Easy methods to podcast — A whole information to beginning and rising a podcast
In line with a report up to date in February 2023 on Neal Schaffer’s website, there are virtually 2.5 million podcasts on Apple podcasts alone. There are greater than 71 million episodes in podcast feeds.
Sadly, due to this, lots of people are afraid to start out a podcast as a result of they concern the market is simply too saturated.
The fact nevertheless, couldn’t be farther from the reality. Of the podcasts on-line, solely 450,000 podcasts are lively.
The Podcast Host defined that there was an enormous surge of wannabe podcasters in 2020 as a result of as everyone knows, we had been all caught at residence with nothing else to do. Heck, it’s after I began my very own podcast as nicely.
However now, the world has all however “gone again to regular.” The excellent news is listening to podcasts continues to develop in reputation, making this the proper time to learn to podcast.
Now, you could be pondering, “Certain, there’s solely 450,000 lively podcasts, however that’s nonetheless quite a bit.”
Nicely, take into account this. In 2023, Demandsage reported there are 455 million WordPress web sites worldwide.
I don’t find out about you, however I’d slightly compete with 449,000 different folks than 454,999,999 for consideration!
With that in thoughts, let’s get right down to what you got here for – how you can podcast. On this information, I’m sharing every thing I’ve realized since my 2019 Podcast Movement convention to date about how you can begin and develop a podcast. Let’s get into it!
Easy methods to podcast — All the things you want to get began
Focused on studying how you can do a podcast? Right here’s what you’ll be taught on this information:
The folks I’ve met, the classes I’ve attended at varied conferences, programs I’ve taken, and now the folks I’ve interviewed have taught me a lot about podcasting. We’ve bought loads to unpack on this publish, so buckle up since you’re in for an thrilling trip.
So, with out additional ado, let’s dive into how you can podcast.
What you want to make a podcast
Irrespective of who I speak to within the trade, it nonetheless appears probably the most broadly debated subject is what tools you want to make a podcast.
Some folks have stated you can simply begin together with your smartphone and a extremely good sound editor. Others stated you want a growth mic, enhancing software program, a soundproof recording studio and a bunch of different tools.
On the danger of ticking off the lots on this disputed subject, I’m going to attempt to be as unbiased as doable and provide you with a number of totally different choices for how you can do a podcast.
I’ll preface this tools recommendation with this — it’s comprehensible to need to buy the costliest tools on the market to offer your self the very best likelihood of success. However, it’s additionally essential to notice that not everybody begins on the professional stage. Typically we permit our want to maintain us from even getting began.
And, most of the well-known gurus I spoke to on the convention acknowledged that irrespective of the way you begin, your first episodes will at all times make you cringe.
In addition to, you would possibly begin and understand you don’t like podcasting in any respect. Isn’t it higher to simply work with what you must check issues out earlier than shelling out a bunch of money? I feel so! You possibly can at all times improve later in case you determine that podcasting is a medium you need to decide to.
Tools
Pat Flynn and John Lee Dumas are two well-known podcasters. Communicate to nearly anybody about podcasting, and odds are they’ve heard of those two males.
They’re thought-about authorities on how you can make a podcast.
Each of them train each free and paid programs on the topic, and each have been employed as consultants to assist standard on-line enterprise house owners launch podcasts for themselves.
As a result of they had been on the convention, in fact I needed to decide their brains on every thing I might within the restricted time we had. Fortunately, since they get loads of the identical questions commonly, they had been capable of level me to some superior assets they already had on their web sites.
Pat’s present known as Smart Passive Income, and he runs an internet site of the identical identify. His present options weekly interviews, methods and recommendation for constructing an internet enterprise. His present has had greater than 60 million downloads.
John, recognized by most individuals as JLD, runs a present and web site referred to as Entrepreneurs on Fire. JLD’s declare to fame is being the primary podcaster to do a day by day present interviewing entrepreneurs of all kinds. He has practically 4,000 interviews on his web site, and 138,813,200 complete listens as of February 2023.
Under is the tools they are saying you want to get began.
Pat Flynn says you simply want the next:
- Microphone: He recommends the ATR-2100 USB microphone, or the Samson Q2U in case you’re not in the US
- Microphone stand: He recommends a “Increase Arm” extension
- Shock mount (to cut back vibrations being picked up on the mic)
- A pop filter or windscreen (to cut back the explosive sounds made by B- and P-words, which blow air into the mic)
- Pc
- Enhancing software program equivalent to GarageBand for Mac customers or Audacity for Mac and PC customers (each of that are free)
You can download Pat’s Podcast Cheat Sheet for free here.
JLD says at a minimal you want:
- Pc
- Microphone: No. 1 mic suggestion is the ATR-2100
- Recording and enhancing software program equivalent to Garageband or Audacity
- Headset or Earbuds
Grab JLD’s free podcasting course here.
