1. Determine your niche.
When starting a podcast, it’s important to determine your niche. This is the topic or area of focus for your podcast. By narrowing your focus, you can create content that is relevant and interesting to your target audience.
2. Identify your ideal listener.
Your ideal listener is the person you are creating your podcast for. It’s important to have a clear idea of who this person is, what they are interested in, and what they need from your podcast.
3. Name your podcast and determine your launch date.
Once you’ve determined your niche and ideal listener, it’s time to give your podcast a name. You’ll also need to decide on a launch date and stick to it! Announce your launch date to all of your listeners, followers, and subscribers so they can mark it on their calendars.
4. Decide which format and publishing schedule you’d like to follow.
There are a few different types of formats that you can choose from when starting a podcast. The most common are interviews, monologues, or panel discussions. You can also decide on how often you’d like to publish new episodes. Weekly, monthly, or bi-monthly are all common publishing schedules for podcasts.
5. Select a podcast hosting service.
The next step is to select a podcast hosting service. This is where you will store all of your episodes and make them available for download or streaming. There are many different hosting services available, so do some research to find the best one for you.
6. Create podcast artwork.
Podcast artwork is an important part of marketing your show. It will be the first thing potential listeners see when searching for podcasts online, so make sure it stands out and represents your show well. Guidelines for creating good podcast artwork can be found on most hosting services websites.
7. Get your podcasting equipment.
To start recording episodes for your podcast, you will need some basic audio recording equipment. This includes a microphone, headphones, and software for recording and editing episodes. Don’t worry though! You don’t need to break the bank buying all this gear at once. Start with what you can afford and upgrade as needed later on down the road.
8. Create your podcast trailer.
A great way to generate interest in your new podcast is to create a trailer. This is a short (1-2 minute) episode that gives listeners a taste of what your show is all about. Think of it like a preview for a movie or TV show. Include snippets of different episodes, introductions to your co-hosts or guests, and an overall overview of the podcast’s topics and themes.
9. Submit your podcast to online podcast directories.
Once you have everything set up and ready to go, it’s time to start submitting your podcast to online directories. This will make it easier for people to find and listen to your show. Some popular directories include iTunes, Stitcher, and Google Play Music.
10. Prepare your first three episodes.
Now that your podcast is live, it’s time to start preparing future episodes. This includes coming up with topics, conducting interviews, and recording the audio. Having a few episodes ready to go before you launch will help ensure that your podcast gets off to a strong start.
11. Write the show notes for your launch episodes.
Show notes are a great way to give listeners more information about what they can expect from an episode. They can also include links to any websites or articles mentioned during the show. Writing show notes can be helpful in promoting your podcast and driving traffic to your website.
12. Secure your podcast social media handles.
If you plan on using social media to promote your podcast (which you should be!), it’s important to secure your handles on all the major platforms. This includes Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Try to use the same name for all of your social media accounts so that people can easily find you online.
13. Upload and schedule your launch episodes.
Now that you have everything set up and ready to go, it’s time to start promoting your podcast on social media. This includes creating engaging posts, using hashtags, and tagging relevant people or businesses in your posts. You should also consider running paid ads on social media to reach a larger audience.
14. Market your podcast and celebrate your launch.
Having a dedicated website for your podcast is a great way to build an online presence and attract new listeners. Your website can include show notes, transcripts, episode archives, and links to your social media accounts. You can also use your website to run paid ads and promote special events or merchandise.