Podcasting is a great way to share your voice, passion, and expertise with the world. Whether you want to start a podcast for fun, for business, or for both, this complete guide to start a podcast will help you start a podcast in just five steps. If you’re looking for a shorter overview, you can also check out our Podcasting 101 post.
Step 1: Choose a Topic for Your Podcast
The first step to start a podcast is to choose a topic that you are interested in and knowledgeable about. You want to pick a topic that has enough depth and breadth to keep you and your listeners engaged for many episodes.
Some examples of popular podcast categories are:
- Business and entrepreneurship
- Health and wellness
- Personal development
- Comedy and entertainment
- Sports and hobbies
- News and politics
- Education and learning
- True crime and mystery
Once you choose your podcast’s category, narrow down your topic to align with your target audience and the services that you provide as a solopreneur, an entrepreneur, or busienss owner. For example, instead of having a general podcast about travel, you could focus on solo travel, budget travel, or backpacking through South America. Remember, specialists earn more than generalists, so if your goal is for your podcast to generate leads for your business, you want to be specific.
For more detail on how to choose your podcast topic and target audience, check out our complete guide.
Step 2: Choose Your Podcast’s Name
Once you have a topic, it’s time to name your podcast! Your name should be catchy, memorable, and descriptive of what your podcast is about. You can use your own name, a pun, a phrase, or a keyword related to your topic. You might also consider incorporating alliteration or rhyme into your podcast’s name. For example, our podcast name is Uplevel University, which uses assonance. Assonance simply means the same vowel sounds are repeated for a more pleasant-sounding aesthetic.
Some great podcast names for startups and coaches who are still building their brand might be:
- Startup Spark
- The Coaching Chronicles
- Solo Success for Coaches
- Founder Frenzy
- Business Buzz
- The Entrepreneurial Edge
- Solopreneur Stories
- The Coach’s Corner
- Startup Sagas
- Business Banter
Be sure to search Apple Podcasts to make sure that your planned podcast name hasn’t been used before. If you name has been used before, it will be more challenging to rank well for the keywords, and it may cause brand confusion.
Step 2: Decide on the Format and Length of Your Podcast
The next step in our complete guide to start a podcast is to decide on the format and length of your podcast. The format refers to how you structure your podcast episodes, such as:
- Solo: You talk by yourself about your topic.
- Interview: You invite guests to interview them about their expertise or experience related to your topic.
- Co-hosted: You have one or more co-hosts who join you in discussing your topic.
- Storytelling: You tell stories or narratives related to your topic.
- Roundtable: You have a group of people who share their opinions or perspectives on your topic.
You can also mix and match different formats depending on the episode. For example, you can have solo episodes where you share your insights, and interview episodes where you feature guests. This is common for business owners because bringing on guests adds value to your listeners, but it also gives you an opportunity to share your expertise and frameworks with your listeners. This blended approach helps generate leads and bring people deeper into your world.
Ultimately, the length of your podcast episodes depends on your preference, your topic, and your audience. There is no right or wrong answer here, but generally speaking, most podcasts range from 15 minutes to 2 hours per episode. Most podcasts are between 20-40 minutes.
When deciding on the length of your podcast episodes, consider your attention span, your audience’s attention span, production time, and content quality. It’s easier and faster to edit shorter episodes, and it also takes less time to create an outline for them and record them. You can experiment with different lengths and formats until you find what works best for you and your listeners.
Step 3: Choose the Right Equipment and Software for Your Podcast
The third step to start a podcast is to choose the right equipment and software for your podcast. You don’t need to spend a lot of money on fancy gear or tools, but you do need some basic items to ensure good sound quality and ease of production.
The essential equipment and software we recommend as part of our complete guide to start a podcast includees:
- Microphone: This is the most important piece of equipment for your podcast. You want to use a microphone that can capture clear and crisp sound without picking up too much background noise or distortion. At Uplevel Coworking, we have a Rode ProCaster mic, which retails for $250+ each. You will also want a dust cover for your mic if you are prioritizing the clearest audio possible.