Different folks I’ve spoken with prompt having the next tools earlier than getting began:
- A webcam in case you want to do video interviews
- Zoom/Riverside.fm/another video chat service to document interviews
- The Blue Yeti microphone with USB connection (although a number of podcasters disagreed about this) – That is what I personally use for my podcast, and one I host for a shopper
- An adjustable growth arm
- Design software program
- An arrogance URL on your podcast’s identify — once more this was a subject of great debate
- Microphone stands
- A shock mount
- Microphone cables
- Backup arduous drives (exterior or inner)/cloud storage service
Professional tip: Earlier than buying any tools, do your individual analysis, learn opinions, and be sensible about your price range. You don’t need to go into debt making an attempt to launch your present!
Web site and internet hosting suggestions
Do you actually need to purchase a website earlier than you launch a podcast? Sure! In case you ever plan to make any cash on it, you completely want a website on your podcast. And, even when it’s fundamental, you want your individual web site too!
Listed here are simply three the explanation why:
- You don’t personal social media platforms you can be selling your present on. An internet site offers you a spot to direct folks to so you may get them in your funnel or on the very least on an e-mail listing
- It’s nice for branding
- You possibly can promote affiliate merchandise and your individual services and products to your viewers
Do you want a separate URL on your podcast?
If you’re launching a podcast of the identical identify as what you are promoting, for instance, you would possibly be capable to get away with making a podcast web page in your present area as Pat and JLD have each carried out.
Alternatively, if you’d like a reputation utterly totally different from what you are promoting or weblog identify, it’s a good suggestion to buy a separate URL. Even in case you by no means use it, it’s good to maintain it in your again pocket so you may have choices.
I personally personal a number of URLs with GoDaddy simply in case I take advantage of them for future enterprise, weblog, e book or different product concepts.
Discover your excellent area now!
What about internet hosting? Do I would like a podcast internet hosting service after I’m simply beginning out?
The quick reply is, sure. You do want someplace to host your podcast episodes as a result of you’ll be able to’t precisely document some audio and easily load it to iTunes. You’ll want a podcast host to retailer and distribute your audio recordsdata.
The highest ten podcast internet hosting corporations are:
Professional tip: Strive all of the podcast internet hosting corporations you’ll be able to earlier than committing. Lots of them have free trials/plans.
Easy methods to discover the best host for you
Listed here are only a few issues it’s best to take a look at when searching for a podcast host:
- Pricing – there are many free choices, however generally it’s value it to pay for internet hosting
- Critiques – take a look at the worst opinions, and the very best ones to get gauge of what working with the host can be like
- Space for storing (some hosts cost additional for storage, and it’s straightforward to expire of storage quick!)
- Episode size limits (once more, some hosts cost primarily based on the size of your episodes which may really feel actually restrictive!)
- The person expertise: It needs to be very easy to make use of – particularly to start with of your podcasting journey
Easy methods to plan a podcast
Now that you just’ve gotten the tools beneath management, what’s subsequent? Planning your podcast earlier than you launch.
There are a number of issues you want to take into account earlier than you document your first episode, not to mention put it out for the world to listen to. If you start your planning course of, right here’s what it’s best to take into consideration at a minimal:
What’s going to the title of your present be?
Whereas this is probably not your first consideration, you will need to determine what you’ll name your present earlier than you begin recording.
There are a number of choices on your present’s identify. Some folks select to make use of their enterprise identify for his or her podcast, like Pat Flynn and John Lee Dumas. Others select to make use of their private identify.
For instance:
Then there are others who create a reputation utterly totally different from their enterprise and private identify equivalent to:
In case you select to do an intro and/or an outro on your podcast, you’ll need a podcast identify in place earlier than creating it. It’s additionally a good suggestion to buy your area identify when you’ve settled in your identify as nicely.
You’ll additionally need to take into account your present’s subtitle and abstract or description. Your present’s abstract needs to be 4,000 characters or much less as a result of that’s how a lot room iTunes offers you to advertise what your present is about.
What are your podcast targets?
Are you hoping to become profitable instantly or not directly off of this new enterprise? Is that this merely going to be a pastime? Or are you simply studying how you can make a podcast to see in case you even prefer it?
It’s essential to ascertain what you need to get out of podcasting earlier than diving in. Like beginning a weblog, making a podcast isn’t a quick factor to do.
Sure, you can begin a weblog in lower than half-hour, however truly creating the content material, constructing your viewers and gaining traction with it’s a wholly totally different ballgame.
Determining your preliminary targets might also enable you with different choices associated to launching as nicely.
For instance, if this can be a pastime mission, you won’t want the costliest tools to get began. If, nevertheless, this can be used as a device in what you are promoting to succeed in a brand new viewers or yield potential leads, you would possibly need to put extra thought into the way you produce and launch your podcast.
Who’s your audience?
This could be primarily based in your podcast targets. Your audience could be the identical as your ultimate buyer avatar in case your podcast is launched as a enterprise advertising and marketing device. If not, it’s best to sit down and take into consideration who your ultimate listener can be.
The rationale this issues a lot is it’s best to by no means go into content material creation making an attempt to attraction to the lots.
Like running a blog, e book writing and enterprise, in case you attempt to attraction to everybody you’re extra more likely to not attain anybody.
Let’s say your podcast can be about how you can practice your canine. Your audience could be canine house owners who’re desirous to learn to practice their canine, and your podcast needs to be developed and marketed as such.
What matters will you talk about?
