Creating a podcast from scratch can feel intimidating and complex, just like anything else you’re starting for the first time. We’re here to help ease some of your stress and fear. The podcasting experts on the Smith Richards Collective team have put together a step-by-step guide on how to create a podcast. You can use this resource whether you’re just starting out or if you’ve created podcast before and are just looking for ways to improve your process.
The hardest thing about starting something new is taking the first step. If creating a podcast seems scary to you, today is the day to conquer your fear! We promise that it will get easier with each step of the process. We have also provided you with our own Smith Richards Collective resources, plus additional third-party services to make this even smoother. Now, take some deep breathes…4 seconds in, 6 seconds out, and let’s get started!
If you have a friend, business partner, or a like-minded coworker that you want to host your podcast with, go for it! Having a cohost can make it easier to engage in conversation plus you have two minds generating ideas and you can split the responsibility of editing, interviewing and promoting.
Although a lot of things become easier when you have a co-host to handle half of the tasks, there can be some downsides. It is important to make sure that both of you have the same vision and are in it for the long haul. You don’t want your co-host getting bored and dropping out if your podcast doesn’t hit the ground running or hits a few speed bumps. Create a schedule and long term plan before beginning, so both parties know exactly what they’re agreeing to.
If your co-host does decide to leave the show, no worries, you can carry on without them! You could also start over with a show of your own if it makes more sense for your brand. But the most important thing is to get started, whatever route you decide to take.
The name of your podcast is critical because you want it to be catchy and something people will remember easily. If you look at Apple Podcast you’ll see a list of the top podcasts to help you generate some creative names. The show name should relate to the topic you’ll be talking about, but keeping it a little bit vague could help you reach a larger potential audience.
Check out some podcasts that cover similar topics so you don’t accidentally steal someone else’s name. This will avoid potential legal issues, but it also benefits your listeners, so they don’t get confused about which podcast is yours when they go to listen. Choose a name that you can expand on down the road if you expand the content of your podcast.
Once you’ve chosen the awesome title of your podcast, don’t forget to purchase a domain name; this will help you ensure that your podcast name is original and remains yours as the podcast space continues to get more crowded.
Interview shows have become popular, but that doesn’t mean you have to do one for every episode. You can mix them in with your solo or co-hosted shows whenever you see fit. One of the reasons that interview shows have become so popular is that they generate a large number of new listeners. The interviewees are also going to promote your podcast and the fact that they are guest staring.
If you are going to bring guests onto your podcast, consider creating pre-written templates and graphics to plan out how you envision the episode going. Give your interviewees the questions you plan to ask them in advance so they can prepare answers – this will help your podcast flow smoothly.
We all know that attention spans have gotten shorter in today’s instant gratification culture. But your show length should be determined by the theme. If you want to give weekly, or daily, highlights of a topic, it should be a shorter show. But if you plan to conduct interviews, have conversations with a cohost, or do a topical deep dive, you can plan for a much longer show.
Lucky for you, we have professional podcast audio editors on our team who are the best in the business. They will ensure that your podcast sounds as professional as your broadcast station. Quality audio can make all the difference between a good podcast and a great podcast.
Get creative with the format of your episodes as much as you can so that the show really becomes your own. Be authentic, real, and natural! Listeners will respond best to an authentic host. It’s important to remember that you will always have both repeat listeners and new listeners so you want to speak to both of them in each episode.
Quality audio is one of the most important keys to a quality podcast. Good audio doesn’t have to be expensive though.
One of the most popular microphones for podcasting that gives you great quality for the price is the Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB. It is both a USB microphone and it has an XLR connection allowing you to upgrade your recording equipment whenever you decide to upgrade.
Consider adding prerecorded voiceovers and intros to your podcast. Having a third-party introduce you makes your podcast feel and sound more professional to listeners. Music Radio Creative is a great source for professional quality voiceovers and intros on a budget.
If you don’t want to purchase a microphone, SRC has access to a podcast recoding studio along with our collective partner, McIvor Marketing, LLC has their own podcast recording studio that you can rent out by the hour. This is a private, noise-controlled studio with two microphones. We can also help you choose and set up your introduction audio, show music, overall template and more.
Between the three partners of SRC we have over 75 years of experience in audio production, creating world-class audio content for more than two decades. Contact us today to discuss prices and packages.
There’s no shortage of editing software available to choose from. This can be a little overwhelming, especially if you’ve never used an editing software – how do you know which one if the right one for you? Here are a few of the SRC top picks for easy editing software for those just starting out.
If you don’t want to take the time to figure out an editing software, no worries! The Smith Richards Collective team will help you produce seamless, top of the industry content.
After you’ve finished recording, editing and producing your podcast, you can upload it to hosting sites like Libsyn, Soundcloud, Buzzsprout or Transistor. There are dozens to choose from! They’ll generate your RSS feed for you, so you can submit to podcast carriers like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and others.
We recommend starting with 3-5 episodes before officially launching your podcasts so listeners can binge your episodes like they would a good show on Netflix!
How will anyone know you’ve just launched a new podcast if you don’t promote it? Shout it, sing it from the rooftops, and make it known! Tell everyone and anyone, and ask them to share it with their friends and family as well.
If you don’t have the time to promote your podcast yourself, or don’t know where to start, we can help! Our partner, McIvor Marketing not only offers a recording studio and in-house podcast editor, but offers a full-service digital marketing company that has an array of ways to promote your podcast. Whether you want them running your social media accounts, designing and publishing ads on Google, Facebook, Spotify and more, they would be honored to help your podcast become a success.
Once you have gotten a handle on our beginners’ guide to starting a podcast from scratch, check out our blog on how to make a good podcast great!
The article is courtesy of McIvor Marketing.
