If you’re searching for a tutorial that leads you through the process of creating a podcast, you’re in the perfect spot. There are a few steps you’ll need to take in order to begin your podcast. In this podcasting lesson, we will explain each stage of the process:

• Choosing a topic & name
• Show and episode format
• Cover art creation
• Intro & outro music
• Equipment selection
• Audio recording & editing
• Submission to Apple Podcasts (iTunes)
• Promotion tips

Podcasting is a far less crowded and competitive market than blogging, making the present the ideal moment to begin.

There are barely over 2 million podcasts as of July 2022, yet over 600 million blogs!

In case you were wondering, I’ve assisted hundreds of individuals in starting a podcast over the last several years, and I’ve also launched a few programs in other sectors.

Want to begin a podcast quickly? Register with Buzzsprout, upload your audio recordings, and publish your work to Apple and Spotify.

Planning

This is the first (often neglected) step in the podcast production process. Before proceeding, you should spend some time here.

Feel free to get out a notepad or whiteboard and begin planning your podcast like a pro.

Choose a topic

You want your podcast to concentrate on a certain niche or theme.

Try to reduce it down to a topic on which you can talk for many episodes (100+), but which is not so wide that it will not appeal to your audience.

Pick A Co-host (optional).

Do you have a friend, business associate, or colleague with whom you’d like to co-host?

Having a co-host may make it much simpler to launch a podcast.

If you have the same viewpoints on a subject, your discussion will automatically be more interesting. Additionally, having someone to keep things on track might be useful.

In addition, you may divide extra activities such as editing and promotion.

There may be disadvantages, though.

You must ensure that both parties are dedicated for the long haul. And it is helpful to establish a recording plan from the start so that you know when you will be recording each week.

However, there are no rules here. If your co-host is unable to continue the podcast, you may continue without them. Alternatively, you might begin solo and add a co-host later.

Important is just getting started, therefore let’s choose a name:

Choose A Name

If you look at the top Apple Podcasts rankings, you’ll see a range of interesting titles.

Some are descriptive of the show’s subject matter, while others are largely insignificant.

You should really select a name that is larger than your subject, which seems to contradict what I just mentioned.

Measurement: Acquire a domain name (opens a new tab) for your podcast.

With Bluehost’s web hosting service, you can also get a free domain name. This website has a search function; test it out!

Show Format

Length

There are many distinct names on the top Apple Podcasts lists.

Some are descriptive of the show’s content, but others are meaningless.

You should select a name that is larger than your subject, which may appear to contradict what I just mentioned.

Implementation: Acquire a domain name for your podcast (opens in a new tab).

Another alternative is to receive a free domain name with a web hosting package from Bluehost. Try using the search function right on this page.

Style

Interview programs are popular, but you are not required to participate in one.

You may split your time between solo (or co-hosted) programs and interview shows.

A major advantage of doing interviews is that they assist a great deal with gaining new listeners, particularly if you make it simple for your guest to discuss by providing pre-written templates and images.

Episode Format

So, how does a certain episode sound? This page is about podcast introductions, although it contains several examples of common podcast episode styles.

Here’s an illustration:

• Teaser
• Intro Music
• Welcome
• Ad Spot
• Interview
• Call To Action (“Review us on iTunes!”)
• Outro Music

Be inventive with this section.

Additionally, distinct portions make it easy to publish short bits on social media.

However, keep in mind that for each episode you produce, you will have both returning and new listeners, and you should strive to appeal to both groups.

Preparation

Now that you’ve determined your subject, format(s), and domain name, we’ll need to arrange a few things prior to launch.

Create Cover Art

Your cover image is the first thing that the majority of people will see when browsing Apple Podcasts or their preferred podcast app.

It may also be the picture shown when your program is shared on social media.

I would begin my research with Buzzsprout’s fantastic essay on developing cover art.

If you have a little budget, I strongly suggest Canva to construct yours.

You’ll get drafts from hundreds of different designers, and then you may pick the ones you wish to have further improved.

Get A Professional Intro (Optional)

Music Radio Creative is the finest site to get voiceovers and intros of professional quality.

Having a third party introduce you increases your perceived worth, which is a fantastic approach to stand out when launching a podcast.

Choose Intro Music

PremiumBeat is my go-to source for podcast music.

It is simple to search, you get a complete license, and there are several styles available.

Check out this article on royalty-free music for further alternatives.

The majority of individuals do not need an unlimited subscription-based music service; they just require one or two songs.

Get A Microphone

Obtaining a podcasting microphone with a high audio quality does not have to be prohibitively expensive. The Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB is among the most popular podcasting mics (brand new version for 2020).

The USB and XLR connections allow you to update your recording equipment without purchasing a new microphone.

I suggest reviewing our podcast beginning kit page for further possibilities, particularly if you want to have several co-hosts.

