9 Steps to Starting Your Own Podcast
Are you ready to try your hand at hosting a podcast? It’s no small task but it can be so fun and rewarding when you dive into it. Obviously I’ve had my podcast Self Care IRL for quite a while now, so here are some tips I’ve learned that will help you as you start your own podcast.
1. Decide what you want your podcast to be about
Do you want your podcast to be an extension of your lifestyle blog or maybe an in depth exploration of your favorite celebrity gossip? Whatever it is that you want to talk about and share with the world, get clear on that before you go any further.
2. Determine the format of your show
Do you want this to be a solo show where you talk about things that have been on your mind lately? Do you want it to be the type of show where listeners can call in? Do you want to have a cohost where you chat about life totally unscripted? Do you want to have a guest on each week for an interview format show? The possibilities are endless— there are so many ways to get creative with the podcasting format.
3. Come up with a name for your podcast
This can be a roadblock for so many people. You want it to be unique and fun and memorable and also a reflection of what people can expect from your podcast. The best way to start brainstorming is by doing a massive word dump of all the key words associated with your podcast niche. Then select a few that really stand out to you and start playing around with creative names.
4. Find a way to record
If you have the budget for it, you can rent out space in a podcast studio. But otherwise, you’ll need to find a way to record. It is highly recommended that you invest in a good microphone (the Blue Yeti is a great place to start). If you have GarageBand, you can record solo show directly in there. If you have a long-distance co-host or guest on your podcast, Zencastr is a great platform that will record the audio from both ends at the best quality.
5. Sign up for a podcast hosting site
Libsyn, Spreaker, and Megaphone are just a few of the many sites you can have host your podcast. Basically, this means you will upload your finished episodes to this site along with an episode title, episode description, etc, and once you schedule or publish, the hosting site will send the episode out to all of the streamers like Apple Podcast and Spotify. You can also track episode downloads on your hosting site, which is a great way to keep track of your growth.
6. Find a way to edit your episodes
If you are interested in hiring someone to edit your audio, let me know and I can connect you with my editor. If you are looking to DIY to save some money, there are some great editing softwares that will help you out with this, like GarageBand or Adobe Audition. A great way to give your episodes some personality is to include some music (you can purchase royalty-free music at Epidemic Sound) with an engaging episode intro!
7. Release a trailer
It’s always a good idea to release a teaser trailer where you take a minute or two to introduce your show and what it will be about. It’s great to have when you’re just launching and years down the road when you are still getting new listeners, they can always take a listen to the trailer to see if your podcast is a good fit for them. Pro tip: share some sneak peek audio clips from upcoming episodes to get people excited about what is to come!
8. Release a few episodes all together at the start
After you release your trailer, it’s a good idea to drop three episodes all at once. II know it seems overwhelming, but listeners need more than one episode to feel truly invested in your show. If they have three chances to see what your show is all about they are more likely to subscribe and stick around for the episodes to come later.
9. Start pitching your podcast for ads
I’m sure you’ve realized by now that unfortunately it costs quite a bit of money to have a podcast. So how can you make this hobby a little less expensive or make your business a bit more lucrative? Ads! You can sign up for a platform like Podcorn, where you can pitch directly to brands that are interested in purchasing ad spots on podcasts. You can set your own rates and tailor your pitches to each brand so if you’re an extra perfect fit for a brand, you can let them know!
If you start a podcast using these tips, let me know! Share on social media and tag me @tyalexander on Instagram and @tyalexander on Threads.
Head over to https://www.patreon.com/selfcareirl to sign up for our exclusive membership community to receive daily pep talks, downloadable monthly self care guides, ad free podcasts, exclusive soul dump audio, guided meditations and more.
