‘How To Start Podcasting’ 8-Item Checklist For Business Owners And Creatives Alike
Are you wanting to further your business or creative platform by building both your audience and network? Are you seeking to gain credibility in your niche or industry? Do you simply want to add a bit of fun to your work?
Starting your own podcast might just be the ticket to achieving any and all of the above goals!
If you’re excited about the idea (but also overwhelmed), don’t fret, because I’ll be sharing my carefully crafted ‘How To Start Podcasting 8-Item Checklist’ for those wanting to jump on the podcast bandwagon.
Read on.
1. Podcast Equipment - Microphone
A microphone allows for good audio quality and effective audience engagement, and therefore is a significant item to invest in for your podcasting journey.
Choosing the right microphone may depend on personal factors such as overall goals, budget and recording environment, but for starters, below are three microphone types that are commonly used in podcasting:
Dynamic Microphone - Great for noisy surroundings as they are less sensitive to background noise. They are also suitable for individuals who are not recording in sound-treated studios.
Condenser Microphone - They are more sensitive, offer a greater level of audio quality, and are ideal for controlled studio environments.
USB Microphone - A convenient option for new podcasters as they connect directly to your computer via USB. They also are plug and play and don’t need extra audio interfaces.
I personally love using this mic by Shure, as it’s one of the best I’ve found for great audio quality.
2. Zoom or Riverside Subscription
There are plenty of great podcast recording services out there, but Zoom and Riverside may be the most popular choices due to their advanced features and user-friendly tools.
Both platforms tick off a lot of boxes, such as their audio and video recording abilities, easy-to-use navigation, as well as reliability.
But as a first-time podcaster, which one do you choose to subscribe to?
Although I believe that you can’t go wrong with both platforms, we decided to make the switch from Zoom to Riverside due to the superior audio and video quality.
Since the Riverside platform was created specifically for remote podcast recording, it also has other great features such as the ability to record in 4k, video transcription, and the ability to easily record on two separate tracks.
Starting at just $15/month, Riverside is our top choice for podcast recording.
3. Podcast Title & Introduction
What’s in a name? In the podcasting world, everything!
The title of your podcast is a key element that significantly impacts its marketing success, especially when it comes time to launch that first episode.
Your podcast name ultimately acts as a first impression for listeners, and is a way to show and establish your brand and identity.
Be sure to create a well-crafted title that attracts the right audience, allows for discoverability, aligns with your overall brand and online presence, and is easy for listeners to recall and recommend to other people. Brainstorm and test out different title ideas; you will know when one feels right!
Your intro is your personal touch and welcome to your audience. This can include music and an introduction to your overall vibe. Your outro is your message to your audience on their way out at the end of the episode.
4. Cover Photo
An eye-catching and visually pleasing cover photo is essential for a successful podcast, drawing in your target audience and capturing their interest.
There are many creative cover photo ideas that you can dig into here, such as a podcast host portrait or visual representation of your podcast topic, but what is most important is that your cover photo conveys your overall theme and tone.
For those who are not very graphic design savvy, online platforms such as Canva or Adobe Spark, are excellent in that they offer pre-designed templates and easy-to-use tools to help create a beautiful cover photo for your podcast. Perfect for just starting out!
5. Show Notes & Episode Titles
Podcast show notes are clear and concise written descriptions, providing additional context, information and resources in regards to each episode.
They can also strengthen your podcasts’ search engine optimization (SEO) and assist in engaging with your audience further.
Show notes often include brief episode summaries, guest information including their expertise and relevant links to their websites or social media accounts, related resources, call-to-action, and more.
Show notes are a crucial item on the podcast launch checklist in that they provide extra value to the podcast listening experience, making it easier for potential listeners to engage with the content and track down specific information discussed in episodes.
While podcast show notes are important, so are podcast episode titles!
When crafting titles for your episodes, there are a few things to consider, such as structure, clarity, length and keywords. For example, will you format your episodes using numbers? What specific words or phrases will you add in for guest episodes?
The things that may seem small are the very things that will make a tremendous difference, so give your episode titles the attention they deserve for a stand-out podcast that will fully engage your audience.
6. Distribution Software
Podcast distribution software (or hosting platform) is a podcast hosting service that stores and delivers your episodes to various podcast records, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, etc.
It is essentially the main hub for your podcast’s audio files and RSS feed, which is required for syndicating your episodes to different platforms.
There are many different distribution platforms that you can use for your podcast, but Buzzsprout is certainly our favourite and what we currently use both personally and for our clients. We love that it is affordable, easy-to-use and offers fantastic support and resources.
Again, before launching your podcast, be sure to take the time and research platforms that will meet all of your requirements as a new podcaster. Also, don’t forget to focus on creating quality content, engaging your audience and growing your podcast organically.
7. Editor or Editing Service
To ensure you are presenting your listeners with professional and engaging podcast episodes, an editor or editing service is key!
But before you take action and seek either out, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of your podcast’s style, format and editing requirements.
Once you have figured that all out, you can move forward with your search.
Thankfully, at The Social Snippet, we specialize in podcast production, including the editing! If you’re looking for a credible editing software, GarageBand works wonders if you have a Mac and the time to do it yourself. Having your editing taken care of significantly improves the quality of your podcast, so don’t rush and be patient in finding the right fit for your new adventure.
8. Inspiration From Other Podcasts
To end off my podcast checklist, I believe that when starting your own podcast, taking inspiration from other podcasts is a great way to learn from talented creators and discover ideas that resonate with your interests and target audience.
What does this look like, you may ask?
For one, identify your niche and what you would like your podcast to focus on, and then seek out podcasts that are successful within that niche; what makes them stand out and capture the attention of their listeners?
You can also listen to various podcasts within your chosen topic, focusing on format and style for inspiration, along with observing what aspects work and don’t work, so that you are aware of what to avoid in your own endeavors.
Yes, drawing inspiration from other podcasts is valuable and a good starting point, but remember the importance of finding your unique voice and style.
In other words, be authentic and allow for your own personality and creativity to shine!
We understand that this is a lot of information to take in and get started on. If you find yourself needing direction, guidance, and clarity with bringing your vision to life, we help with these things. Whether you are first launching your first podcast, or already have an established show, we have services to support every step of the way. Our podcast packages are in depth helping you create your title, cover art, intro and outro, setting up a strategy call discussing your marketing strategy, creating your podcast description, and we also offer overall full production including editing, distribution, show notes, titles, etc.
If you would like to know more about how we can support your next level of podcast creation, or