How to Start A Podcast in 2022: A Step-By-Step Guide to Launch
Author: Kyla Denanyoh
Starting a podcast is easier than ever in 2022. This is the perfect blog for you because I have personal experience with starting a podcast. I am also using a lot of Blk Pod Collective resources to explain how to start a blog.
We teamed up for this blog because podcasting is hard. You will make a lot of mistakes and make more decisions than you were expecting. You might even hate the sound of your recorded voice. I can't do anything about helping you enjoy your voice, but this blog will cover everything else! This blog should address every distraction and fear you have about podcasting because we have experienced it.
You are not expected to memorize everything in this blog. This blog should be read over and over again while you start your podcast.
In 2019, I decided to start a podcast. I drug my feet and made excuses and kept talking myself out of creating a podcast. Finally, when I got serious about podcasting, I found the Blk Pod Collective profile on Instagram a month before I launched my podcast. I've been learning and growing from their resources and tips ever since.
This blog is written from a Blk Pod Collective checklist about starting a podcast. The blog references entries from the Blk Pod Collective blog. Every referenced blog is linked below and will give you additional information outside of this article.
Blk Pod Collective helped more than 50 people start their podcasts, so you found the perfect blog to explain everything you need to start a podcast in 2022.
What do we know about starting a podcast?
A LOT! This blog includes knowledge gained when Blk Pod Collective started their podcast, Blk Pod Collective: The Podcast. If you haven’t listened to it yet, catch up on a few episodes when you finish reading this blog.
Today is the best day to start a podcast.
There is no better time to start a podcast than today. Why? You are reading this blog because you are ready to start a podcast. That is great because I want to walk you through how to start a podcast. You can create an incredible podcast with some motivation and a plan. This blog is full of motivation and is a plan that you can follow to start a podcast.
In this blog, you will learn everything you need to start a podcast and gain the confidence to start a podcast in 2022.
In this blog, I will explain how to:
PLAN your podcast,
START your podcast,
RECORD your podcast,
EDIT your podcast,
LAUNCH your podcast, and
PROMOTE your podcast.
Keep reading and get ready to start a podcast in 2022!
PLAN YOUR PODCAST
Podcasting exists because you have something to say. You want to share your thoughts, experiences, or knowledge with the world and you are using a podcast to express yourself. But you also need a plan for your podcast. Let’s start with the most important question: Why are you starting a podcast?
Take a break and ask yourself why you are starting a podcast. Seriously, say it out loud. I’ll wait.
If you have a reason for starting a podcast, EXCELLENT. But if you could not find a reason to start a podcast, we will find your reason to start a podcast.
Find Your Reason to Start a Podcast
A few questions to ask yourself are:
Do you have a business that you want to promote with your podcast?
Do you want to get your voice out into the world?
Will your podcast be a platform to create a profitable career?
Every podcaster had to ask themselves these same questions. Even though these are tough questions, the answers will help you narrow down your reason to start a podcast.
Your Podcast needs a Niche!
It is challenging to find a podcast niche because most people have no idea what a niche is. But you aren’t most people! You are preparing to start your podcast. You are serious about podcasting. You will have a great podcast! So let’s discuss podcast niches.
A Podcast Niche is a Podcasters' Passion
Are you passionate about sports, parenting, food, travel, or all of the above? Whatever you are passionate about will become your podcast niche.
The best way to find a podcast niche is to look at your life and look at things you love to do and things you love to talk about. Things that you already enjoy or do are the perfect podcast niches. Think about it: when you decided to start a podcast, you had a niche in mind.
Your Life Can Inspire Your Podcast
Something happened that made you say, ‘Aha, I should start a podcast about this!’ So what inspired you? What made you decide to start a podcast? This is the niche you should use when you start your podcast.
If you are passionate about a niche but don't know a lot about the niche, this should not stop you from starting a podcast. In a world where Google and Wikipedia exist, you should research your podcast niche and become an expert on the niche. Do not let your lack of knowledge stop you from podcasting about a specific niche. Work hard and research that niche!
Research is a GREAT thing when you start a podcast. Research allows you to see different perspectives and really understand your niche. Another benefit of research is you will find out if you really enjoy this podcast niche.
If you are bored or frustrated by your podcast niche, then you should change your podcast niche. It is better to find out that you're unhappy with the niche at the beginning of podcasting than after you've recorded a podcast episode.
If you research your podcast niche and fall more in love with the niche, move forward with the niche. Whatever the reaction, you want to find out how you feel about the podcast niche at this stage of the podcasting process.
Find New Ways to Brighten Up an Familiar Podcast Niche
As you are planning to start your podcast, you may find a lot of other podcasts with the same niche. Do not get scared away from your podcast niche because of other podcasts in this space. Finding other podcasts with your same podcast niche is a good thing. You should study those podcasts. Listen to those podcasts, take notes, and find unique ways to discuss the niche.
I have a podcast about lawyers and there are many podcasts about lawyers (but my show is the best, of course!). I speak with lawyers with exciting hobbies and interests outside of the courtroom on the You Are A Lawyer podcast. This unique take on a legal podcast allowed me to stand out from other podcasts in the same niche.
It is good to start a podcast within a niche that already exists. The niche exists because people are listening to these podcasts. You are in good company!
Stick With Your Podcast Niche
The most important thing about a podcast niche is discussing the niche on your podcast. This is a simple point that is often overlooked. Blk Pod Collective: The Podcast is about how to start and excel with your podcast. If the team became bored with that niche and started discussing parenting tips, the audience would fade away.