Utilizing our canine coaching instance, a podcast about that topic would seemingly have matters together with, however not restricted to:
- Potty coaching
- Instructing them to take a seat/keep/come/and many others.
- Easy methods to cease them from leaping/barking/chasing/and many others.
- Coaching with treats (or with out)
You get the concept.
When you begin fascinated about the topic and title of your podcast, you’ll be able to hone in on the matters, and subtopics, most applicable to create content material round.
Is the present going to be truth or fiction? Sure, there are fiction podcasts!
This was information to me at Podcast Motion! I naively didn’t understand that as with the e book trade, there’s a complete style of fiction podcasts. And, like novels, they’re damaged down into romance, crime, horror, and many others.
I used to be lucky sufficient to stumble right into a fiction podcast meetup on the convention, and I can truthfully say I used to be fascinated by the varied exhibits which might be in existence proper now.
The most important problem, these fiction storytellers informed me, is that they often hit a inventive roadblock, and that may be problematic if they’re making an attempt to satisfy a publishing schedule.
Not like a novel that’s launched all of sudden, if in case you have promised your listeners a brand new chapter or story every Monday, it may be troublesome to proceed a storyline with out hiccups.
That’s to not say that fact-based podcasts usually are not with out their hiccups.
Many podcasters — each fiction and non-fiction — informed me they plan content material a number of weeks, if not months, prematurely to make sure they are going to have one thing able to go stay on the times and instances they’ve arrange for his or her listeners.
What’s going to the format of your podcast be?
Podcast codecs embrace:
- Interviews
- Instructional
- Conversational
- Non-fiction storytelling
- Fiction storytelling
When you don’t should decide to a strict interview format, consistency is a good suggestion in case you hope to construct an viewers.
A few of the podcasters I spoke with sometimes use the interview format, however in addition they have a commonly scheduled episode the place it’s simply them both recapping previous episodes or doing a deep dive into a subject on their very own.
Different hosts will dedicate one season to interviews, and one other season to simply sitting down by themselves with a microphone.
In case you arrange your podcast to be an interview collection you’ll must line up folks for content material creation.
You’ll seemingly want scheduling software program, you’ll must create a waiver or authorized launch on your friends to signal, and also you’ll have to determine how you can truly host and document the interview.
Some podcast hosts even require their friends to have a sure microphone to be on their present to keep up audio consistency and high quality.
Are there branding issues you want to take into consideration?
In case your podcast is a pastime or new enterprise enterprise, you could be making a model from scratch.
Alternatively, in case you’re treating it as a enterprise advertising and marketing device, you’ll want to contemplate what you are promoting’s present branding, targets, values, and many others.
For branding, it’s best to begin fascinated about paintings together with the picture you’ll use on podcast platforms equivalent to iTunes, in addition to logos and different photos you could need to use in your web site, social media, newsletters and in all different messaging about your present.
One ultimate branding concern to consider is whether or not to trademark your present’s identify.
Digital lawyer Andrea Sager commonly discusses logos and copyrights for podcasters, and he or she defined you shouldn’t wait to trademark your model.
As she explains, “One of many prime causes you shouldn’t wait to file a trademark utility on your model is since you need the utmost safety doable. As soon as your model has a registered trademark, the world may have discover of your registration in the US. It’ll nonetheless be essential to watch your registration for infringers, however your registration will seem in a TESS database search, which is what many new small companies rely upon when selecting a reputation.”
She went on to say that registering a trademark offers you “the flexibility to close down an internet enterprise that’s infringing in your registered trademark. If all the on-line platforms shut the accounts of the infringer, then you may have shut down an internet enterprise with out submitting a lawsuit. This could prevent an unimaginable quantity of time and money.”
I extremely suggest her blog if you wish to be taught extra about your digital rights.
Associated: Trademark vs. copyright: Which one does what you are promoting want?
How lengthy will your episodes be?
The subject of how lengthy a podcast needs to be was one other heated one among a number of folks I’ve spoken with during the last 4 years. And after I bought residence and researched it I couldn’t discover a definitive reply.
Not like a weblog publish the place the size can have an effect on search engine marketing, a podcast might be as quick as 10 minutes or so long as 90 minutes.
Some folks I talked to stated your content material needs to be simply lengthy sufficient to handle your subject. Others swore by conserving it to twenty minutes or much less so that somebody grocery procuring, on their commute, or understanding might take heed to a complete episode in a single sitting.
One of the best recommendation I heard is to ask your viewers what they need by way of size.
You possibly can ship listeners a survey in a e-newsletter, or ask on social media. In spite of everything, you’re creating the content material for them, so why not allow them to merely inform you how lengthy they need the content material to be?
What’s your message?
One of many podcasters I had an exquisite dialog with was David Hooper. He wrote a e book on podcasting referred to as “Large Podcast,” and he says the message you need to unfold together with your podcast “is the muse on which every thing else about your podcast can be constructed.”
He went on to say that “a normal message gained’t be motivating to you or attention-grabbing sufficient to maintain listeners engaged — you want to be particular.”
With a view to do this David says you want to ask your self a number of questions:
- What are you enthusiastic about?
- The place are you able to add the best worth, and how will you do it in a novel means?
- What consequence would you like for individuals who take heed to you?
