How to Start a Podcast in Simple Steps & Make Money in 2022

The number of listeners to podcasts is growing exponentially each year. So what is this for you, an owner of a business, is that learning to create your podcast is something you should be thinking about to reach this growing market and expand your business using social media marketing.

It doesn’t require an expert in the field or an enormous amount of money to begin your podcast. This guide will offer the steps to start with audio podcasting and why you should make an audio podcast.

How to start a podcast

1. Preparation and planning

Why Are You Making a Podcast?

Are you a freelancer? A company? or a marketing manager? If so, you could have considered podcasting an excellent method to increase authority or build community. You can offer your audience and customers engaging and informative content. You can earn trust and cultivate those superfans who are the most genuine fans every business dreams of having.

It’s not just a marketing strategy for companies but not at all. You may be approaching it from a “creative outlet” perspective. This might mean you’re creating the show during your free time, with a subject you’re interested in. You’ll still need an explanation for the reason, but it might be just as important to a company seeking to acquire new customers.

Who is your podcast for?

Suppose you’re approaching it from a commercial point from a business perspective, and you’re (for instance) an individual trainer who would like to create an exercise and health podcast. In that case, your ideal viewers could be those looking for healthy food, weight loss, exercise, or building muscle.

If you’re creating a leisure show – say it’s inspired by your love of zombies and post-apocalyptic stories. But, of course, your intended audience will be those with the same enthusiasm. They may be enthusiasts of shows on TV like The Walking Dead, video games such as Resident Evil, books such as World War Z, and movies like Night of the Living Dead.

A lot of intelligent people discuss making avatars or listener personas. It’s a good idea to start sketching out who you’d like to watch your podcast. This persona should keep in mind when you design the next show “Would John, our listener, be like this? Are you focusing on his interests or what he’s most interested in?”

What if I have no audience?

Welcoming most of those who begin an online podcast! Of all the factors that could deter you from starting your podcast, do not let it come to this. Many podcasters start their shows by speaking “into the void”, however, if you follow the steps in this article, save the websites we’ve linked to, and you’ll start to grow your listeners from scratch!

According to Podcast Discovery survey 2020 , it was revealed that prospective listeners do not care if they’ve never seen you before. It’s the least important element they’ll consider when deciding whether to click play. Visit the survey link to find additional information and statistics.

Give them a reason to listen

This creates content that users will gain something from once they click play.

It doesn’t matter if you’re giving details that can aid someone in losing pounds (in this case, our personal trainer) or conducting an enjoyable conversation with your favorite writers (in this case, our zombie-themed podcaster) you’re providing value to your listeners.

You’ve not just provided them with a reason to listen and listen, but you’ve also provided them a reason to keep coming back. So it’s essential to consider this during the planning phase. 

2. Define your style.

The most popular podcasts deliver specific content in a conversational way that is engaging and fun.

Podcasting isn’t the time to employ the use of a Teleprompter. A brief outline of the topic could be helpful, but the most successful podcasters don’t employ scripts since they can lead to unnatural language that cannot connect with viewers. Likewise, podcasts that resemble advertisements or look like lecture halls from college won’t do either.

Be authentic. Be honest in the same terms and tone you talk to your friend. Successful podcasts allow listeners to learn more about the podcast hosts.

Determine the length.

The length of your podcast is determined by the amount you can say about your topic, as well as the demands of your listeners. “We give each episode the freedom to be the length it needs to be,” Foster stated.

There are podcasts of five minutes that appeal to a specific kind of listener. There are also four-hour audiobooks that offer deep detail on a specific issue. Most podcasts are between 20 and 45 minutes, generally similar to the typical commute.

Find out the frequency.

The content you create will dictate the frequency at which you make new episodes. But, if you’re trying to create an image or establish an audience, you should consider recording and releasing weekly episodes.

To prevent feeling overwhelmed and stressed about the next episode, Spencer suggests creating just a handful of episodes before starting. This means that “you don’t feel unreasonably pressured, but you are still able to stick to a regular schedule for your subscribers.”

3. Naming Your Podcast

There is no way that a “how to start a podcast” guide can be complete without answering this question that is the most asked What should I name the thing?