Podcast Guests

If you are doing an interview program, now is the time to compile a list of guests for your podcast.

Then initiate contact with them.

Utilize a tool like Acuity Scheduling so that clients may schedule directly on your calendar at your convenience.

This eliminates the hassle of negotiating a meeting time and allows you to concentrate on acquiring additional people.

In addition, you may request specific information, such as their Skype account or an introduction to read when they plan a meeting with you.

Recording & Editing

Alitu (The Easy Way)

Even basic tasks like GarageBand or Audacity might be scary if you’ve never used audio editing software before.

It is reasonable that audio production is rife with jargon!

It’s a ‘podcast creation’ application that automates a significant portion of the complicated technical aspects and generates your episode for you. It is entirely browser-based, requiring no additional program downloads, and is compatible with any internet-connected machine.

It is designed to be very user-friendly and performs almost everything:

• Takes care of audio cleanup
• Lets you add music
• Helps you piece together your audio segments
• Has direct publishing of your episodes.

Simply upload your recordings and utilize the foolproof podcast-specific editor to eliminate any major errors. Alitu takes care of the rest!

Additionally, Alitu contains a collection of music and jingles that you may use as your theme song or as segment transitions.

You should absolutely give Alitu a try, whether you’re a total novice or an experienced podcaster hoping to substantially reduce your production time. It has a 7-day free trial, so join up here and give it a go!

Launch!

Get A Podcast Host

I use and strongly recommend Buzzsprout podcast hosting after years of experimenting with several other businesses.

In addition, you will get a $20 Amazon gift card when you join up for a premium subscription.

Check out our comprehensive podcast hosting guide if you want to explore additional possibilities, but Transistor is an excellent option for bigger businesses.

Additionally, you may review this list of the finest podcast platforms.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll need to fill out some needed podcast information (name, description, categories, etc.).

Upload Your First Episode

Using Buzzsprout makes this procedure quite easy.

If not, you may need to modify your MP3 file by incorporating ID3 tags. That seems complicated and unneeded; let’s not do that.

You need just click the “Upload” button:

They’ll do some magical processing on your MP3 file.

Then, you must provide the episode’s title, description, summary, release date, and episode number.

Put a “1” there if you wish to utilize Seasons; otherwise, leave it blank. If you often use foul language, use the explicit option.

It might be useful to establish a template for your episode descriptions (in a separate text document) that you can utilize for each episode.

Click save and repeat this process for each episode’s first release.

It is advisable to begin a podcast with many episodes so that listeners do not have to wait.

Three to five episodes is a decent starting point.

Submit To Apple Podcasts (iTunes)

As you upload new episodes, your host will immediately update your RSS feed, as well as any podcast directories in which you are listed.

Spread The Word

Utilize Buzzsprout’s social sharing function to produce teaser videos, then begin sharing!

There are numerous firms that can help you develop other forms of audiograms, but having it built into your host makes it really simple (and free) to create.

Wavve and Headliner are two terrific options for creating and sharing more custom-made podcast videos.

This page on podcast promotion contains a variety of other marketing strategies. Creating your own website is among the most consequential (see next step below).

Recommended Steps (After Starting A Podcast)

After launching a podcast, your work is not over. Here are some suggestions to make your show more attractive and simpler to expand:

Create A Website

WordPress (Easy To Medium Difficulty)

Typically, podcast hosting firms provide you with a website, but if you want to be considered seriously, you need get a separate WordPress server.

Bluehost is unquestionably the finest choice for newbies, and it includes a free domain name for the first year.

Start with this how to start a WordPress blog article for the early stages if you need more direction.

I have compiled a list of essential WordPress plugins for podcasters.

And if you need further assistance, I offer a course called Podcast Website LaunchPad that explains everything in detail.

Podcastpage (Easiest Method)

Podcastpage is an all-in-one website creator and host designed exclusively for podcasts. Similar to Wix, but tailored to the requirements of podcasters.

No coding is required. You just choose one of their templates, modify it to your satisfaction, and incorporate email marketing or Google Analytics as desired.

You may add pages or blog entries, personalize your audio player, and make it simple for visitors to subscribe!

Get Transcriptions

Transcriptions allow search engines (such as Google) to “read” your podcast episodes. They also provide your readers with an additional method to hunt up information fast.

You are not required to begin with them, but they are one of the things that will set you apart.

Buzzsprout’s built-in transcribing service (on premium accounts) costs $0.10 per minute, but my preferred transcription provider is Rev – give them a try!

Create Show Notes

Show notes may be transcriptions, a brief explanation of what was said, or a comprehensive blog post geared more toward reading than listening.

Some folks do a mix.

On this website, we begin with textual material before creating audio episodes.

Embed Your Episode

Grab the episode embed code and add it to your show notes page so that listeners may access the audio from your website.