or streamed from the Internet. Podcasts are usually released episodically, with new episodes being released on a regular basis. They can be about any topic imaginable, and often feature interviews with experts, comedians, and other interesting people.

• Podcasting is a great way to share your voice with the world and to educate others about topics that are important to you.
• Podcasting is a very personal medium, which can make it a great way to connect with listeners on a more intimate level.
• Podcasts allow you to establish yourself as an authority in your field, whether that’s acting, finance, arts & crafts, or anything else you’re passionate about.
• There are many common myths about how hard it is to start a podcast–but starting one isn’t actually that difficult! With the right equipment and know-how, you and your listeners will be on your way to a successful podcast in no time.

What are the benefits of starting a podcast

There are many benefits to starting a podcast, and here are just a few of them:

1. You can share your voice with the world.
2. You can build a connection with your audience members.
3. You can learn new skills, such as public speaking and audio editing.
4. You can grow your business or brand.
5. You can make new friends and connections in the podcasting community.
6. You can attract new customers and increase your revenue.
7. If you want to start a podcast about your favorite hobby, you’ll have an opportunity to talk about it every week!
8. Podcasts are fun! You don’t have to worry about what anyone else thinks, so you can be as creative as you want with your show and really let your personality shine through.
9. Podcasting is experiencing a rise in popularity, so it’s a great way to get started with digital marketing!

Can I start a podcast if I’m not an expert?

Absolutely! Many people find success by podcasting about topics they are passionate about but don’t necessarily consider themselves an “expert” on. For example, if you’re interested in fashion, you could start a podcast that highlights new or interesting trends.The podcasts that grow the fastest are interview based. Think of every big podcast you know about…are they all interview format? These shows grow the fastest because each episode gets new listeners that follow the guest.

You don’t need to be the expert. Just have an inquisitive mind.

Audio Podcast

Is your podcast going to be purely audio content or will people be able to watch you on camera? Will your livestream the show or record in advance. There is no wrong answer here. My podcast was audio-only for years before I shifted to video and an interview format. With an audio-only podcast there is a lot less pressure. You don’t have to worry about bandwidth or how your hair looks.

You can record from your closet (which I’ve done many times) and nobody knows. There is a lot of value to starting audio only as it’s less stressful. Ninety-nine percent of your listeners will listen to the audio version, so you aren’t missing much.

Deciding that your podcast will be audio instead of video will change the way you build your studio and you can invest in the right strategy. Editing an audio podcast requires different software, so you need to make this decision before you start recording episodes.

Video Podcast

I’ve switched to a video podcast because the cost and difficulty of video content has dropped a great deal in the past few years. You can get a 4k camera setup for under a thousand dollars and record 4k video online with new software options. The game has really changed and I’ve shifted with it.

A video podcast will make it easier to create clips for social media and will help you find more listeners. Even though very few people watch full episodes on YouTube, it does happen. There’s no reason to leave these viewers behind. With a video podcast, you have more options for content and some things have to been seen. It’s hard to talk about art if people can’t see it.

Once you’ve decided video or audio, it’s time to start planning your strategy.

Planning Your Podcast Strategy

Who will be in charge of your podcast? If you’re doing a solo show, congratulations! You’ll be the star of your very own podcast. But if it’s an interview-style or commentary format, you may want to consider interviewing a few friends and having them help with the hosting duties.

How often will you publish new episodes? What type of schedule do you want to follow? Will the show be a full-time, daily thing or just a part-time hobby project? Come up with a format that best suits your needs and goals. If you plan on releasing one episode per week, consider having two shorter episodes in one week and then taking a few weeks off. This might be easier than recording just one traditional episode every seven days.

Start a podcast in Nine Steps

While nine might seem like a lot of steps, you only have to go through each of them once to get your podcast launched. You won’t have to buy a new microphone or rename your podcast with every episode. This entire process can be completed in just one day.

In this process, we’ll cover everything from hosting your first podcast interview to choosing between podcast hosting platforms and whether you should use commercial or free music to start your episodes. We have quite a few editing tricks as well to make this process something you can enjoy. I’ve been podcasting since 2016 and everything I’ve learned over the years is burned into this article.

