Starting a podcast can be fun, engaging, and profitable. Depending on your goals, you could start a podcast as a fun hobby, side hustle, or as a business right from the start. In this article, we’ll explain how to start a podcast, including the dos, and don’ts, and how to make money.
What is a podcast?
A podcast is an audio-only episodic series in which one or more hosts talk about a particular topic. Podcasts cover almost any topic you can imagine, including beekeeping, true crime, and current events.
Reasons to start a podcast:
There are many excellent reasons to launch a podcast, the most popular being:
- You want to build an audience: The most successful podcasts reach millions of listeners. Creating a podcast is a cost-effective approach to gaining listeners.
- You want to build credibility as an expert in your niche or industry: Thanks to
- You want another stream of income or income: Because podcasts are a more intimate medium, they can be an effective way to sell your product or service. If you don’t have a specific product or service you want to sell, you may be able to monetize your podcast by playing sponsored ads and earn money that way.
- You want to build your network: Through podcasting, you can meet other people who are interested in what you’re talking about and who can help you further your career or business.
- Want to have fun: You don’t need to have a particular business or monetization goal in mind to start a podcast. You can record a podcast solely for your enjoyment.
Common misconceptions about podcasts:
Anyone can start a podcast, regardless of their previous work or life experience. Don’t let these common misconceptions stop you from starting your own show:
You need a specific skill set: The only skill you need to have, per se, is the ability to speak or discuss something. Technically you don’t even need to be an expert in anything, as long as you are passionate about what you are discussing. Competence is a nice thing to have, while passion is a must.
You need expensive equipment: You can start a podcast with equipment you probably already own. You don’t need to spend a penny on additional equipment or software. To help you get started, a lot of free tools and resources are available.
Podcasts are a dying medium: Podcasts aren’t going anywhere, nor are they going to become less popular. The podcasting space is so profitable and active that media companies like Spotify and Apple are investing large amounts of money into the space to attract listeners (and revenue).
You need a big following: While it will help you get more listens in the beginning, you don’t need to be an existing celebrity or social media personality to start a successful podcast. You can gain a following by posting great content that resonates with people.
Podcast episodes need to be long: There is no set length that a podcast should have. You can make your episodes as short or as long as you see fit and based on your audience.
How to start a podcast in 5 steps
If you’re interested in starting a podcast but don’t know where to start, completing the following steps will set you up for success.
Define your niche or topic
Although focusing on a smaller topic or niche may seem restrictive, doing so will improve the focus of your writing and help you develop a loyal readership. Additionally, it will support your efforts to gain credibility and solidify your position as an authority on the subject.
Choose a topic that’s broad enough that you can reasonably talk about multiple episodes, seasons, etc., but specific enough that it appeals to a certain type of person or demographic.
Search for existing podcasts
Before you dive into recording your first episode, it’s a smart move to do a little research to see if there are other podcasts like it.
You may find that there are few or no podcasts on your selected topic or that your niche is already quite crowded. Researching your options will help you determine how best to position your podcast to stand out, even if the latter is the case.
Choose the format and cadence
Your podcast can be a solo or group act – the choice is yours. If you want to co-host your podcast with someone else, you’ll need to coordinate how to do this effectively. Likewise, if you want to interview guests on your show, you may need to do some initial outreach.
Your cadence is your publishing schedule, which is how often you will release a new episode. Every day for some podcasts, new episodes are released; for others, it’s every two weeks. You must ascertain which cadence works best for your program. Adhering to the cadence you’ve set will help you build trust and familiarity with your future audience.
Define your audience
Probably the most important question you will need to answer before creating your podcast is: who is this podcast for? Having an ideal listener in mind will help you create valuable, relevant content. Try to define basic information about your ideal listener, such as:
- How old are they?
- Where do they live?
- What do they do for work?
- What forms of media do they already consume?
- Do they already listen to any podcasts?
- What do they do in their free time?
- What problems do they commonly face?
- What would they like to know more about?
Build your brand and online presence
Naming your podcast is an extremely important step. You want your podcast name to relate to your topic or likeness, as well as be clever and memorable. Avoid using the word “Podcast” in your show’s name—it’s redundant and takes up valuable character space.
