Podcasts are becoming more and more popular and help bring attractive benefits to many people. The information in podcasts is always accessible anywhere and makes the traffic grow rapidly.
The attractive benefits make many people yearn to host a podcast channel of their own. However, this work will be challenging without specific guidance.
So, what do you need to start a podcast? You need to follow these 12 steps. To learn about each step in detail, let’s explore it in the section below!
How To Start A Podcast And Make Money?
The good news is that you can start a podcast for free with just a few tools and manipulations for money. So, the barrier to becoming a podcaster is not too complicated and challenging.
Read the guidelines if you want to become a professional podcaster in the future.
#1. Thinking About The Podcast Theme
Creating a concept for your program is the first and most crucial step. Consider factors such as your passion, knowledge, and dedication.
Remember that you will have to talk about the topic for days, even years, in a row. If you don’t have enough passion, it will be difficult to continue.
Choosing A Niche
Hosting podcasts doesn’t require you to delve into a specific niche. However, it will cause troubles and difficulties in attracting potential customers.
Developing a program without a clear theme is also a complex problem.
What are good topics for a podcast? According to Statista’s 2021 report, the top five podcast topics are news, true crime, comedy, health, and sports.
You also don’t need to choose too narrow contexts or markets. If your knowledge is extensive and deep enough, boldly expand the niche.
The key to making an impression is that the theme or wording chosen must be genuinely fresh. Have you consulted your competitors?
Thinking About The Potential Audiences
Imagine your ideal audience while choosing niches and topics for your podcasts.
You need to know whether the community exists or its size to plan effectively. If there are people who speak, people must want to listen.
The Ultimate Goal
Don’t forget to think about your goals when starting this podcast channel.
Those who want to become professional podcasters and get their primary income from podcasts will have to do more work.
In addition, the end goal also affects the transmission and content throughout the program. If you think about it from now on, you will hardly go astray.
#2. Naming The Program
After choosing the general theme of the program, find a proper name for them.
Names that are easy to remember and show the nature of the program will attract potential listeners more easily. If you already have an external brand, include it in the program.
The video will help you get a more visual look at how to name a catchy name.
The most crucial factor is that the name you choose must be unique and not duplicated by anyone.
The test is straightforward. Type a potential name into the podcasts app or Google to see if anyone has the same idea as you.
Similar names are also notable because it’s easy to confuse your audience, and the risk of piracy is high.
Also, search on social networks because people often promote their channel. Even if they’ve been inactive, it’s still best to start fresh.
The second factor is the length of the name. Do not use all 255 characters because it will mess up the display on the phone. Terms that are too long also make them more challenging to remember.
Research proves that a quarter of podcasts have names of less than 29 characters. Popular programs are limited to 20 characters or less.
The last factor is to be careful with keyword stuffing. At the same time, the method will give you more visibility when your audience searches and the system may take it as spamming and remove the program from the platform.
#3. Equipping The Basic Tools
After you’ve chosen a name, topic, and defined purpose for creating your podcasts, let’s start building them.
Although creating content is free, you will need a moderate budget to invest in the necessary tools.
What equipment is needed for a podcast? Let’s start with the following essential equipment:
- Laptop and desktop computer.
- Boom stand or arm.
- Shock mount.
- Pop filter.
- Noise-canceling headphones.
Desktop Or Laptop?
You will need a computer to record and edit audio files. Choose equipment with moderate power to make this process go more smoothly.
If you love portability, consider buying a laptop to take it with you anywhere. The desktop, at the same time, often offers superior power.
Microphone
You certainly cannot ignore this essential tool.
There are many types of microphones on the market. Depending on your personal preference, you can choose between condenser, dynamic, XLR, and USB microphones.
For as little as a few dozen dollars, you can already get a USB microphone to record audio directly into your editing software. It is a reasonable choice for those who are just starting out.
Noise-Canceling Headphones
Headphones are a necessity to deliver the best quality podcasts recording. Its main effect is to eliminate background noise and allow you to hear more clearly.
Your voice when talking to someone will be completely different when listening back to live. Using high-quality headphones warns you of some recording errors to avoid, such as speaking too loudly or pronouncing poorly.
For starters, consider plug-and-play USB headsets thanks to their user-friendly features.
Can You Record A Podcast From Your Phone?
You can completely record podcasts from your phone with simple applications like Podbean, Anchor, or Spreaker.
While the results won’t be comparable to other professional production programs, it’s more convenient and less expensive. We recommend using an external microphone for the best sound quality.
One notable mobile application is riverside.fm, with its outstanding recording and storage features. You can find them on both iOS and Android.