When I first started my podcast, the main goal was to get your podcast to appear at the top of the apple podcast search results. That’s no longer as important as most people use different apps to find and listen to podcasts. For this process, we’ll focus on the steps that are working now rather than a few years ago.

Step One – Podcast Concept

What is the big idea of your podcast? What is the overall idea that all of your episodes will fit into?This can be anything from current events to interviewing celebrities to discussing your favorite books. Are you going to talk about specific topics each week, follow the news, or freestyle?

Choosing your podcast topic is one of the most important steps in starting your podcast. Make sure that you choose something that will interest you and that you’ll be able to stick with for a long period of time. Since podcasts can take a lot of time and effort, you’ll need to make sure that the topic is something that will motivate you and keep you enthusiastic about your content. Are you going to run the show on your own or will you have a co host?

For content, there are many different options to choose from. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Interview experts in your field or people who are in the news.
• Create a series of episodes around a single topic or theme.
• Discuss your favorite books, movies, or TV shows.
• Talk about current events or political issues.
• Record a live episode from a special event or location!
• Interview comedians, musicians, writers, poets, etc. If you have any creative talents yourself, you could also create a podcast about those things and share your talent with the world.

Step Two – Podcast Format and Style

There are many different types of podcasts, so it’s important to choose a style that fits you and your show. Here are a few popular formats to consider:

1. Interview show: This is a great format for discussing a variety of topics with guests.
2. News/ commentary: If you’re interested in current events or want to offer your opinion on various topics, this may be the format for you.
3. Topic-based: This format is perfect for people who want to discuss one specific topic in-depth.
4. Variety show: If you’re a jack of all trades and want to talk about a little bit of everything, a variety of segments may be right for you.
5. Solo show: If you’re the only host on your podcast, this may be a fitting format.
6. Audio drama: Have you ever wanted to start a radio show? This is the perfect format for creating an audio documentary with sound effects and different actors playing parts.

Step Three – Name Your Podcast

Your podcast name can be something clever or catchy, or it can be the name of your show’s host(s). For business podcasts, you can also include a benefit, such as losing weight or paying off your debt.. I could have gone with the Jonathan Green Podcast, The Escape the 9-5 Podcast or the Serve No Master podcast.

When choosing the name make sure that it’s not trademarked by someone else and that you can get the domain name. I’m lucky that I have ServeNoMaster.com otherwise it would be tough to call it the Serve No Master podcast. I don’t want someone else stealing all the visitors looking for my show.

Naming is a place where it’s easy to paint yourself into a corner. I nearly called my show Blogging without Borders and that would have limited me to talking about blogging exclusively. A slightly wider title allows me to grow and expand the show. I can talk about anything that has to do with freedom.

You CAN change your show title later on, but it’s really hard. Take the time to pick a podcast title that you’re happy with for the long term and save yourself that headache in the future.

Step Four – Brainstorm Content Ideas

This step is where a LOT of shows falter. That have ideas for a couple of episodes and once those are recorded, they crash into a wall. I have hundreds of show ideas in a notebook so that I never hit a wall. If I’m working on an episode and it’s just not working, I can switch to another idea.

You’ll need at least 10-15 episodes worth of content before you launch your podcast, and you should probably start brainstorming before buying any equipment so as not to waste money on something you don’t need.

Everyone has their own method for brainstorming, so I don’t want to limit you to replicating how I plan each new episode. I have a notebook where I write show ideas. I’ll write dozens of ideas in a brainstorming session and then when i’m in an outlining session, I’ll outline an episode on each page of the notebook. Even if you’re going to run an interview podcast, you want to plan out your show ideas and then find the guest to fit that idea, rather than book guests and let them determine the topic. This will give your show a better flow.

Step Five – Build Your Podcast Studio

This is where it’s possible to go absolutely crazy and spend a lot of money. You don’t need to invest that money until your actually making money podcasting. At it’s most basic level, you can run a solo podcast with a lavalier microphone and a phone. That’s all you need to get started. When you’re ready to build out a physical location, there are a few key pieces of podcast gear you’ll need to start..

