Whether you’re a business owner or simply a person who likes to engage with an audience and share your knowledge, podcasting can be a great place to start. And to get the most out of your efforts, you’ll need our podcasting guide.
Especially since today, in 2024, there are so many different platforms for publishing your podcast.
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The two main challenges for beginner podcasters are the cost of equipment and the assumption that you need a high level of audio editing skills to get started.
In reality, you can pick up a decent microphone for only a few hundred dollars, and audio editing is nowhere near as complicated as it might seem for an inexperienced podcaster.
In addition, you can record your podcasts pretty much anywhere – your own bedroom, office, or even the conference room in a coworking space that you go to.
The Benefits of Podcasting
There are many different benefits to running a podcast of your very own.
Some of them include:
1. Podcasting can help you build a relationship with your audience by providing a personal touch that other forms of marketing lack.
Podcasting provides you with an opportunity to connect with your audience on a personal level. You can share your thoughts and feelings on a variety of topics, and your audience can get to know you as a person, rather than just a business owner.
You can answer listener questions, give advice, and share your own experiences to help your audience connect with you on a deeper level.
2. Podcasting can help you build credibility and trust with your audience by providing informative and entertaining content.
3. Podcasting can help you reach a new audience by giving them another way to discover your content.
By creating a podcast, you can make your content available to a wider audience, which can help you attract new listeners and followers. Additionally, podcasting can help you build relationships with your audience by providing a personal and intimate listening experience.
4. Podcasting can help you save time and money by allowing you to repurpose existing content.
You can use existing blog posts, articles, or even video content to create a podcast episode. This can save you time and money by eliminating the need to create new content from scratch.
5. Podcasting can help you stand out from your competition by providing a unique and engaging way to reach your audience, especially if they don’t have a podcast of their own.
6. Podcasting can drive your business.
Tom from ‘The Travel Growth Podcast‘ says he’s had enquiries directly from people finding them through the podcast, as well as converting better after potential clients have listened to the episodes and felt like they trust the company more.”
Podcasting equipment
There are only a few pieces of hardware that you need to purchase before you can get into podcasting.
The basic equipment is a microphone, a digital recorder, audio editing software and a computer with internet access.
If you’re thinking about recording podcasts in video format, it’s going to be a little bit more expensive – you’ll need a good camera and lighting equipment on top of that.
And, if you’re really thinking about top-tier sound quality, you will need a dedicated recording room with proper sound isolation.
Microphone
There are a few things to consider when picking a microphone for podcasting.
First, you need to decide if you want a dynamic or condenser microphone. Dynamic microphones are typically less expensive and can be better for podcasting because they are less sensitive to background noise.
However, condenser microphones can provide a higher quality sound.
Second, you need to decide if you want a USB or XLR microphone. USB microphones are typically less expensive and easier to use, but XLR microphones can provide a higher quality sound. Third, you need to decide what type of microphone you want.
There are many different types of microphones available, but some of the most popular options for podcasting include the Shure SM58, the Audio-Technica ATR2100, and the Blue Yeti.
Digital recorder
When picking a digital recorder for podcasting, you need to keep a few things in mind.
First, consider the type of microphone you will be using.
If you are using a condenser microphone, you will need a recorder with phantom power.
Second, consider the type of connections you will need. If you are using XLR microphones, you will need a recorder with XLR inputs.
Third, consider the features you need. Some features to look for include: the ability to record in stereo, a high-quality preamp, and a low-noise floor.
Some good options for digital recorders include the Zoom H4n, the Tascam DR-40, and the Sony PCM-D100.
If you settle on a USB microphone, such as the Blue Yeti, you can completely skip the recorder and simply plug the microphone into your computer.
Recording and editing PC
If you already have a good PC, you can also completely skip this step.
However, the editing process can be quite resource-intensive on your computer, so if yours is struggling with processing raw .WAV files, it’s definitely worth upgrading.
First, you need to decide if you want a desktop or a laptop. If you plan on traveling with your computer, a laptop might be a better option.
Second, you need to consider the processor speed and amount of RAM. A faster processor and more RAM will make editing and recording podcasts quicker and easier.
In 2024, it’s worth investing into a computer with at least an I5 processor (or AMD equivalent), and at least 16 gigabytes of DDR4 RAM.
Finally, you need to decide what type of storage you want. A solid-state drive will be faster than a traditional hard drive, but it will also be more expensive.
Long .WAV files can take up quite a bit of space, so it’s best to have at least a 1 TB drive.
Some good computer options for podcasting and podcast editing include the Apple iMac, the Dell XPS 13, and the Microsoft Surface Pro 6.
Audio editing software
When choosing audio editing software, there is only one real differentiating factor between them, and that is the price.
All professional editing software has roughly the same amount of functionality, and that will be more than enough to produce high-quality podcasts.
A few good options for podcast recording and editing software include Adobe Audition, Hindenburg Journalist, and Audacity.
If you don’t have the skillset to use them, don’t worry. There is plenty of content online freely available on how to use every little function of every widely-used podcast editing tool out there.
The best way to learn how to use them is to find a tutorial or take a class.