Speaking of character space, carefully consider the total length of your title. Longer doesn’t necessarily mean better. In fact, a study conducted by Pacific Content found that the majority of podcast titles contain 29 characters or fewer.
In addition to a title, you’ll need to spend time creating your brand elements. Branding elements include your show cover, color palette, and any custom design or audio work.
Using a free design app like Canva, you can create your own cover art, or you can work with a professional graphic designer to get exactly what you want.
For custom audio sounds, such as intro or outro music, you can collaborate with a professional musician or studio. Otherwise, you can search a royalty-free music library for sounds that suit your taste and mood.
Create a website or RSS feed for your podcast
Now that you’ve recorded an episode or two of your show, you’ll need to make it accessible. One way to do this is to create a website for your podcast. You can create a website using free or paid tools, but we recommend opting for paid ones if you know you want more customization options and a professional look. On your website you can host download links or embed your episodes so others can listen and enjoy them.
Another option is to create an RSS feed using a podcast-specific hosting site (like Anchor or BuzzsSprout) instead of a traditional web host (like WordPress or Wix). The term “RSS feed” might sound familiar if you wrote a blog in the early days of the iInternet. RSS feeds are still the only way that modern podcast distribution software works, but you can submit your podcast to directories like Apple, Spotify, and others without having a complete website.
Many businesses will host your podcast and provide you with an RSS feed for little or no money. All you have to do is upload your episodes and basic information and you’ll have an RSS feed that you can use to submit to podcast directories.
Create social media profiles
Typically, if you’re starting a podcast, you’ll want to create social media profiles using your podcast name. While it can be interesting to create a profile on a number of different platforms, it’s worth considering which ones your audience uses most and focusing on those. That’s because social media can offer a great marketing opportunity, but only if you actually use it.
Set up an account with a podcast platform (e.g. Spotify)
While not required, this step is very advised if you want to reach as many people as you can with your message. You can submit your podcast to a directory in order to increase its discoverability. Most major directories rely on your podcast’s RSS feed to verify its legitimacy and ownership, which is why you’ll need to make sure you have one beforehand.
Some of the most popular podcast directories worth submitting to are:
- Apple (formerly iTunes)
- Spotify
- Stapler
- Audible
- Google Podcasts
- iHeartRadio
- After your podcast has been successfully uploaded to a directory, anyone using the directory will be able to find your podcast if they search for it by title or keywords.
Source recording equipment and editing software
You can most likely record audio using the computer, tablet, or phone you already own. Nonetheless, the majority of podcasters advise purchasing a separate podcast microphone for crisper, better audio. Podcast microphones can cost anywhere from $20 to $10,000.
There’s no need to pay for podcast editing software if you don’t want to or can’t. GarageBand is a great free option if you have an Apple device, as is Audacity, which is free on any device. Otherwise, you can invest in more advanced premium software like Adobe Audition, Logic Pro X, or Hindenburg Journalist.
If you don’t feel comfortable or have any interest in editing your podcast, outsource it to a freelancer. You can find a freelance podcast editor to work with through sites like Fiverr, Upwork, Craigslist, or Facebook.
Record and edit your first podcast
Once you’ve got your gear nailed down, you’re ready to record. Some podcasters write scripts ahead of time so they know what to say ahead of time, while others improvise. The choice is up to you.
Even if you write a screenplay, you will likely need to pause, pause, re-record, and/or edit audio to produce a polished final version. Just like anything else, you get better the more you practice. To become proficient at podcasting, one must invest time and practice.
Name your episode titles
Each recorded episode should have a unique name. Episode titles ought to appropriately convey the topic of the episode as well as, if relevant, the identity of the guest speaker.
While you may be tempted to create clever or witty names for your episodes, it’s more strategic to name them appropriately and accurately. This will improve the SEO of your podcast, making it simpler for listeners to find it in podcast directories or search engines.
Create a compelling show description and episode description
To tell potential listeners what your show is about, you’ll need to write a general synopsis and descriptions for each of your episodes. For your overall synopsis, be as clear and concise as possible as you answer these key questions:
- What is your podcast about?
