Podcast – Learn How to Start A Podcast Easily
Podcast – Learn How to Start A Podcast Easily
Podcast data show that 51 percent of US consumers over the age of 12 listen to podcasts, a figure that has been gradually increasing year after year. Furthermore, 32% of Americans listen to podcasts on a monthly basis.
Podcasts may be a great method for company owners to engage with their listeners and potential clients. They’re hearing you speak to them one on one, which humanizes your relationship in a way that written content cannot. Furthermore, providing many avenues for your audience to interact with your content and brand is always a good thing.
Podcasting can also help you establish a reputation and establish yourself as an authority in your field. You can steer traffic to your online store by placing backlinks in podcast directories and referring listeners to your site at the end of each episode.
If you’re wondering, “What is a podcast?” the answer is straightforward. A podcast is a downloadable audio recording of a discussion on a certain topic, such as business or travel. They’re frequently found on iTunes and Spotify, but they’re also occasionally stored on websites. This dynamic media can be an excellent way to send your daily dose of inspiration to your audience, no matter where they are.
To start a podcast, you don’t need a lot of money or technical experience. This tutorial will lead you through the process of starting a podcast, why you should have one for your store, the many sorts of podcasts, and the equipment you’ll need.
This is the article for you if you’ve been wondering how to start a podcast, how to record a podcast, or just seeking podcast suggestions.
A podcast is a type of web-based audio transmission. It can be listened to while driving, commuting to work, or even working. It is a content medium that does not require your target audience’s whole attention, such as a video or a blog article.
Podcasting is in high demand. Podcast listening has increased year after year, according to Edison Research and Triton Digital.
According to the research, persons who frequently listen to podcasts spend roughly 5 hours each week doing so.
As more and more people listen to podcasts, more business owners will realize their potential. So, if you’ve been wondering how to start a podcast, you’ll need to first pick what kind of podcast you’ll make.
Podcast Formats
On each episode of this podcast, one or two hosts interview a different guest. This is a popular format because it does not necessarily necessitate extensive research. Preparation typically includes researching your interviewee and developing a list of questions to ask. Of course, you’ll need certain soft skills to get started with this podcast format, such as encouraging guests to join, interviewing abilities, and the ability to consistently generate podcast episodes.
If you’ve been thinking about how to start a podcast, this could be one of the greatest podcast formats for you. These podcasts are usually presented as a monologue, with one person (you) running the show.
Solo podcast content can be opinion-based, news-related, Q&A-type, or any other form that can be delivered by one person. From a technical sense, this is a simple podcast to create because all you need is your voice, knowledge of how to record a podcast, and a topic to discuss.
Pat Flynn’s Smart Passive Income is a wonderful example of this approach. He combines inspiration and instruction as he deconstructs several methods for marketing your online business and staying ahead of the curve as an eCommerce entrepreneur. He describes his own personal experiments and their outcomes in order to assist listeners in developing their own passive income enterprises.
This type of podcasting features two or more hosts, making it more dynamic than a single program. If you’ve been thinking about how to start a podcast and have a business partner, this could be a great choice for you.
Multi-host podcasts include talks with varying viewpoints and perspectives, which can provide additional entertainment value for listeners who want to hear conversations and debates rather than a single person speaking. Because there are more people and ideas, there is less pressure on the artists to keep the audience engaged and interested.
The Fizzle Show is one of the top eCommerce podcasts in this genre. Caleb Wojcik, Corbett Barr, and Chase Reeves co-host the show, which provides practical business advice on developing a lucrative business.
Of course, you are not restricted to any of these formats. You are free to mix and combine. In the eCommerce market, there are several podcasters who combine various techniques. For example, Andrew Youderian’s podcast – another of the finest eCommerce podcasts – features both interviews and solo commentary.
- Provide a Format Preview
Turning on your microphone and just going with the flow is a brave move. While it works for some listeners, it irritates others. Consider setting expectations for your listeners by having a consistent framework for your episodes and previewing it in advance if you’re generating numerous episodes.
One wonderful piece of podcast advice for individuals asking how to start a podcast is to have a special guest that you introduce at the beginning of the recording, or to include recurrent portions such as “top trends” or “ask me anything.”
For example, you may have a special guest who appears at the beginning of the recording, or recurring sections such as “top trends” or “ask me anything.” These sections can then be broken up with transitions that alert the listener that the section is coming to an end. Using a recurring formula will not only help you create the content, but it will also allow your listeners to jump to their favorite sections if they are short on time.
- Adhere to the Ideal Podcasting Everything
In the field of podcast hosting, ideal duration and frequency are contentious issues. Some recommend sticking to a weekly blogging schedule. Others argue that one episode every month is adequate. But what works best for your podcast? Use Buffer’s podcast advice to help you decide.