David defined that your podcast’s message begins with you, however it’s not about you.
It’s in the end about your listener, and what they want and/or need to hear.
In a means, you’re only a messenger delivering the message.
How typically will you launch new episodes?
You might have so many choices on your launch dates.
Some podcasters select to launch 10-20 episodes without delay so their listeners can binge on them Netflix-style. Others decide to as soon as every week or twice a month.
Then there’s JLD, who for some time was releasing new episodes day by day. He’s since scaled again, however for a number of years his listeners bought used to day by day episodes of Entrepreneurs on Hearth.
No matter you select on your launch dates, do your self a favor and keep on with your schedule.
Like I discussed earlier, consistency is a vital consider constructing a brand new viewers. In case your listeners anticipate a brand new episode each Friday and also you all of a sudden take a number of weeks off, they might transfer onto one thing else.
What number of episodes are you keen to decide to earlier than you launch?
Most podcasters I’ve spoken to prompt launching with no less than 5 to 10 episodes with the naked minimal being 3.
The rationale for this is similar purpose it’s best to launch your weblog with that many posts. When you’ve got a brand new customer, you need to give them a couple of factor to devour once they first “meet you.”
Easy methods to create nice podcast content material
Sooner or later, you’ll want to start out planning what is going to truly be recorded in your present. With that in thoughts, listed below are some easy ideas for how you can create nice podcast content material:
Successful at storytelling
At first blush, storytelling could look like it’s just for the fiction podcasters, however it’s actually not.
Storytelling is a vital element for each podcast host. It’s one of the best ways to relay your message or share a lesson together with your viewers.
You’ll set the stage with an attention-grabbing topic, you’ll paint an image, after which you’ll inform a narrative that may start with a hook that retains the listener there via the center and till the top of the episode.
Your story must have a theme or guiding idea — like in fiction, this key concept will give focus and that means to your story.
You want a robust character taking motion, transferring the story ahead. You additionally want a voice, whether or not it’s suspenseful, impassioned, or comforting, that units the tone on your story.
With a bit of luck, it will likely be so good that listeners will come again for one more episode to listen to one other story.
Interviewing
If you’re utilizing an interview format on your podcast, there’s an artwork and a science as to what makes for interview.
I’ve to share the brilliance from certainly one of JLD’s classes he gave at a convention on prime actions world-class podcast hosts take for each interview. Listed here are his finest recommendations on interviewing friends in your present:
Ask distinctive questions that your friends haven’t gotten earlier than.
That is sound recommendation as a result of the reality is, the extra standard podcasting turns into, the extra seemingly your friends can be to have heard all of the questions earlier than.
A terrific concept could be to ask your interviewee if they’ve any questions that they’ve by no means been requested earlier than. Do that earlier than recording day in order that they have time to consider it, and provide you with a stable query and reply.
Give your friends the questions forward of time.
Don’t deal with your present as a shock worth information interview. The very last thing you need is your interviewee to be surprised or tripped up by the questions you’re asking. That’s except you’re going for a Howard Stern-vibe or making an attempt to entrap your visitor.
Chat earlier than you start recording.
Don’t simply dive proper into your interview. Most individuals are nervous to be recorded. So, a warm-up chat helps calm everybody’s nerves and ease into the interview session.
This subsequent tip would possibly truthfully be my favourite.
Don’t waste time introducing your visitor and studying their bio. You are able to do that in post-production. Use their restricted time to give attention to the stuff they should be there for.
Bear in mind this can be a recorded interview and it may be edited.
In case you’re having audio hassle equivalent to a scratchy mic, background noise, and many others., take a second to pause the recording and make changes and notice when within the interview you paused. It’ll be higher for everybody, particularly your viewers.
Make certain your visitor’s name to motion on the finish of the interview is obvious and concise.
How can your viewers proceed the dialog with the visitor? The place can they comply with them on social media, purchase their e book/course, be taught extra?
On the finish of the interview, after you’ve stopped recording, have interaction in a post-interview chat.
As a previous visitor on a handful of podcasts, I’ve been left questioning if I did OK, when it was going to be launched, and what would occur subsequent. Within the post-interview chat, addressing these issues won’t solely assist your visitor really feel extra relaxed, it will provide you with the chance to ask for a share as soon as the episode is stay, and proceed constructing the connection.
I’ll add to this that you just also needs to be ready with backup questions on the fly. When you need to give your friends their questions forward of time, some folks will give quick solutions and want a little bit assist. In different phrases, you could discover you must drag the fabric out of some friends.
Consider it just like the folks you ship a paragraph lengthy textual content message to, they usually ship again “Yep” or “OK.”
You want greater than only a one-word response for interview episode.
Subsequently, put together some follow-up questions for these moments that you just want further info, clarification, or for lack of a greater phrase “filler.”
Professional tip: Be sure to get a podcast launch kind out of your visitor forward of time.
Lawyer Gordon Firemark has a free podcast guest release form you’ll be able to seize from his web site.
Why do you want a launch? As he says, with out one your visitor might demand you edit their episode a sure means, demand fee, power you to take the episode down, and an entire host of different points. His finest recommendation is to cowl your rear, and shield your self!