- Headphones: This is useful for monitoring your sound levels while recording and editing your podcast. You want to use headphones that can block out external noise and deliver accurate sound reproduction. We have professional-grade headphones in our Podcast Studio so that you can hear the quality of sound as you’re recording.
- Laptop computer: This is where you record, edit, and upload your podcast episodes. You want to use a computer that has enough storage space, memory, and processing power to handle audio files and software. We recommend using a laptop computer as that gives you more portability and flexibility.
- Recording and editing software: You want to use recording and editing software that is easy to use, reliable, and compatible with your microphone and computer. Some popular software options are Audacity (free), GarageBand (free for Mac users), and Adobe Audition (paid). Personally, I prefer and regularly use Audacity, which is great even for novices.
Step 4: Choose a Hosting Service and Submit Your Podcast to Directories
The fourth step to start a podcast is to choose a hosting service and submit your podcast to directories. A hosting service is where you upload and store your podcast files online so that they can be accessed by listeners through various platforms. A directory is where you list your podcast so that it can be discovered by listeners through various apps.
You want to choose a hosting service that offers reliable performance, unlimited bandwidth, analytics, support, and integration with directories. Some popular hosting service options include BuzzSprout and Spotify for Podcasters. If you’re a newbie to the podcast world and are looking to cut costs, we recommend using Spotify for Podcasters as your solution. We explain why in our Podcasting 101 blog post.
In addition, you’ll want to submit your podcast to directories that have large audiences, easy submission processes, and compatibility with hosting services. Some popular directories include Apple Podcasts (iTunes), Spotify, and Google Podcasts. To submit your podcast to directories, you need to create an RSS feed for your podcast. An RSS feed is a file that contains information about your podcast such as title, description, cover art, episodes, etc. Most hosting services will automatically generate an RSS feed for you when you sign up. After you submit your RSS feeds, your podcast episodes will usually be live on those platforms within 24 hours.
Step 5: Promote Your Podcast and Grow Your Audience
The fifth step in our complete guide to start a podcast is to promote your podcast and grow your audience. This is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and creativity. There are many ways to promote your podcast such as:
- Creating a website or blog for your podcast where you can post show notes, transcripts, links, etc.
- Posting to social media where you can share updates, teasers, clips, etc.
- Building an email list for your podcast where you can send newsletters, announcements, bonuses, etc.
- Asking for ratings and reviews from your listeners on directories such as Apple Podcasts (iTunes), Spotify, Google Podcasts etc.
- Requesting feedback from your listeners on what they like or dislike about your podcast or what they want more of.
- Collaborating with other podcasts or influencers in your niche or industry by guesting on their shows or inviting them on yours.
- Advertising your podcast on platforms such as Facebook Ads, Google Ads, or Podcast Add*ct where you can target your ideal audience based on their interests, demographics, location, etc.
- Creating a referral program for your podcast where you can reward your listeners for sharing your podcast with their friends, family, or network.
- Building a community for your podcast where you can interact with your listeners, answer their questions, host live events, etc. You can use platforms such as Discord, Facebook Groups, Reddit, etc.
The key to promoting your podcast and growing your audience is to provide value, be consistent, and be authentic. Be sure to create a podcast that solves a problem, entertains, educates, or inspires your listeners. Release new episodes on a regular schedule that your listeners can expect and look forward to. Most important, be yourself and share your personality, stories, and opinions with your listeners. Don’t feel like you have to self-edit.
Conclusion
Ultimately, starting a podcast can be a rewarding and fun experience that can help you reach new heights in your personal and professional life. As a solopreneur, content creator, or business owner, you can also use podcasting as part of your lead gen strategy. By picking a memorable name, using high-quality equipment, and creating valuable content, you can start a stellar podcast in 2023 that attracts loyal listeners.
Did you find this complete guide to start a podcast useful? If so, please let us know in the comments, and share what your greatest takeaway was. Then, save your spot at one of our upcoming podcasting workshops, grab your microphone (or rent our podcast studio), and hit record!