Starting a podcast can be a fun, existent, and interesting decision that anybody can make. You really don’t need much to get started. The majority of beginners think that they should be very good at speaking in front of a camera or benign a very cultivated person
No, podcasting is for everybody who wants to build an audience, expand his network, build credibility in an industry or niche, or if you only want to share your ideas with the world and have fun.
How to Start a Podcast, Grow and Monetize a Podcast in 6 Easy Steps 2023
1. Know What Niche or Topic You Will Cover
Choose Your Niche and Know Your Audience
Before searching for any piece of gear or designing a logo or subscribing to any podcast hosting service. It is important to choose a niche and brand your podcast around it. Did you ever hear the word riches are the niches?
By choosing a niche or a topic you make it very easy to connect with your audience and build authority in that space, which will attract more listeners and viewers to your podcast.
Let me give you an example, you started a podcast that speaks about online marketing. You start by covering topics such as SEO, Pay Per Click, Copywriting, etc. Then you began to do episodes on fitness, computer science, or any other topics, this isn’t a good strategy.
Stick to your niche and work hard to become the go-to podcast for everybody who wants resources or advice. This is how many podcasts became famous and successful.
Maybe you have a niche in mind and you think that you are not very good and you lack experience in it. Don’t worry, take a couple of hours to study the niche and to know more about it. This will help you to become ready for your first episode.
Remember your podcast’s first couple of episodes will not be as amazing as the next ones.
So don’t be frustrated; the first step is the hardest.
How to Brand a Podcast?
As a beginner, the name and the brand should not be your major concern because you can always change them later. But it is better to choose a name that will suit your niche and audience.
Some podcasts have the name of their owner as a personal brand like The Ben Shapiro Show, others name the podcast exactly for what it is about like Online Marketing made easy podcast, others names are creative unless you watch a couple of episodes you will not understand it.
The podcast description is required to let people know what your podcast is about. If the description is very well written then you can attract more people to watch your episodes.
You will also need artwork for your podcast, take a tour on Spotify or Apple Podcast to see what people are doing so you can get inspired and know what style best fits your podcast. If you are not a designer I strongly recommend that you hire a professional from Fiverr.
2. Setup Your Podcasting Studio
A podcasting studio can be either an audio podcasting studio or a video podcasting studio. The only difference between them is the cameras and the decor of the studio because it’s visual and you should visually please your viewers.
If you are planning to make an audio podcast studio then you can skip the camera and for the decor sections, it will not be so important.
I will go for the minimum requirement and the lowest budget possible to set up a fully functional and good-looking podcasting studio.
1. A Quiet Environment
To improve the quality of the sound and the overall content choose a distraction-free and quiet place. Like your home office or bedroom. If you still hear a lot of echoes bouncing off the wall then you should try something like a rug or curtains.
2. Table
You need a table where you can put the microphone, a cup of coffee, papers, and other things needed for your podcast, especially if you have hosts. For a podcasting studio, you should go for a large or medium size news style or conference.
Check out those three tables on Amazon:
3. Chair
The chair depends on your preference, of course, you need enough chairs for your hosts, if you are a beginner you can go for less expensive ones like Amazon Basics Modern Armless Office Desk Chair or Amazon Basics Padded Office Desk Chair with Armrests.
If you want high-quality chairs for your podcast you can go for the Modway EEI-757-BLK Articulate Ergonomic Mesh Office Chair in Black or FelixKing Ergonomic Desk Chair.
4. Acoustical Panels
In an empty room you may have problems with the echo so having a couple of Acoustical Panels on the wall can be highly effective. Check out those Acoustical Panels on Amazon. If the room that you will use to record your podcasting episode is full of furniture and you test the mics without noticing any echos then you don’t need any Acoustical Panels.
5. Audio Gear
A podcast that sounds poor will never attract viewers or potential hosts that will lead to growth and success. So you should be very careful when you choose which piece of gear to implement.
To provide high-quality audio to your listener first you need a microphone.
There are three types of microphones that are used by any podcasts out there.
- USB mics which are digital
- Dynamic mics which are analog
- Condenser mics which are analog
USB Mics for podcasting
The USB mics are the best type of mics if you are a Solo Podcaster that is not planning to have a physical host in front of him.
