The podcast listener continues to grow enormously every year. According to Edison Research, 40% of Americans 12 and older say they heard about the podcast in 2017, while 24% say they listened in the past month to 21% the year before.
For you, as a business owner, this means that learning how to start a podcast is something you should reach out to this wide audience and grow your business through content marketing.
You don’t have to be a very technical person or know that it takes a lot of money to start a podcast. This guide will be your A-Z, step-by-step guide on how to get started with audio podcasting and why you should create a podcast. We’ll cover everything from highly technical concepts to abstract podcasting concepts.
- How to start a podcast
- How podcasting works
- Why start a podcast
- Why podcasting works as a content platform
- Getting started with your own podcast
- What you’ll need to create a podcast
- How to record a podcast
- Getting an intro and outro
- How to edit your podcasts
- Podcast hosting
1.How to start a podcast
To start a podcast, at a minimum, you must:
- Think of a concept (a topic, name, format, and duration of goals for each episode).
- Write a description for the artwork design and “brand” your podcast.
- Record and edit your audio files (such as .MP3). A microphone is recommended (more on later devices).
- Find a place to host them (like a file server that specializes in podcast hosting, like Libasin or Podbin).
- These audio files are called “RSS feeds”, so that they can be distributed via iTunes, as well as downloaded or streamed on any device on demand.
2. How Podcasting Works
Podcasts can be played in two ways.
The first is to stream or download podcasts from RSS feeds using a feed-ready or feed reader on a blog / website where the podcast is hosted or embedded.
The other is to use a player such as iTunes or PocketCast. Load the RSS feed into your player and play the feed episode on your devices, such as your smartphone or tablet. They are sometimes called “podchakers”. Podcast players sync RSS feed data to list episodes, view data (such as episode names and show notes), artwork, and links to show files (usually AMP3).
3. Why start podcasting?
If you understand the value of creating content for businesses and brands (for example, having an active blog), then you understand the value of podcasting. Create podcasts to attract new audiences. A group of people who like audio formats but never find or use long format content.
You don’t have to be an established content creator or blogger to figure out how to start your own podcast. Podcasting is a great way to build an audience from scratch and establish your position as an authority in the industry.
In addition, podcasting also provides a function to increase the number of visits to a website or store. Each podcast directory provides a link to your website, and since this is your podcast, you can direct listeners to your website at the end of each show.
There was an explosion in the podcast. View this pie chart provided by Edison Research, which uses 30% of its audio resources for podcasts. This is impressive compared to 21% for AM/FM broadcasting and 23% for proprietary music.
According to MacRumors, there are more than 21.1 million hours of listening and development time per day, so there are many opportunities in different fields. If your industry does not develop smoothly, then you have the opportunity to become an early adopter and pioneer.
iTunes has dozens of categories and subcategories, in these categories and subcategories, listeners are actively looking for new content. This means that the content of the podcast will be very specific. People interested in your topic will find you.
In 2015, the demographics of podcasts remained balanced, with an audience between adult men and women aged 18 to 44. However, according to Edison’s 2019 data, in recent years, podcast listeners have become somewhat masculine and slightly older (35-54 years old).
Finally, when you start a podcast, you can position yourself as the authority on the topic. Because it is a reliable source of information, it can help you build an audience and sell products or services more easily. Becoming an authority can help potential customers buy your products.
4. Why Podcasting Works as a Content Platform
Podcasts are a popular content platform because they are easy to consume. People can listen to podcasts in the car, in the gym, and even at work.
With tools like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, listening to podcasts at home has become easy. It is not a content medium that needs to attract the attention of your entire audience, such as a blog post or video.
Another reason podcasts are easy to consume is that they can be heard on any device. You don’t have to listen to the radio or sit in your car to listen to your listeners. They can listen on their smartphone, desktop or tablet. Unlike radio, podcasts are on demand, meaning that your audience can listen to what they want.
Compared to other content platforms, podcasts allow you to establish an intimate relationship with your audience. Imagine being in your target listener’s ears for 30 minutes or longer. They are talking to you one by one.
This is an opportunity to build a more personal relationship with your audience. Due to this level of busyness, people listen to advertisements even more closely. Whether you want to start a podcast to promote your business or to make money from advertisements, Midol found that 61% of listeners bought a product or service after advertising on a podcast.
Finally, podcasts are free. They are free to create and listen to.
5. Getting started with your own podcast
Learning how to start a podcast begins by identifying a background or topic. Each episode must be linked to this premise. For some, this topic will be simple. For others, especially in unique industries and niches, you’ll need to get creative with your topic.
For example, if you sell sunglasses, you won’t be able to start an audio stream exclusively about sunglasses. However, if your clients are traveling the world, then perhaps a travel podcast is the best topic.
Before moving on to the topic, check if it is enough for a discussion. Try to make a list of at least 10-15 episodes. Then search for similar podcasts on iTunes and see their popularity, such as the number of reviews and the number of subscribers on social media. The competition is good!
The next important component is the format. What will your podcast look like and how will it be organized? Here are some ideas:
- The interview method.
- Solo
- More than a master
- Narration/storytelling
- Hybrid (a combination of the above types).