Podcasting Microphone

The microphone is the star of the show and the first investment that I recommend. There are microphones designed to connect to smartphones, like the Rode SmartLav+ (the lapel microphone I use). There are USB microphones that plug directly into a computer ilke the Rode Podcaster. There are microphones designed to plug into a camera, such as the Rode VideoMicro. And finally there are traditional microphones that use XLR and plug into sound equipment, like the Rode Procaster.

These days recording directly into your computer is fine and that’s how I record most of my content. The most affordable setup is a USB microphone. If you get an XLR microphone you also need to buy an audio interface to translate the signal to USB and it starts to get expensive. A few years ago, this was the best way to get clean sound, but since 2020 you can get amazing sound quality recording directly into your computer. For that reason I’m going to provide a few USB microphones to choose from.

Please remember that your goal is to get the best sound quality possible for your show.

Dynamic v Condenser Microphone

It’s easy to go down the microphone rabbit hole, but I’ll try to keep is super simple. A dynamic microphone is better if you have a room with background noise. For example, my office has two walls made of glass, wood floors and a flat ceiling. Every surface reflects sound and echo is a problem. Sound treating every surface isn’t an option (glass windows), so I use a dynamic microphone. If you have a fully sound treated room, with carpets on the floor and sound absorption panels on every wall, then a condenser microphone will get you an even better sound.

Rode Podcaster

This is a phenomenal USB dynamic microphone that I used to record podcasts for years. I have recorded a lot of video content outdoors and unfortunately this microphone is just too sensitive. Despite being a dynamic microphone, if you have background noise issues such as a noisy neighbor, this option might not be the best for you.

This is a great microphone if you have a relatively quiet environment and I’ve had a lot of great content I put through my Podcaster. Unfortunately, mine died after a few years. Normally, it’s quite easy to mail to rode and get repaired but not where I live. The shipping costs alone are more than the cost of a new microphone.

For a long time people would complain about the quality of my audio…until I switched to a Rode Podcaster. This sound from this microphone is really great and it’s a shame that it’s been discontinued. You can still find new ones online and they are worth their weight in gold.

If you’re looking for a quality microphone that is perfect for podcasting, the Rode Podcaster is a great option.

Elgato Wave:3

The Elgato Wave:3 is a great option for anyone looking to start a podcast. This is the microphone I’m currently using and it’s the most affordable microphone on this list. It’s made by Elgato who have made a name for themselves in the livestreaming market. This microphone gets zero complaints but it’s really best in a treated room. With my current level of echo I can get good but not phenomenal sound. If you don’t have echo issues or you intend to livestream, this mic is one well worth considering.

The Wave:3 is a great USB microphone that works the second you plug it into any computer. It comes with software that lets you control the volume levels and mix of multiple audio inputs. Because Elgato is focused on livestreaming, the pc version of this software is simply better. It allows you to run VST plugins directly on your microphone, such as background noise removers and compressors to make your voice sound better. I’m on a mac and I don’t have access to that amazing feature.

THe microphone has three capsules inside, so you can switch the pattern to match how you like to position yourself. This mic is amazing for the price and a really great option for a new podcaster. I’ve been using this mic for about six months without any complaints.

If youre in a room with decent sound treatment and using a pc, then this is an excellent microphone.

PreSonus Revelator Dynamic

This is the microphone I’m currently switching to for my podcasting setup. There are two versions of this microphone. The condenser version is silver and the dynamic version that I’m using is black. PreSonus has long been considered an excellent microphone brand used by many livestreamers, however, they only had XRL microphones until 2022. The Revelator is their first foray into USB microphones and the dynamic version is specifically designed to isolate your voice in a noisy environment.

The microphone is tied into their powerful audio software and you can add any effects you need right to your initial audio sound. THis means you don’t need to spend as much time compressing your audio after the recording and their presets make sounding amazing easy. I’m really excited for this new microphone which is very affordable for it’s feature set. Expect me to talk about this microphone more once it arrives.

If you have a good room with minimal echo or background noise, consider the condenser version of this microphone. It’s designed for the studio environment and will sound ever better.

Podcast Recording Software

Once you have your microphone, the next piece of equipment you need is the software you will use to record your show. If you’re recording locally, then you have different options available. When you are recording people in different locations, you’ll need to use an online solution and then feed that audio into your recording software for the editing phase.