Be honest with yourself and decide if you are interested in your podcast niche. If you enjoy your podcast niche, then tada! You’re one step closer to starting your podcast.
If you don’t want to discuss your podcast niche, you don't have to use that niche. Nothing is established. We are still planning to start your podcast. You can go to the beginning of this blog and plan to start a *new* podcast.
Now that we've established your podcast niche, can you talk about this niche for the next year (or more)?
Do you have time to podcast?
Starting a podcast takes time. The time you are spending reading this blog and preparing to start your podcast. Time is spent planning your podcast, finding your reason to podcast, and discovering your podcast niche.
The best day to release your podcast is the day when you can have your podcast ready to be released. That seems too simple, but the truth is that the podcast release date is based on your personal schedule.
Choose a Podcast Date That You Can Stick With
Do you have a large family with hectic weekends? If yes, then you probably cannot prepare a podcast for Monday releases. Do you have a full work schedule and team meetings every Wednesday? Then a Thursday podcast release date may not work for you.
When you plan to release a podcast (what you are doing right now!), you should choose the release day that works with your schedule right now.
How Often Should You Release Your Podcast
Every podcaster has a different opinion about how often to release their podcast. Honestly, a perfect podcast release date does not exist.
The frequency of your podcast also depends on your schedule. Podcasts should be released when you're able to record and prepare the episode for your audience. We have found that the best frequency for new podcasts is:
Daily
Twice a week
Weekly
Bi-weekly
After speaking with multiple podcasters, Blk Pod Collective recommends the four podcast frequencies above when you start your podcast. Some podcasters release episodes every month and even quarterly, but it is difficult to gain an audience when you have too much time between episodes.
If you think a monthly podcast will be best for you, consider whether you need more time to research your niche or if you need to wait for a better time to start a podcast. Again, as you are planning to start your podcast, you need to be honest about whether the podcast will fit into your schedule.
As you will learn in the following sections, launching and promoting your podcast requires a lot of work. The frequency of the podcast allows your podcast audience to find you and get connected with you.
The most important thing about the frequency of your podcast episodes is being consistent with how often you release your podcast. If you tell your audience that you will have a new podcast episode every week, then there should be a new podcast episode every week. If you say you have a daily podcast, then episodes should be released daily.
How Long Should a Podcast Episode Be?
Did you know that the length of a podcast depends on the podcast niche? It’s true. Podcasts about video games tend to be twice as long as non-fictional storytelling podcasts. The average length of a podcast is 37 minutes. Many Americans listen to podcasts when they are commuting to work or cooking, so this amount of time fits with those activities.
But honestly, a podcast episode should be as long as you want. Podcast episodes could be:
10-15 minutes
15-30 minutes
30-60 minutes
More than an hour
Once you begin podcasting and get feedback about the length of the podcast, this might cause you to alter the length of the podcast. But while you are planning your podcast, decide the length of time that you want for your podcast.
Of course, if you need more time to fill the podcast episode, you can complete more research to find more to discuss in the podcast.
After you find your podcast reason and niche, you can find your podcast audience.
Who is In Your Podcast Audience?
When you create a podcast, people will listen to it. Eeek, super scary. People will hear your voice, listen to your stories, and get to know you.
If I didn’t want anyone to listen to You Are A Lawyer, I would create an audio diary. Audio diaries are cool, but that is not what I wanted. I have a perspective about lawyers that I thought was missing in the world. But it was not easy to find an audience for my podcast, despite my new perspectives and ambition.
Who Do You Want In Your Podcast Audience?
Identifying your podcast audience is important for engaging with your podcast audience. Some things to know about your podcast audience:
Demographics: age, race, and gender of podcast audience
Educational level and income
Freetime activities and hobbies
Audience interests and concerns
When you know who you want in your podcast audience, you’ll understand who you’re talking to and how to engage with the audience.
You are trying to develop a trusting and loyal friendship with your podcast audience.
How Will You Know If Your Podcast is Successful?
Why are we talking about being successful when you haven’t started your podcast? Because you have to begin with the end in mind! Here is a hard fact about podcasting: Podcasting can be isolating.
When you start a podcast, it will be just you, your idea, and your microphone. That’s it. You should be prepared to spend a lot of time by yourself. A lot of time working hard without knowing whether you're doing a good job with your podcast.
Creating a podcast goal will stop podcasting from feeling like a chore. Podcast goals can look like anything. Examples of podcast goals are:
Recording five podcast episodes.
Publishing ten podcast episodes.
Writing down 15 podcast ideas.
Finding seven podcast guests.
These are great podcast goals. Borrow one or two if you need help finding your podcast goal. You will notice that the goals are not downloads or number-based. We are not striving to have 200 episode downloads in a month. Podcast goals should be something you have control over. We will discuss podcast promotion and attracting more downloads later. :)
When you start your podcast, achieving your podcast goals will give you the motivation to keep recording. Until you have a team of people working with you, enjoy working by yourself and achieving your podcast goals.
You Must be Consistent with Your Podcast
Podcasts are a series of episodes that are released on a schedule. When you start a podcast, you determine the podcast schedule, set the podcast expectations, and your podcast audience follows along (hopefully).
Earlier, we discussed sticking to your niche. That is one way to be consistent with your podcast. Determining the format of your podcast is another way to be consistent with your podcast.
There are seven main formats of a podcast:
Interview
Monologue
Conversational
Panel
Non-fictional storytelling
Theatrical
Repurposed content
The Best Seven Podcast Formats
Interview podcasts
Interview-based podcasts are the most popular format of podcasts. An interview podcast includes a podcast host who interviews a guest in each podcast episode. The host has all the pressure of an interview-based podcast because the host is responsible for guiding the conversation. Interview-based podcasts are where the guests get to shine.