The ideal frequency for releasing a podcast is: Every week, 44 percent of the top 25 podcasts release one episode. The next most popular frequency is twice per week. The ideal podcast episode duration is 22 minutes.
According to Stitcher, an online podcast and radio site, the typical listener is engaged for 22 minutes.
Tuesday/Wednesday is the best day to release a podcast.
60% of podcasts adhere to a weekly schedule published before Wednesday. Tuesday 3 is the most popular day for posting.
Even the best podcasts in the world aren’t going to appeal to everyone. Instead of trying to be all things to all people, strive to establish your expertise.
Consider who your main audience will be and try initially to attract those listeners.
After you’ve established a following, you can consider expanding to reach a larger audience.
- Take it easy, have fun, and be ready for interview-style podcasts.
Chat with your guest before you begin recording an interview-style audio broadcast. This will allow you to relax and enjoy the talk. Also, remember to have fun. Because they aren’t hurrying to the next question, the best podcast hosts sound easygoing.
One of our finest podcasting ideas is to do your research on the guest. Go through their social media profiles and determine if they’ve already been interviewed by other podcasters. If they have, collect those interviews and use them to improve your podcast. The more time you spend learning about the guest’s knowledge and personality, the more smoothly things will go.
What Does It Take to Start a Podcast?
In this section, we’ll go over the podcast equipment and audio software you’ll need to get started with a podcast. The basic minimum you’ll need to invest in is a microphone, which might be inexpensive depending on the kind. You can get high-quality sound by purchasing an XLR microphone (XLR is a type of electrical connector commonly used on professional audio equipment). However, most individuals find that the audio quality provided by a good USB microphone is just as good.
The Most Effective USB Microphone for Podcasting
Almost every computer has at least one USB port that can be used to attach a microphone. Most USB microphones are plug-and-play, which means they do not require any installation or drivers.
Here is our selection of the best USB microphones.
Q1U Dynamic USB Microphone by Samson
This is a simple plug-and-play microphone that includes a USB cable and a mic stand. The audio quality is fairly good for the price, making it a terrific bang-for-your-buck microphone if you don’t want to spend a lot of money.
Microphone Rode NT-USB
The app that comes with this microphone is a huge plus. You may use the app to adjust FX, EQ your tracks, and do other things. A pop shield, zip case, desktop stand, headphone monitor jack, level and mix control, and a 20″ USB cable round out the kit. This microphone is one of the more expensive alternatives available, but the sound quality and features make it worthwhile.
USB Microphone Blue Yeti
The Blue Yeti microphone’s audio quality more than justifies its price. It’s also one of the most popular podcasting platforms. This microphone is simple to attach through USB and comes with its own stand. It incorporates condenser capsules that bypass your computer’s sound card, ensuring the highest quality sound.
Shure’s SM58
This is a portable microphone that is frequently seen at concerts, usually in the hands of a lead singer. The SM58 can be soaked, dropped, or crushed and yet survive, making it an excellent choice for anyone wishing to do more out-of-the-studio podcasting than record in-studio.
Broadcast Dynamic Vocal Microphone RODE PROcaster
This dynamic microphone provides high-quality sound without sacrificing clarity. It’s an excellent broadcast and voice-over mic since it’s designed to provide strong sound while cutting out background noise and preventing audio distortion. This is the most expensive combination on our list, but it’s well worth it for those who demand the best.
Optional Podcast Extras to Improve Sound Quality
Stereo Headphones from the Sony ZX series
If you’re doing an interview with a guest, these headphones will help prevent echoing. Pro podcast tip: having an echo in the backdrop of your audio is detrimental to your listeners.
Portable Digital Recorder Zoom H1
Before importing your audio to your computer for editing, it’s a good idea to record it on an external device. This is done to avoid data loss if your computer dies or loses power during recording. Recorders, such as the Zoom H1, are typically portable, which means you don’t need to connect to a computer if you’re recording on the road.
Filter for Pop Music
The clicking noises your mouth generates as you talk close to the microphone are not recorded by this podcast technology. When you’re hosting a podcast, this is a fantastic tool because it will assist you understand where you should be speaking.
Software for Audio Recording and Editing
The podcast software listed below will assist you in recording audio from your microphone and save it as an MP3 audio file. The software can also be used to edit your recordings.
Audacity (Mac/PC) is a multi-featured podcast recording program that gives podcast hosts a variety of options for recording and editing audio, allowing them to sound as good as the pros.
Audacity is a wonderful free alternative to commercial audio editing software.
GarageBand (Mac) (Mac)
GarageBand is pre-installed on all MacBooks and is a good choice if you’re just getting started with podcasting for your business. It allows you to capture and save audio from your Mac as an MP3.
