Podcasts are extremely popular — people can listen to them whenever they want, and there are podcasts available on almost any topic you can think of.
Starting your own podcast allows you to share your passions, expertise, and stories with a global audience. You can build a community around your niche, establish yourself as an authority, and even explore potential monetization opportunities. Here are a few important steps in starting your own podcast.
Decide a topic and focus
Choose a topic to discuss that you know about, enjoy discussing, and can turn into plenty of content that will engage an audience. You don’t necessarily need to stick too rigidly to a single topic. Listeners are often happy to listen to guests and hosts go off-topic and on crazy tangents if they’re entertaining to listen to. Many radio hosts and personalities have built huge followings from little more than their personalities.
Your podcast may even follow the form of a light entertainment radio show with music, chat, and games that audiences can participate in. These can range from phone-in quizzes to discussions of online games that listeners can also play. These include games like Paddy Power Live Blackjack or popular eSports games like Fortnite and League of Legends.
Plan the format, structure, and guests
Podcasts range in format, from limited event series of only a few episodes to long-running daily podcasts like Democracy Now! and What a Day. Many podcasts are split into seasons and are recorded weekly. Decide what you have the time and resources for, as well as what format best suits your content.
The most popular podcasts have such large followings because of the variety and quality of guests that they invite to speak. Do some networking, and reach out to experts and thought leaders in your chosen niche. These can range from business gurus to comedians to your friends and family — anybody with something interesting to say can be a valuable guest!
Obtain the necessary space and equipment
A podcast needs to be recorded in a space and with recording equipment. This can range from two people sitting in a house with microphones built into their phones, all the way to a radio-style professional recording studio. If your podcast needs something closer to the latter, consider renting a studio space temporarily.
If in doubt, try and work with a producer. A podcast producer oversees the entire production process of a podcast, including planning, recording, editing, and publishing. They manage technical aspects, coordinate guests, ensure quality, and handle distribution and promotion.
Make sure you get heard
There may be thousands or even millions of people interested in the topic your podcast covers, but you need to find a way to reach them. Most people don’t actively search for new podcasts.
Developing marketing channels is a great way to find your listeners.
Marketing a podcast has no simple, one-size-fits-all strategy, so research different tactics. Once you have a core base of listeners, your podcast may also spread through word of mouth. You can even encourage listeners to share short clips on platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok.
Conclusion
Podcasting is a competitive game, and there’s no surefire way to become successful. However, it’s vital to start from a foundation of genuine passion for your topic of choice, and then build from there.