Monologue Podcasts
Monologue podcasts are the most common type of podcast because this podcast format is simple. This podcast is all about a host who discusses a niche that they know
very well. The best way to make a monologue podcast successful is to plan every portion of the podcast to ensure that you are not rambling during the podcast.
Conversational Podcasts
Conversational podcasts are straightforward conversations between multiple hosts of a podcast. Each host will have different roles that they fulfill to keep the conversation flowing and entertaining. Participants in a conversational podcast can plan the podcast and collaborate to create a successful podcast.
Panel podcasts
A panel podcast has one host and a group of guests or specialists in each episode. The panel podcast format will sound like a conversation between friends who just happen to record themselves. Panel podcasts are similar to interview-based podcasts.
Non-fictional storytelling podcast
Non-fictional podcasts are shows about real-life events. Think true crime podcasts, current news podcasts, or podcasts about food or technology. Non-fictional storytelling podcasts can cover an individual story in each podcast or discuss a story over multiple podcast episodes.
Theatrical Podcasts (or fictional storytelling podcasts)
Fictional storytelling podcasts are stories told with varying voice actors, sound effects, and plots. Fictional storytelling podcasts are frequently told over multiple episodes.
This podcast format is great for a creative writer who wants to create other worlds for the audience to explore.
Podcasts from Repurposed Content
This podcast format is the easiest to use IF you are currently creating content in another space. A podcast based on repurposed content allows you to borrow topics from your existing blog, YouTube channel, or newsletter for the podcast.
Which Podcast Format is Best for You?
Did any podcast format jump out at you? Do you have a favorite podcast that you want to mirror? Did you see their podcast style described above?
I hope that this list of podcast formats helped you find out what type of podcast you want to create. You can stick to one podcast format or combine multiple podcast formats until you create the podcast format that you want.
You can start your podcast using one podcast format and use a different podcast format in the future.
Choosing a Podcast Name
The best podcast names are catchy and straightforward. The problem is that catchy and straightforward mean different things to everyone. Catchy podcast names are easy to read and remember. My podcast name, You Are A Lawyer , is catchy because it is short and sweet.
A straightforward podcast name is a podcast name that tells the listener exactly when the podcast is about. My podcast has a straightforward name because you know that the show is about lawyers. If you are a lawyer, this podcast is for you.
Straightforward means that the topic of the show is easy to determine too. You do not have to be a lawyer to listen to my podcast, but I'm sure you're interested in lawyers or law school if you listen to the podcast. Bonus points are given to anyone who listens to my podcast because you think I am awesome or you enjoy the podcast guests.
Another example of a catchy and straightforward podcast name is Blk Pod Collective: The Podcast. The podcast name is easy to remember and explains that this is a podcast from Blk Pod Collective. If someone sent a Blk Pod Collective: The Podcast episode to you, you would know that the podcast was about Black people, podcasts, and Black podcasters.
START YOUR PODCAST
Tada! As you’ve read this blog, if you participated and asked yourself the tough questions I presented, then you should have a solid plan for your new podcast. I am proud of you!
Now, we start the fun stuff. As you start your podcast, you need to determine the podcast cover art, the sound of your podcast, where to host your podcast and how to outline your podcast episodes.
Create Cover Art
Have you heard the saying ‘a picture is worth more than a thousand words?’ This saying perfectly describes the importance of your podcast cover art because the podcast cover art should tell the viewer a lot about your podcast.
Podcast cover art should grab a listener's attention and the design shouldn't be too busy.
Podcast cover art is the first impression of your podcast with a potential listener. Podcast cover art is displayed as a thumbnail in podcast playing apps or when displayed online. Podcast cover art is frequently used for advertising your podcast and the cover art is the podcasts' brand.
When designing your podcast cover art, ask yourself:
Do you have a favorite color?
Is there a color that you immediately think of with your podcast niche?
Do you want your image on the podcast cover?
How many words are in your podcast name?
These questions are important because the podcast cover art is a small image. Seriously, the cover art will be about the size of a thumbnail so make it legible and memorable.
Buy the Best Podcast Cover Art
If you don't have a look or design in mind for your podcast cover art, consider working with a professional artist or designer. You can find a freelance artist or designer on Fiverr. You should also ask other podcasters for recommendations about who created their podcast cover art.
The perks of working with a professional artist is that the artist has the responsibility to create your vision. You will explain who you are, your podcast niche and the artist will take over. The artists can create multiple designs that would work for your podcast and you can give comments and suggestions about the cover art.
If you have a favorite color, it's nice to use that color in your podcast cover art. However, it is more important to consider colors that are frequently attached to your podcast niche. Color association rules do not have to be followed, but they are interesting.
A few color association examples:
Money podcasts (and apps) and the color green
Banking or finance podcasts (and apps) and the color blue
Food podcasts (and apps) and the color red or burgundy
Art and design podcasts (and apps) and multiple colors or rainbows
Before you email me and say that your favorite banking podcast is hot pink, I am only making a suggestion. You do not have to pair your podcast niche with frequently used colors. But it is worth mentioning that phone apps and these colors are paired together for strategic reasons.
Don’t Be Afraid to Change Your Podcast Cover Art
When I was designing the podcast cover art for You Are A Lawyer, I used my favorite color: green. I played around in Word and created something that I thought was cute and straight forward.