How Much Does It Cost To Start A Podcast?
At the lowest cost, you’ll need $50 for the microphone and $15 per month for the podcast’s hosting service.
For more demanding and professional podcasters, you will need an extra $500 to $1000 to get the right equipment. In addition, the hosting service fee per month will range from $30 to $35.
#4. Selecting The Software For Editing And Recording
Once you have all the necessary equipment to start podcasts, choosing the suitable video recording and editing software is the next step.
The good news is that some freeware has exclusive features for you to share about your content. These include:
Adobe Audition
This professional recording software also can mix and edit audio. In terms of popularity, it tops our list.
You can use the free trial to test the product’s features. After that, you will have to use a monthly or yearly paid plan for the entire application.
Garageband
Garageband is a simple audio editing and recording studio program. Its most significant advantage is that it is free and available on the iOS platform.
Thanks to its easy-to-use interface, the app does its job well for those just starting as a podcaster. If you want to upgrade the experience, try Logic.
Audacity
Audacity is an open-source multi-track audio editor whose most prominent advantage is simplicity. It won’t take you much time and effort to use it.
This tool is handy when combined with an encoder, such as LAME MP Converter.
The cost for the software is also not too high, so those who are new with a moderate budget can consider it. You can download it for free on Mac, Linux, and Windows platforms.
Logic Pro
Apple users also have another professional recording application, Logic. It includes features like audio tuning and synthesis, MIDI arrangement, and more.
There is a monthly fee to use this service. However, the value received is entirely worth it. Download the free trial to experience the features before signing up for a membership.
#5. Trademarking And Copyright Your Podcasts
You’ll need to research copyright law before becoming a podcaster thoroughly.
As the author of a work, you essentially have exclusive rights to the content of that work. So, other people won’t be able to use your content without your permission.
Exceptions to this rule include a citation and fair use of research and literature. Their purpose is to increase the scientific credibility of podcasts.
On the other hand, you also need to avoid using other people’s copyrighted works, such as background music.
Create them yourself with free software like Garageband. Another way is to hire someone else to do it for you.
Many people also use logos to protect their intellectual property (IP) and avoid confusion. It is a form of trademark.
Keep trademarks aside from the title and description of your show, as that can confuse listeners as to what belongs to whom.
#6. Creating The Podcasting Format
Depending on the topic of the program, you can choose the appropriate expression method.
Many people express themselves randomly and freely, while others are more comfortable with scripted speech. Each way has its own advantages and appeals to specific audiences.
Interview Guests
The interview is probably the most common format. Usually, each episode will feature a guest and chat with one or two hosts.
Together, they will discuss a foretold topic. That topic will often revolve around the knowledge and experience of the guest.
Solo Podcasting
Solo podcasting is also gradually attracting a lot of attention from listeners recently. This format revolves around having only a single person present during the process.
The advantage of this format is that it is easy to edit and control the content. However, it will be difficult for you to think of ways to attract potential listeners on your own.
A Panel Of People
Another type of interview podcasting is one or more hosts with a group of people. It’s pretty much like community surveys.
When they talk to each other, the audience will feel like part of it.
The most significant disadvantage of this format is finding enough people to participate in each episode. Therefore, it is not widespread yet.
Co-hosted Podcasts
Another popular format is co-hosting. You’ll be juggling with another person to create content for each episode in it.
It will be much easier than having to do it on your own, and you won’t rely too much on the guests. However, the two must have a certain degree of harmony.
Scripted Nonfiction Programs
Some podcasts already have a complete script available before it goes on air. One of them is the scripted nonfiction podcasts.
It can be themed around history, mysteries, or true crime.
Scripted Fiction Programs
Another name for this format is audio drama podcasts, and their popularity is relatively high.
The content mainly revolves around a fictional story that spans several episodes. Listeners will have to monitor continuously so as not to miss any information. For those who love to read, this can be a form of attraction.
This format will take a lot of work, especially if you want to hire voice actors. However, their attractiveness is quite high.
#8. Recording And Editing The First Podcast Episode
After you have all the necessary tools and scripts, let’s start making a podcast episode according to the content you want.
Prepare An Outline
Prepare an outline in advance, so you don’t get distracted and stay focused on the main content. Engaging podcasts are always conversational in nature.
If you choose the interview format, discuss the content framework and relevant questions with them in advance.
Record All The Segment
Many programs are divided into different segments to facilitate recording.
Please prepare the intro and outro to put in each episode after recording. In addition, this division also gives you better quality control.
Edit The Show
After the recording is complete, you need the help of software to cut tapes, combine music or commercials, and mix sounds.
