Podcast FAQ

what does it take to start a podcast

by Connor Considine III Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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How to Start a Podcast

  • 1: Choose a topic you love. Just like blogging, you need to select a niche for your podcast that provides information that is in high demand with listeners.
  • Step #2: Pick a podcast title. A podcast title can help the listener anticipate the content and purpose of your podcast. ...
  • Step #3: Write a sound description. You should write a descriptive paragraph about the contents of your show to entice listeners. ...
  • Step #4: Get your artwork created. The podcast will require some artwork or a square image that represents your show and the niche it belongs to.
  • Step #5: Pre-plan your episodes. Pre-planning is an essential part of podcasting since creating them can be a very stressful process.
  • Step #6: Pick your podcast hosting provider. To make your podcast visible in the digital space, you need to sign up with a hosting company. ...
  • Step #7: Prepare and make a recording. Recording high-quality podcasts require effort and preparation both for the content and to set up audio/video for a podcast.
  • Step #8: Publish an episode. Publishing episodes means uploading audio files after editing them and providing all the necessary details with them.
  • Step #9: Submit to directories. After you publish your podcast, you need to select a podcast directory that helps listeners discover, listen, and subscribe to your podcasts.

Table of Contents
  • Choose a Podcast Topic You Can Commit To.
  • Pick Your Podcast Name.
  • Write a Compelling Podcast Description.
  • Decide on Your Podcast Format.
  • Get Your Podcast Artwork and Music Created.
  • Purchase Your Podcast Equipment and Test Your Podcasting Software.
  • Choose Your Podcast Hosting Service.

How do you start a podcast as a beginner?

  • Set a definite date and time for publishing
  • Have one evergreen recorded podcast (As a backup plan)
  • Mention Website link at the start & end of Show notes
  • Use an animated video overlay and publish your podcast on YouTube.
  • Connect with best minds in your industry by inviting them to be a guest on your podcast show.

What are some best practices for starting a podcast?

Podcast Best Practices: Creating an Intro and Outro. The intro of any podcast sets the stage. Your intro will either grab your listener’s attention or lose it. Your outro should always wrap up the podcast and leave a call to action. Keep reading to discover the podcast best practices for creating an intro and outro. The Intro

How many people do you need to start a podcast?

How to Start a Podcast: Every Single Step for 2021

  1. What's Your Podcast For? So firstly, why do you want to make a podcast? ...
  2. Who is Your Podcast For? So first day, get the big question in: Who are you making this podcast for? ...
  3. Give Them a Reason to Listen Whether you're providing information that will help someone to lose weight (in the case of our personal trainer), or doing a really entertaining ...

More items...

How do you start your own podcast?

Smith balances life as both a SLU student and a podcaster on a daily basis. Many students throughout their college career have to find a balance between working at a job and keeping up with schoolwork. Some students take work for themselves as a task when they start their own online business.

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How much does it cost to start a podcast?

In fact, if you already have a computer and you're operating on a shoestring budget, you can record, edit, and launch a podcast for less than $200. On the other hand, if you want to use higher-end equipment, starting a podcast can cost a few thousand dollars.

How profitable is a podcast?

Big names are getting large amounts of listeners and large amounts of ad revenue in return. According to AdvertiseCast, average 30-second CPM (cost per 1K listeners) rates are $18, while 60-second CPMs are $25. The Ringer had about 420 million downloads in 2018, earning $15 million in ad revenue (paywall).

Is it free to start a podcast?

Most podcasts are free. They're free to create and free to listen to.

Can just anyone start a podcast?

Anyone can start a podcast. You just have to record your episodes and publish them online. However, turning your podcast show into a successful business is altogether a different story.

How much do beginner podcasters make?

So how much money can podcasters make? To be frank, most make $0. In fact, many podcasts have negative cash flow because they spend money buying equipment and paying hosting fees before they earn a single dollar. Creative work like podcasting doesn't make any money until people choose to watch you.

Do podcasts get paid on Spotify?

Streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Podcasts pay out for streams, but the payout tends to be very low. Podcast sponsorships are one way, but for new podcasts, the likelihood of finding a high-paying sponsorship is slim unless you're already a well-established figure.

What equipment is needed for a podcast?

