For Those Who Want a Podcast
READ TIME: 3.5 minutes
Cutting to the chase, if you want to start a podcast, you need 5 things:
A topic
A microphone
A laptop/computer with audio editing software
A hosting platform
Artwork
But there’s more to consider!
In this newsletter, I will elaborate on the five things mentioned and all the other steps you need to take before your podcast is on Spotify.
(So, if you have no interest in podcasting for your business, you can skip this email.)
First things first, why is podcasting a good idea?
Why
A podcast is a great way to reach people. Especially those who drive around a lot or who multitask are given the opportunity to listen to your content. The majority of that group is people in their thirties who work (according to a study done by a Dutch research group). It doesn’t mean, though, that there aren’t other people who use the platform. There are.
What I like about podcasts is that you can help people in a practical way. You give listeners complete freedom of when they want to tune in to you and what episodes they want to listen to.
A podcast will not only give you the opportunity to help others in a great way, but it can also give you credibility when sharing your expertise in order to help listeners. In a way, it’s like blogging but 25x more effective. In no time, you take people from a ‘know factor’ to a ‘like- or trust factor’ without being too sales-y or pushy.
Last point: audio has a longer lifespan than video. Recently, I listened to a sermon by Tim Keller from 30 years ago. When you look at a video from 30 years ago, you’re gonna notice. With Tim’s sermon, I didn’t. Podcast content can last for a loooong time and will be worth your investment.
I think it’s clear I’m very positive about podcasting. So I can’t wait any longer to get you started, sharing the following steps.
How to start?
Step 1 ‘Topic’
Pick what your show will be about. Be specific because if you’re too generic, people don’t know what they can expect.
‘Losing weight is easy’,
‘Baking bread at home’,
‘Increase the quality of your sleep;’
are topics that are crystal clear.
Think of who your listeners are and what problems they have. Those problems are the ones you want to solve—in your podcast.
Step 2 ‘Microphone’
In all honesty, you can record a podcast with your phone. But if you want a bit more qualitative sound, I would opt for buying a decent mic with a (built-in) pop filter and USB connection (so you won’t need an interface). A very affordable one with good sound is the Blue Yeti. It's great if you want to try out podcasting without spending a big sum of money.
Step 3 ‘Laptop with Audio Editing Software’
You need a laptop to record on. Any laptop will do as long as you have a recording program on it. I personally use Audacity, but Garageband or LogicPro (both Apple only) or Adobe Audition are good options too.
Basically, you plug in the mic, make sure the settings are right and hit record. Record your episode in one go. Don’t mind mistakes or starting over, you can fix everything in the edit later.
(Worried about editing? I promise you, YouTube is packed with tutorials to help you out. Or shoot me a message, and I will link you to Hannah, my VA.)
Step 4 ‘Hosting’
In order to get your podcast on Apple Podcast and Spotify, you’ll need to upload it to a hosting platform. Spotify for Creators is a free platform (it belongs to Spotify) to help you do this. Simplecast is another platform, and I used Buzzsprout for a client. Buzzsprout is the most popular one out there and gives lots of analytics.
Step 5 ‘Artwork’
The last thing you need is a little artwork for the library (you know, the image in the podcast description). This is easily done using Canva. Pick a template from that platform, adjust it, and upload it to your hosting platform.
And voila, that’s all it takes.
Now, note that these are the basic steps. This is to help you get going and figure out if podcasting is something for you and your business. Once you get the hang of it, and like the results, you can professionalize your set, your artwork, your format, your podcast notes, etc.
To summarize:
Podcasting requires:
A topic that’s clear and solves the problems of your listeners
A USB microphone like Blue Yeti with relatively good sound
A laptop with audio editing software like Audacity
A hosting platform like Buzzsprout
Artwork made on Canva
If you have any questions about podcasting, please don’t hesitate to reach out. With more than 100 episodes up in the air, I’m sure I can help you. If not, I know others who do. Regardless, we’ll find the answers.
Blessings,
Jane
Founder Born to Fly
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