Would you like to start a podcast? There are six (6) easy steps in this beginner’s guide how to start a podcast and lead it to success.
Why starting a podcast is a great choice
At a time when content creators have numerous distribution options, podcasting stands out as an alpha platform. This is because it has redefined the distribution and consumption of content worldwide by making audio content available in an intimate and engaging form.
Hence, it is not surprising that podcasts’ popularity and audience is growing day by day, making it the best channel to attract an active audience.
These days, nobody wants to wait hours for a radio show that picks up on their interests. The urge for instant gratification doesn’t allow this, and this is where podcasts come to the rescue. Technology has made this even better as more and more people invest in smart speakers like Google Home devices, HomePod mini, Sonos One, and Amazon Echo.
In addition to smartphones, these devices have made listening to podcasts easier and more interesting as they make it easier to consume audio content.
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Our FREE speaking course Covers everything from defining your podcast to getting it off to a successful start and fully monetizing your catalog. Did we also mention it’s 100% free?
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A look at the numbers that support the world of podcasting
Podcasting is a promising field and it’s very popular these days. As the latest podcast statistics show, the industry is projected to reach a market size of $ 1.62 billion by 2022, with the number of podcast listeners growing every year. Interestingly, the statistics also suggest that the majority of customers use podcasts to learn something new, while they can also be a great marketing tool for promoting your brand.
Now that you know how fast the podcasting field is moving, it’s time to start a podcast. The big question is; How do you start a podcast?
How to start a podcast: a six-step guide
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started and succeed as a content creator:
Start by determining your target audience
The first step in starting a podcast is to look inward as you need to focus on what you understand best. To do this, you need to ask yourself the following questions;
- Which areas or niches do I know?
- How can I best use my knowledge in this area or niche to attract an audience?
- Who is likely to be my listener and what are their interests?
Narrowing down a niche that suits you best makes it easier to know your target audience. That way, you can search for topics that appeal to your potential audience.
| Speaker tip: Podcast avatar. |
|---|
| Once you’ve selected your podcast niche, you want to define your ideal listener. Also known as yours Podcast avatar.
Think of your podcast avatar as exactly who you are talking to as you record. They not only want to know demographic characteristics such as age or gender, but also their psychological desires, needs and fears. Podcasting is an intimate medium. So if you know your podcast avatar inside out, you can tailor your podcast content exactly to what it wants and create a connection between the host and the listener. |
Select your podcast topic and name
After you’ve settled on a niche of your choice, be it family topics, politics, celebrity gossip, hiking, or music, it’s time to pick a podcast name and topic. As a rule of thumb, choose a podcast name that is catchy and enticing to your target audience.
Remember that simplicity is key and always remember to match your podcast name and topic to the niche you are going to be working on.
For your podcast topic, it is important to thoroughly research areas of interest and weaknesses in your niche. Once you discover these areas, create a series of topics that contain the keywords that will be popular in your target audience’s online searches.
This is a foolproof way to drive more traffic to your podcast as it becomes an authority in the niche.
Other recommendations for finding the right title for the podcast include:
- The name should be easy for the audience to remember and find;
- Must contain all relevant keywords surrounding the central topic or reflecting the personality of you as the host;
- Preferably between 20 and 29 characters long.
Recall, The topic shouldn’t be too narrow as it will make it difficult to keep creating content. But you don’t want it too broad either, as episodes should target a specific niche. The idea is to cast a wide net to make an impact. But not too wide! You don’t want to confuse the audience with your message.
TrendingAre you ready to start a podcast? 5 questions to ask yourself
Set the perfect length and frequency for podcast posting
Podcast findings show that most podcasts are between 20 and 40 minutes long, which is 31% of the total percentage. Most podcasts are published regularly every 8 to 14 days. While these are valuable learnings that you can’t ignore, you need to set a perfect length and frequency for posting to get more listeners.
As a newbie, you don’t want your podcast to get too long for it to get boring. On the other hand, you don’t want a podcast that is too short to cover valuable content. In many cases, an ideal length is a podcast between 18 and 22 minutes, as this is the ideal human attention span.
In terms of frequency, it’s better to post weekly so that your audience can anticipate the next episodes.
| Speaker tip: Show format |
|---|
| Will your show interview different guests each week or will you tell fictional stories? Are you the only host or does someone else come to you?
We encourage you to get creative with your episodes and think differently Podcast formats. However, if you choose a reasonably consistent style, you can understand your brand from the start. Someone who comes to your podcast to learn about a particular skill workshop style could be put off if your show suddenly takes on a conversational format, and vice versa. |
Choose a podcast hosting platform
Now comes a critical pillar to your podcasting and this is choosing the right podcast hosting platform. This is a critically important decision that determines how easy it will be to run your podcast.
A podcast host is a place to store and distribute the audio files of your podcast. There are different types of hosts, all of which are unique to your podcast career.
While there are free podcast hosting platforms out there, be careful before you go for this option. Typically, when a program is free, everything you upload becomes its product, including your data. It’s a question of safety and ethics, but that’s up to you.
We do podcast hosting here at speaker, including a free trial if you want to try things out. When that’s done, you’re good to go Submit it to podcast distributors, or Podcatcher.
TrendingHow to Create the Perfect Podcast Intro and Outro
Optimize your podcasts to reach a larger audience
You need to improve your game as a content creator running a podcast. The average listener has become quite demanding and strives for the best listener experience (LX). At the same time, increasing competition means that you need to optimize your content to reach a larger audience:
- Research and use relevant keywords in your content. For more information on podcast SEO, we recommend reading this article.
- Have podcast show notes ready highlighting what your podcast episode will cover. Use relevant keywords in these notes in places such as titles, headings, sub-headings, and throughout the page content.
- Leverage podcast metadata. This is the summary that will appear on search pages with your podcast. Be creative and make it enticing for your potential audience to feel the urge to hear your podcast.
- Use your content in forms like blogs, guides, videos or infographics that search engines can easily index and show to your target audience.
Don’t forget to promote your podcasts
Finally, you can’t forget to promote your podcasts. Your audience won’t magically know your podcasts, and you’ll have to work hard to get the news around quickly. The best way to do this is:
- Use social media to establish yourself as an authority in a specific niche. Publish creative posts on these platforms and make them go viral. Don’t forget to include links to your podcasts in these posts so that viewers can easily reach them.
- Appear as a guest on popular vlogs, podcasts, and live social media discussions from influencers. This will result in more people becoming aware of you and ready to review your podcasts.
- Have a podcast website as that way you can expand your network and at the same time represent you as a knowledgeable content creator.
- Ask your audience for reviews and subscriptions so you can build trust and attract more traffic.
diploma
Podcasting is the future of content distribution and it’s getting more popular every day. Its endless possibilities and flexibility in creating engaging content make it a favorite in the current world. Best of all, it’s only a matter of time before everyone is on board with podcasts as technology makes it easier for the average person to consume audio content.
As a futuristic person, there has never been a better time to start podcasting than now. This guide provides a good starting point for understanding the pros and cons of being a successful podcaster.
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