All of this can be done from a digital audio workstation (DAW) or editing software of your choice.
Tag the Audio File (MP3)
Naming files with show and episode names is still not enough for you to figure them out. Tag it, so it shows up on everyone’s podcasts device.
#9. Developing A Posting Schedule
Schedule your show’s posts once you’ve got all the basics down and recorded your first podcast episode.
This process will be complicated as most podcasters are used to sporadic releases. However, if you suggest new content to your audience, they are more likely to return.
There are several methods to help you schedule, including:
- Release one episode per week.
- Post two episodes per week but with different themes.
- Released every other day with shorter segments.
- Post daily (make sure you can do that).
#10. Choosing The Proper Hosting Platform
Don’t forget to choose the exemplary hosting service for your podcasts. It will affect future revenue generation.
Your podcast host is where your potential audience finds and listens to your content. It is not limited to time, space or place.
Don’t get in the way of everyone’s listening experience. It is better to choose servers with enough bandwidth and large enough storage space.
The cost to use the service is also not completely free. After you’ve uploaded more than three episodes, you’ll need to subscribe to a monthly or yearly plan.
The hosting platforms that you can refer to include: Buzzsprout, PodBean, Transistor, Captivate, Speaker, Soundcloud, Anchor, and Castos.
#11. Designing The Wallpaper And General Description
Podcast descriptions are a way for you to show your uniqueness and attract potential audiences to listen to your show.
You get up to 4,000 characters to emphasize the show in iTunes. Notable elements are attractiveness, simplicity, and description.
The content that you should add is the benefits that listeners get when participating in your channel. Do not forget to write keywords to optimize SEO and attract the audience to find you.
In addition to a brief description, a cover photo is also a great way to impress your potential listeners.
Some tips for designing a great cover photo include:
- The best size should be 3000 x 3000 pixels.
- Recommended formats are .png and .jpg and RGB color space.
- Use clear, quality and royalty-free images to avoid problems.
- Don’t use too much text in the picture. Some players automatically shrink the cover image to fit smaller fields. Therefore, it might be difficult for you to read those words.
You should use Snappa or Canva to create cover photos for free.
#12. Attracting Potential Audiences To Listen To Your Show
Once the shows have been published, it’s time to promote them to everyone.
Embed The Program In Your Website
Most hosts will provide a code for the user to hit play and listen to your podcast. They can also download it if they like.
The best way to promote the program is to post about it on your blog, add the code, and note additional relevant information.
If you mentioned any resources in the program, please link to them.
Submit To Directories
The most popular platforms are SoundCloud, iTunes, and Sticker. Before posting an available program, you will have to register and wait for approval.
Don’t forget to share the show on social media. You can also leverage email signatures to notify people of its presence.
Finally, add eye-catching graphics and convert them into a YouTube video format. The videocast format is also a good idea.
Guest Appearances
If you have podcasters friends, try asking them to invite you to appear on the show. This method will help you promote your program and gain a lot of experience.
#13. Monetizing From Podcasting
The good news is that you can earn both active and passive income from your podcast channel. Some ways to make money that you can refer to include:
- Advertising and Sponsorship: Many podcasting hosting platforms earn through their own advertising networks. You can even get direct sponsorship if you have a large audience.
- Online Courses: You can promote courses on Udemy or Teachable online. It will be suitable for specialized topics.
- Affiliate Marketing: Making money through affiliate marketing is a popular way to increase income. Choose to advertise quality products.
- Donations and Crowdfunding: Ask your listeners to contribute to support you and then create premium content. Common platforms for receiving donations are Buy Me a Coffee, Patreon, and Podfan.
- Sell Services: Professionals can also use podcasting for advertising and selling their services.
- Dynamic Ad Insertion: Spreaker’s monetization program works all over the world. You have to add the specific stops in the place of your ads and earn by CPM (cost per mille).
FAQs
How Long Should A Podcast Be?
Based on calculations through December 2019, the average duration of each podcast episode is 36 minutes. This number may have been shorter and more common in the modern era.
If your content is engaging and interesting enough, the audience can listen to dozens of minutes in a row without getting tired.
Is It Profitable To Start A Podcast?
Podcasting can be profitable, but it will take a lot of time, passion, and effort.
The growth of podcasts has not stopped. Not only are there many people who create them, but there are also people who listen to them every day.
Closing Points
Hopefully, this article has answered questions like “where do we begin podcasting” or “how much does it cost to produce a podcast?”
Starting and hosting a podcasting program is no easy task. However, if you have enough determination and effort, the results will be admirable.
Do not forget to share this article with your loved ones if you find it useful.
Thank you for reading!
