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How to Start a Podcast In 8 Simple Steps (plus 9 Tips for Podcasting Success!)

How to Start a Podcast In 8 Simple Steps
How to Start a Podcast In 8 Simple Steps

One question we get all the time from clients is, “Should I have a podcast? Is it worth investing in?” Our answer is almost always YES! So, now let’s discuss how to start a podcast and successfully launch it… in just eight steps!

There’s never been a better time to start your podcast.

While we have seen a dramatic rise in the number of podcasts available, we have also seen a dramatic rise in the number of listeners. According to reports, there will be more than 144 million podcast listeners each month in the United States by the end of 2025.

Couple that with the fact that the global podcasting market is estimated to grow at the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31.1% from 2021 to 2028, and you can see why our answer is almost always YES when it comes to starting a podcast.

To help you better understand how to start a podcast or what the benefits of podcasting are for your small business, we’ll walk you through all of it step-by-step.

By the end of this post, you’ll know how to start a podcast, why you should invest in podcasting, and tricks and tips to promote your podcast and build an audience.

Table of Contents

What is a Podcast?
Why You Should Invest in Podcasting
How to Start a Podcast

What is a Podcast?

There are many forms of content marketing, one of which is podcasting. Also known as radio on-demand, podcasts are a series of pre-recorded audio files that are syndicated online.

how to start a podcast - what is a podcast

Podcasts are used as a way to educate and entertain listeners on a specific topic. Think of it like a blog, but in an audio format where listeners can access playback files on your website, social media, or other podcast platforms… and listen at their convenience.

Why You Should Invest in Podcasting

Podcasting brings many benefits to small business owners and entrepreneurs. First, it’s an affordable and effective tool to target prospective clients and customers.

As a part of your content marketing strategy, podcasting is a highly effective way to drive traffic to your website, generate leads, and nurture relationships. And here’s why:

  • 50% of all US homes are podcast fans (that’s over 60 million homes)
  •  55% (155 million) of the US population has listened to a podcast
  • 37% (104 million) listen to podcasts at least every month
  •  24% (68 million) listen to podcasts weekly
  • 16 million people in the US are “avid podcast fans”

Let’s look at five more reasons you should start a podcast for your business.

#1. Earn Money

Podcasting can be a great way to make money.

As a podcast host, you can promote products and earn through affiliate marketing, advertisements, and sponsorships. You can also offer special discounts to podcast attendees and sell your products and merchandise.

#2. Connect With Your Target Audience

Podcasting can help you reach more of your target audience and grow your network. As the numbers of listeners increase, there is a bigger opportunity to connect with more of your target audience.

how to start a podcast - generate leads

#3. Generate Leads

You can use podcasting as an effective lead generation tool to attract new listeners, engage with them, generate their interest, and gradually entice them into becoming leads.

By thoughtfully developing the content structure, you can turn your podcast episodes into a lead magnet. Additionally, you can entice listeners to subscribe to your podcast, which gets them on your email list.

#4. Elevate Your Expertise

A podcast is a great way to elevate your expertise and become known as the go-to person in your specific area/industry. By sharing your expertise on topics specific to your niche and bringing on guests who add value to your target market, you’ll quickly increase your online visibility and brand value.

#5. Increase Website Content and Traffic

Podcasts serve as another source of valuable content for your business that can be repurposed in many forms: blogs, videos, etc. This gives you more options for promotion and driving traffic to your website.

Additionally, you can promote existing content, including lead magnets, through podcasting. Doing so will drive your listeners to your website, where you have the opportunity to convert them to a prospect.. and hopefully a life-long customer.

Are you convinced you should start a podcast for your business yet? If so, let’s walk you through the simple steps to start a podcast.

How to Start a Podcast

Starting a podcast is easy… and affordable. Sure, there is an initial investment in time and dollars, but the payoff far exceeds the investment once you get rolling.

Here are nine steps you need to consider when starting a podcast:

1. Set Your Podcasting Goal

What is the goal of your podcast? What do you want to achieve through podcasting?

Answering these simple questions can help you find your true passion and set a goal. By setting a goal, you can focus on the purpose of your podcasts and measure the ROI (return on investment) more effectively.

how to start a podcast - set goals

2. Generate Podcast Ideas

Coming up with ideas for your podcast can seem like a challenge when you begin.

Start by thinking about the following:

  • What problems do my audience need solved
  • What topics would bring value to my audience
  • What topics showcase my expertise

Brainstorm those ideas alone or with your team and evaluate how well they align with your goals. Before you know it, you’ll have a long list of topics!

3. Name Your Podcast

The name of your podcast is often the first indication of who you are and what it is about.

Choose a name for your podcast that is descriptive and creative but not too obtuse. Your podcast name should provide potential listeners with a way to understand what they can expect from the content you will deliver.