Advantages of USB Mics
Easy to use you only need to plug it into your computer, smartphone, or table, and voila it’s working perfectly. The USB mics setup is compact and you can take it anywhere you want because it doesn’t need a lot of gear that came with it like the analog mics.
Disadvantages of USB Mics
If you are planning to have multiple people in your podcast studio, USB mics will not be a good idea. Because when they are working at the same time it will result in major communication problems. Instead, you should either use a Dynamic or Condenser mic.
USB Mics Recommendations
- Logitech for Creators Blue Yeti USB Microphone
- JLab Talk USB Microphone
- Movo UM700 Desktop USB Microphone
Dynamic Mics for podcasting
Dynamic mics are the best choice for podcast studios that are operating in a noisy environment like in an apartment downtown or in an office or a kitchen because they are good at rejecting background noise. It is also a good choice for podcasts that host one person or more.
Advantages of Dynamic Mics
Dynamic mics are suitable for multiple people podcasts. Because of their ability to reduce background noises and handle high sound pressure levels.
Disadvantages of Dynamic Mics
Dynamic mics should be in the shot not outside, not like the condenser mic can be outside of the shot.
Dynamic Mics Recommendations
Condenser Mics for podcasting
Condenser Mics give a detailed sound and they respond better to high frequencies than dynamic mics. But if your podcasting studio is in your room the Condenser Mics can pick too much of the “Shhh” from the air.
It is better to have a dynamic mic if you record from a wide empty space.
To avoid this problem you can use Acoustical Panels to absorb the air sound and the echoes.
Advantages of Condenser Mics
If you are in a controlled environment like a studio that has audio treatment and you control all the audios that go into the microphone, if not a dynamic mic will be very good for podcasting.
Disadvantages of Condenser Mics
Condenser Mics are a bit more complex than the dynamic mic and tend to be more adversely affected by extremes of temperature and humidity. He also limits the maximum signal level the electronics can handle.
Condenser Mics Recommendations
- Audio-Technica AT2020 Cardioid Condenser
- MAONO XLR Condenser Microphone
- MXL 990/991 Recording Condenser Microphone
Microphone Accessories
Pop Filter
You can also use a pop filter to help improve the sound by filtering hard consonants like T and C and P. the good thing is that they don’t cost a lot and they are worth the investment.
Microphone stand
Depending on your setup you may need a microphone stand because it helps you adjust the mic for a better distance between your mouth.
Shock mount
You will also need a shock mount that will prevent the mic from vibration by absorbing it. It can be mounted on a microphone stand.
Record Sound Using your phone or iPhone
If you want to use your phone as a recording device for outdoor activity like an event you can use a mobile setup like a Road Smart Lav mic and connect it to your Android or iPhone.
Microphone Tips
To better use your microphone for the best sound experience please follow those steps.
1. Stay Close to the microphone
The ideal distance between a podcasting mic and your month should be less than …
2. Avoid the red area
While you’re recording, check the software you use to see a meter that goes up and down depending on your loudness or softness. Try to stay in the yellow and green area because once you go up to the red area there is no coming back, the audio will be distorted and there is no way to correct it.
3. Always test the recording
Before starting any episode you should first test the recording and make sure that your mic is plugged in properly and everything is smooth.
6. Headphone
You should invest in high-quality headphones that will allow you to hear everything and avoid the sound from leaking out. The headphone also needs to be comfortable for long hours of use.
When I said high quality I didn’t mean expensive, you only need to choose a good one for you. Check out those popular and high-quality headphones that are used by many podcasters.
If you have one or multiple persons participating in your podcast, then you should have a headphone Amplifier so everyone can hear what the others are saying.
3. Create Your First Episode
After setting up your podcasting studio and knowing which niche and topics you will cover then it is time to record your first episode.
The recording is the easiest part of podcasting you only need a computer and the right software to edit your audio and video and voila you are ready to upload your podcast.
The Right Recording Software to use
After getting the mic then you will need recording software to record the audio. This step is not hard because there are many easy-to-use audio recording software that is easy to use and free.
If you are on a mac computer, I would recommend that you use Garage Band. it is easy to use, free and you can find it in the App store. For windows or PC users then Audacity is the right tool that you can use because of the same benefits, easy to use and free.