For a solo podcast, the recording software doesn’t really matter. You are only capturing one track and most software can handle this with ease. I’ve used quite a few recorders on my phone and if you’re starting simple, you want a few key features. The first thing I look for in a phone recording app is automatic syncing to the cloud. I want my recordings backed up on Dropbox in real time so that even if I drop the phone in a pool, I don’t lose my hard work. I also look for software that works with an external mic and shows audio levels in real time so that I can monitor if something has gone wrong.

If you’re working with a computer then I have a few options for you.

Audacity

Audacity is free open source software the blows the doors off any of the paid solutions I’ve worked with. I have edited dozens of podcast episodes in Audacity and any time I’m recording pure audio in my computer, Audacity is what I use. It’s surprising, but in this case the free solution is the best. When I record video trainings on my computer, I often record with Audacity at the same time and replace the audio in the video file. I’m recording into the same computer with the same microphone at the same time and Audacity sounds significantly better.

In addition to a clean record, Audacity has some really cool tools to improve the sound quality of your podcast. The first is called fingerprint noise removal. At the start of any recording, record about ten seconds of audio without speaking. This will capture room noise and anything in the background, which in my case includes chickens, dogs and kids all shouting at each other. After you finish your recording, you select this beginning audio as your “fingerprint.’ Then tell audacity to remove that sound from the entire recording. Like magic, much of your background noise will disappear.

Audacity also has plugins to make your voice sound better and a silence eraser. Tell it how long your longest silence should be and those moments where you spend a minute thinking of that next idea will vanish. This is really useful and will lower your stress during recording. You no longer need to fear awkward silences.

GarageBand

GarageBand is a powerful recording software that comes standard on Mac computers. It’s simple to use and has a wide variety of features that will allow you to create high-quality recordings. GarageBand comes free on every Mac including mine and that’s cool, but it’s really designed for sound design. If you’re going to have music, multiple effects or guests then this can be the right solution.

You can run multiple microphones right into your computer, play your intro music live and GarageBand will have no problem handling your more complicated setup. You can also run effects live during the recording (depending on the power of your computer.) If you’re not running on a mac or playing music, then you probably want to stick with Audacity.

Anchor.fm

For an audio podcast that you’re going to record from different locations, Anchor is a great starting point. It only records audio and that will get you the cleanest sound possible. It’s now owned by Spotify, who are trying to become dominant in the podcasting space, so expect more features to be added.

I tried using Anchor from my phone and it couldn’t work with an external microphone. So the audio sounded like garbage. You definitely want to sue a computer with this software so that you can use your microphone and audio separately.

Zoom

Zoom is great for meetings and it’s really easy to turn on a recording. Because people are so familiar with the product, bringing guests into the show is quite easy. They are really stingy with the recording limits, so make sure you download your shows and back them up on your own continually. There are two recording options. You can record directly to your computer or to the cloud. With a guest, it’s better to record to the cloud and that’s where you run into issues with the space limitation.

If you’re going to use the videos from your recordings, bear in mind that Zoom LOVES compression. The wrong kind. You’ll be shocked that your video files are so tiny. Video is compressed to 720 and audio is squeezed as well. You’ll notice that the video doesn’t look nearly as good in the recording as during the live call.

Riverside.fm

I’ve recently switched to Riverside and they are the best of the best. You and the guest can both record in 4K without glitching the stream because Riverside will record video to your local computer and then upload it in the background. After the interview is over, the guest just leaves the browser tab open until their upload is complete and you have an extremely high quality recording. Before Riverside, you had to ask your guests to record from there end and then send you the file if you wanted this level of quality.

When it comes to background noise, Riverside is honestly in a category of their own. I use a software tool called Krisp.ai to block unwanted noises. If my kids start playing behind me during a webinar, you won’t hear them because Krisp knows that noise isn’t meant to be shared. And it’s really great at what it does.