Adobe Audition (Mac/Windows)
Look no further than Adobe Audition if you need a professional audio editing application with all the bells and whistles. It may provide a little more than you need for simple podcast editing, but if you’re utilizing high-end podcast equipment plus a mixer, Adobe Audition may be worth considering.
If you’ve been looking at how to start a podcast and want a long-term solution for your audio software, this is our top pick.
Finding Music for the Podcast Intro/Outro
The production aspect of podcasting appears to create the most concerns. And one of the most frequently discussed issues is intro and outro music. However, there are so many options for finding music that it shouldn’t be a problem. Here’s a list of legal locations to get music – they are all wonderful possibilities if you want to further up your podcast hosting game.
Wistia Music Library
Wistia has a small yet powerful library of royalty-free tunes. Simply enter your email address and you’ll have music in your inbox before you know it.
Pond5
This website includes a big variety of royalty-free stock pictures, video clips, and audio tracks, as well as a music clip directory with over 500,000 options. Pond5 offers competitive prices for audio tracks, with some tracks starting as little as $25. Pond5, on the other hand, charges a membership fee to access its website. You may also check for podcast intro and outro creators on Fiverr in addition to these sites.
If you’re wondering how to start a podcast, the first step is to decide what you’re going to talk about in the episode.
It’s evident to some. Others must be creative before they can come up with a concept.
If you want to sell phone cases, you might not want to start a podcast on phone cases but rather about technology or new apps. If your target audience is digital nomads, perhaps a podcast about foreign travel would be appropriate.
Your topic will also be determined by what you are passionate about or know a lot about.
That being said, it’s a good idea to see if you have enough to talk about. The first step is to create an episode list of 8-10 episodes. You can then seek similar episodes of iTunes podcasts and Spotify podcasts. Examine their popularity, such as the number of social media followers and reviews – this might indicate whether or not the topic is worth debating.
Finally, choose a podcast format and adhere to the optimal everything (mentioned before) in terms of episode length and frequency.
What you’ll need before you start recording your podcast
There are various things you should do before you start recording.
Podcast Cover Art: One of the most important things to remember while learning how to start a podcast is that your artwork must be eye-catching. Spend a little money on a captivating cover. Use images and fonts that are large enough to be seen well at any size. It should be no more than 20482048 and no less than 14001400. To create a professional-looking podcast cover, we recommend hiring a graphic designer from Fiverr or Upwork.
Podcast Title: A program’s title should inform potential listeners about what the podcast is about. Consider the title, “The Dropshipping Podcast – All about Automating Your Product Management.” It’s quite clear that this podcast is about dropshipping. If you’re seeking a podcast on that topic, the name alone will tell you if it’s the correct one for you.
By having the identical topic in your name, you boost your chances of being found for that particular term.
Podcast tip: Include the exact topic in the name of your podcast to dramatically enhance your chances of being found for that specific keyword.
Host Name: Obviously, this is your name (or the name of your company), but you may give a few more details to help your podcast rank higher for specific keywords. For example, an ecommerce entrepreneur could write “[His Name]: Ecommerce Strategist.” To see what we mean, search the keyword “blogger” in iTunes and explore the podcasts section.
One of our top podcast suggestions is to include as many relevant phrases and keywords as possible in your podcast description.
This will make it easier for people to locate your material – the content they’re looking for – on sites like iTunes and Spotify. Remember that Spotify and iTunes are search engines, and the majority of people who find your podcast will most likely find it through search, at least initially.
Podcast categories and subcategories: An iTunes podcast can be found in a variety of categories and subcategories, ranging from fashion to entrepreneurship. Choose a category that best fits your topic, although it does not have to be exact. If you’re having trouble deciding on a category, look at similar podcasts on iTunes and Spotify and see which ones they use.
It’s time to get started! But wait, how exactly do you record a podcast?
To begin, plug in a microphone to your computer and launch audio recording software such as Audacity. You must also check that your recording program is set to use your microphone as the input device. After that, open your audio software and press the record button.
Follow these steps to record your first episode in Audacity, the free podcast program we discussed earlier:
Open the device toolbar to ensure that your microphone is set as the default input device in Audacity. To double-check, run a few tests.
To begin recording, press the R key or the “Record” button.
Press the P key or the “Pause” button to momentarily pause but not totally stop recording. In this mode, you cannot edit.
To stop recording, press the Spacebar or the “Stop” button.
If you want to resume where you left off without creating an extra track, hit Shift-R or the “Record” button while holding down the “Shift” key.
To record a new track, press the R key or the “Record” button again.
If you use a Mac and prefer to record with GarageBand, here’s a quick four-minute video tutorial.
