If you have interesting views and advice you’d love to share with listeners, you might consider starting a podcast.
Currently, approximately 104 million people listen to podcasts every month in the U.S., so there’s certainly a chance to reach many listeners with your topics.
How to get into podcasting? How much does it cost to start a podcast? If money’s preventing you from starting a podcast, the good news is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on it because you probably already have many things you need, such as a laptop or computer.
Read on to learn about the important steps you should follow on how to get into podcasting. We’ll also outline essential tips, such as choosing the right topic and format, and getting the equipment you need, so you can create a high-quality podcast.
Choose the Right Topic
One of the most important things to know about how to get into podcasting is that you need to take time to think about what topic you want to explore during your podcast episodes.
While it’s a good idea to focus on your passions and interests, you also need to ensure that you have enough information to cover many episodes. You don’t want to run out of things to say after one or two episodes.
It’s also important to tailor your podcast topic to your target audience. For example, instead of choosing a general topic, such as freelance writing, narrow it down to a more specific topic, such as freelance writing for beginners who don’t have any experience. Focus on a niche.
Here are other tips for choosing the best podcast topic when thinking about how to get into podcasting.
- Consider your podcast goals: Do you want to inform your listeners about a certain topic? If so, you should have a more journalistic approach. By comparison, if you want to entertain your listeners, you can be less formal. The style you want for your podcast will help you locate the best topics to tackle.
- Research similar podcasts: If you’re interested in doing a podcast on gardening or home improvement, do some research. Check what other podcasts are available on these topics and listen to them. This will help you to see what gap you can fill in the market to give your audience something different and refreshing (also see “Top Podcasts“).
- Plan ahead for future episodes: It’s important to flesh out your podcast ideas so you can see how you’ll be able to develop the topics in the future. Ask yourself questions like, “Where will the podcast be in one, two, or four years?” and “What guests could you invite to the podcast?” These questions will help you to see how far you can take the topics to grow your podcast in the future.
Create a Podcast Format
A podcast format helps you to structure your podcast episodes so that your target audience will find it easier to access them. There are various podcast formats from which to choose. Here are examples of popular podcast formats (also see “Types of Podcasts“):
Interview Format
This format is when you have a guest on your podcast episode who gives your listeners valuable information and knowledge on a topic.
It can help to make your podcast more popular and interesting because interviews with guests provide different opinions and information on different subjects.
Monologue Format
This format is when you talk directly to your listeners, sharing your knowledge or experiences. It’s a great way to build community with your listeners.
An example of a monologue format can be seen in makeup or hair tutorials, where the podcaster speaks directly to their audience for a certain amount of time.
Co-Host Format
This setup involves you and another co-host, or multiple co-hosts. Different hosts can have different roles in the podcast, such as one who reports the latest news while another who provides interesting experiences or comedy.
When you and your co-hosts build a fun, friendly podcast together, this is engaging for listeners and can make them feel like part of a group of friends.
Non-Fiction Storytelling Format
In this format, you talk about real-live events, such as murder or paranormal stories on your podcast. You can use this format to report and discuss news about your chosen topic to your listeners.
You can choose to stick to different stories in each podcast episode, or spread a story over multiple episodes.
Getting the Right Equipment
The great thing about podcasting is that you can do it from your computer. But, there are some essential pieces of equipment you need to make sure you produce quality content.
- Microphone. A USB mic is great for beginners because you just have to plug your mic into your computer and you can start recording your podcast. While you can use your computer’s in-built microphone, its quality won’t be as good as an external one.
- Pop filter. Make sure you purchase a pop filter for your mic as this will prevent “t” and “p” sounds that can reduce your podcast’s sound quality.
- Audio interface. This piece of equipment works as a bridge between your computer and microphone. It converts analog signals from your mic into digital signals so that your computer can use them.
- Headphones. These enable you to gauge the audio quality of your podcast while you’re recording it. Choose hard-shell headphones that effectively trap sound, instead of soft-shell products which don’t suppress sound as effectively.
- Internet connection. Since podcasts have large files, you need to ensure you have a powerful internet connection.
- Camera. If you’re going to be recording video podcasts, you’ll require a camera. Some of the best cameras include mirrorless, DSLR, and point-and-shoot cameras. These enable you to record from your camera or you can use it as a computer camera, such as if you’re recording a live podcast.
Get the Right Podcast-Recording Software
You’ll need digital recording software for producing a podcast. This creates your podcast audio files and enables you to edit your podcast before you send it out into the world.