I ran some tests with Riverside, with several microphones and I was able to record with my fan on full power less than two feet away from me. And you don’t hear it on the recording. Unless I push the microphone into the fan, Riverside is able to clean up that noise. I sometimes use Riverside to record trainings without any guests because the sound comes out so good. The only problem is that you’re limited to 15 hours of recording a month, so I have to a lot that time to interview content.

If you’re going to run a video podcast with online guests, Riverside is the gold standard. They are constantly adding features and its setup to have a host, producer, guests and guests all participating in different ways in real time. I can’t recommend this software enough and it’s not a major part of my podcast process.

Digital Recorder

When I started podcasting in 2016, recording directly into your computer wasn’t really an option. You would have many issues with fan noise from the computer making it into your recording, the computer freezing and losing your recording and other issues. There’s nothing worse than your computer freezing and you lose some or all of your audio.

This problem isn’t as bad anymore, but there are still loads of people who record their podcasts into dedicated equipment instead of a computer. In addition to avoid the computer hassle, digital recorders are reliable, powerful and built for one task. So they do that task well. Each of these records your audio files directly to an SD or MicroSD card and you can then transfer your recordings to the computer for editing. I’ve recorded quite a few podcast episodes into my Zoom H6 and they sound magnificent.

Tascam DR-05X

The Tascam DR-05X is a great recorder for your podcasting needs. It’s small and lightweight, making it perfect for on-the-go recording, and it has built-in speakers so you can listen back to your recordings without having to wear headphones.

Whether you’re just getting started with podcasting or you’re looking to take your show to the next level, the Tascam DR-05X is a great choice for recorder. It’s packed with features that will make your podcast sound great, and it’s very user-friendly, so you’ll be able to get started right away.

The Tascam is a great starter device, but keep in mind that it isn’t really upgradeable. You can’t connect external microphones, so when you outgrow the device, you have to replace it rather than upgrade it.

Zoom H6

The Zoom H6 is a great option for anyone who wants to start podcasting who also wants the option to use external microphones. It can record up to six tracks at once, making it perfect for interviews or multi-person podcasts. I’ve recorded quite a few podcasts combining the Rode Procaster microphone with the Zoom H6.

The Zoom has room for four XLR inputs as well as the two-channel microphone on the end that comes with the device. You can swap in other microphones, but that slot uses a special connection. There is a small digital display that shows you what’s happening with each channel and you can adjust the levels on each channel quite easily.

You can also use the H6 as a bridge between and XLR microphone and your computer. When my Rode Podcaster USB microphone died, I switched to using the Procaster with my computer. The Zoom does a great job and it’s really powerful for the reasonable price. If you’re going to record multiple people, want to travel or just want to use your existing microphones the H6 is a solid option.

I still have mine and if I were to record an in-person interview tomorrow, this is what I would use.

Rodecaster Pro

The Rodecaster Pro is the new kid on the block and it’s basically the gold standard for podcasting right now. It’s around the price of two Zoom H6s so it is a bit of an investment, but there’s a reason everyone has started using these. The Rodecaster can record straight to an SD card or interface with your computer with ease. The built in mixer has sliders, there is a sound effects board, and you can even take phone calls for a live show.

This digital mixer has four XLR inputs as well as four headphone connections so each speaker can have their own headphone mix. The RodeCaster also provides phantom power so you can use any microphone you want. The ability to quickly run a podcast with four speakers is where this device really shines. If you do everyone by yourself or online, then you probably don’t need the RodeCaster.

Additional Tools to Improve Your Podcast

Headphones

One of the most common problems is audio feedback. If you are speaking to someone on a phone call and the audio from the speaker leaks into your microphone it can cause a loop that ends in that horrible screeching sound. Even if it doesn’t go that far, an echo is likely. There is a slight delay between the first time a person speaks and the audio flowing out your speaker and into the microphone to be recorded again. You’ll either get an echo or a phase shift result. If you’re recording into software like the Riverside.fm you can get away with not wearing headphones because the software handles it.

The real reason to wear headphones is to monitor the actual mix. This is where you will catch if one of the microphones isn’t working and can fix it before you record an entire episode. This has absolutely happened to me. There are a lot of headphone options and they can cost hundreds of dollars but I have a little secret. I use Edifier H840s as my go-to headphones. The are always less than fifty bucks and I got mine for fourteen. When I fired them up, I was astonished at the sound quality.