Associated: 11 methods to organize on your first podcast visitor look
Primary manufacturing ideas
Other than storytelling and interviewing, there are some staple items it’s best to do earlier than recording your podcast episodes. These embrace, however aren’t restricted to:
Verify your entire tools earlier than you start recording.
A check could also be useful in case you haven’t used your tools in a number of days, or in case you’ve needed to unplug or restart something.
I met a gentleman who had carried out a complete episode into his microphone, solely to comprehend an hour later that although it was being recorded, the microphone wasn’t plugged in.
If you’re interviewing somebody, be sure that they examine all of their tools as nicely. That’s why the pre-interview chat is so essential — it’s an ideal alternative to verify every thing is working.
In case you don’t have entry to a recording studio, attempt to discover a quiet house to document in.
Most of the podcasters I’ve met truly recorded of their closets till they may afford higher tools and recording house.
One other methodology a number of folks informed me they’ve used was masking their workspace with a blanket whereas recording.
For extra concepts on decreasing background noise, echo, and many others., I like to recommend trying out this article.
Take heed to the place your microphone is in relation to your mouth, and preserve that distance all through your recording session.
This tip I realized from Pat Flynn is so easy, however I truthfully by no means would have considered it when researching how you can podcast.
He stated, “In case you drift away from the mic and even look away briefly, that may replicate instantly within the sound high quality of your episode. The bottom line is to remain constant all through the entire recording.”
Don’t start recording with out a plan.
You don’t want a complete script, however it’s best to have a circulation in thoughts to keep away from rambling incessantly.
Attempt to keep away from “ums” and “uhs.”
Don’t let it scare you to the purpose that you just stutter and get tripped up, however no less than be cognizant of how typically these filler phrases are stated. Bear in mind, this may be edited later.
Remember the fact that your listener solely has audio.
You shouldn’t reference one thing your listener can’t see. They’re not going to care that your co-host or interview visitor is taking a look at you with a humorous facial features as a result of they’re unable to see it.
Strive standing whilst you’re recording.
This could present higher air assist while you’re talking as a result of there’s much less stress in your diaphragm. You’ll additionally come throughout extra confidently in your supply.
Use two microphones.
When you’ve got a co-host or are interviewing somebody, ensure you have two separate microphones, and document the audio of every particular person individually when doable.
Sharing a microphone will throw off the sound and make it awkward to speak to one another.
Do some vocal warmups earlier than you begin recording and keep hydrated.
Training some easy vocal warm-ups might help clear your voice and get any roughness out of the way in which.
You might also need to take into account consuming some water or tea whereas recording. Keep away from soda, milk and low, nevertheless, as these drinks may cause coughing, burping and different sound distractions.
In case you’ll be recording a number of episodes, honey in a cup of tea could also be a good suggestion due to its soothing results in your throat and vocal cords. Take time between episodes to drink some water and calm down your vocal cords a little bit as nicely.
A few of the podcasters I met even use a humidifier the night time earlier than they plan to batch document to hydrate their throats.
Perceive that sure matters can be troublesome to debate
Relying on what your podcast is about, you will have to be cognizant of the truth that some topics will want extra thought than others.
For instance, in case you are mentioning the #MeToo motion, and ladies being sexually harassed or assaulted, you must take a cautious method.
One of many classes at a previous Podcast Motion occasion touched on this superbly. The creators of the podcast “Believed,” mentioned their multi-episode documentary about former USA Gymnastics nationwide group physician Larry Nassar, and the way for years he bought away with abusing a whole bunch of girls and ladies for 20 years.
NPR’s N’Jeri Eaton, deputy director of programming and new audiences, moderated the session with “Believed” co-host Lindsay Smith and editor Alison MacAdam as they informed the story of how the present got here to be.
Earlier than they recorded a single episode, they needed to get clear on the story they had been telling, and the way their viewers would react. The intention was to be sincere, unbiased, and sympathetic in direction of anybody listening who could have suffered the identical means as Larry’s victims.
Lindsay and Alison stated that they had an intense planning session to determine simply how a lot hand-holding could be crucial for his or her listeners and to verify this wasn’t only a present about shock and awe.
Relatively it was a present about serving to listeners relate to the narrative to see how simply one thing like this might occur, and why ladies are scared to inform their tales for concern of nobody believing them.
The reality is with scorching button topics equivalent to abuse, variety, politics, racism and lots of others, you’ll have to preserve your viewers and their reactions in thoughts.
It’s essential to have info earlier than merely leaping into an episode in order to not offend or misspeak. You possibly can’t convey your individual biases into the narrative — as a substitute, you want to do some analysis earlier than recording.
Even when your subject material seemingly has nothing to do with scorching button points, it’s crucial that you just plan forward.
Off-color feedback and jokes can destroy a present and a bunch’s repute — and if it’s associated to what you are promoting, it might shut that down, too.
Whereas it’s straightforward to brush this recommendation off as “worrying an excessive amount of about what others suppose,” the fact is your listeners can be from various backgrounds. The way you deal with what you talk about issues.
After all, there are some exhibits that deliberately cross strains and push buttons, however if you’d like your present to be a considerate one, that is one thing essential you could take into account in your content material creation.