Finally, how long will each of your episodes last? It’s a good idea to have a consistent episode length so listeners know what to expect. If your podcast is 20 minutes per episode and your listeners are used to it.
6. What you’ll need to create a podcast
Artwork (Minimum 1400 x 1400, Max 2048 x 2048): Your podcast artwork should be beautiful. Don’t neglect this aspect of your podcast because Apple and iTunes in particular only show podcasts (if it is later) if they have professional-looking artwork. You may have to put some cash in employing an expert to plan your podcast work of art. Regardless of whether you do it without anyone else’s help or recruit an expert, utilize sufficient words and pictures to be unmistakably neat at practically any size. Investigate iTunes, then model your artwork for your podcast.
Podcast name: Your podcast name ought to address you and your crowd. Preferably, audience members should understand what the podcast is about from simply the name alone. Having an exceptionally expressive name can help. Nonetheless, this isn’t altogether important since most podcast stages incorporate a “snare” or short portrayal alongside the podcast name. This assists with advancing your podcast’s accessibility on stages like iTunes. For instance, “Grub Podcast – All about smart dieting and assisting you with cooking better” or “Xtreme – interviews with celebrated skateboarders like Tony Hawk, Chad Muska, and Rick Howard”.
Podcast Category / Subcategory: There are dozens of categories and subcategories on iTunes. Everything from art and politics to comedy and religion. Choose the category that fits your topic. This is not an exact topic. If you struggle to decide on a category, check out other podcasts on iTunes that are similar to yours and note which category and subcategory to use.
Podcast Description: You do not want to skimp on the details of your podcast. You want to include as many relevant keywords as possible. This will aid in search engine optimization (SEO) for your podcast lists. iTunes is a search engine, so many people searching for your podcast will find it with a simple search.
Guests and key collaborators: As your podcast grows, it’s a good idea to include the names of the top guests and the most popular episode topics. In this way, new listeners immediately know which podcasts are likely to occur for the episode, increasing the likelihood that new listeners will become long-term fans.
Podcast Rating: A podcast rating tells you what content is appropriate for you. You can set a rating for each podcast episode. This is important because you want to get on with it. Ideally, each ring should either be clean or not.
7. How to record a podcast
When it comes to how to record a podcast, all you have to do is plug in a USB microphone and open the audio recording program on your computer.
Make sure the microphone is plugged in and on, and that the microphone is the default input device for your recording program. Tap on the record button and speak on the event of your choice!
There is no need to stop or stop recording, even if there are errors along the way. You can always edit the recording later using the same program.
Once you’ve finished recording, you’ll want to save your podcast. Ideally, MP3 files are the best format for podcasts because they compress well (low file size) and can be played on most devices.
You must save your .MP3 as a fixed bitrate and not a variable (VBR). Most account programming will ask you for this data after saving. A decent bitrate to use is 128kbps. This bitrate keeps document size down while maintaining great sound quality.
8. Getting an introduction and outro
Having an introduction and outro for every scene of your podcast adds pizazz and character. Generally, introductions and outros are short voiceovers with music that present the podcast, scene number, the host(s), and the “snare” or slogan of the podcast. These introductions/outros are likewise now and again called guards.
In the event that you have the hacks, you can record these yourself. Then again, you can recruit somebody with an extraordinary voice to do your introduction and outro for you. I’ve utilized Fiverr in the past to make the introduction and outro for my podcast. I would prescribe tuning in to other podcasts in your specialty to get some motivation for the introduction and outro.
9. How to edit your podcasts
Altering your podcasts permits you to add your introduction and outro, settle the volume, and eliminate holes of silence and any errors you may have made. Any of the product suggested above (for example Adobe Audition, Audacity, GarageBand) ought to get the job done.
In your sound editorial manager of decision, search for settings that settle the volume consequently so there aren’t spikes of high volume (earphone audience members will thank you for that), and take out foundation commotions and pops.
In the event that you battle to gain proficiency with the product or just figure out the cycle also tedious, you can enlist somebody to alter your scenes for you. There are specialists on Fiverr and Upwork who can alter your podcast scenes for you. It’s a smart thought to stay with somebody after you track down the perfect individual since they will know your style and altering inclinations.
There are additionally after-creation administrations, like Auphonic, which will do the leveling, volume standardization, and a couple of different things for you. Whatever you use, it’s critical to standardize the volume of every scene. You don’t need one scene to be altogether stronger or calmer than the others.
When you wrap up altering your account, save it as an .MP3, as suggested prior, with a 128kbps bitrate and 44.1Mhz example rate.
Once your .MP3 is saved, edit the ID3 labels of the record. The ID3 labels are your approach to tell .MP3 players and gadgets more data about the record, like the name of the scene and the name of the “craftsman” (podcast). Thusly, MP3 players have track data to show.
10. Podcast hosting
You’ll require a different host only for your sound records. Regardless of whether you as of now have a web have and a site, you would prefer not to have yours.MP3s on a similar worker. Those common web has don’t have the data transfer capacity or speed for the interest that downloading and streaming.MP3s makes. Luckily, media has are moderate.
you’ll have to sort out what plan is best for your necessities and continue from that point. For the most part, you’re in an ideal situation paying for the alternative that takes into account somewhat more space than you need, in the event of some unforeseen issue.
Source: Anyflix Editor
