Starting A Podcast

If you’re planning on starting your very own podcast, that’s great! There are many benefits to doing so, including expanding your reach, growing your audience, encouraging product sales, and establishing yourself as an expert in your field. However, before you get started, there are a few things that need to be sorted out first. In this blog post, we’ll discuss 4 things that you’ll need to take care of before launching your first podcast.

What Is A Podcast?

A podcast is like a radio show that you can listen to on demand. It’s an audio file that can be streamed or downloaded onto your computer or mobile device. To achieve this, many people use streaming media players such as iTunes or Stitcher Radio etc.

Thanks to something called an RSS feed, people are able to subscribe to specific podcasts that are of interest to them.

1. The Production And Online Aspects

You need software that records, edits, and then posts your podcasts – and there are many packages that can do this for you. Some of the cheaper software is easy to use but has fewer editing features than their more expensive counterparts. Once everything (including the audio) has been sorted, it will need to be uploaded onto a website that hosts it.

There are many different hosting services available, so make sure you do some online research in order to find the best option for you. If you want to learn about Buzzsprout podcast hosting you can discover what it is, how to use it, and its pros and cons. You can access internet reviews, read about the platform features, and also view the pricing and alternatives. Whether you choose a self-hosted or hosted website, make sure that it’s podcast-friendly and able to support your files. Finally, you may decide to sort your RSS feed yourself or use a service like Feedburner.com.

2. Your Equipment

In order to create the very best podcasts, it’s wise to buy quality equipment before you start recording. Your kit should include an external microphone, headphones and an audio interface. A computer with software such as Adobe Audition or GarageBand will also be required if your equipment doesn’t have built-in recording capabilities.

A pop filter is a device that attaches to your microphone and that helps to reduce the occurrence of popping sounds. They are caused by the release of air from your mouth when you pronounce certain letters, such as ‘p’ and ‘b’. A pop filter prevents this air from hitting the microphone, which would otherwise create an unpleasant sound in your recording. You may also want shock mounts that stop vibrations traveling from the mic stand into the microphone capsule.

3. Your Target Audience

One of the first things you need to figure out before starting a podcast is your target audience. Who are you trying to reach with your show? What age group, gender, or other demographic? Knowing this information will help you determine what type of content to produce and how to market your podcast. You’ll need to think of the needs and interests of your target audience, and how you can supply them / appeal to them.

If you don’t identify your target audience upfront, you may end up discussing things that your listeners don’t understand or care about. This will cause your listeners to stop following your podcasts as they’ll feel the content isn’t relevant enough. In turn, you could be losing potential clients/customers, etc, and not making sales. Your target audience should always come first when making a podcast, so design everything around them.

4. Your Material And Format

You’ll need to figure out whether your podcasts will be interview-based or if you’ll do monologues. It’s important to have a good understanding of what your show will entail so that you can start planning the episodes and guests. Next, you have to identify your niche: What are you (and they) passionate about? What topics can you talk about for hours on end without getting bored? Ask yourself: will each episode be a standalone or part of a series, and how long will your podcast be? It’s vital that you understand the purpose of your podcasts, whether they’re for fun, to promote a cause, or to increase brand awareness.

Once these 4 key areas have been identified and put into place, you’ll be all set to begin. It may be that one year from now, you’ll be an established podcaster with a growing audience. Whilst you will have spent lots of preparation time upfront, it will have been worth it.