An example includes Audacity, which gives you the ability to record and edit your audio. Once you’ve completed your podcast editing, you’ll be able to export it into multiple file formats.
Another type of software that will help you to record podcasts is Adobe Audition. This is audio-editing software that offers you features such as removing background sounds, reducing noise, and it mixes recorded interview segments so that you can put your podcast episode together.
If you want to record video podcasts, try Anchor. This is a podcast-hosting platform and podcast recorder in one. It’s great for beginners because it records and distributes your podcast without you needing any other software downloads. It also makes it easy to build your podcast episodes (also see “Anchor Podcast Review“).
- Adobe Audition is a professional audio workstation.
- Allows mixing, editing, and creating audio content.
- It's a part of Adobe's Creative Cloud suite.
Recording Your First Episode
As long as you have audio-editing software, the process of recording your first episode is straightforward. All you need is a USB mic that you’ll plug into your computer.
But, you need to follow some essential tips to ensure that your podcast is of high quality.
- Choose a room with padding. You want to avoid recording your podcast episode in a room that has many sound-reflective surfaces, such as tile and glass. The room should have carpets, curtains, and/or couches to provide padding that will absorb echoes (also see, “How To Create A Podcasting Studio“).
- Structure your episode. Since your first podcast episode will be the first time you’re speaking to your listeners, make sure you introduce yourself, talk about yourself and why you’re starting the podcast, and tell listeners what they can expect from the podcast.
- Write an episode outline. You want to prepare your episode so that you don’t ramble during your recording as this can be off-putting to your listeners. This doesn’t mean every line you say should be scripted or that you should sound robotic. Leave a bit of spontaneity so that your episode sounds natural and engaging like you’re speaking to a friend.
- Set up the microphone at the right distance from your face. You should place your microphone between two and four inches away from your face so that you can record clear sound. Place the pop filter between your mouth and the microphone. It’s always good practice to experiment with different mic positions to see which one produces the best result.
- Warm up your voice. It’s a good idea to read through your episode plan or script before you record the episode. This will warm up your voice and help you to feel more confident, especially because recording your first podcast episode can be overwhelming.
- Wear headphones. You should always wear headphones when recording your podcast. This will help you to hear what your voice sounds like to your listeners. Headphones will also help you to adjust your voice while you’re recording as it will show you any issues that come up, such as if you’re speaking certain words too loudly and this is causing popping sounds.
- Stick to 20-30 minutes of recording. Although podcast episodes can be longer, you want to stick to shorter episodes when starting out so that you can edit them faster and avoid forcing yourself to speak too much. Remember, it’s about quality over quantity!
Edit Your Podcast
When you’ve recorded your first podcast episode, you will need to edit it. Here are important tips to follow.
- Add an introduction. An intro is important to make your podcast episode more interesting, and you can also include music to make it sound more professional. However, make sure your podcast intro contains information so listeners know exactly what they’re listening to, such as your name, the podcast name, and what the episode is going to feature.
- Edit your episode twice. During the first edit, you should focus on the content and remove anything you don’t like. During the second round of editing, remove unwanted background noise or other sound quality issues. This order is important because you don’t want to jump into the editing process and tackle noise-related issues without first ensuring you have the best content.
- Add audio elements. These audio snippets can take the form of sound effects or music so that you can enhance the quality of your podcast. This will take some learning and practice as you don’t want to overwhelm your listeners with too many sound elements that can be distracting or annoying.
Upload Your Podcast
Now you’re ready to publish your podcast! Right? Wait – you need to find a podcast host. This will streamline the process of getting your podcast into directories, such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify, which will bring you more listeners.
It also enables listeners to rate and review your podcast, which will increase your podcast’s reputation.
When using a podcast hosting site, you can get your podcast onto various directories with just the click of a button.
Related Questions
Are There Free Podcast Hosting Sites?
There are free podcast hosting sites, such as Anchor and Buzzsprout, but free sites will have restrictions when it comes to their features and storage space.
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Can You Record A Podcast With Your Phone?
If you have a smartphone, you can use it to start recording podcast episodes. You’ll need an external microphone, headphones, and an app to record your podcast, such as Anchor and PodBean.
Conclusion On How To Get Into Podcasting
If you’re interested in starting a podcast, you’ll need some important pieces of equipment, such as a microphone and computer.
In this article, we’ve outlined all the important gear you need and featured tips to follow on how to get into podcasting so you can start recording your first podcast episode.
