Starting your own podcast
Everyone is podcasting. From established celebrities like Hugh Laurie and John Green to up-and-coming journalists, everyone is creating podcasts for a growing audience of listeners who are eager to hear about niche topics, breaking news, and lighter topics that don’t require the listener to have access to the internet or a smartphone in order to listen.
Creating your own podcast can be an excellent way for you to not only share your ideas with others but also build your personal brand and notoriety as a writer. It can take time and persistence to get started but once you do, it will be easier to continue producing content on a regular basis. Here are some benefits of starting your own podcast:
Getting Started with a Podcast
The first step to creating your podcast is finding a topic that you are passionate about and that you will enjoy discussing. If you’re unsure what specific content to create, try brainstorming some ideas on the radio with other people. Another important step is developing an audience.
Once you have some idea of what content you want to produce, start marketing your podcast. Research other podcasts in order to find people who are interested in similar topics and then reach out to them for guest interviews or potential partnerships.
The next step is picking a platform for hosting your podcast. There are several platforms available on which you can host your podcast, including SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, and YouTube. I partnered with BizRadio.us to produce my podcast and are hosting the episodes on BuzzSprout.
Finally, it’s important to consider how much time and effort you want to put into the podcasting process before deciding whether it’s the right choice for you. Research other podcasts in order to determine how often they release new episodes.
If you’re interested in releasing a new episode every week or two, it may be worth investing in a professional sound engineer so that your recordings sound more professional and polished overall. That also means spending money on editing software like Audacity as well as other equipment like microphones and boom mics if necessary so that they can achieve greater quality results when recording their show.
Creating a Content Outline for your Podcast
The first step to making a podcast is creating a consistent, solid content outline. First, break down your podcast topic into four main sections:
- Introduction of the Podcast
- Introducing the Podcast Guest
- Opening Remarks to set the tone of the episode
- Prepared questions or structure for the episode direction
- Thank the guest
- Outro
Next, identify the core focus of your podcast and establish your audience. You should also keep in mind that different podcasts have different formats so you’ll need to know where you want to put breaks and any other special features in your episodes. Then, decide on how you will handle questions from listeners. Some podcasts allow listeners to call in or send an email to ask questions while others only have guests on the show to answer them.
The way these questions are handled can make or break your podcast so it’s important not just to consider how you’ll handle questions but also how you can incorporate a Q&A segment into each episode.
Finding Knowledgeable Guests for your Podcast
One of the most important things you can do to start your podcast is find a guest who will share their knowledge with your audience. The best way to find out if someone is knowledgeable about a topic you’re interested in covering is asking them. If they know more than you, they’ll be able to provide interesting insights that will keep your listeners engaged and make your podcast unique.
Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to promote themselves on your show and help propel their career by establishing a relationship with you. By interviewing people who are already an established name in the field, you’ll gain instant credibility with potential listeners.
Interviewing Guests on your Podcast
Podcasting is a great way to get an interview with someone who has expertise in your field. You can also ask questions that you think people might have about your topic. This provides valuable insight into the subject matter and knowledge for listeners. Another benefit of podcasting is that it can help you establish a personal brand or build your professional reputation as a journalist or writer.
If you are willing to invest time, energy, and creativity in what you are doing, this will be beneficial to your career. “The podcast is the most democratic platform, because anyone can do it and do it incredibly well,” says John Green. “It’s really exciting to think about how much more open our culture could become if everyone were more connected through podcasts, social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter… I hope we see more people using these tools that are available to us now.”
Writing up Detailed Show Notes for your Podcast
The one advantage of producing your own podcast is that you have the freedom to write up detailed show notes for your listeners. The more information you include in the show notes, the better listeners will understand what they’re listening to and why they should be listening. Show notes should include a brief description of the episode, any relevant links or resources, and information about what topics will be discussed by the guests on your show.
It also helps if you provide some context for how long each topic will be discussed before moving on to something else. Podcasts are a great way to build relationships with other people in your field and showcase your writing skills too. There are many different kinds of podcasts out there. Some focus solely on politics while others cover broad topics like food or education. Your goal is to produce a podcast that is entertaining and informative for your audience so they’ll want to come back time and time again.
Building an Audience for your Podcast
The most obvious benefit of starting your own podcast is building an audience. This can be accomplished by creating a compelling and interesting podcast that people want to hear. One of the first steps you must take when starting your own podcast is choosing a topic that is interesting but also fits into your personal brand.
People are more likely to listen to a podcast about a topic they already care about than one that doesn’t interest them. Other benefits could include increased credibility, reaching new audiences, and expanding your writing skill set as you learn how to produce content for an audio format.
Growing your Online Presence with a Podcast
It can be difficult to find new ways to build your online presence and establish a personal brand. One way is by starting your own podcast. Your podcast can help you not only grow your audience but also develop a personal voice that people will respond well to.
It’s easy to get started with a podcast, as many platforms exist that make it simple for podcasters of any skill level to have their work heard on the internet. From podcasts hosting software like Libsyn or Blubrry, to apps like Stitcher Radio and Overcast, there are so many options available for those who want to start a podcast quickly.
Collaborating with other Hosts
Collaborating with other hosts on your podcast can be a great way to share your voice and build a brand. Producing content as a team can help you in so many ways, whether it’s finding new sources to interview, collaborating on the show notes, or making sure the podcast is cohesive within an episode. Collaborating with other cohosts or hosts also gives you a chance to learn from their experience and knowledge which will help grow your own personal brand as well.