The Clever Name

You may think of the most creative title for your program. However, remember that viewers need to find it when looking for information on your subject. If you’ve come up with a unique or catchy name for your show make sure to incorporate an explanation into the title. It’s not worth putting out amazing content if no one can locate it.

The Descriptive Name

The most searchable (but some might find it boring) option is to identify your podcast by what your audience is looking for. For example, if our fitness trainer named his podcast “The Fitness Podcast and we listen to it, there’s no doubt about the subject matter. It’s a good idea; however it could reduce the impact, it will be just a little.

Be careful not to get too long if you choose this path. Also, remember that you’ll be saying the name of the podcast frequently during recording your episodes, so ensure the name is easy to pronounce.

Using your name

It’s a definite no-no unless you already have an audience. For example, if someone launched the show The Mike Smith Show and focused on climbing rocks, listeners would consider “who is Mike Smith?” and then go to the next show. You can also include this in the name of your show, along with some other descriptive information.

4. Setup podcast recording equipment

There is no need to purchase expensive equipment to enjoy excellent audio. A lot of popular podcasts use the basics setup.

Let’s look at what to look for when purchasing a microphone used in podcasts. We’ll then make our top recommendations for podcast equipment.

Podcast mic

A high-quality microphone for podcasts improves your audio quality and makes editing much simpler. In addition, a lower background noise level on your recording will mean less editing in the backend.

Here are a few points to consider before purchasing your first podcasting microphone.

Condenser or dynamic

Dynamic microphones are ideal for podcasting. They can pick higher frequencies and have lower sensitivity. This means you’ll get less background noise that you can edit later.

Condenser mics are more sensitive and can pick up a larger spectrum of frequencies. The sensitivity is great for recording music but unsuitable for recording spoken words.

XLR or USB

Podcast microphones come with two kinds of connectors: XLR or USB.

XLR microphones offer the most flexibility. There are numerous XLR microphones available, most of which last a long time. However, XLR mics require a mixer or interface to connect up. This can be costly for novices.

USB microphones are more affordable and connect directly to your computer. You can also use it via an interface when recording with several individuals.

USB microphones are inexpensive, practical, reliable, and sound fantastic. This microphone is the ideal option for the majority of podcasters.

5. Choose a podcast hosting provider

Even if you intend to upload your content to platforms like the Apple Podcasts and Podcasts on Spotify, the platforms do not save your episodes:

If you’ve already got an existing WordPress website hosting service, it will likely have the tools to compress audio and distribute it to podcast platforms. Instead, you’ll require an individual podcast hosting service. The host will store your podcasts. Then, you can upload the shows on third-party platforms or even display them on your site.

Some hosts offer free hosting for podcasts. But, it’s crucial to keep in mind that there are generally restrictions when it comes to the ability to start a podcast free:

A lot of podcast hosts limit storage space in the free plan they offer. This space is typically described as the total amount of recorded time you are able to upload. It’s important to look over the fine print when trying to create an online podcast for free.

We also suggest choosing one that provides integrated analytics. These tools will allow you to discern what kind of most popular content your viewers enjoy most and the ones that do not get as much engagement. You can then alter your strategy to get the most effective outcomes.

6. Prepare for your podcast recordings  

You’ve got the basics set, and you’re ready to begin preparations for your first episodes.

Plan and schedule interviews

We suggest scheduling guest interviews if you’re planning to make an interview-based podcast. Make a list of guests you’d like to host on a spreadsheet so that you know exactly who you’ve reached out to. It’s possible to find guests via social media or via, a referral base or a matching platform such as PodMatch.

Think about the kind of questions they’re likely to be asked. In guiding an interview, you’ll want it to flow as a story. So start by asking your guest what led them up to the point they’re at now, and then let the interview flow effortlessly from the beginning.

There’s a good chance that guests are frequently asked questions, so you might want to take a different approach. Make sure your questions are interesting, genuine, relevant, and specific to your target audience.

Outline and setup your episodes  

It’s an excellent idea to draft an outline of your podcast so that you know what to expect while recording instead of randomly talking. First, determine what exactly you’d like to include in your first few episodes, and then get deep into the specifics.  Finally, we recommend that you make sure that your equipment is put through testing and verify that everything works before recording every episode.