For a conventional podcast, you need at a minimum a microphone, headphones, a computer, recording and mixing software, and internet access.

How long does it take for a podcast to make money?

Relying on the experience of Marc Clair, a podcast host, and producer, it may take as long as 18 months before you start seeing results. That's if you produce a show weekly. In his words, things can be faster than stated if you have luck, a marketing budget, and irresistible content.

How much does it cost to put a podcast on Spotify?

Podcasters will be able to select one of three price tiers for subscriptions through Spotify: $2.99, $4.99 or $7.99 per month. “We felt like rather than put the burden on creators [to set pricing], we should make a recommendation on what we feel are strong price points,” said Mignano.

What makes a podcast successful?

A podcast with focus is going to be much easier for potential listeners to understand. You might think a wide appeal will get a wider audience but more often a narrow appeal means there's less likelihood others are doing the same thing. And the listeners you get will be very excited to find you.

Does podcasting take a lot of time?

Just to begin, Podcasting can take as much time as you allow it. The range of podcasting styles, formats and production quality is as wide as the number of podcasts there are out there in the world. There are people out there who spend weeks producing just one 20 minute episode.

How long should podcasts be?

The length of your podcast also depends on your subject, industry or genre. It could be that around 15-20 minutes perfect for your listeners. But maybe your specific audience wants more in-depth, exploratory information; in which case, 45-90 minutes would provide more value.

What are the benefits of starting a podcast?

Popular content platform because they are easy to consume. Great way to build an audience and build authority. You don’t need experience to start a...

Do podcasts make money?

Popular podcasters can make $25 to $50 for every 1,000 host-read podcast ads. Jeromy Sonne, co-founder of audio advertising service, Decibel , rep...

What are some free podcast hosting sites?

Anchor Acast Buzzsprout Podbean

Can you start a podcast for free?

Yes, you can create and set up a podcast for free by using a free podcast hosting service and free audio software and uploading your shows to sites...

How long should a podcast be?

Determine the podcast length. You need to respect your audience’s time and set a reasonable episode length that is consistent throughout the series. Twenty minutes is generally the ideal episode length for a podcast, as most people listen to podcasts while commuting to and from work.

Why do people start podcasts?

There are so many reasons for starting a podcast! Some of those reasons are to grow your business, connect with people in your niche, create a relationship with your audience, and self-fulfillment. As of January 2020, there are over 1 million podcasts available, with over 30 million podcast episodes to listen to.

What is a podcast host?

The podcast host is the intermediary between your podcast and your audience. After providing the description and posting the relevant artwork, the podcast is published on the hosting service. You will receive your podcast’s RSS feed link from the host.

How much does BuzzSprout cost?

BuzzSprout possesses all of the features that you need to advertise your podcast content on the Internet. Its basic plan starts at $12 a month. BuzzSprout also offers a free option that hosts episodes for 90 days.

Why do podcasts need to be pre-planned?

Every podcast must be pre-planned with a tailored approach to make sure that the quality remains consistent throughout the entire show.

How to make your podcast visible?

To make your podcast visible in the digital space, you need to sign up with a hosting company. These are platforms that store your files and provide access to your listeners so that they can download and subscribe to your podcast.

What is a personal trainer's podcast called?

For example, a personal trainer’s podcast could be called ‘The Fitness Podcast, ’ which perfectly highlights the niche of the podcast. But you must avoid using long names because you will be saying the name quite often in your podcast.

Why do people start podcasts?

Lastly, starting a podcast allows you to position yourself as an authority on your topic. It helps build your audience and also makes it easier to sell your product or service since you're the credible source. Being seen as an authority can help influence potential customers to purchase your products.

How to record a podcast on a computer?

When it comes to how to record a podcast, all you need to do is plug in a USB microphone and open the audio recording software on your computer. Ensure your microphone is plugged in and turned on and that your microphone is the default input device for your recording software.

Why upload podcasts to Spotify?

Spotify is an up-and-coming directory for podcasts because of its popularity with music streaming and ability to make relevant music and podcast recommendations. The directory is growing quickly, so you want to get your podcast in its feed to improve visibility.

How many podcasts are there in 2019?

In 2019, US weekly podcast listeners averaged seven podcasts each week.

How many people listen to podcasts a month?