The technical aspect of podcasting
For probably the most half, all you actually need to do to document your podcast is plug your microphone into your laptop, open your audio recording software program, hit document, and begin speaking. Once more, be sure that every thing is working correctly earlier than you sit right down to document a full episode.
It’s OK in case you’re nervous the primary time. It’s regular, and with time, you’ll develop into extra comfy.
In actual fact, a number of podcasters I met recorded a number of check episodes which have by no means seen the sunshine of day simply so they may get used to being behind the microphone.
One other factor that will assist calm your nerves is the conclusion that you could edit it. You don’t should be a professional to start with.
As Jared Easley, co-founder and co-organizer of Podcast Motion, says, a very powerful factor once you’re prepared to start out a podcast is to simply begin.
It’s not going to be excellent, and that’s utterly positive.
Simply begin recording, and packaging your podcast for public consumption. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can begin studying, tweaking, fine-tuning your voice and sound, bettering your supply, and many others.
Report your intro and/or outro
You would possibly need to rent somebody for this, however nevertheless you select to do it, your intros and outros needs to be prepared so as to add to your podcast sooner slightly than later.
Some podcasters prefer to have a unique intro each time, whereas others select to make use of the identical one.
If you’re planning on utilizing music on your intros and outros, you’ll must ensure you are utilizing music legally.
The music you utilize have to be royalty-free, purchased and paid for by you, or an unique creation by you. Do your analysis into the music you might be utilizing earlier than utilizing it. It’s higher to be overly cautious and secure.
Aspect notice: A few of the podcasters I’ve talked to on-line and on the convention used freelancers discovered on websites like Fiverr and Upwork for his or her intros and outros solely to get hit with authorized hassle.
One needed to take away each episode, re-edit with new music, and reload them. One other was hit with some fairly critical fines.
There’s a delusion that you should utilize seconds of a tune with out getting in hassle for copyright infringement. A number of attorneys that had been on the convention informed me that is utterly false.
Don’t danger your podcast, your cash, what you are promoting or your repute. Make certain no matter music you utilize in your podcast is authorized.
As for what I did – I requested for referrals and commissioned a musician to compose an intro and outro tune for my podcast, and one other to compose the music for a present I host for a shopper.
I’ve lately realized it’s changing into a standard apply to rent musicians struggling to get gigs, and truthfully, I feel it’s good. If you rent a musician as a substitute of a random particular person on a freelancing web site, not solely will they be glad about the work, however it will likely be a novel piece you gained’t have to fret about copyright strikes with.
Talking of which – be sure that whoever you rent that you just compensate them pretty and get your authorized geese in a row relating to use. For instance, a few of the musicians on Fiverr cost additional in case you are planning to make use of the music in a podcast. So learn the positive print earlier than buying commissioned music and blindly utilizing it in your podcast!
Backside line: Watch out who you rent, and the music that’s utilized in all features of your podcast!
Enhancing your podcast
Even when you’ll finally outsource the enhancing, it’s a good suggestion to get a grasp on fundamental enhancing methods.
That is particularly essential if in case you have a good schedule as a result of if you must publish an episode by Tuesday and your editor is all of a sudden sick with the flu, it’ll fall on you. It’s higher to have some understanding of what to do.
Whereas we clearly can’t go right into a full lesson right here on how you can edit your podcasts, Pat Flynn has created a free tutorial for enhancing in each Audacity and Garageband. You will get them on YouTube right here:
In case you aren’t utilizing both of these software program packages for enhancing, there’s in all probability a tutorial for no matter program you may have.
Verify YouTube and the web site of the software program you’ve acquired. Study the ins and outs, and also you would possibly simply shock your self with how rapidly you’ll be able to nail down the method.
The opposite standard software program packages I’ve heard about for recording and enhancing podcasts embrace:
- Adobe Audition
- Apple Logic Professional X
- Zencastr
- Hindenburg Journalist
Word: I’ve solely labored with Audacity, and haven’t personally used any of the opposite packages, so I can’t attest to their high quality. I’m merely relaying info from these I’ve met on my journey of researching how you can podcast.
A fast phrase on enhancing your podcast with AI
If you’re strapped for time, there are “AI” packages you should utilize that can assist you edit the sound of your podcast. I’ve not used all of the choices accessible, however two of those I’ve performed with had been truly fairly first rate.
I’ve used each the Descript “Studio Sound” function, and Riverside.fm’s background noise remover and “Normalize Audio Ranges” options. Each did improve the sound high quality of my podcast episodes, and saved me important enhancing time.
That stated, I additionally then ran my recordsdata via Audacity to finish the processing of my episodes and get them prepared for publication. Nonetheless, as AI tech continues to enhance, it’s going to develop into more and more straightforward to get crisp sound with out as a lot effort on your podcast.
Greatest WordPress plugins for podcasters
A few of the plugins really helpful to me are:
Once more, do your analysis, and browse all of the opinions earlier than merely putting in a plugin in your WordPress web site.
What about cell recording?
I’ve met a number of individuals who document podcasts on their telephones.
They stated the trick for utilizing a cellphone to document is to make use of a excessive sound high quality microphone made particularly for recording audio together with your smartphone and set up an app made for podcasting on the go equivalent to Anchor or Audioboom.