Then I talked with a graphic designer who made some tweaks. I went from here:
to here:
I am proud of my current podcast cover art, which is timeless and shows upward movement, but I was crushed when the cover art was redesigned.
I spent the last week daydreaming about my podcast cover art and seeing the original cover art printed and hung on my wall like a poster. But I enjoyed the altered design and my favorite color is still green. Everything worked out as it should have.
I mention that story because there is nothing wrong with designing your own podcast cover art. But I would recommend using a design specific app like Canva. Canva is a great place to review designs and get inspired or choose one of their pre-designed album covers. I was literally playing around in Microsoft Word for my podcast cover art and well, it showed.
Also, if you decide to design your podcast cover art yourself, I recommend that you talk to someone about the design. Even if they do not recreate the cover art, someone else’s opinion could bring up issues with the cover art that you missed. For example, my name is not prominently displayed on either podcast cover art because that was important to me.
Having a second set of eyes on your podcast cover art could be beneficial.
Determine Your Show Sound
Have you noticed that some podcasts have theme music and other podcasts do not include music? On the current event podcast, The Daily, there is opening music, sound effects that play when important statements are made, and music when transitioning between show segments. It is wonderful to hear and I imagine it is a lot of work to produce.
I do not think that sound effects would improve my podcast. However, sound effects might be mandatory for your podcast format. For example, a fictional storytelling podcast with multiple voice actors would benefit from numerous sound effects and music. Sound effects add to the theatrical experience of these podcast formats.
How to Find Music for your Podcast
While you are starting your podcast, this is the perfect time to decide if you want to include music and how much music and sound effects would be good for your podcast. When you think about your podcast and how it represents you and your niche, what music do you hear?
For the You Are A Lawyer podcast, I didn’t have a sound in mind, but I knew that I wanted to include music in the opening and closing of my podcast. You can use websites like AudioJungle and Soundcloud to find music for your podcast and play samples of the music.
It is important to use music from sites like AudioJungle or Soundcloud because you need to have a copyright license for the music that you use in your podcast. When you use these websites, you pay for a copyright license that gives you permission to use this downloaded music.
This is your official warning that you should not use music from the radio as your podcast theme music and expect to use that music without issue.
The music sound quality will be poor and you could get flagged for using the music without the right to use the music. We want to have popular podcasts because of the content, not lawsuits.
When your podcast is flagged for copyright infringement, you could be required to pull every podcast episode indefinitely or remove the music from every episode. Either way, these actions will remove any momentum you were building with your podcast. Let’s start our podcast without any illegal and unpermitted music. Visit AudioJungle and Soundcloud if you use music and sound effects on your podcast.
When I chose music for You Are A Lawyer, I didn’t have a particular sound in mind. I spent a couple of days listening to music samples and trying to find the right music for my podcast. The time came and went and I hadn't found the right music for my podcast.
I wanted slow, moody music because I enjoyed listening to that music in real life. The slow music would have ruined my podcast and did not fit with my podcast niche.
I could not decide on music for my podcast until I recorded the podcast intro and listened to it. When I heard the podcast intro, I realized that my voice was too fast-paced and high-pitched for slow, moody music. I needed to choose music that would complement the tempo of my voice. I was surprised to find this bubbly, happy song that I couldn't stop dancing to.
Two years after choosing my podcast theme music, I could not imagine using any other song for the podcast.
I challenge you to spend some time and choose music that matches your podcast.
Choose a Hosting Platform
Okay, so I have to get a little technical as I discuss podcast hosting platforms. A podcast hosting platform simplifies and automates your RSS feed. The hosting platform also hosts and delivers your podcast RSS feed to your subscribers. Makes sense, right? I’m not done yet.
An RSS feed is a Really Simple Syndication that can be shared with websites and computer-based apps to play your podcast. Whew, that is done. Now let’s explain what I just wrote.
You create your podcast, record the podcast, and want people to listen to your podcast. You can email your podcast audio file to people and ask them to listen to it. But that will take a really long time and is a really slow method of sharing your podcast.
Podcast hosting platforms were created to deliver podcast audio from your device to the podcast audience with speed and efficiency. You create the podcast, upload the audio to the hosting platform, and the hosting platform distributes the audio. Podcast hosting platforms send your podcast audio to podcast playing apps, like Apple, Spotify, Pandora, etc., so people can find your podcast and listen to it anywhere.
Some hosting platforms, like Transistor FM, provide a media player that you can include on your podcast website. This way, you don’t have to send people to Apple or Spotify to hear your podcast, but you can send the traffic directly to your website.
Some popular podcast hosting platforms, such as Buzzsprout and Libsyn, will share your RSS feed with 15+ podcast apps and websites which allow your subscribers to find your podcast wherever they are.
Choosing a Podcast Hosting Platform
Five of the most popular podcast hosting platforms are:
Libsyn
Buzzsprout
Soundcloud
Podmatic
Anchor by Spotify
Libsyn (Liberated Syndicate) is one of the oldest podcast hosting platforms. Libsyn allows you to monetize quickly and hosting plans begin at $5 a month.
Buzzsprout offers a free hosting plan that hosts podcast episodes for 90 days and provides a podcasting dashboard. If you want to know the age, gender, and location of your podcast listeners, Buzzsprout will provide these details.
Soundcloud is a popular podcast hosting platform because it allows you to embed a media player on your website. The free plan allows you to store up to 3 hours of audio a month.
Podmatic allows podcasters to include advertising and crowdsourcing into their podcasts. Podmatic works with Patreon and Advertisecast, Facebook and Twitter, to allow you to immediately share podcast episodes and request donations.
