Podcasting 101: How to Start a Podcast in 2020–21
If you’re a blogger, trying to establish a brand, you should definitely launch your own podcast series. If you don’t have one, you’re missing out a large audience. Did you know that around 73 million Americans identify as regular podcast listeners? Even if you’re not a person who writes a lot but love to talk about your passion or field of expertise on and on and if you think that might help people in their life, you can definitely start a podcast series instead of blogging.
I know it’s quite intimidating for the beginners and so here we’re to help you! We’ll be discussing everything from how to start a podcast? and Essential components/ equipment to start a podcast. Then, of course, your audience wants to find you so we’ll be looking into some of the best podcast hosting platforms.
Things to do before starting a podcast:
Figuring out the niche:
Keep this in mind, the niche which you’re about to choose must excite you as well as the audience. Think from the audience perspective, do they really need to hear your podcast, if yes, is there a strong why behind it? The topic/ niche should be quite demanding. The easy way to gain an audience by choosing the right niche. For example, if you think a topic has a huge audience and not much competition, go for it.
Deciding the name of your podcast:
The name of the podcast something should be related to your niche. So make sure whether a domain name (should be the name of your podcast) is available or not. Then check for the social media pages as well.
Establishing a style:
The main styles of podcasting:
- Solo: In the solo Podcast, you’ll share your thoughts and ideas and won’t have other people/guests in your podcast series.
- Having a Guest: Here you’ll be interviewing some great people of your niche to listen and share their perspective to the world.
Essential Equipment for the podcast:
You will be surprised to know that many people give up listening to a podcast series just because of the bad audio quality — fuzzy, too quiet, or even too loud. So you have to make sure the sound quality is good and you have to know some basic audio editing skills (Don’t worry when you have the right software, it’s easy).
This also means you’ll need a decent microphone. You don’t need to afford an expensive mic — especially right at the start. Even most modern microphones can work if you’re a beginner, or you can spend a little on a USB mic that plugs into your computer. Let’s look into these in detail later. Keep reading!
Basic software programs to start a podcast:
Software for recording:
For recording, you’ll need software that serves two main purposes:
- Recording the audio
- Editing it into a proper episode.
Some of the best software programs are:
- Skype: Easy to record, there are still people using skype to record their podcast even after they succeeded in their field.
- Zoom: A lot of people use Zoom as it’s a free conferencing program, also it’s quick and convenient for the guests to join.
- Zencastr: Zencastr is highly recommended, it has both free and paid options. It records each person’s audio on its track which makes it so much easier while editing, and it also exports the audio in studio-standard quality, removing some of the little noises that might happen while recording.
- Listnr: Probably the easiest way to start a Podcast, ever. Listnr helps you Start a Podcast just by enetring your Script into its Editor and Voila! You have your Podcast in under 5 minutes!
- Audacity: No matter if you are windows or mac user, Audacity is cross-platform and is completely free. You can record and edit from there. You can add music, background, can mix 2–3–4 voices whatever channels of voices you have. Also, you can make you sound professional by adding effects to it.
Getting music:
Integrating music into the introduction of each podcast episode helps to set your content apart and adds a bit of flair to it. These are usually short voice-overs with music that are available, that introduces the podcast, the host, or the tagline of your podcast. You can record it yourself or choose any royalty-free music available on the Internet.
Export your MP3:
You need to publish the podcasts on a hosting service in an MP3 format, especially on platforms where they have bandwidth restrictions. Since some podcast hosts charge extra if you are posting a bigger file. Hence, during the export process, you should keep your MP3 files as small as possible without compromising the quality.
After exporting the MP3, you need to tag it with metadata, such as your podcast name, logo, description, and website URL. This will make sure that your audience gets all of the information that they need about your podcast.
Launching and promotion:
Once you have episodes ready to go and have published them on your hosting account, you have to promote your podcast regularly on your social media pages. You do a pre-promotion or post promotion with a teaser or you can even add some behind the scenes to get the audience interested. Post at least once a day, not just promoting your podcast but some other valuable content related to your niche. By this way, you’re letting people know that you are working very hard to help people with your free valuable content.
Submit to directories:
After you publish your podcast, you have to select a podcast directory where listeners discover, listen, and subscribe to your podcasts. You need to post an RSS feed link that you get from the podcast host to the directory of your choice. You can select one or multiple podcast directories depending on your strategy, but make sure to choose them wisely.
