Starting your podcast may sound like a challenging task, but it doesn’t have to be. There’s a lot of competition, but there’s also a lot of demand. If you have something to say, chances are people will want to hear it. All you need to do is start the journey!
In today’s guide, we’ll take a look at how to start a podcast. You’ll learn all the basics, from the importance of a good name to the many hosting services available.
Develop Your Concept
Before creating your episodes, you first need to understand what it means to start a podcast. For instance, there are three important aspects you’ll need to consider before recording an episode:
The name of your podcast
The goal of your podcast
The format and theme of your podcast
What Will the Name of Your Podcast Be?
Your podcast’s name is the first contact you will have with your listeners. Since it is such an important aspect of starting a podcast, it can seem like an intimidating task. However, choosing a name is not as difficult as it might look.
Here’s what you can do:
Consider which themes you want to target. Once you know your content, you can focus on your audience. Knowing your audience will help you choose the right name for your podcast. You can also check what similar creators have named their podcasts.
Keep your podcast name searchable to make it easier for new listeners to find you. Always think, “If I were a possible listener, would I be able to find the podcast using only the name?”
The name of your podcast should be short and functional, making it easier to remember. A catchy podcast name should be between three to four words, a maximum of 20 characters, and doesn’t include the word “podcast”.
Now that you have your podcast name, you can practice saying it aloud. You have a winner if it still sounds good after saying it many times.
Note: Once you’ve picked a name for your podcast and you’ve released your first episode, you should avoid changing it.
What Are Your Podcast Goals?
Now it is time to ask yourself what the goal of your podcast is. The key to a successful podcast is to know what you want from it. Do you want to make it your career, or is it more like a hobby? Depending on your answer, you’ll need to take different steps.
If what you want is to turn your podcast into a career, you’ll need to plan how you will achieve that success. Creating a podcast can take a lot of time, patience, and skill.
On the other hand, if you want your podcast to be a hobby, you mainly need to consider the technical aspects of creating it.
How to Choose a Podcast Format and Theme
Furthermore, you might like to think about the theme and format of your podcast. Before you record a podcast, you need to know what each episode will be about.
One more important aspect you need to consider is the format of your podcast. There are a variety of podcast formats you can choose from. The right one for you will depend on your budget, theme, and audience.
These are a few common podcast formats:
Interview podcast
Solo podcast
Co-hosted podcast
Roundtable podcast
Storytelling or Documentary podcast
Repurposed podcast
Hybrid podcast
Each of these formats has unique advantages and disadvantages. Additionally, you can choose more than one format and combine them to create something new.
Purchase Podcast Equipment and Software
When it comes to podcasts, there’s a lot of aspects you need to consider. One of those aspects is the equipment and software you’ll be using. It is important to get a high-quality microphone, a laptop or mixing board where you can record, and software for editing.
Here are the things you’ll need:
A microphone: The main tool you’ll need for your podcast is a high-quality microphone for audio recording. It can sometimes be better if it is a USB model because you can use it to record directly to your laptop. Depending on the format of your podcast, you might need to have multiple microphones, which may require investing in a mixing board.
A laptop: Another important tool you need is a laptop with enough capacity to run editing software. You can also use the laptop to record each episode, upload it to a hosting service, and promote it through social media.
An editing software: The last thing you’ll need is editing software to edit your podcast. For instance, you will have to add your podcast intro, outro, and sound effects to make it sound more professional.
Note: These tools are just the basic equipment you’ll need. As your podcast becomes more popular, you will have to invest more in it. Also, the better the audio quality is, the more professional your podcast will feel.
The recording space is something you should also consider. Wherever you record, you need it to be soundproof so that the microphone captures your voice, with little to no distracting room noise.
You can create a soundproof recording space using a small room with an electric outlet. All you need to do is place foam or packing blankets on the walls and doors. The foam or blankets will absorb any noise trying to come inside the room while you record.
Design Your Layout
The layout of your podcast is the structure you’ll be using for every episode and season. It involves knowing what each episode will be about and when each clip will be released.
Create a Publishing Schedule
Depending on your availability, budget, and other responsibilities, you might want to release one podcast episode per week or month. Some creators release episodes daily, but that schedule can be difficult if you are just starting.
The publishing schedule will also depend on the podcast format you are using. The solo format is easier to record and edit, allowing you to release a weekly episode without major complications. Other formats like the interview or storytelling require more research and a bigger budget, so you might want to publish episodes less frequently at first.
Note: You should publish each episode on the same day, whether you do it monthly or weekly. Your listeners will be expecting consistency and, if they don’t find it, they might lose interest.
Choose Your Episode Subjects
Creating a publishing schedule also means thinking about each episode’s subject and idea. It is important that every episode feels fresh and new while maintaining the overall style of your podcast.
You can also do a series in which you talk about the same subject in each episode. However, each episode should target a different aspect of the same subject. This is a very common format for podcasts about history, economy, or politics.
Find a Hosting Service
The last thing you need to consider is the podcast hosting service you want to use. There’s a large variety of hosting services available.
Turn Your Podcast into a Success with DCP Entertainment
Are you looking to start your podcast? DCP Entertainment has you covered. Our expertise will help you turn your podcast into a success step by step. Sign up for our podcast course or book one of our consultation services today!