7. Record your first episode

Once you’ve crafted your show, you’re ready to begin recording your first episode. While using a top-quality microphone and a soundproofed space can improve how you record your recording, It is also possible to create a podcast with the built-in microphone on your computer.

While we’d always recommend investing in the best setup, there are some ways to create professional-sounding audio without investing in top-of-the-range equipment. Quality audio recording software and editing software are crucial tools for podcasts that you can start without cost.

In the end, we suggest practicing at least a small portion of your podcast prior to when you begin recording. Making notes ahead of time will help you avoid awkward silences or even slipping across your notes. But, this method should become easier with time.

The best audio recording software

• GarageBand (free)
• Adobe Audition (paid)
• Audacity (free)
• Skype (free and also paid)
• Zoom (free and also paid)
• Riverside.fm (free and paid)

8. Edit your podcasts

Editing your podcasts lets you include your intro and outro tracks, improve the volume, and get rid of any dead air or errors you may have made. Any of the tools mentioned above (e.g., Adobe Audition, Audacity, GarageBand) is likely to accomplish the task.

The addition of music to podcasts including intros, outros, and intros

According to NPR, an average show will lose 20 to 35% of its audience in the first five minutes. This means you have to begin strong and get people to listen from the beginning, so intros are an important part to take into consideration.

The podcast’s introduction is the opportunity to make an excellent first impression to convince people to spend time with you. The introduction should clarify the reason behind the podcast as well as introduce the speakers and aid the listener in understanding the importance of the episode or podcast. It is possible to make the same intro for each episode or design specific lead-ins for each episode.

In the meantime, the end-of-show is an episode’s final part and usually prompts listeners to do something. Invite people to leave reviews, be part of the Facebook community, or join the podcast. When your priorities change, it is recommended to change your call-to-action in your intros to match.

When you open the audio editor of your preference, search for settings that can stabilize the volume so that there aren’t any spikes in volumes (headphone listeners will be grateful for this). Also, you can remove background pops and noises.

If you’re struggling to master the software or aren’t comfortable with the process, you can employ someone to edit your podcast episodes for you. The marketplace has freelancers, Fiverr, and Upwork, who can edit your podcasts for you. It’s best to stay with someone once you’ve found the perfect person because they’ll be familiar with the style of your podcast and edit preferences.

Post-production solutions, including Auphonic, will also handle the leveling, volume normalization, and some additional things. Whatever method you choose, it is important to regulate the volume of every episode. It’s not ideal for an episode to be much louder or less quiet than others.

When you’re done editing your video when you are done editing, save it as MP3 like you had previously suggested using a 128kbps bitrate and a 44.1 MHz sampling rate.

After your MP3 has been saved, I recommend editing the ID3 tags in the file. The ID3 tags allow you to inform MP3 players and players of more details regarding the files, including the title of the episode as well as the title of “artist” (podcast). This means that MP3 players will have track details to display.

9. Launch your podcast

• Make a teaser of your podcast
• At least 3 episodes on the day of launch
• Make sure you submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts or Spotify or any platform
• Connect with podcasters from other networks.
• Be active in online communities.
• Do not be scared of self-promotion.

How can you make money with your podcast?

It will require some time and a strong commitment to ensure that your podcast is profitable. In order to make it viable in the long term, you’ll have to discover ways to make money from your podcast.

We’ve got a thorough guide to earning money online using your WordPress blog’s power. The items that are listed can be utilized to create your own podcasting site.

Below are some of the most effective ways to earn money from podcasts.

• Direct sponsorships. If you believe that a company could benefit by sponsoring your podcast, don’t hesitate to reach out to them about becoming sponsors. You’ll be amazed at how often this can benefit you.
• Make use of Affiliate marketing to promote services and products from third parties to your target audience.
• You can sell your personal products and/or services by creating your online business on your site.
• Invite your subscribers to help contribute to your podcast by making donations. Simply create an online donation request form on your website, where users can make a small contribution.
• Make older episodes only available to members.

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