Here are some of the best options for directories:
Essential Equipment to start a Podcast:
It really depends on your budget when it comes to purchasing all the equipment, but whatever level you’re currently at, be it beginners or professional, here’s a handy list of essential equipment you need to start a podcast.
Microphones:
Don’t go for your computer’s built-in microphone as the audio quality will be bad. The easiest way to get started is to use a USB microphone. To have the option to record top notch sound, you’ll need a different simple or USB amplifier. Most tenderfoot podcasters go for USB mics as it permits them to just fit their amplifier straight into their PC and begin recording. It starts from $100.
Pop Filter:
Another urgent hardware that will assist you with catching extraordinary sounding vocals is a pop channel or windscreen. Its fundamental intention is to limit or forestall “plosives, for example, your P’s and T’s, by retaining those incredible impacts of air before the sound arrives at your receiver. Usually you can get the pop filters for 10 to 50 dollars.
Mic Stand:
However, it is crucial to understand that you can’t host a podcast while holding the microphone in your hands. Even if you are trying, it may add more noise to your audio. To set up your amplifier and pop channel together, you’ll need a solid mic stand. However, that is not by any means the only utilization of a mic stand; it will likewise assist you with situating your mouthpiece appropriately so you don’t need to twist forward or downwards to have the option to talk into the receiver. Mic stands are available from $20.
Shock Mount:
It is designed to protect a microphone from shocks and vibrations. Most mics used in home recording studio setups are overly sensitive to such disturbances. This, in turn, can affect the bass of your sound. Therefore, it is recommended to use one to retain the tone and texture of your voice. It starts from $50.
While some mics come with one, others don’t. The best option is to buy a dedicated option from the mic’s manufacturing company. However, check the mic’s diameter and ensure that it fits perfectly.
Headphones:
Headphones fill in as your sound screen, which is the reason you’ll regularly discover podcasters (and in any event, recording specialists) with Headphones while recording. It could be peculiar hearing your own voice from the outset, however, it’s the most ideal approach to check for any covering clamour and lopsided mic sound levels. And so, you don’t need to do retakes. It ranges from $50 to $150.
Headphone Amplifier:
Each speaker on your show will require an earphone screen, so you’ll require a multi-channel earphone intensifier that can oblige more than one earphone jack and boost the full solid quality capability of every one of your earphones. A headphone amplifier costs around $500.
Audio Interface:
A sound interface fundamentally fills in as the extension that changes over the amplifier’s sound signs into advanced so you can “send” them to your computer for playback, blending, and transfer.
As recently referenced, some USB mouthpieces can be stopped straightforwardly into your PC. Some podcasters like to utilize the wizardry of a sound interface in keeping up the nature of the first sound, rather than depending on the PC’s sound card for the basic sound change.
Mixer:
Like a sound interface, a mixer improves your sound by giving you more power over sound levels, sources of info, yields, and the sky’s the limit from there. Most computerized sound workstations (DAWs) will permit you to mix and ace different sound channels on your PC. However, besides some podcasters’ inclination to do it physically, once in a while there are no decision, particularly when you will have far off (bring in) visitors. A mixer costs around $150.
Cables:
Contingent upon your picked web recording design, there might be occasions when you have to do talks with the outside of the studio. For this situation, we highly suggest that you utilize a dependable, compact sound recorder to catch and spare your sound to a micro SD card.
Sound Proofing Materials:
Similarly, as with a chronicle studio, you’ll have to give your room some acoustic therapy. The degree will rely upon how much reverberation or reverb is available, beside the measure of outer commotion originating from outside the room, assuming any.
In any event, you’ll have to apply acoustic boards on the dividers (and perhaps on the roof). Become familiar with room soundproofing to comprehend what your room needs to change into a soundproof recording studio. Sound proofing materials starts from 100 dollars.
Audio Editing Software (DAW):
Enough about the room and your equipment. Whenever you’ve indicated your outer gear, remember to decide the chronicle programming that you will use on your PC. Your decision relies upon your PC’s working framework; however, you can discover a great deal of free, cross-stage programming programs (like Adobe Audition) that you can use with your PC and Mac.
Before you begin recording, set aside the effort to find the absolute best webcast recording programming and their highlights to discover which one best suits your sound altering needs and expertise level. If you’d like to out source this job, you’ve to pay around 500 dollars per month for weekly shows.
