Podcasting has become an increasingly popular medium for sharing and consuming information. According to Social Shepherd, there are more than 4 million registered podcasts in 2023, with more than 48 million episodes on Apple Podcasts. With such a vast array of content, starting a podcast can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s an overview of how to start a podcast.
Step 1: Plan Your Podcast
Before you start recording, it’s essential to plan your podcast. Determine the topic, format, and target audience for your podcast. Consider what makes your podcast unique and how you can add value to your listeners. This planning stage will help you create a consistent and engaging podcast. You also want to determine the length of your episodes and how frequently you will publish. If you decide to have a formal launch date, be sure to have a few episodes already recorded and scheduled ahead of time.
Do a search on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to suss out the competition. For example, if you’re a financial advisor, you might to know what podcasts come up when you search “financial wellness” or “financial advising.” If you’re a healer or Reiki practitioner, try searching for “Reiki” or “spiritual healing.” Notice which podcasts in your niche have high ratings and lots of reviews, and if you have any direct competitors, see what you can improve upon. Create a list of keywords you might consider ranking for, and incorporate those terms into your podcast title, subtitle, and description.
While you’re planning, also be sure to consider where you will record your podcast and how you will edit it. Many solopreneurs find that starting a podcast can be a huge time suck. That’s why, at Uplevel Coworking, we recommend outsourcing your podcast editing if you’re able to swing it financially. That way, you can focus on developing your podcast scripts and sharing your expertise with your audience.
Step 2: Choose Your Equipment
You don’t need to break the bank to start a podcast. A good microphone and a computer with audio editing software are some basic requirements. There are many microphones available at different price points, but some popular low-cost options include Blue Yeti and Audio-Technica ATR2100x. For editing software, Audacity and GarageBand are free options that can get the job done.
Keep in mind that investing in higher-grade equipment will improve your audio, which will make your podcast (and your business!) seem that much more professional. At Uplevel Coworking, our Podcast Studio has high-end equipment that would normally cost $2,000+ if you were to purchase it all on your own. Our studio features a RODE ProCaster mic, a professional-grade audio interface, speakers, and headphones, and it’s only $30 per hour to record in our studio ($20 per hour if you’re a member). You can even batch record in our Podcast Studio and save money: a half-day in our Studio is $95 for the general public and $65 for our members.
Step 3: Record and Edit Your Podcast
Once you have your equipment set up, it’s time to start recording. Find a quiet space with minimal background noise and start recording. Use high-quality mics (like our RODE ProCaster mics) to minimize the amount of editing you’ll have to do later. Be sure that you’re close enough to the mic when you’re recording as well so that your voice is as clear as possible.
After recording, edit your podcast to remove any mistakes, add music or sound effects, and adjust the volume levels. This step can take some time, but it’s worth the effort to create a polished final product. Again, if you have the cash flow to invest in hiring someone to edit your podcast, we highly recommend it. Depending on how detailed you get during editing (and how long your episode is), it can take anywhere from 1-3+ hours to edit a single episode! If you’re on a budget, consider hiring a contractor from Upwork or Fiverr to help you out.
As I shared earlier, if you’re going the DIY route with podcast editing, consider either Audacity or GarageBand as your options. I’m personally biased toward Audacity, which is pretty simple to use once you get started. You can cut out audio mistakes, adjust volume levels, and add additional audio tracks. Even for a novice user, it’s a great DIY software solution. GarageBand is a better option if you’re recording music, or you need more advanced audio editing features for your podcast. Bear in mind that GarageBand was developed with Mac and Apple users in mind as its default operating system is macOS and iOS.
Step 4: Choose Your Podcast Hosting Platform
After editing your podcast, it’s time to choose a hosting platform. Buzzsprout and Spotify for Podcasters are two popular options. Buzzsprout offers a free plan for hosting up to two hours of content per month, but it only lets you host those episodes for 90 days. That means that if you want to go back and tweak those episodes after some time, you might have issues doing so. Spotify for Podcasters (formerly Anchor.fm) is also free, has editing tools as part of its platform, offers detailed analytics, and has the ability to monetize your podcast through ads.
If you’re planning to DIY the process or keep costs low, Spotify for Podcasters is the option I recommend. The interface is fairly intuitive, and it’s easy to use. I used it to start my first podcast in 2020, and it’s also what we use for Uplevel University. That said, if you anticipate that podcasting will become a larger part of your marketing strategy, you may want to consider other, higher-grade hosting platforms, including Buzzsprout.
Step 5: Publish and Promote Your Podcast
Once your podcast is hosted, it’s time to publish and promote it. Share your podcast on social media, your website, and other relevant platforms. Encourage your listeners to leave reviews and share your podcast with their friends. Having a direct link to your podcast on your website can draw people into learning more about you.
Overall, starting a podcast can be a fun and rewarding experience. With the right planning, equipment, and hosting platform, you can create a successful podcast that engages and entertains your listeners. Just make sure that you continue to invest in your podcast over time. Like any other form of content marketing, building up your content library (or galaxy) is important for ongoing success.
To learn more about our Podcast Studio, consider attending one of our upcoming podcasting workshops. Not only will you learn how to use high-quality equipment that maximizes your investment, you’ll receive one (1) free hour to give our Podcast Studio a spin.