You can also use Adobe Audition on Pc but only if you are sure that you need it. At first, I suggest that you only use free tools but again if you are confident that you need a pro tool like Adobe Audition then go for it.
Video Editing Software
To edit the video podcast you can use Apple Final cut pro if you are on mac or you can use adobe premiere pro if you are on a Pc. They are not complicated; you can learn how to use them in a couple of hours.
Online Meeting and Interviews
If you are interviewing someone online using Zoom or Skype, those two had their own built-in audio recording feature that you can use.
But the audio quality on those applications is not the best, sometimes ugly. I strongly recommend that you use a tool called Squad Cast that produces high-quality sound for online interviews.
This tool allows you to connect and record audio locally on each side, then you can download them both so you will get the highest quality audio. Yes, you can also record videos with it.
Let me share with you some recording tips and answer some frequently asked questions that will help you get started.
5 Recording Tips for Podcast
1. Hook Your Listener at the Beginning
People judge a podcast in the first 30 seconds, especially new listeners who aren’t familiar with your content. Try to capture the attention of your listeners in the first 30 seconds.
2. Don’t Stop if You Make a Mistake
Recording software is not only made to help you record your voice, you can also use them to remove mistakes and unwanted paragraphs from your episode. Don’t stop and start all over again.
3. Outline Your Topics
you don’t want to go blind and you also don’t want to script everything, especially for beginners who are trying to make everything perfect. Only outline the topic and try to trust yourself.
4. Don’t Over Edit
Don’t over edit it’s okay to make a couple of tiny mistakes that will sound human and not perfect as a robot. If you try to be perfect you will never be able to upload your podcast to the world.
5. Keep it Fun
Don’t be nervous trying to be a perfectionist. Podcasting is all about sharing knowledge and telling a story; it’s also entertainment. So keep it fun and exciting.
How Long Should My Podcast Episode Be?
Your podcast episode should be as long as it needs to be to provide value for your audience. Some podcasts make long episodes such as Joe Rogan, No Jumper, others make episodes less than 10 minutes like Quick and dirty tips Clever Cookstr and all of them are successful.
You can later adjust the time frame depending on how deep you want to go with the topic.
How Often Should I Publish My Podcast Episode?
It is up to you, but it is recommended that you upload every single day to make sure your podcast rank.
Is It Important That You Have Guests on Your Podcast?
Let me remind you that this is your podcast, your show you can do whatever you want. Some podcasts are Solo and others have a new guest every episode and both of them are successful.
It depends on the topic that you will cover and the value that you are providing to the receiver.
4. Upload Your First Episode
After recording and editing your podcast episode then it’s time to upload it online and share it with the world.
Some people think that uploading a podcast is taking the mp4 or mp3 file and uploading it on Youtube and then to Apple Podcast, to Spotify, to Google Podcast, no this is not the right way.
For audio podcasts, you need a hosting like Buzzsprout from there you can upload your episode and Buzzsprout software will automatically upload the episodes to all the other apps such as Apple podcast, Google podcast, Spotify, and others if you set it up. So you will only worry about creating more content.
For video podcasts, you can upload the mp3 file to Buzzsprout or any other hosting software then for the video you can create a Youtube channel where you can upload your video podcasting episodes directly.
5. Grow Your Podcast
The best way to grow your podcast is by promoting it in social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other channels. If you are doing a video podcast, youtube can help you get views and subscribers faster.
You can also share your podcast link with your friends and family and launch paid social media ad campaigns.
To grow your podcast and outcompete everyone you should be consistent, evolving, and always thinking about how to make the next episode better by taking feedback from your listener and implement them in your podcast to make it better.
6. Monetize Your Podcast
Making money from your podcast is not the hard part especially if you have an audience who trusts you and you produce valuable content. There are many ways to monetize your podcast and here are some of them:
- Affiliate marketing
- Sponsored Ads (or Episodes)
- Service Promotion
- Accepting donations and Tips
- Consultation and coaching
- Gated Content and Memberships
- Selling Merchandise
- Advertising Networks
Summary
Starting a podcast is a fun and worthy experience that can make you money and fame if you are willing to give time, patience and energy to it. You don’t need a lot of equipment and experience to start, the only thing that matters is the willingness to succeed.
Rollo Tomassi Net Worth