The most typical grievance I heard about cell recording is that the audio high quality is rarely pretty much as good as utilizing a pc.
Nonetheless, I did be taught there are SaaS (software program as a service) corporations that may take your cell audio and clear it up, making it broadcast prepared. However once more, I can’t converse to which of the choices accessible are the very best for the cash.
Easy methods to publish your podcast
After getting recorded your episodes, it’s time to distribute it to the varied podcast directories for the world to listen to.
Distributing to Apple Podcasts (Previously iTunes)
Apple Podcasts is the preferred podcast listing to take heed to podcasts, so it’s best to begin there. Listed here are the steps for publishing your podcast to Apple Podcasts:
- First, take your ultimate audio file and cargo it to your podcast internet hosting service. That is the place your audio and video recordsdata can be saved on a server, and from there you’ll be able to broadcast these recordsdata to customers on the Web.
- Along with your podcast host, you’ll be given a novel net deal with — an RSS feed — of your podcast.
- Moreover, Apple requires the next for submission:
- Be sure to have an Apple ID
- Give your podcast a title
- Write your description
- Load your paintings
- Select the class that most closely fits your podcast—many podcasters suggest selecting as much as three
- Choose the language of the episode
- Mark whether or not the podcast is “Express” or “Not Express”
- After getting adopted the prompts to submit your present, you will have to attend for Apple to approve your podcast. This could take up to a couple weeks, however could possibly be accredited in as little as an hour to a couple days.
Distributing to different podcast directories
Many podcast directories truly use Apple Podcasts to distribute your podcast, however you could must load it manually to others. The highest 4 that most individuals recommend including your podcast to incorporate:
For many directories, all you will have to do is create an account, add your RSS feed, confirm possession, after which press publish. Click on every of the directories talked about above for his or her directions.
Professional tip: Distribute your present to as many podcast directories as doable.
Every itemizing is one other backlink to your web site or on the very least your podcast. The extra hyperlinks, the higher as a result of each podcast listing is one other alternative on your present to get discovered by new listeners!
In case you’re on the lookout for an inventory of podcast directories to submit your present to, RSS.com has created a reasonably thorough podcast directory list together with tutorials for a lot of of them. I personally used it as a place to begin to get my present on the market by happening the listing and have been submitting my RSS feed to every of them during the last couple of years.
Publishing to YouTube
Lots of podcasters are selecting to add their podcasts to YouTube as nicely to extend their attain and faucet into some search engine marketing juice.
You are able to do this certainly one of 3 ways:
- Movie your self and your friends as you document your podcast, and edit the video to load to YouTube – A terrific instance of that is the Creator Support podcast. Hosts Colin and Samir movie their episodes, then strip the audio and launch it as a podcast.
- Use a service like Audiogram or Headliner to create a transferring picture on your audio
- Merely create a picture on your podcast, convert the MP3 to an MP4, add the picture as a static graphic, and voila! You’ll have a video model of your podcast that you could load to YouTube.
In case you select to go the static picture route, the picture ought to embrace your podcast identify, the title of the episode, who’s featured on it (i.e. the host and/or friends) and a emblem.
Some podcasters select so as to add a further graphic to this static picture that represents what the present is about, or who’s showing on the episode.
For instance, if I used to be interviewing an ice cream store proprietor, my static picture might need a picture of the proprietor, their store, or a scoop of ice cream.
After all, to transform your audio to a video file and add a static picture, you’ll want video enhancing software program. From what I’ve realized most PC customers can get away with utilizing Home windows Film Maker and Mac customers can use iMovie for this step.
As of 2023, YouTube has been doubling down on that includes podcasts on their platform. The corporate has even launched a best practices guide, that can assist you get extra out of podcasting on YouTube with out growing your workload an excessive amount of.
If you wish to be taught extra about podcasting for YouTube, the platform has an entire page on their website devoted to the medium for creators.
Suggestions for monetizing your podcast
At this level, you could be pondering, “Wow, this can be a LOT of labor.”
And, the reality is, it’s.
The work concerned is the most important factor conserving so many individuals from launching after studying how you can make a podcast. Nonetheless, it may be rewarding, and yield revenue over time.
In actual fact, with a little bit planning, you can begin monetizing from the second you launch your first episode.
Listed here are some concepts and ideas you should utilize to monetize your podcast:
Crowdfunding
Patreon sponsors loads of podcasting conferences, and at a previous occasion the crowdfunding platform offered some attention-grabbing insights:
- Have a timeline to launch and a plan for a way you’ll ship rewards to people who find themselves donating cash
- Begin your donations at a minimal of $2
- Make it scalable so that you just aren’t doing loads of work
- Restrict patrons to make it extra unique
- Solely provide recurring month-to-month donations as a substitute of one-off donations with the intention to proceed incomes revenue
Patreon’s recommendation for the simplest and most scalable rewards had been:
- Early entry to episodes (24-48 hours previous to it going stay for others)
- Livestreams of your podcast
- Particular Q&A classes after the episode is over
- Shoutouts of your donors in episodes
- Take a look at extra of Patreon’s ideas podcasters can offer fans.