According to Edison Research, the number of Americans listening to podcasts every week increased 175% over the last five years, with roughly 90 million listening to a podcast each month.

What is a podcast on Stitcher?

Stitcher is the second largest podcast directory and another great way for people to discover your podcast. Basic Brewing Radio, for example, is a podcast on Stitcher that discusses homebrewing beer. Wine enthusiasts, on the other hand, can tune in to the Wine for Normal People podcast.

Why is podcasting important?

If you understand the value of creating content (e.g., blogging) for your business and brand, then you understand the value of podcasting. Creating a podcast allows you to reach a brand new audience: people who might otherwise never find or consume your long-form content because they prefer the audio format.

How many people listen to podcasts?

Once a fringe platform, podcasts are now surprisingly mainstream. According to Nielsen, six out of 10 people understand what they are, and 112 million Americans -- 40 percent of the nation’s population -- have listened to at least one. Though podcast listeners lean male, it isn’t by much: 56 percent are men, while 44 percent are women.

Can you head off issues before a podcast?

Until you do it, you have no idea what to expect. Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t head off issues before you go live . Expect a certain amount of learning as you go, but be ready to explore the technology before fully launching your podcast.

Can you release podcasts publicly?

And if you’ve planned in advance and have great content in the bag, you can simply not release it in lieu of a better one. Before you release your podcasts publicly, try to have several on hand. That way, you get the relief of a buffer zone. Don’t try to start too quickly. You can always ramp up your delivery later.

Can your target personas find your podcast?

Your target personas won’t find your podcast without a little help, so promote it like your life depends on it. I utilized our company’s email list, my personal social channels, and myriad other platforms. In addition, I requested that each guest promote his or her episode.

How to make a podcast?

Choosing a topic is the important first step of creating a podcast. When you choose your topic, you should make sure that it is something that you know a great deal about and are passionate about. This is because you will be speaking at length about it. It is difficult to speak at great length about things we don’t know about, but relatively easy to speak about things we do know a lot about. So, if you are passionate about sports, consider a sports podcast. If you are passionate about finance, do a finance podcast.

What software do I need to make a podcast?

The podcast recording and editing software is the software that you will use to actually create your podcast. The software will make a digital recording of your podcast episode while you and/or your co-host speak into the microphone (make sure your microphone is plugged into your computer and synced to the recording and editing software). After your recording is complete, you can go through and edit it and take out any parts you might want to get rid of. Garageband and Alitu are two software programs that many podcasters use to create podcasts.

What is a podcast?

A podcast is an audio program that is very similar to talk radio. Podcasts usually revolve around a certain topic such as health, finance, dating, etc. Some podcasts are free, and some cost money to listen to. Some of the most popular podcasts in the world currently include: 1 The Daily – published by the New York Times 2 NPR News Now – published by NPR 3 Up First – published by NPR 4 Dateline NBC – published by NBC News 5 The Ben Shapiro Show – published by the Daily Wire 6 Stuff You Should Know – published by iHeartRadio

Why is it important to choose a good podcast name?

This is because you want the name to both explain what the podcast is about to potential listeners and also, pique their interest. You don’t want the name to be so specific that it makes you feel restricted in what you can talk about. But, you also don’t want it to be so broad that listeners have no idea what it’s about.

What is it like to start a podcast with friends?

What’s great about starting a podcast with friends is not only can you split the startup costs, but it can add a lot of variety to your show too. Having multiple personalities that are hosting can add interest and pull in a wide range of listeners. It’s why shows like The View are so popular.

How long is an intro for a podcast?

An intro is usually a 15 to 30-second audio byte introducing/opening your show.

What are the formats of podcasts?

There are several formats a podcast can have. Your format might be educational, storytelling (nonfiction or fiction), conversational, or interviews. You can host your podcast yourself, or you can have multiple hosts as well.

How to do an interview style podcast?

If you want to do an interview-style podcast, make an interview wish list. Think of all the people who might have something to say on your topic, and start compiling their contact information.

Is podcasting a sprint?

Becoming a good podcast host is a marathon, not a sprint. At first, recording and editing may take you a while, and that’s okay. You can worry about speed later. In the beginning, you should focus more on getting it right. Quality over quantity as they say.

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