If you’re trying to cost control, I recommend these with two thumbs up. They are wired, which I prefer for clean audio, and sound great. You can always upgrade your headphones later if you need, but for a podcast you’ll hear everything in these.

Boom Arm

When your microphone is sitting on your desk, tiny movements can turn into sound when the microphone vibrates. This is especially common in condenser microphones. The reason a microphone is in that little catch of rubber bands is to dissipate these background noises. The last thing you want is for your computer fan to turn on and that vibration to ruin a great podcast recording. Most of the USB microphones I’ve mentioned don’t have this problem because they are dynamic, but a boom arm is almost always a great decision.

There are several different styles of boom arm designed to give you control over how the microphone moves and looks on camera. A lot of podcasters have switched to low profile boom arms, which keeps the microphone below them. I’ve always used a boom arm above camera, but that’s a personal preference. It really depends on your setup.

Right now my camera’s are above my computer monitor, so I keep the microphone low. I prefer to keep my microphone out of frame so I don’t use a boom arm with my current setup. With the previous setup the camera was lower and I keep my Rode Podcaster microphone above the frame. This really falls into your personal preference but anything that can improve the quality of your sound is a worthy investment.

A boom arm: A boom arm is an excellent tool for positioning your microphone just right, while also taking some of the weight off of your shoulders! Most mics come with fixed stands that can’t be adjusted, but if you’re looking for something more portable and versatile, check out the Rode PSA-1 boom arm.

Pop Filter

A pop filter is that small screen that you put between your mouth and the microphone. It’s designed to block spit from hitting the microphone and wind. If you’re hearing a lot of loud P sounds when you speak, a pop filter will solve that problem. This again relies on how you position your microphone. Since I don’t put the mic directly in front of my mouth, I don’t use a pop filter right now. With each setup, your configuration will be slightly different and I have used pop filters in the past.

Transcription

The easiest way to edit your podcast is with my favorite piece of software, Descript. This podcast software has extremely accurate and automatic transcription. When you upload your episode, it will transcribe your audio, even with multiple speakers, in a matter of minutes. You can then clean up the transcription for the few words that it got wrong.

Once your transcript is perfect, it is synced to the recording. I edit all my videos this way. You can edit the words rather than having to listen to the episode multiple times. This is a MUCH faster way to edit your content and will save you hundreds of hours each year. There are a ton of really great tools that remove long silences, filler words and allow you to correct mistakes. I can type a word that I forgot to record and Descript will add it to the audio like I actually said it. This is a level of correction that didn’t exist before this software. No more re-recording when you make a mistake. I’ve been using this tool since it was just a basic transcription platform and it’s only become more powerful with each update.

Step Six – Record Your First Episode

Your first episode is not going to be your best episode. Things are going to go wrong, it will feel weird to record yourself and you’ll make a tech mistake. It is unavoidable. The only way to learn how to swim is by jumping in the pool, so it’s time to get your feet wet. Just be ok with making mistakes, you can always fix them during the editing process. Be gentle with yourself.

Don’t book a huge guest for your very first episode. Give yourself time to find your feet and dial in your style. This is when you want to experiment and the sooner you start the better.

If you’re nervous about mistakes, consider recording your introduction and conclusion segments before the main content of your podcast.Don’t be afraid to experiment with your voice or try new things. If you mess up, don’t stop; just keep going until you get it right! Don’t forget to thank people who help you along the way (e.g., friends, family members, or supporters).

Step Seven – Make Your Podcast Sound Professional

When you’re done recording, it’s time to edit your show’s audio files. If you have some basic audio editing skills, go ahead and cut out any mistakes or awkward pauses. Take the extra time to record a few introduction and conclusion segments that sound compelling but keep the main content of your podcast intact.

Your first job in the editing phase is to remove mistakes. I say “and so” all the time and I hate it. It’s on the list of phrases that I remove from all my recordings. You’ll find certain words that you say too much and want to remove when you listen to your first recording. That’s normal.

You then want to remove silences that are too long. There is a moment when people start to think that something is wrong and the look to see if the volume on their phone turned off. That’s how you know a silence is too long. You don’t want them to think something broke or that the episode is over.