- Who is your podcast aimed at?
- What can listeners expect to hear?
- Why should people listen to your podcast? What will they get from listening?
- How often/when do you release new episodes?
- How/where can people connect with you other than listening to your podcast?
- Episode descriptions should be equally concise, but you’ll have the opportunity to include relevant links to resources, products, or anything else you talk about.
Submit your episode to directories
Once your podcast is ready, the next step is to submit (or upload) it to the podcast platforms of your choice.
Promote your podcast
Once your podcast is discoverable and downloadable, it’s time to spread the word about it. You can take a basic approach, such as sending direct links to your closest friends and family, creating a paid social media advertising campaign, or anything in between – the choice is yours.
A popular method to advertise your podcast is through social media channels like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok. If you already have an established following on social media, you can use your existing accounts to promote your podcast. Otherwise, you can create new accounts for the sole purpose of promoting your podcast and connecting with your community.
How to make money with a podcast
There are many ways to make money with a podcast. There are some methods that you can successfully leverage without a large following, while others require demand and viewers to work. Regardless of which avenues you choose, it’s important to have more than one income stream as a podcaster. Having only one source of income will put you at greater financial risk.
Sponsored Ads (or Episodes)
If you’ve ever listened to a popular podcast, chances are you’ve heard a podcaster read a sponsored ad. Some companies will pay you to read a short script on your podcast promoting their product.
Ads can be a relatively easy way to make money, but they often require a larger audience and detailed demographics. Businesses will want to make sure your podcast is a perfect fit for their ad by looking at how many listens or downloads you have, as well as information on who your audience is.
Affiliate codes or links
As an offshoot of sponsored ads, the brands you run ads for can also give you an exclusive discount code for your listeners to use. You may then earn a small commission every time someone enters your discount code at checkout when making a purchase. You can also advertise affiliate codes in your show notes and on social media to encourage more uses.
Likewise, you can earn commissions through affiliate links. As with codes, you’ll earn a small sales commission every time someone clicks on your link and makes a purchase. Some popular affiliate networks you can join are Amazon Associates, LTK, and Skillshare.
Promotion of your services or products
You can increase sales of any existing service or product by talking about it in your podcast. Hearing you explain what you offer and how it can benefit your audience is a fantastic way to educate listeners and push them to make a purchase.
Consulting or Coaching
As a subject matter expert, your industry knowledge may be required in addition to the free information you provide in your podcast. You can use your podcast to book consulting or coaching clients – people who want to learn from you in a more personalized way.
Accept donations or tips
Running a podcast takes time and effort. To help offset the production costs of each episode, you can simply ask your listeners to tip you or donate money to you. You can collect donations through platforms like Venmo, Patreon or GoFundMe.
If you ask for tips or donations, be as specific as possible about where the money goes, such as purchasing a new microphone for better sound, hiring an intern to speed up production, etc.
Reserved content or subscriptions
Podcasts can usually be listened to or downloaded for free, but one way to make money is to create additional episodes behind a paywall. This way, a listener has to pay a one-time fee or sign up for a premium subscription to access additional content.
Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee are popular platforms for hosting exclusive content for subscribers.
Advertising networks
A podcast ad network essentially acts as an agent for your podcast. Ad networks have connections with brands and can help you seize opportunities you otherwise wouldn’t have encountered on your own. Some networks allow you to contact advertisers directly once you sign up, while other more premium networks can pitch to advertisers on your behalf.
Some examples of podcast ad networks include AdvertiseCast, PodcastOne, and Megaphone. Please note that you may need to meet certain requirements to join an ad network, such as a minimum number of subscribers.
Sale of goods
Depending on your brand and audience, you might explore selling branded products featuring your podcast’s logo, iconography, or signature phrases. For example, if you have a podcast about the organization, selling a planner with your logo or a phrase on it could be a considerable way to generate revenue.
Bottom line
Starting a podcast can be very rewarding but, like any business, it involves a lot of initial hard work and some setup. With the right intentions and expectations, your podcast can be as fulfilling as you think it is, both financially and emotionally.