Anchor is a free podcast hosting platform because of its simplicity. Anchor is a popular podcast hosting platform because it allows you to pick up your phone and record your podcast directly into the app, then upload the content.
Outline Your Podcast Episodes
The best podcasts have some sort of outline. It is easier to follow a podcast when there are different segments. Podcast outlines allow the podcast audience to get familiar with the podcast and anticipate each segment.
Having a podcast outline does not remove any surprises from your podcast. If you have a biweekly show, but the first episode every month has a special segment, this does not work against the podcast outline. In fact, the podcast audience will begin to expect this segment every month. Do you not use the podcast outline as an excuse to make your episode dry or lack surprises and changes.
When you work with a podcast outline, you can share the podcast outline with potential guests to help them prepare for the podcast. Podcast outlines allow your guests to feel comfortable and anticipate the podcast segments that will occur.
Podcast outlines are guides, not restrictions. It is important that you leave room for your guests to surprise you and allow the conversation to flow. Again, podcast outlines are guides, not restrictions.
The podcast outline is an intro, main segment, and outro. The podcast introduction is a chance for the podcast host to introduce themself and explain what the podcast episode is about. The podcast introduction allows the audience to get familiar with the podcast and anticipate what will happen later in the main segment of the podcast.
The main segment of a podcast episode is the discussion, storytelling, panel, conversation, or interview that anchors the podcast episode. The main segment of a podcast is why the audience is listening to your podcast.
The podcast outro is a recap of everything discussed in the podcast. Most podcast outros include a call to action, or a request that the podcast audience subscribes to the podcast or follows you on social media.
Lastly, if you’re fancy (and very organized), your podcast outro can include a teaser to the next podcast episode.
The Best Podcast Call to Action
A simple call to action is asking the audience to subscribe to your podcast or leave a rating. Podcast apps change all the time, so instead of asking your audience to subscribe to the podcast wherever they're listening, tell the audience where they can subscribe to the podcast. For example, saying ‘You can hear the podcast on Apple, Spotify, Pandora, etc.’ will give the podcast audience options for listening to the podcast.
Most people are listening to podcasts while they’re doing something else. If you include a call to action, use the same call to action for three or four episodes. It is good to repeat the call to action because people may be slow to act or ignore the call to action. Repetition increases the chance that the audience will complete the task you are requesting.
A Connection Call to Action
Connection calls to action ask the podcast listener to connect with you and the podcast in another space. An example of a connection call to action is “Join our Facebook group for the podcast” or “send me an email with any questions about this episode.” These calls to action will build a connection between the listener and the podcast host and are unusual. However, connection calls to action should be repeated multiple times too. You want people to connect with you.
The Special Quirk of a Call to Action
A podcast call to action does not have to be in the episode outro. If you have subscribers and repeat listeners of the podcast, they may not listen to the outro more than once. They have heard it, they know what to expect and the outro can be skipped once the main segment has ended.
This is where a midroll call to action can shine. A midroll call to action is placed during the main segment of the podcast. Bam! Your request to do something (or call to action) is right in the middle of your podcast episode. This call to action is effective because it cannot be ignored. The podcast listener wants to hear the episode and will listen to the entire call to action to get back to the podcast episode.
Pitch Your Show to Potential Guests
Once you have podcast cover art, a hosting platform, music for the podcast, and a podcast outline, you are ready to contact guests for your podcast (if needed). Podcast guests are mandatory for interview-based podcasts but aren't required with other podcast formats.
You should not contact a potential podcast guest until you have the podcast cover art and can podcast outline that you can share with the guest. A guest who's familiar with you will take a chance and be included in your podcast. But a stranger will have reservations about agreeing to a podcast without any proof or other details that the show exists.
RECORD YOUR PODCAST
We have discussed planning your podcast and how to start your podcast. Now it is time to record your podcast! This is the good part! After a little more reading and a few more tips, you will be ready to record your podcast.
You can choose to record your podcast at home or find a local studio and rent recording space.
Best Practices for Recording At Home
A couple of things to think about when you are ready to record: the sound of the room and the place where you record. Podcasters are known for recording in closets or under blankets to capture the best sound. But you can create a designated space, like an extra bedroom or office, and record in that room. Wherever you record, make sure the space is quiet and not echoey.
Quiet spaces can be created by adding sound panels to walls or recording at night when others in your house are sleeping. Common echoey spaces are garages and kitchens; spaces with lots of hard surfaces which allow sound to bounce around.
If you cannot record in a room with soft furnishings to absorb sound, you could alter a space before you record a podcast episode.
To create a temporary recording space, you can place pillows in front of mirrors and computer monitors; move plant stands and boxes; place blankets over mirrors and close any curtains.
Live versus Remote Recording
Once you have decided where to record, you can think about how to record. Your podcast format might dictate whether you record a live episode or a remote episode. Live episodes are podcasts where you turn on your microphone and record directly into the app and use the audio in that app. If you are recording a monologue,
conversational, or panel podcast, a live recording could be the best option for you. Live recordings will benefit podcast formats where all the speakers are in the same room.
Popular Remote Recording Apps
A remote recording is a podcast that is recorded into an external app, like Zoom, Zencastr, or SquadCast. An interview, fictional or non-fictional storytelling and theatrical podcast, a remote recording could be your best option.
Zoom is a conference platform that allows you to record with one or 99 people on one call. Zoom is not a podcasting-specific tool, but Zoom is a great tool for podcasters. Perks of using Zoom are the app is available internationally, a free tier is available, and Zoom is easy to use.