Making Changes to Your Podcast
Editing your recording allows you to maintain a consistent level, add an intro and outro, repair mistakes, and erase gaps of dead air that may have occurred throughout your session. Again, any of the audio tools mentioned above, such as Audacity, Adobe Audition, or GarageBand, should suffice.
Some good audio editor options to try are those that automatically steady the volume, reducing spikes of high volume, and those that minimize or remove background pops and noise. After you’ve finished editing, save it as an MP3 file with a sampling rate of 44.1 Mhz and a bitrate of 128 kbps.
After you’ve saved your recording, we recommend editing the ID3 tags. ID tags provide additional information about the file to MP3 players and other devices, such as the name of the artist and the name of the podcast episode. MP3 players can display track information in this manner.
Server for Podcast Web Hosting
One of our finest podcast hosting suggestions is to establish a separate host for your MP3 files. Even if you already have a website and a web host, you should not host your podcast audio on the same server. Most shared web providers lack the speed and bandwidth required to keep up with the demand for streaming and downloading MP3s. Fortunately, podcast hosting is affordable thanks to media hosts.
Here are the ones that the majority of podcasters use and recommend:
Blubrry – $12 per month for 100MB of storage space and unlimited bandwidth.
LibSyn – $5 per month for 50MB of storage and unlimited bandwidth.
Before you buy podcast hosting, consider your publishing schedule. Assume you intend to release a weekly episode. That’s four episodes per month. If each episode is an hour-long, the file size for each episode could be over 50MB, implying that you’ll need more than 200MB per month. In general, it’s better to pay a bit extra for the choice that provides a little more capacity than you need, just in case.
Adding Your Podcast to iTunes and Spotify
You can submit your podcast to podcasting directories such as iTunes and Spotify once you’ve completed generating, editing, and hosting it. Here’s how to share your audio files to these locations.
Upload Your Podcast to iTunes
Create an RSS Feed for your podcast: LibSyn and other podcast hosting services handle feed creation for their users.
Launch iTunes Connect, Apple’s podcasting platform. You’ll be brought to the Podcasts Connect dashboard after that. You can add a new show to the directory by clicking the “+” symbol to the left.
When you click the “+” symbol, you will be sent to a simple page where you must input and authenticate your RSS feed address.
Once your RSS feed has been authenticated, check the listing for your podcast. Check that everything is exactly as you want it, then click the “Submit” button.
iTunes will give you a confirmation message informing you that your podcast may be subject to a screening process. You should receive an email within 24 to 48 hours letting you know if you’ve been authorized. Your podcast will begin to appear in iTunes search results for relevant keywords 3 to 5 days later.
Upload Your Podcast to Spotify
Previously, Spotify did not accept open applications but has lately opened up to podcasters who fit particular criteria. The directory is mostly interested in the following types of shows:
- Technologically savvy
- Provide evergreen content
- Attract millennials
- Incorporate storytelling
All you have to do is fill out this submission form and wait for feedback. Keep in mind that this is still a manual process, and submission does not guarantee that your show will be listed with other Spotify podcasts.
Shopify Masters can now be found on Spotify.
Best Ecommerce Podcasts
Looking for podcast subject ideas? Perhaps you’re seeking for podcast advice or examples to help you learn how to start a podcast. Here’s a collection of great eCommerce podcasts to get your creative juices flowing:
Shopify Gurus
Shopify Masters is Shopify’s official podcast, and it covers a number of successful entrepreneurs and significant personalities in the eCommerce sector.
This podcast is primarily geared toward experienced entrepreneurs trying to take their businesses to the next level, although much of the content can be applied to store owners of all levels of expertise.
Every week, host Felix Thea interviews entrepreneurs to learn more about what it takes to succeed in eCommerce.
The Llama Commerce Show
This Llama Commerce Show is an excellent resource for online store operators. Brett Curry, the host, discusses everything connected to developing an eCommerce business, from Facebook Ads to set up an eBay store. This is the show to listen to if you need help with selling, marketing, or anything else eCommerce-related.
Ecommerce Fuel
We’ve already discussed this podcast in this article, and for good reason: Ecommerce Fuel is without a doubt one of the best eCommerce podcasts available.
Conclusion
You now have a better understanding of what it takes to create a successful podcast. Begin thinking about the podcast listing information you need for your podcast and begin listening to others that are comparable to your goals.
If you already have a microphone, record a test episode today on your podcast idea. Get used to hearing to yourself after the recording. Test any audio editing software you’ve already downloaded.
You don’t have to post the episode today; just get used to the process.
That’s all – you now know what a podcast is, how to record a podcast, and have our top podcast suggestions at your disposal. Now all you have to do is execute – we can’t wait to see what you come up with.
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