Once you have a basic understanding of how the software works, you can start experimenting with different features and effects to create your own unique sound.
Hosting platform
When choosing a podcast hosting platform, it is important to consider the following:
-How much audio storage space do you need?
-How many episodes do you plan on releasing per month?
-Do you need any additional features like transcription or show notes?
Some popular podcast hosting platforms include Libsyn, Podbean, and Simplecast, but there are many more, including some free hosting services.
Podcast guests
What is a podcast without a guest? Yep – a glorified blog post.
Luckily, finding podcast guests is actually quite simple, and there exist quite a few strategies to do it.
1. Find people who are already talking about your topic. This could include following relevant hashtags on social media, subscribing to relevant forums and mailing lists, reading relevant blog posts and articles, and reaching out to bloggers.
2. Ask your existing network of contacts if they know anyone who would be a good fit for your podcast.
3. Use podcast directories and search engines (such as iTunes and Google) to find podcasts similar to yours and
out to their hosts to see if they would be interested in appearing on your show.
4. Attend relevant conferences, meetups, and other events where people interested in your topic are likely to be in attendance. This is a great way to make new contacts and find potential guests for your podcast.
Promotion
Even if you record the most interesting podcast in the world, without any sort of promotion it will be lost to the endless void of the internet.
So, arguably, promoting your podcast is a more important job than actually recording one.
There are numerous ways to do that, but we’ll start with the most important one.
Social media
1. Use hashtags to promote your podcast on social media.
2. Share your podcast on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
3. Use tools like Hootsuite to help you schedule and publish your content.
4. Use canva.com or another similar tool to create engaging images to share with your podcast episodes.
5. Collaborate with other podcasters or influencers in your niche to promote your show.
6. Upload the most important bits in the form of shorts on YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram stories.
7. Make sure you use the best copywriting principles so you get the most clicks and visits to your podcast.
Invite influencers as guests
When it comes to inviting influencers as guests on your podcast, there are a few key strategies to keep in mind.
First, consider what type of influencer would be a good fit for your show. Then, reach out to them directly and let them know why you think they would be a great guest on your podcast.
Be sure to include information about your show, what type of audience you attract, and why you think they would be a valuable addition to your show.
Finally, offer them an incentive to come on your show, such as a free product or exclusive access to content.
Having them as guests on your podcast is a great way to attract new audiences because their followers will be interested in hearing what they have to say, and if they haven’t heard about you before, this might be just the thing that gets them interested.
Build a website for your podcast
A website for your podcast can help you promote it in a few ways. First, a website can act as a hub for your podcast content. It can host your episodes, show notes, and any other related content. This makes it easy for listeners to find and consume your content.
Second, a website can help you build an audience for your podcast. You can use your website to drive traffic to your episodes and encourage listeners to subscribe. You can also use your website to build an email list, which you can use to promote new episodes and other content.
Third, a website can help you monetize your podcast. You can use your website to sell products, accept donations, or run ads. This can help you generate revenue from your podcast and support your show.
Finally, a website can help you build relationships with your listeners. You can use your website to interact with listeners, answer their questions, and provide additional content. This can help you create a community around your podcast and deepen your connection with your audience. So what are you waiting for? Grab a domain and start building a website for your podcast.
Not to mention that a website with multilingual content allows you to expand even more than you’d be able to with just the podcast alone, thanks to international SEO.
Submit your podcast to directories
There are a few ways to submit your podcast to directories:
1. Manually submit your RSS feed to each directory. This can be time-consuming, but it will ensure that your podcast is listed in each directory.
2. Use a podcast hosting service that will submit your podcast to directories for you. This is a good option if you don’t want to spend the time submitting your podcast yourself.
3. Use a podcast submission service. This is a paid service that will submit your podcast to multiple directories for you.
Submitting your podcast to directories is a good way to promote your podcast and help new listeners find your show.
Become a guest on other podcasts
There are a few different ways to become a guest on other people’s podcasts. The most common way is to reach out to the podcast host and inquire about being a guest.
This can be done by email, social media, or even through the podcast website itself. The outreach process may be time-consuming but it’s definitely worth it. You can use email account management tools and social media automation tools to cut down on the time you spend on pitching yourself as a guest.
Another way to become a guest on a podcast is to be a part of a podcast network. Many times, these networks will have a database of potential guests that they can connect with podcast hosts. This is a great way to get your name out there and be exposed to new audiences.
Lastly, you can also use a podcast booking service. These services will help connect you with potential podcast hosts that are looking for guests.
They will often times vet the guests to make sure they are a good fit for the show. This can be a great option if you don’t have the time to reach out to hosts yourself.
Being a guest on other people’s podcasts is a great way to promote your own podcast. It allows you to reach new audiences and get your name out there. Additionally, it can help build your credibility and authority in your industry.
The Complete Podcasting Guide
This should cover everything you need to know before you can start your own podcast in 2024.
And remember: your voice doesn’t sound weird. It’s a trick of your mind. Don’t be afraid to venture into podcasting as it’s an amazing way to build credibility online!