4. Choose a Podcast Hosting Platform

Choosing your podcast hosting platform is a crucial step. The podcast hosting platform is where you’ll store and distribute all of your podcast audio files. Some of the key elements you’ll want to consider when looking for a hosting platform are:

  • Storage and bandwidth limits
  •  Analytics reporting
  • Transcription services
  • Compatibility with your website
  • Ease of use
  • Media player options

From your podcast hosting platform, you’ll develop the RSS feed that can be used to distribute your podcast to the various podcast listening platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Audible.

Some popular podcast hosting sites include Buzzsprout, SimpleCast, Libsyn, and Podbean.

5. Plan the Frequency and Length of Your Podcasts

Do you want to podcast weekly, biweekly, or monthly? By knowing how often you want to create new episodes, you can plan them and create content in advance.

Podcasting does require time, so be realistic in your planning and don’t over-commit. You can always start slow and then ramp up as you get more comfortable.

In addition to the frequency of your podcast, it’s important to decide the length of each episode. For example, will your show be 15 minutes or an hour? Decide that in advance.

6. Get the Right Podcasting Equipment

When starting a podcast, people can get caught up in having the right equipment. So let us simplify this for you.

Aside from a computer, you’ll need a high-quality microphone, recording and editing software, a video camera, and a quiet space for recording.

how to start a podcast - equipment

For a more in-depth look at various podcast equipment, click here.

7. Choose Your Podcast Format

You might be wondering what podcast format will be right for you. The good news is there are many to choose from, each with its own unique complexity.

Some examples of formats include:

  •  single-host podcasts
  •  multi-host podcasts
  •  webinar-style educational podcasts
  •  storytelling podcasts

Based on the available resources and your experience, you can choose the format that best helps you reach your podcasting goals.

8. Create Engaging Podcast Content

Creating podcast content is not an easy task. Just like other forms of content, it requires strategy and planning.

To write a podcast script that will set you up for success, follow these tips:

  • Choose a topic that you like to come up with new ideas and create engaging content constantly.
  •  Put yourself in your audience’s shoes and develop interesting stories that will inspire them, educate them, and make them come back for more.
  • Make your script conversational.

9. Promote Your Podcast

It doesn’t make sense to go through all the hard work of developing a podcast if you aren’t promoting it. It’s the most important element of a small business podcast!

The process of promoting and marketing your podcast is called podcast marketing, and your goal is to attract and grow your podcast audience.

Be proactive in podcast promotion and utilize all available promotion resources, including your website, social media, and email marketing.

Important Podcasting Tips You Should Remember

Podcasting is one of the best ways to build your brand and online reputation. If you want to double down on your podcast marketing, make sure to apply these tips:

1. Focus on Audio Quality and Clarity

Audio quality is one of the most important factors to successful podcasting.

According to a survey, 51.1% of podcast listeners prefer professional-grade audio quality, so be sure to improve the quality and clarity of your audio.

how to start a podcast - sound quality

2. Share Links to Resources

Are you promoting a product in your podcast or want people to learn more about your guest? Great! Share links to relevant sites and pages with your audience.

By providing these links in your show notes and where you post your podcast on your website, you increase the ability to drive traffic and further engagement.

3. Ask Questions to Your Audience

Asking questions is a great way to keep your audience engaged and get their attention. So if you’re hosting a live podcast, be sure to ask intriguing, thought-proving questions that will increase the engagement.

4. Collaborate with Influencers, Guests, Co-Hosts

By collaborating with niche influencers and guests, you can market your podcasts more easily and garner more attention from your audience. Co-hosting also allows you to make your podcasts more conversational and informative.

5. Rehearse, Rehearse, Rehearse

Rehearsing is important because it allows you to practice and familiarize yourself with the script, gain confidence, and avoid awkward silences. After a rehearsal, you’ll sound more natural, calm, and in control when hosting a podcast.

The more you rehearse, the better host you become.

7. Add Transcriptions

To get more out of all the work you’ve done to create an engaging podcast episode, create a transcript. Adding transcriptions to your site will help you with SEO and provide a source to create additional content, such as blog posts, articles, etc.

how to start a podcast - create a transcript

8. Track and Measure Your Performance

To know if your podcast is successful, you need to track and measure its performance.

Some important podcast performance metrics to measure and track include:

  • Number of unique page views for your podcast
  •  Number of people who subscribe to your podcast
  • Number of downloads of your podcast
  •  Social engagement, including shares and likes

9. Create a Podcast Landing Page

A dedicated podcast landing page can help you collect email addresses from people who are genuinely interested in your podcast.

You can then use these emails for list building, sending promotional emails, sharing podcast links and resources, or even sending dedicated podcasting newsletters.

Podcasting is here to stay. The sooner you get started with it, the better chances you have at monetizing your episodes and finding success with it.

Need more help getting started? At VirTasktic, we offer a full range of podcast management and marketing services, including podcast launching, production, and promotion. To learn more, book a discovery call with our team, and we’ll walk you through it!

Share the knowledge!

The VirTasktic Dream Team

The team at VirTasktic is dedicated to helping small businesses increase sales and growth by providing valuable information about content marketing tools and strategies they can employ immediately in their marketing strategy.

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