Starting a podcast can be one of the best things you do, it’s widely available, can be run on a very low budget and has become one of the most consumed forms of media to date. In this article, we’ll discuss everything about how to start & publish a podcast.
Another key element to podcasting’s rising popularity is the opportunity it provides audiences to build a relationship with their host. Unlike other forms of media, you are not constrained by runtimes or broadcast slots. With the right use of social media, an advertisement can be done for free too. Here’s how to increase conversions using social media.
However, before I divulge into the different ways you can begin your podcasting journey, I would note one thing of importance, podcasting is not new. In a time of Joe Rogan, My Dad Wrote A Porno and many others you must consider that building an audience will take time. But do not let that dissuade you too much!
Having decided to create your podcast we’ll now get into the nitty-gritty about how to start & publish a podcast. You now need a name for it, this can be as inventive or as simple as you like. For example, The Tigerbelly Podcast’s name makes sense to long term fans but isn’t overcomplicated. Its unusual name draws you in to see what it is about. Some hosts use their name as the title or just a summary of the topic, like Beautiful Anonymous, which interviews guests who are anonymous in each episode. I chose the latter of the two options for my podcast, my guests were people who were the Prodigies of their chosen Martial Art.
The best advice I read when starting up was don’t frustrate yourself trying to find the perfect name. The name is not how your audience will decide if they like your podcast.
Similarly, the logo for your podcast can be to your liking. If you consider the three podcasts above, including my own, you can see that they suit their genre. One thing that I have seen is that if you, as the host, are “Self Branding” having your face on the logo does not harm. If you are artistic you could even design your logo. However, if you are like me and consider stickmen your best work, consider commissioning someone to design something for you. I had an amazing artist (Goda Starolyte) who designed my logo for me.
The Big Idea
You have the concept for your podcast set, now to the first of your considerations. You need to find a way to record it.
One option is Anchor, an online platform that saves you the hassle of dealing with multiple hosts, which can be a relief for those who don’t want to deal with learning the ins and outs of linking RSS feeds. Anchor allows you to record directly onto the device you are using and will publish onto all major podcasting platforms for you.
Alternatively, you can record offline and then upload your audio afterwards. When I started my podcast I was uploading to SoundCloud and then linking that to all the other major platforms. Having to deal with the difficulty of juxtaposing rules for uploading can be nightmarish, so I would suggest using Anchor or something similar to allow you to focus your efforts on content rather than process.
Additionally, there may be platforms that you are unaware of that Anchor will publish your podcast on, maximizing your reach to potential listeners. Moreover, Anchor, Spotify and such can provide you with some great analytics for your audience that can help inform how you build or focus your podcast. See the below screenshot from Spotify of the age and genders of my audiences. I’m currently using this to inform how I am going to build my audience base.
Publishing & Content
So now you’re ready to go, time to record and get your first episode online. This is the ‘publishing’ part of the ‘how to start & publish a podcast’. There are plenty of ways in which you can prepare for your episodes. I have used a variety of methods. As you can see below for one of my most recent episodes, I did a summary of topics I wanted to discuss.
When I started my podcast I wrote out pages of planning but what I have learnt is that conversation can lead down many avenues, so do not be too tied to your plan as it can affect the flow of the discussion.
Another great way of preparing is having a preliminary chat with guests (If you choose to have any). This helps you build a report with them and provides you with an opportunity to discuss what the podcast will be about, so they have time to prepare.
Don’t stop after publishing your first episode though. You need to understand that being as consistent and as frequent with your content is going to help you reach your audience and keep them interested.
Likewise, you can do the same with your social media, be imaginative in ways you promote your content. Engage with your audience and make it personal. The difference in feedback when you engage with real content rather than copy and paste messages speaks volumes. Some of the best engagement I have had is through the use of Instagram stories and replying to every person who posts about the podcast.
In order to know how to start and publish a podcast, you’ll also need to know what to use in regards to, specifically, equipment and software for recording a podcast. This part will be published in soon, so subscribe to the Start Smarter newsletter to receive the article straight into your inbox.
If you want to check out my podcast or contact me check out The Prodigy Podcast Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/theprodigypodcast/