They say everyone has a book in them. Starting out on recording a new podcast is no different. It can seem daunting, so here are some tips of what you will need to consider when taking that podcast from a thought bubble to your listeners' ears.
Recording a podcast and getting it out there for people to listen to and enjoy can be incredibly rewarding. Whether it's a hobby, something to promote your business, or you're seeking to monetise your passions, the thought of taking those initials steps can fill you with trepidation.
There is a lot to consider, so here's a guide (or a checklist) to help you make the right decisions and give your podcasting experience the best chance of success.
#1 What are you recording a new podcast about?
We all have passions and strong opinions. For many people the theme of a new podcast will be obvious. Find something you love, have a lot to say about, or use that inquisitive nature on an area of genuine interest as you go on a journey to find out more.
Don’t set yourself up as an authority on something you know little about. Your audience will see right through you, and there’s every chance you’ll run out of things to say and bore yourself to tears in the process.
After the deliberations, be clear what your podcast is about and be able to get that across in two or three sentences to anyone that might ask.
#2 Create a good name for your new podcast
Make the name of your podcast easy to remember and appropriate for your genre and subject matter. You can always change it later, but a good name for your podcast goes a long way to making it fly.
#3 Learn from other podcasters
Listen to podcasts yourself. Find out what you like. Utilise some of the things you enjoy listening to most and incorporate them into your own podcast. A podcast completely different to yours may have regular features, an engaging introduction, something that grabs your attention that you can use, adapt and make it your own. Reinventing the wheel is overrated.
"“The medium of podcasting and the personal nature of it, the relationship you build with your listeners and the relationship they have with you. They could be just sitting there, chuckling and listening. There’s nothing like that.”
Marc Maron – podcaster and comedian
#4 - Know your listeners
Before starting to record a new podcast, work out how you want it to sound. What is your niche? What sets you apart? Don’t be too broad and generic. What would you like to hear if you were the listener. How can you add to, and be different from, the podcasts already out there?
Are you creating an educational podcast, one where you interview guests, or one where you are telling a story. Think about how do you want it to come across to the listener?
British radio legend Sir Terry Wogan was once asked how many listeners he had. Despite record breaking audience figures, his reply was “one”. His approach was to talk as if he was engaging with a listener, despite there being millions.
Who are you chatting to, why are you podcasting, why should they listen. Create that listener in your head and think about what they will want to know, hear and take from the podcast. Then talk to that person in every episode you create.
#5 Don’t be put off by low listener numbers
In an ideal world your new podcast will instantly hit the spot and gain immediate traction as millions of listeners download your first episode. An overnight success, the money will roll in and you’ll never look back. Or you may already be well known and able to tap into an existing following.
Unfortunately, it’s far more likely that you’ll have to work hard to gain listeners when you first start your podcast. Don’t give up if your first episode is listened to by three people, one being your mother and another you listening back.
A lot of podcasters give up when there isn’t instant fame. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Use social media to get your podcast known. Stick with it, the listeners will come.
#6 Be reliable and create podcast loyalty
Whether you plan to podcast every week, or have a run of 10 episodes in season one, make sure you give your listener an appointment to hear your pod. If you say the next episode will land on a certain day, make sure it does. Create an environment where the listener knows the podcast is coming, looks forward to it and isn't disappointed by a now show.
Create that rhythm where your podcast becomes part of your listeners' entertainment week.
Unreliability, three podcasts in the first three weeks and then nothing for the next two months, doesn’t create loyalty of listenership.
#7 It doesn’t matter if you make mistakes
You know how you want your podcast to sound, but there is nothing wrong with tinkering and constantly seeking to improve your new podcast.
Don’t be frightened to try something new. Be brave, ambitious and be prepared to make and learn from mistakes.
#8 Get the right podcasting equipment
You will need to record, edit, publish and promote your podcast. Take some time to research what equipment and software you will need to record a new podcast. It’s easy to spend money, only to realise that you didn’t need half the stuff you bought.
Sound quality is hugely important. If your recordings are crackly, the microphone pops and the production is of a lesser standard than your competitors, you’re not giving yourself the best opportunity for success.
High quality microphones will produce better results than your laptops inbuilt microphone. Good headphones and editing suites will also add quality to your final podcast publication. The time you spend research, comparing and planning right at the start will ultimately save you time, money and frustration further down the line.
You may wish to hire a professional studio setup, where the equipment is already there for you.
Hiring a studio has a cost, but it will be reliable, hassle-free and will save you time and money as you won’t need to buy mics and recording systems yourself.
#9 Find the best podcast hosting platform
There are a lot of places online that are available to host your podcast. They will all tell you they are the best around and have the capacity to take your podcast to the moon and back.
Your host platform will be where your edited podcasts will loaded to and stored online. To get your podcast onto the major podcast listener sites, like iTunes, Google and Spotify, you’ll need to find a host platform.
There a free hosting services, but they come with limitations and you may not get unlimited publishing or monetization services. Paid services provide better analytics, more storage, advertising monetization and the ability to automatically place your podcast on the major listening platforms.
There are articles online that can help you make the choice, such as this Top 10 guide.
#10 Listen to your podcast & become your own best critic
Once you’ve published your first episode, listen back with a critical ear. You’ll hear how you, other co-hosts and guests sound.
Think about how your production (intros, outros, adverts, stabs and stings) comes across. Be critical, but don’t be afraid to pat yourself on the back either, if it sounds great. Use that time to think about future episodes and how you can get the most from them.
#11 Advertising and monetisation of your podcast
Money coming into your coffers from your podcast is always handy. Your hosting platform is likely to offer adverts that can be inserted into your podcast for a remuneration, which will depend on the number of listens and downloads your podcast receives.
You can also approach third parties to advertise directly on your podcast, or particular episodes. Their first question will be about numbers so, unless you've got off to a storming start, you may have to wait until your audience grows. It's always worth asking.
#12 Enjoy starting a new podcast, it's meant to be fun :)
Starting a new podcast is fulfilling and enjoyable. That can sometimes be forgotten and you may need to remind yourself of that sometimes, but it is great fun.
As a general rule of thumb, if you publish your podcast thinking ‘I really enjoyed making that one’, there’s every chance other people will enjoy listening too.
Yorkshire Podcast Studios
If you’re searching for a podcast studio near Leeds, an audiobook recording studio, or a studio you can live-stream from in West Yorkshire, we’re just off the M62 at Birstall. A 10-minute drive from Morley Train Station.
We’ll do our best to make your podcast, audiobook, voice-over or live-stream vodcast the VERY best.
Or just hit the button.