Skype is a free application that provides voice calls and video chat. Unlike Zoom, Skype has a built-in recorder which only provides a single-track recording. Single-track recordings can be difficult if there are overlapping conversations that you want to adjust.
Zencastr was created specifically for podcasters and offers a free tier and individual track recording for each person. Zencastr has built-in level audio features that make it easy for you to get the best sounding podcast.
SquadCast is another app that is specifically created for podcasters. SquadCast records each person on an individual track and sends the recording link directly to a podcast guest. SquadCast does not offer a free tier, but the platform provides perks that will benefit any podcaster.
I record with Zoom with my podcast guests. I've recorded with 40+ lawyers and every recording is remote. Zoom offers a clean sound and Zoom is easy to receive the recorded track directly to my inbox for me to use.
Podcast Equipment for all Price Ranges
Some podcast studios supply the equipment, but many coworking spaces include sound rooms that are empty and allow you to bring your own equipment. Whether you record at home or need equipment to take to the studio, here is a list of microphones, headphones, and mixers in varying price ranges.
Microphones are very important because they will capture your sound. Starting with a high-quality recording is ideal and will remove much of the frustrations when you begin to edit the podcast.
Samson Q2U is a great low priced, dynamic microphone for under $70.
Rode PodMic is a mid-range microphone with a broadcast-quality sound that is designed for podcast apps.
Shure SM7B is a high-priced microphone that “delivers warm and smooth audio reproduction.”
Headphones are important for listening to your podcast recording and identifying background noise and other sounds while editing. Also, if you are working on a panel or interviewing others, you need a good pair of headphones to ensure that you can hear the other speakers well.
OneOdio Pro-10r is a great example of a low-priced headphone for the podcaster on a budget.
Audio-Technicia ATH-M20x fits the criteria for an upper-tier headphone because of their comfortable earpads and stable design.
Did you know that it is best to work with corded headphones when you are recording for a podcast? Wireless or Bluetooth headphones have a lag in the sound and could cause you to miss information while recording your podcast.
Mixers are not talked about often with podcasting, but a sound mixer is very important. While many podcasters consider sound mixers to be optional, I find a sound mixer to be best if you are recording remotely (more about this later).
A sound mixer (or mixing console or audio mixer) is an external device used for mixing and balancing podcast audio. Sound mixers are great if you need to combine audio sources.
Focusrite Scarlett Solo is an affordable audio mixer that is an easy start tool that you can plug in and begin to use.
The Zoom LiveTrak L-8 makes remote recording simple with the use of AA batteries which let you record for 90 minutes without being plugged in.
The RODECaster Pro is a high-priced mixer option that has eight programmable sound pads and may be recorded on an SD card or directly to a computer.
EDIT YOUR PODCAST
OMG, you just learned how to record a podcast episode. You are one step closer to starting your podcast!
Depending on the format of your podcast, you may not need to edit or adjust the audio. But we would not recommend this. Even the most casual and conversational podcast could benefit from having the audio leveled out or removing the sounds of coughs, sneezes, background noises, and deep breaths. Also included in editing your podcast is mixing in your podcast intro, any call to action and the podcast outro.
You can choose to edit your podcast audio yourself, use an app that edits the audio for you or hire someone, or a company, to edit your podcast audio.
Self Editing
Many podcasters use tools like Audacity, GarageBand, and Adobe Audition to edit their podcast audio. Audacity is popular because it's free software that can be downloaded and used on a Mac or PC to edit your podcast audio. I use Audacity when I edit the You Are A Lawyer podcast and I like Audacity because it is easy to customize.
There are plenty of bells and whistles that I do not use on the app, but I am able to move my frequently used tools to one side of the app for easy access. Also, you cannot beat the free price of the editing software.
GarageBand is a popular recording tool if you are familiar with playing video games or making music. Adobe Audition is part of the Adobe professional package and allows you to seamlessly add music and sounds to your podcast, just like industry pros.
Editing Apps
Apps like Descript, Alitu, and Auphonic will edit your podcast audio for you. By selecting a few functions in Descript, the app will clean up the audio by removing any dead air, uh’s and um’s from the audio.
Descript is also popular for its transcription services. You could easily recognize errors when reading a transcript that you might overlook when listening to the podcast. Descript makes it easy to convert audio to text and review the text. Similar to Descript, Sonix.ai and otter.ai allow for automated transcription from your podcast audio to text.
Alitu advertises that it "automates the boring and technical parts of podcast editing", which is everything a new podcaster could need. Alitu offers a free seven-day trial for you to experience the simplicity of their software.
Auphonic uses audio algorithms to achieve professional-quality sound recordings. Auphonic’s allows you to edit a podcast with minimal effort. Auphoic offers two free hours of podcast editing a month and additional tiers if you have longer editing projects.
Consider using those transcribed podcast episodes for blog posts or longer show notes. Longer podcast show notes improve your search engine optimization (SEO) and help people find the podcast you just created.
SEO Tips for Podcasters
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the bridge between your podcast and your podcast audience’s ears. SEO attracts visitors to your podcast and increases traffic to your content. SEO helps websites like Google, Listen Notes, and Yahoo grab content from your podcasts' show notes and display it to new listeners.
Research Keywords for Each Podcast Episode
You should find keywords to use in your podcast titles and show notes. For example, if your podcast episode is about ‘self-care’, you can type this keyword into Google and see what appears on the first page of the search results. If you do not like the results, this could mean that your keyword is too broad and needs to be narrowed down.