Third, take care of any background noise. This is where Audacity shines with their fingerprint noise removal. It’s a free and easy way to clean up that background noise.

Once you’ve removed the mistakes you want to improve the sound of your voice. There are a lot of effects that help with this. I use a dynamic processor and peak limiter on all of my audio. There are loads of audio engineering tutorials that will teach you how to edit podcasts and improve the quality of your audio based on the editing software that you are using.

Adding Music to Your Podcast

I start every episode with a quick intro telling them today’s guest and topic. Then I run one commercial and then the intro music. This is a quick way of getting people into the episode.

When it comes to podcast music, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First of all, you’ll want to make sure you’re using royalty-free music. This means that you don’t have to pay royalties to the artist each time you play their song. There are a number of websites where you can find royalty-free music that’s perfect for podcasts, such as AudioJungle and FreeMusicArchive.

If you can afford it, you can get a great signature song on AudioJungle for under twenty bucks. The quality is really high and the selection is amazing. You can search by emotion or genre and find that perfect song. It’s where I found my show music.

Another thing to keep in mind is the length of the song. You’ll want to find a song that’s the right length for your podcast, and not too long or too short. If the song is too long, it could end up being boring or overwhelming for your listeners. If the song is too short, you’ll have to edit it in your recording software to make sure it loops properly.

The real secret here is to find a thirty-second section of the song that you love. That’s about how much I use of my theme music and that’s what most shows do. I have yet to encounter any shows playing an entire 3-minute song at the start.

The most important thing is that the song appeals to your audience. Of course, I want you to love your music, but I’d rather your audience love it.

Voiceover

You can record your intro and outro content if you like, but I think it’s worth hiring a professional. The intro script needs to focus on the benefit to the listener. Don’t tell them why you’re an expert, tell them how your show will improve their lives. People don’t listen to my show because I live on a tropical island, but because I can help them to live on a tropical island.

The script should be fifteen to thirty seconds long.

Once you have your intro script, you can find great voices on Fiverr. That’s where I found my voiceover artist way back in 2016. He sounds amazing and really adds something special to every episode. It’s one of the best investments I made and it was less than twenty bucks.

Step Eight – Hit Publish On Your First Episode

Finally, it’s time to release your show to the world! Consider publishing on your website or blog first, and then sharing it on social media platforms like Facebook. You can also cross-promote with other podcasts or hosts that are in a similar genre.For example, if you’re doing a podcast about fashion tips for women, you may want to cross-promote with a podcast featuring fashion advice for men. This way, each show will reach a wider audience and more people will become familiar with your show.

Choose a Podcast Hosting Service

There are so many podcast hosting options out there it’s impossible for me to cover them all, so let me give you the basics. A podcast is an audio file that people download to their phones using special podcast-specific software. Usually this file is an MP3 and they can listen whenever they want, even if they are offline. Even though it looks like your file is hosted in the Apple podcasts directory, that’s just a link to the actual place where your podcast episode files are stored.

You can get away with hosting your first episode on a Dropbox folder or even your blog, but eventually you’ll want a dedicated service that’s built specifically for podcasts. This is called a podcast hosting account.

The hosting company simply holds that file on a hard drive and allows people to download when they want that new episode. They are basically a storage locker for your files. There are other bells and whistles that these services add on to seem more valuable, but this is the only one that matters.

With my first host I paid extra for an app for my podcast. Nobody cared. Nobody listens to a podcast in its own app. They listen to your show in the same app they use to listen to everyone else.

LibSyn

LibSyn is the first host I worked with because I wanted that app. They are a pretty common podcasting service but I don’t recommend them. Their plan is built around file size and in an effort to meet their demands I have over-compressed episodes so that they sound terrible. I spent a lot of time trying to get the files as small as possible while remaining listenable. I had some issues with billing, such as paying for the app that they never built long after I’d given up on that effort and tried to downgrade.

If you’re doing a short weekly show, their service might be workable for you, but I don’t intend to ever use them again. I simply publish too much content and I don’t want to stress about file sizes.