Associated: High 20 crowdfunding platforms of 2019
When you’ve got a knack for gross sales, you can begin asking manufacturers to sponsor on your present. At first, you won’t be capable to command a lot cash, however it could possibly be sufficient to no less than offset your tools, area and internet hosting charges.
I extremely suggest studying Entrepreneurs on Fire’s Ultimate Guide to Podcast Sponsorships if you wish to go this route.
Affiliate internet marketing
That is by far the quickest and easiest method a few of the podcasters I spoke with have monetized their podcasts.
They write present notes for each episode, and within the notes they embrace a piece for merchandise talked about with affiliate hyperlinks to these objects. I’ve additionally seen folks add a piece on the backside of their present notes for his or her favourite podcast instruments, tools and providers — all with affiliate hyperlinks, in fact.
If you wish to use internet online affiliate marketing for monetization, you must try “Pat Flynn’s Epic Information to Affiliate Advertising,” which you’ll obtain without spending a dime here.
Associated: Easy methods to begin internet online affiliate marketing in your weblog
Pitch what you are promoting providers on the finish of each episode
Let’s say you’re a coach or a photographer, and your podcast is a advertising and marketing device for locating new shoppers. You may monetize your podcast by delivering a call-to-action in your episodes that you’re taking over new shoppers, with a hyperlink to your web site.
Cost your friends to seem in your present
Whereas that is actually not standard amongst podcasters, I did meet and be taught of some within the trade who truly cost look charges for his or her friends. How a lot to cost is actually open for debate, however some cost primarily based on how huge their following is.
If you’re simply beginning out, this won’t be choice for you, however in making an attempt to be unbiased on this publish, I’m sharing precise methods I’ve heard folks utilizing.
Promote premium content material for “after the present”
Some episodes merely aren’t lengthy sufficient to dive deep into the topic you’re discussing in your podcast.
Consequently, you would possibly need to take into account creating digital workshops or prolonged episodes that you just promote for obtain to your viewers.
For instance, let’s say you’re discussing how you can get extra mentions within the media. Your premium content material could possibly be a digital workshop you promote in your podcast that breaks down the precise methods somebody can use to get within the press.
Easy methods to get extra podcast listeners
As soon as your podcast has lastly been launched, how will you get extra listeners? Truthfully, it’s the identical means you’d get the phrase out about every other enterprise you’re engaged on — you market and promote like loopy, and then you definately preserve doing that even after you begin gaining a big viewers.
Primarily, you’re going to should market your podcast eternally to continue to grow. Listed here are some concepts that can assist you do this with out breaking the financial institution in promoting prices:
- Begin by telling family and friends: Inform everybody in your e-mail listing and in your circle about your present and ask them to share it.
- Share it on social media: Use related hashtags when you’ll be able to, and share it to all of the locations.
- Weblog about it: You must create a weblog on your present, and have a publish for each episode full with present notes with the intention to benefit from search engine marketing.
- Go to podcast conferences and meetups to satisfy folks within the trade: I don’t actually have a podcast and I got here residence with a whole bunch of enterprise playing cards to take a look at and podcasts to lookup.
- Get on different podcasts: The easiest way I’ve realized to develop your podcast is to hijack different folks’s audiences. Attempt to develop into a visitor on different podcasts, and in your call-to-action on the finish, inform folks how you can discover your podcast. Visitor podcasting is the brand new visitor posting — so many individuals with and with out podcasts are utilizing it to succeed in new audiences.
- Discover a means into the media: In case you can set your self up as an knowledgeable in your subject, leverage that experience to develop into a supply on your native media shops.
Like I stated, advertising and marketing a podcast is loads like advertising and marketing every other enterprise, so I extremely suggest trying out these GoDaddy posts for additional advertising and marketing assist:
Conclusion and subsequent steps
We’ve lined loads on this publish. From the analysis I’ve carried out to date into how you can podcast, I do know firsthand how overwhelming all of this info might be. Right here’s a short abstract of what we’ve mentioned right here at the moment:
- Get some recording tools, however don’t pull out the bank card simply but. It’s OK to start out with the inexpensive tools and improve as you develop your podcast.
- Plan forward for all features of your podcast — just like the identify, subject, format and content material — earlier than recording a single episode.
- Report the podcast, edit it, and get it prepared for publication.
- Load it to your podcast host, and share the RSS feed to podcast directories, beginning with Apple Podcasts (because it’s nonetheless the preferred).
- Use crowdfunding, sponsorships, internet online affiliate marketing, and many others. to monetize your present.
- Grow to be buddies with different podcasters, collaborate with them, and promote like loopy to develop your present.
There you may have it, of us. The down and soiled information to how you can podcast. I hope this has impressed you to contemplate making a podcast for your self or what you are promoting.
I do know it has personally impressed me to start out my very own, which I launched on April 1, 2020. Yep! I launched it on April Idiot’s Day in order that if it sucked, I might say it was a joke.
To shut issues out, listed below are some further instruments and assets to contemplate as you analysis and put together to launch your individual podcast:
Books:
Movies:
Fb Teams:
Focused on trying out Ashley’s personal podcast? Catch her on “The Bloggy Friends Show!”