If you have a website for your podcast, you should create a new blog or page for each podcast episode. These pages will have their own URLs with the episode title and keywords. Separate pages for each episode will advertise your podcast and give numerous locations for listeners to find your podcast.
Routinely Update Your Podcast Website
Updating your website helps you rank better on Google. When it comes to SEO, quality and quantity help listeners find your podcast. In addition to posting on your website when there is a new podcast episode, you can add other content like blog posts and podcast transcripts to add to the website between podcast episodes.
For example: if your podcast is released every two weeks, you will update your podcast website every two weeks with the RSS feed or embedded player for that new episode. To boost the SEO, add a blog article or other website when you did not release a podcast episode. These routine updates to your website could greatly benefit your SEO for the podcast.
Polish Your Podcast Titles
Podcast titles should be brief and contain the podcast keyword for the episode. Podcast titles help the listener know what the podcast episode is about. Take the research you completed to find an episode keyword and use that keyword to your advantage with the podcast title.
Use the tips and resources above to edit two or three podcast episodes. Once you have edited podcast episodes waiting to be released, you are officially ready to launch your podcast.
LAUNCH YOUR PODCAST
Submit Your Podcast
At least two weeks before you launch your podcast, submit your podcast to Apple, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Submitting your podcast to various podcast websites will put your podcast on their radar. Podcasting companies are always looking for the next big show. Also, you will improve the chances of being featured on Apple, Spotify, and Google podcasts when you complete these applications.
Some podcast hosting platforms will not distribute your podcast to Appl,e Spotify, and Google Podcasts. If your hosting platform does not include these websites, use the above links to claim your podcast on Apple, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. I know you're tired of reading this, but your podcast should be available on a variety of podcast websites because you want your audience to find you everywhere.
Create Episode Specific Promotions
Remember how you used Canva to create your podcast cover art? Well, I am discussing Canva again because it is one of the simplest tools to create graphics. You will think you are an artist as soon as you play around in Canva and get inspired by their designs.
Because you have recorded and edited your podcast, you should create graphics that describe an upcoming episode and highlight any podcast guests. These graphics will be displayed on social media or your podcast website and will draw attention to your podcast.
Engage your Podcast Audience with Audiograms
Social media sites are pushing for video and moving graphics in posts. One current trend is using audiogram on social media sites. Audiograms pair a portion of your
podcast with a waveform that creates a snippet that is easy to share on social media platforms. But audiograms are more than adding sound to a graphic because the audiogram will include closed captions on the post.
Closed captions are more inclusive to all reviewers, but also, 85% of all social media is consumed on mute. This percentage is important because it means that your visual effects must be attention-grabbing, or someone will swipe past your post. In case the viewer is not listening to the podcast snippet attached to the audiogram, the closed captions should stand out to the viewer.
Our Favorite Audiogram Tools
Wavve and Headliner are popular audiogram tools and favorites used by the Blk Pod collective community. Both tools are very easy to use and offer a lot of learning guides and tools when you want to create advanced audiograms.
Waave offers four tiers of membership and the lowest membership is completely free. Wavve also offers one free minute of video content every month. Wavve is popular for these features:
Creating templates for future use
Publish your created audiogram directly to social media
Review a variety of fonts, animations and customization tools
Record audio directly into the app (even though we do not suggest this)
Headliner offers two tiers of membership and ten videos a month for free, without any time limits. Headliner is known for these features:
Add automatic audio captions
Multiple sound wave animations to use
Share created audiograms directly to social media
Add text, animations and images to your videos
Include video transitions, like fading in and out
Publish audiograms to YouTube (two hours max)
How to Choose Content for an Audiogram
If you use audiograms, be strategic with the podcast clip that you use. You need to find a portion of the podcast audio that will be meaningful for the podcast audience. Remember, the audiogram viewer will listen to or read the closed captions of the conversation. It is best if the presented comments jump out at the viewer and make them want to hear the entire podcast episode.
Create Buzz for your Podcast
Is it possible to get people talking about your podcast before you launch? Absolutely. You can create buzz for your podcast when you let people know that someone important is happening.
Create a Podcast Launch Countdown
Once you have recorded and edited podcast episodes, you can choose when to release your podcast and alert people of the podcast launch date. Create tweets, posts, and graphics that countdown to the first podcast episode.
Countdown posts are easy to create and will get attention on social media. Use this attention to your advantage by adding followers and creating buzz for your podcast.
Giveaways
Choose to give your time or an item to podcast listeners in exchange for a podcast review.
Podcast reviews are important social proof to let others know that people are listening to the podcast and learning from the podcast. Podcast reviews are good for encouraging others to take a chance on your new podcast.
Podcasts with multiple high ratings and positive reviews rank higher than competitor podcasts in the same category. Make sure that you are periodically asking for podcast ratings and reviews.
Go Live with Podcast Guests
We discussed the importance of podcast guests for building a podcast audience. This audience building begins before you launch your podcast when you go live on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook with your podcast guest. Use these live sessions to give teasers about the podcast episode. Explain why you choose the podcast guest, the importance of the podcast episode, and why the podcast episode is good for your audience.
Inform Podcast Guests about the Episode Release
If your podcast includes guests, tell your guests about the episode release date and share social media graphics with the guests. Ask the podcast guests to share the podcast episodes on their social media profiles and tell friends and family about the podcast.
It is important that you ask the guests to share your podcast. Not only to improve your podcast launch, but to get more people to listen to the podcast. Prepare for the best podcast launch by including podcast guests in your promotion.
PROMOTE YOUR PODCAST
You have a podcast! Congratulations. Now you need to get some podcast listeners.