BluBrry

If you want to host your podcast through a WordPress blog, their plugin is really great. I used it for years and had a great experience. Like LibSyn they charge you by the file size and it’s really hard to know how big an episode is going to be before you record. A lot of people love this platform and they have amazing statistics, but again I don’t like their pricing structure.

BuzzSprout

Switching to BuzzSprout was the best move I made. They don’t have the best podcast player for your website, but otherwise they are the best podcast host on the market. If you really think people are going to listen to episodes on your website (they’re not) you can get a 3rd party player. The one they provide is find and it’s what you’ll find all over my website.

What I like about BuzzSprout is they charge by the minute. I know how long an episode is and I never have to play compression games. It’s a really silly stress that they removed from my life. I no longer have to risk audio quality when editing my episodes. They have some very cool tools for show notes and transcription. Also, with the push of a button they’ll get your podcast on all the networks. They just make it easy to launch a podcast and they are my recommendation.

YouTube

If you’re going to run a video podcast, you basically have to use YouTube. Very few people will watch full episodes on here but they will watch clips. You should start two separate channels. One for clips and one for full episodes, this is what all the biggest shows do. This will allows you to grow on YouTube a lot faster and your clips channel will find new listeners while the full episode channel serves existing fans.

I really think of youTube as a bonus way for people to find me. Even with a video podcast, most people listen to the audio version of my show.

Publish New Podcast Episodes

The secret to success with a podcast is consistency. If you publish seven episodes, you’re past the mark where most people quit. That’s something to be proud of. If you can, batch your content. I know of a VERY popular daily podcast where the host records all thirty episodes in two days. He books and records all the interviews back to back.

I’m not sure I can handle that level of pressure, but I do like to record multiple episodes on the same day. If you can record two episodes a week, publish only one. This will allow you to build up a buffer for when you get sick or have a family emergency and can’t record for a little while. It happens to everyone and that buffer will keep you in business. During the lockdowns, I recorded an entire year of episodes in one week. I planned, outlined and recorded fifty-two episodes of solo episodes just to keep the buffer in place.

Nothing kills a show faster than no buffer. That stockpile is really worth keeping and you can always put a new episode at the front of the queue if the content is really timely. Unless your livestreaming your episodes, avoid the pressure of “just-in-time” content.

Grow Your Podcast Audience

Once you’ve created a great podcast, the next step is to market it! Here are a few tips on how to get started:

1. Create your podcast cover art. This is the easiest part of the podcast to change down the line, so you don’t need to worry about it too much for now. There are loads of great designers on Fiverr to choose from. I usually hire three at the same time and use the design I like the most.
2. Create a website for your podcast. This will be your home base and will allow listeners to learn more about your show, read episode transcripts, and find ways to connect with you on social media. You can start with something really simple and build it up after your show has gained some momentum. You just want to make it easy for fans to find you.
3. Make sure your podcast is listed on popular directories, such as iTunes and Stitcher. This will help people find your show and subscribe to it. BuzzSprout handles this for you and will tell you when you’re ready for certain directories. Some of them won’t take you until you have enough episodes.
4. Use social media to promote your show. Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are all great platforms for promoting your podcast. You can post episode transcripts, quotes from your episodes, and even promotional videos for your show.
5. Connect with your audience members on social media, and be sure to respond when people reach out to you with questions or feedback about your show. It’s very difficult to grow a show without a social media presence, so make sure you grab your name on every network as quickly as possible.
6. Submit your show to podcast directories, starting with Apple Podcasts. Make it as easy as possible for people to find your show.
7. Keep a list of places where people can review and rate your podcast. These reviews can help you gain more listeners and grow your fan base!

Repurpose Your Podcast Content

Content repurposing is the real magic and one of the best marketing strategies for your podcast. You want to create mini-clips, images, and quotes to be shared across your social media platforms. You can take the best thirty second clip from your show, create a vertical video and then post it on TikTok, Instagram Reels, Pinterest Idea Pins and YouTube shorts. All to generate attention for your show. This will give you maximum value for your content investment and is what all the biggest shows do to grow. I certainly do it 😉

Now you know everything you need to launch and grow your podcast. Please post a link to your new show in the comments below so I can be the first listener!