Podcasts have grown to be incredibly popular lately, and chances are you’ve asked yourself ‘how do I start my own podcast?’
Podcasts are a relatively new medium, but they are quickly gaining steam. Podcasts are nothing but digital audio files that can be downloaded by the user to his personal device for listening at his convenience. They also come in video form some of the times.
From Joe Rogan to Dax Shepard to the countless YouTubers who have podcasts, they’ve all had to start somewhere. Fortunately for some, they grew a loyal fanbase which keeps their content coming usually on a weekly basis. This new form of media is growing to be more and more entertaining and we’ve seen a huge rise in new podcasts, especially in 2020 where you can do this remotely.
Let’s try understand more about how to start a podcast in 2020!
How to Start a Podcast
Generating Ideas
As with all new ventures, a podcast also begins with an idea. Choose a topic which you are passionate about. Podcasts can be about any topic but it should interest the listener.
The topics can be general like philosophy, life lessons or can be about something specific like a news item or business venture. Podcasts can also be made about educational topics or they can be about fictional stories.
There are no restrictions on the topic of podcasts. The choice of an idea depends on the intention of the producer who many times also doubles up as the host.
The objective of a podcast can be as varied as promoting a business venture, educating people about some topic, functioning as a social influencer or just for fun. It is important to first decide the objective of the podcast.
The duration of the podcast depends on the idea. There is no fixed duration for a podcast. It can be of any length depending on the material’s capability to sustain audience interest.
Once the idea is finalized, the number of people involved in the podcast can be fixed. The podcast can have one person talking about a topic or it can be two people analyzing an event or it can involve more people if it is panel podcast format.
Making a Name
Once you finalize an idea for your podcast, you have to give it a name and then promote the name. Take your time to decide the name for your podcast. The name for the podcast depends on a lot of factors like the intended audience, the topic of the podcast and the objective of the podcast.
If the podcast is intended for the youth then the name has to be fun and catchy. If it revolves around a particular topic then the name should clearly mention the topic. If it is for personal branding then you can mention your own name in the title.
But whatever the objective, a podcast name has to be short, clear and memorable. The name should not confuse the audience.
Branding the Podcast
Branding of your podcast may take some time and consistent efforts. Forming a connection with the listeners is the foundation of the branding process.
Branding also depends on the intention of the producer and his vision for the podcast. The producer must be clear about the goals he hopes to achieve with his podcast and build a brand accordingly.
The next important factor in branding is the audience. You must first be clear about the profile of your intended listeners. Their age, education, social status, lifestyle, interests etc. Once you are clear on these parameters then the podcast can be structured in a way that it effectively relates to its target audience.
The language, script, sound effects, the tone of the podcasts are all part of the branding process. All these elements should combine together to touch the emotions of the listener and ultimately build a connection with him.
To build a brand it is essential that the podcast should be creative and have a unique style which should be reflected in your podcast artwork, website design and all the social media platforms.
Building a community for the listeners gives them a sense of belonging and strengthens the brand. It is essential to have a strong presence in the media through mention in blogs or other podcasts with similar interests. Being a part of podcasting groups with similar views can help to secure a place on those communities and attract an audience who may be interested in the topics featured in your podcasts.
The podcast brand can be shared across various social media platforms so that the message reaches more people which in turn will increase the number of listeners.
Improved listener experience and creating opportunities for listener engagement with the show will create a strong brand for your podcast in the long run.
Essential Equipment Necessary to Begin a Podcast
If you want to know how to start a podcast that is immediately credible and entertaining, you’re going to need proper audio gear. Thankfully podcasts do not require too much equipment or extensive recording skills.
Though, a couple good mics go a long way.
Your budget, your frequency and the people involved in the podcasts will determine the equipment to be procured by you.
For beginners, it is always advisable to invest in basic equipment and then obtain advanced paraphernalia depending on the response and viability of the podcast.
It goes without saying that the most basic equipment would be a microphone. Your smartphone can double up as your podcast microphone. The recorded audio file can be emailed to the computer or transferred through a USB cable.
But if you are looking for slightly better sound quality and enhanced recording facilities then you can opt for accessories such as iRig Mic Cast, iRig Mic Handheld, Rode SmartLav+ and Shure MV5 which can be easily plugged into any smartphone or iPad.
If you are looking for a more advanced podcast recorder then there are USB mics like Samson Q2U, Blue Yeti and Audio-Technica AT2005USB which have a great recording quality and come with accessories such as table stand and headphones.
If there are multiple people involved in the recording then you will need microphones with XLR output. The recording environment will determine the choice between dynamic or condenser mics.
A pop screen filter is another essential tool which blanks out low and boomy popping sounds. Depending on your budget and podcast duration, you can also invest in boom arms or mic stands which keep your hands free while recording.
A long-lasting shock mount is another apparatus which prevents unwanted noise and vibrations from being recorded in the microphone. Headphones are necessary for canceling outside sounds as well as listening to the audio file being recorded. This will enable you to rectify any disruptions as and when they occur.
If you intend to lay tracks as well as experiment with background music and sound effects, then getting a mixer becomes a necessity.
Downloading recording software like Garageband or Audacity enables you to record live audio, edit the files, adjust the speed/pitch of the recordings, cut and splice and direct your podcast to a digital sound file. Adobe Audition is a paid software with better features designed for professionals.
How to Host and Distribute a Podcast
Your podcast is ready after a lot of hard work, but what next? Where to host it and how to maximise its reach? We will try to find some answers to these questions.
When you begin a podcast you need a media host. This host stores your mp3 files and creates your podcast feed. The hosting company can be compared to a shelf that stores your audio files. They arrange the necessary infrastructure for distributing the podcast and create the RSS feed to be submitted to the podcast platforms.
Buzzsprout, Captivate, Transistor, Simplecast, Podbean, Castos are widely regarded as some of the best podcast hosting sites. These sites offer unique features like adding and managing team members and advanced analytics at economical rates.
It will only take a few hours of your time to set up a one-time connection between your RSS feed and distribution platforms. But distributing your podcast to maximum possible platforms increase the chances of being discovered by numerous fans.
The major podcast distributing platforms are Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. Apple podcasts are the leader in the podcast distribution world. Google podcast displays podcast episodes in search results enabling a greater reach among listeners.
Podchaser, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castbox and Downcast are some of the other podcast players in the market.
We hope we gave you valuable information on how to start a podcast. Happy podcasting!
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