How to Promote Your Podcast on Instagram
There are no bad ideas when it comes to using Instagram for your podcast. You can post about your podcast on your personal Instagram page. You can create a business profile for your podcast. Both methods work well and depending on the niche of your podcast, you may benefit from having your podcast separate from your personal profile.
The point is that you should use Instagram for your podcast. Secondary apps like Linktree, Podfollow, Instavast and Planoly can take your Instagram game to another level.
You can use Linktree to add a drop down list of links to your Instagram page. Common links added to a Linktree are your podcast website, one or two podcast apps, and a link to your email subscribers list.
Podfollow allows you to direct followers to a specific podcast playing app based on their device. For example, if the listener is using an iOS phone, Podfollow can send the listener to Apple Podcasts. If the podcast listener has an Android device, Podfollow can send the listener to Google podcasts or Spotify. The point is that you specify where you want the device owner to listen to the podcast and the Podfollow links makes it happen.
There is also an option to send people on a desktop to your podcast website.
Instavast is an app that allows you to log in with your Instagram account and have messages automatically sent to podcast followers. Instavast allows you to communicate with your podcast audience simply.
Planoly allows you to schedule posts for your podcast. If you have future episodes prepared, you should take advantage of scheduling your content so that you do not have to be attached to your phone every time that a podcast episode is released.
Best Methods for Podcasters to Reach Larger Audience
If you are interested in reaching a lot of potential listeners, you could use the Overcast app and purchase ads to attract listeners. Overcast allows you to purchase ads for 30 days, which will appear below the control buttons (play, pause, speed) and expand your reach.
Submit your podcast to be featured on Pocket Casts. Most podcasters would give their arm to be featured in the New and Noteworthy or What We’re Listening To sections of a podcast playing app. Pocket Casts allows you to submit your show for consideration in these spotlight sections.
Listen Notes is the world’s largest podcast search engine. If you are looking for a niche or want to listen to other podcasts with a specific person, you can find that on Listen Notes. Review this website and make sure your podcast is claimed and displayed on Listen Notes.
If you are looking to network with others, use Meetup. This website and app is used to connect people, create friendships, grow a business and explore your interests. Meetup will help you find your podcast audience and allow you to share your podcast with others.
Engage Your Podcast Audience
If you want to interact with your podcast audience, consider creating a private Facebook group or a group chat. These community rooms will allow audience members to chat with each other and provide feedback about the podcast.
Depending on your podcast niche, you should consider Twitter to engage with your podcast audience or find podcast guests. If you are comfortable with Twitter, use it to increase your podcast audience.
Communicate with Your Podcast Audience
You need to meet your podcast audience where they are. This means that if you use Instagram, then methods to find a larger audience, then community forums, you could be missing someone.
It is beneficial to every podcaster to create email content and share it with your email list. Websites like MailChimp and Constant Contact make it easy to stay in communication with your podcast audience, regardless of your design skills. MailChimp and Constant Contact offer email templates that allow a busy podcaster to drag and drop photos and website links into an email that attracts podcast listeners.
Join a Podcast Directory
Podcast directories are collections of podcasters. The purpose of a podcast directory is to display the podcast's name and RSS feed which lets people find the podcast easily. Join the Blk Pod Collective directory, which is another method for listeners to find your awesome, new podcast.
Be a Guest on Another Podcast
One of the most overlooked ways of gaining more attention for your podcast is being a guest on another podcast. Why? Because podcasters listen to podcasts. As podcasting is being seen as a reputable media outlet, many people see being a podcast guest as a free opportunity to gain promotion.
There are a few ways to pitch yourself as a podcast guest on another show:
Do your research
Pick a Compelling Topic
Add Value
Be Specific
Research the podcast and podcast host BEFORE you pitch yourself to be a podcast guest. Find out what the podcast is about and why the host started the podcast. Listen to prior podcast episodes and get familiar with the theme and outline of the podcast.
Researching a podcast includes looking at the podcast's social media pages. Because you are pitching yourself as a guest, you need to ensure that this podcast is a good fit for you before you are associated with the podcast.
Having a valuable perspective and being valuable for the podcast audience are not the same things. When you pitch yourself for a podcast, tell the podcast host what topic you are interested in and why you can speak on this topic. To show that you are valuable to this podcast host, you must choose a compelling topic that will make the podcast host contact you to record.
Adding value to a podcast is important to the podcast host. You make the host's job easier by telling the host that you have a personal story or journey that will make people want to hear more. Podcast hosts are looking for unique stores and want to offer interesting guests to their podcast audience. Help the podcast host by telling them why you would rock their podcast.
When you send a specific pitch to a podcast host, it shows that you are truly interested in being on their platform.
Help a Reporter
Many podcasters become experts in their field and about their podcast topic. When you are an expert, your experience will be sought after by news outlets and reporters. Use sites like Help A Reporter to receive media and journalism pitches that you can apply for. Reporters and businesses submit their requests to Help A Reporter because they are looking for interviews and podcast guests. If you are chosen to contribute to a media story or podcast, this will promote your podcast.
CONCLUSION
You just learned how to start a podcast. You did it! You learned how to:
PLAN your podcast,
START your podcast,
RECORD your podcast,
EDIT your podcast,
LAUNCH your podcast, and
PROMOTE your podcast.
You've read A LOT of information. Some sentences surprised you and some topics shocked you (what are audio mixers again?).
You did not have to memorize everything in this blog.
This blog is a resource for you to use over and over again as you start your podcast. Work on one step at a time and start your podcast. I cannot wait to see your podcast on a podcast player app.
