Have you been thinking about starting a podcast but don't know where to start? Feeling stuck on where to even begin? You're in luck! In this blog post, we'll give you a step-by-step guide on how to start your very own podcast and by the end of this post, you'll have everything you need to hit "record" on your first episode. Let's get started!
These seven easy steps will get you on your way to producing your first season of podcast episodes in no time!
1. Take your Podcast on a Date!
This is what I tell all my clients so they can get clear and map out their first season of podcast episodes from the soul! Ask yourself... what topics will I cover? Who will I interview? What type of format do I want to use? Answering these questions ahead of time will make the actual recording process much smoother. You'll have a plan to stick to and execute, taking the thinking out of it so you can get on with the fun of creating! Once you have all the details sorted, carve out the time in your calendar for recording and make it happen.
2. Sort the Techy Stuff
Get your tech sorted by buying a podcast microphone and downloading recording software. You can read my best microphone pics here. We recommend Audacity for beginners and zoom for recording interviews. You also need to set up your recording space, this doesn't have to be anything fancy, just a quiet room where you can focus and won't be interrupted during recording. To get studio-quality sound at home, make sure you have soft, plush furnishings in your recording space so your voice doesn't reverb off of any hard surfaces creating the dreaded 'tinny' sound listeners hate!
3. Get a Media Host
A media host is just a fancy way of saying the place where your podcast will live. Buzzsprout is the one I recommend! It is super intuitive to use, affordable and they have a supportive Facebook group to help with any questions you need answered. Set up an account, upload your episodes and then your media host will push your episodes out to all the popular podcast directories (iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher etc) once you hit publish!
4. Nail Down your Niche
Name your podcast and fill out your podcast description in your media host with who you are talking to, what you will be talking about and why. Next you need to write a script or prepare talking points for your epsiodes. This part is optional but we recommend doing it for your first few episodes until you get into the swing of things and become more comfortable with speaking off the cuff. Having a few key points written down will help keep you on track and prevent those 'umms' and 'ahhs' from happening. If you’re interviewing prepare questions for your interviewees. Having something to refer to will help keep the conversation flowing and prevent any awkward silences.
5. Create your Podcast Cover Art
This will be what people see when they're scrolling through their podcast app, so make sure it's something that will pique their interest. Canva is a great free tool to use to design something professional, my top tips with cover art to make it stand out are... have your bright, smiling face easy to see and bold, clear writing. Simple but effective is best here!
6. Time to hit Record!
Now it's time to record your first episode! Ensure your recording place is quiet, this step is crucial for getting clear audio. Make sure there's no background noise that could interfere with your recording, close any windows and doors, and if you have pets put them in another room. Hit record in Audacity and let the magic happen, when you're done, export your episode as an MP3 file and upload it to your hosting platform Buzzsprout.
7. Promote, Promote, Promote!
Now it's time to get your podcast baby out into the world, spread the word out there about your new podcast by sharing it on social media, with friends and family and anywhere else you can think of. You never know who might be interested in listening. There are many avenues to launch your podcast into the stratosphere, you can read more about my tips and tricks for promoting here.
That's it! You're now on your way to becoming a podcaster. We hope these tips were helpful in getting you started. If you have any questions or need more help along the way, check out my FREE Bold Broadcasters masterclass or feel free to reach out to us at nikki@quintessentialbeing.com We're always happy to help!