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Whatever your reason for being here, you're at the very least interested in podcasting.

Perfect!

It can feel a bit daunting at first when you play around with the idea, but that's why I'm here.

You should be able to start your podcast without feeling too overwhelmed.

I'm going to guide you through what you need to do to set everything up and begin your journey.

Are you ready?

How to Start a Podcast

Before we get into it, let me share a bit about myself.

You’re reading a blog by a blogger.

Blogging is my passion, but that isn't the only thing I can do.

I’m a podcast editor with a lot of experience!

Growing up around entrepreneurs, many of whom were podcasters, I have a deep understanding of the podcasting world.

My blog is focused on helping you grow your online business, and podcasting is one of the best ways to build your audience.

So, let’s talk about how you can start your own successful podcast!

What is Your Podcast About?

Starting with a strong foundation is one of my favourite ways to begin anything in an online business.

And for podcasting, it's a niche or theme.

Think about your interests or areas of expertise.

What are you passionate about?

What can you talk about for hours on end?

Some examples are true crime, business, personal development, politics, history, and even TV shows.

A podcast doesn't have to have a topic that's trending.

It can be something you love and can't wait to talk about with your listeners!

Just because you make it into a passion project doesn't mean it won't be successful.

Target Audience

When you know who you want to attract, you can cater your episodes directly to them instead of a broader audience.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when choosing your audience.

1. Who do you want to listen to your podcast?

2. What kind of things are they interested in?

3. How old are they?

4. What are they struggling with?

5. How does your podcast help them with their struggles?

This can help you attract the audience that best aligns with your podcast.

What Type of Podcast Will You Host?

There are a few different kinds of podcasts out there, but which is best for you?

This podcast is YOURS.

You can do whatever type you find the most fun or comfortable.

Here are some of the most common choices:

• Solo Shows: Just you sharing your thoughts or stories.

• Interview Shows: You bring guests on to talk about specific topics.

• Co-hosted Shows: You and a friend or colleague discussing topics together.

• Narrative/Storytelling: A structured story, usually with a beginning, middle, and end.

Choose one that suits your style and your podcast.

Plan Your Episodes

Having a basic episode outline that you stick to lets your listeners know what they can expect from each episode.

Starting with an introduction is a great way to warm up your listeners.

Welcome them, introduce yourself, and tell them what's coming up in the episode.

Then get into the bulk of your episode; the episode's topic.

You should always have a call to action (CTA) at some point in your episode.

Ask your listeners to subscribe, leave a review, or follow you on social media.

Since we have an introduction, we should also have a Conclusion.

Wrap up the episode, maybe tease the next episode, and thank your listeners.

Content Calendar

Planning everything I possibly can has changed the way I look at my business.

Create a content calendar to plan when you will release your episodes.

You also need to decide how often you’ll publish.

Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly?

Stick to a schedule so your audience knows when to come back for more new content.

Grab Your Equipment

You don’t need to spend a lot to start a podcast, but a few pieces of equipment can really help your audio quality.

• Microphone: A USB microphone is a great starting point. I'd definitely look online or in stores at the best affordable options for you.

• Headphones: Good headphones help you monitor your audio. Any comfortable over-ear headphones will do.

• Pop Filter: You don't have to have this, but it reduces popping sounds caused by the letters P and B.

• Boom Arm or Stand: Once again you don't have to have this but it keeps your microphone steady and at the right height.

You'll also need software to record and edit your podcast.

Here are some beginner-friendly options.

• Audacity: Free and open-source, great for beginners.

• GarageBand: Free for Mac users, easy to use.

• Descript: Paid, but it is my go-to and is recommended by many podcasters.

• Adobe Audition: Paid, but offers advanced features.

Record Your First Episode

Choose a quiet room that doesn't have too much echo.

Quick tip: Being around things like carpets and curtains can help absorb sound.

Do a sound check before using your microphone and headphones so you know everything is good to go.

When you finally start recording, you should pay extra attention to a few things.

You can even practice these beforehand if you're feeling nervous.

Speak clearly and not too fast or slow.

And make sure you are close to the microphone. Don't move around too much.

Remember, it’s okay to feel nervous at first!

You can always edit out mistakes.

Edit Your Episode

I have a lot of experience editing podcasts, and it can be a lot of fun once you get into the flow!

The more practice you have, the better you will become.

Don't expect to be incredible at it immediately.

It's a learning process!

I've made a more detailed podcast editing guide, but here are the basic editing guidelines you can follow.

1. Import your recording into your editing software.

2. Take out mistakes and long pauses. Don't overdo this because it can feel unnatural.

3. Add intro and outro music to give your podcast a professional touch.

4. Listen through the entire episode to catch any final issues.

Royalty-free music can also make your podcast sound better.

Just make sure you check the licensing agreement wherever you source it from!

Create Your Podcast's Cover

Your podcast cover art is the first thing people will see, so it should stand out.

But make sure to stay true to you and your brand when designing it!

I use Canva for all of my designs, but there's lots of other software out there for you to choose from.

It’s a square image, generally 1400 x 1400 pixels, and no larger than 3000 x 3000 pixels.

Check out what they say measurement-wise before creating it.

Choose a Hosting Service

A podcast hosting service stores all your podcast audio files then and generates an RSS feed, which is needed to distribute your podcast to platforms like Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

There are a few options for you to choose from, but look into what works best for you.

• Buzzsprout

• Libsyn

• Podbean

• Anchor (free)

The hosting service should give you instructions as to what to do next.

Each platform is different, so make sure to research the one you choose.

Directories

To reach a wider audience, submit your podcast to directories.

Once again, each is different, but here's how one of them might work.

Apple Podcasts

1. Create an Apple ID if you don’t have one.

2. Sign in to Apple Podcasts Connect.

3. Submit your RSS feed from your podcast host.

4. Verify your feed and submit.

This isn't the only option.

You can also look into other directories like Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio.

The more platforms you’re on, the more potential listeners you can reach.

Promote Your Podcast

Just like with editing a podcast, I have a more in-depth blog post about podcast promotion.

But I'll give you some info to start you on the right track.

Social Media

A great place to start promoting your podcast is on social media.

You can choose the platform or platforms you like the most and make content specifically for them.

Creating podcast clips, quotes, and behind-the-scenes content is all very popular.

One of the best parts of social media is that you can interact with your audience, so use that to your advantage!

If you're thinking about using Instagram, I have a free course about creating reels.

Make a Website

You can create a website for your podcast where your listeners can find all your episodes, show notes, and additional content.

You can also set up a freebie on your website so listeners who get it are added to your email list.

Collaborate

A great way to show yourself to other audiences is by being a guest on other podcasts and inviting other podcasters to your show.

Reach out to other podcasters or entrepreneurs who align with your podcast and either invite them on or ask to be a guest on theirs.

Are You Ready to Start Your Podcast?

Thanks for reading this far!

Taking the first step is hard, but taking the time to enjoy the process lets you have a lot more fun every step of the way.

If you want to chat about anything I mentioned in this blog post, I'd love it if you DM me on Instagram!

See you soon!

Isabella