Podcast Host:
The last significant advance of the podcasting work cycle is getting your webcast on iTunes or other facilitating administrations (after you’ve recorded and altered it). This is the place where you will ideally begin getting heard and picking up prevalence, particularly in case you’re intending to bring in some money from your digital broadcasts.
There are loads of other mainstream digital broadcast stages are available besides iTunes and SoundCloud. While it assists with presenting your show to those with the biggest audience, you’ll have to pick the correct one for your niche to effectively arrive at your ideal segment — so pick admirably! The hosting usually costs around $20/ month.
Best Podcast Hosting Sites:
There are several options to consider when it comes to podcast hosting, below are the best podcast hosting companies.
Spotify:
Spotify is the best music, podcast, and video streaming application available on mobile or tablet. It has free as well as paid options, the free accounts remain available to listeners by invitation to manage the growth. The launch also opened paid subscriptions to everyone. Spotify gives your ability to seamlessly access and controls your favourite music and podcasts. You can even make and share playlists. It is becoming an increasingly important player in the world of podcasting.
Buzzsprout:
Buzzsprout is one of the easy ways of hosting, promoting, tracking your podcast. It helped many people to start their own podcast. You can upload up to two hours of audio per month, but all those episodes are only hosted for 90 days. It is a fantastic platform for a beginner as it offers a simple dashboard that shows your listener data, number of impressions, location demographics — and many others.
Blubrry:
Blubrry is the podcast hosting with WordPress integration using the PowerPress plugin. This platform gives advanced statistics for your podcast and other audio files. Podcast Hosting by Blubrry is highly optimized for those who are using WordPress with PowerPress and it is quite simple to use. You can access your account from your online dashboard from a mobile device. It can also manage advertising deals for organizations.
Spreaker:
Spreaker Studio was the first podcasting application which supported Chrome. It presents a unique listening experience, podcasters can create, analyze, distribute and monetize professional sounding audio. This platform enables anyone to participate in and interact with the community of audio creators and listeners.
Listnr:
Here you’ll find a cool solution to all your podcast issues. Listnr helps users start a Podcast in 50+ voices without recording anything. Yes, it converts your blog posts or any text for Voice-overs or podcasts.
Bonus — Listnr has a Lifetime Deal(till December 1st) where you can get a lifetime deal of Listnr just for $59 and the product will be all yours, you don’t need to pay for a monthly subscription.
If you’re hesitating to buy the whole package for the lifetime, there is a 30 Day Refund policy as well for you to get to know the platform.
These are the features that are available in the Lifetime deal package of Listnr:
- 45,000 Words Per Month
- 200 GB Storage
- Unlimited Podcast Hosting
- Distribute on iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts and many more using RSS Feed.
- 1 User Account
- 17+ Languages with 70+ Voices (more coming soon)
- Unlimited Embeddings
Podbean:
With the help of Podbean, you can create professional podcasts in very less time without any knowledge of programming. This platform tracks your podcast’s performance and understands your audience better. You can record, publish and manage podcasts right from the app. It helps you to earn money with paid subscriptions or fees.
Patreon:
Patreon is a simple Podcast platform that helps you to build a community around your content. This platform helps you by creating RSS feed, exclusively for the users. Patreon allows the user to set several subscriber levels, with other crowdfunding platforms, the more you give, the more you receive from them.
Anchor:
Anchor is known for its free podcast platform. Anchor helps you to create, distribute, and monetize your podcast from any device, for free. Anchor podcast is accessible to everyone, it has no storage limits and no trial period. The platform has a built-in ad platform, which offers easy editing.
Libsyn:
Libsyn is one of the oldest and largest podcast media hosts, it is a Blubrry alternative and it provides podcast hosting to connect with your audience wherever they are. Libsyn podcast hosting plans are flexible, easy to change, transfer, and are packed with trusted features. It also has some cost-effective plans to meet your needs.
Transistor:
It is one of the newest hosting and analytics platforms. It helps you to store your MP3 files, and generates your RSS feed, host your podcast’s website, and helps to distribute your show to the world. It’s user-friendly migration, uploads and directory listing are very simple to use.
Which platform you’re about to use to start your podcast? Let us know in the comments!
With 💗
— Team Listnr
