Starting a podcast can be an exciting and rewarding endeavor, but there are key factors you should consider before diving in. Here are the top five things you must know before starting your podcast journey.

1. Identify Your Niche and Audience

Before you hit record, it's crucial to identify the niche and target audience for your podcast. Ask yourself:

- What topics are you passionate about?

- Who is your ideal listener?

- What unique perspective or value can you offer?

Having a clear focus helps you create content that resonates with your audience and stands out in a crowded market. Research similar podcasts to understand what works and how you can differentiate yourself.

2. Plan Your Content and Format

Content is king in the podcasting world. Plan your episodes by:

- Outlining topics for the first few episodes.

- Deciding on the length and frequency of your episodes.

- Choosing a format that suits your style, whether it’s interviews, solo shows, co-hosted discussions, or a narrative format.

*Consistency in your format and release schedule helps build a loyal audience.

We use Trello to plan our content and keep everything organized. Some of the things we keep in Trello is Filming date, Title, description, link to episode, cover photo for you tube, disclaimers when needed etc.

3.Invest in Quality Equipment or Choose a Recording Studio

While you don’t need to break the bank, investing in good quality equipment can significantly improve your podcast’s audio quality. Essentials include:

- A good microphone.

- Headphones.

- Pop filter.

- Audio interface or mixer (if needed).

- Recording software (Audacity, GarageBand, or more advanced options like Adobe Audition).

*Poor audio quality can turn listeners away, so ensure your recordings are clear and professional.

We also mentioned that you could choose someone to record and edit your podcasts for you. What does this mean? You can research local podcast recording studios to do all of the above for you! For example. We pay a monthly fee, we show up, we get 1 ½ hour of filming time and then we divide up the time however we like. So ahead of time I plan the filming layout, and then we show up with the topics then they record and send us our episodes within a few days! Makes that part easy!

4.Understand the Basics of Editing and Production

Editing is a crucial part of podcast production. Basic editing skills can help you remove unwanted noise, add music or sound effects, and ensure a smooth flow of content. Familiarize yourself with:

- Editing software (Audacity, GarageBand, etc.).

- Techniques like cutting out pauses, reducing background noise, and leveling audio.

- Adding intros, outros, and transitions.

*Editing can make a significant difference in the overall quality of your podcast.

While we mentioned earlier that the podcast studio records our episodes, we still have to do some editing. We put together all social media clips using Capcut Pro or Opus Clip. Then we also have to still write all the descriptions and come up with catchy titles. We also design all our own covers for YouTube and email blasts using Canva. Another thing to consider is scheduling your episodes. You can use things like Buzzsprout. We have found this very helpful!

5. Promote Your Podcast Effectively

Once your podcast is ready, promotion is key to building an audience. Consider the following strategies:

- Leverage social media platforms to share your episodes. We have researched and have found it to be true to really promote within a 72-hour window of the podcast release date.

- Create a podcast website or blog to provide additional content and show notes. If you’d like to see an example of ours, click here: https://www.inspiredbymsamberred.com/podcast

- Submit your podcast to directories like Apple Podcasts, and Spotify to gain more exposure! Oh, and don’t forget to post to YouTube!

- Network with other podcasters and collaborate for cross-promotion.

Engaging with your audience and encouraging reviews can also help increase your podcast’s visibility.

Conclusion

Starting a podcast requires careful planning, quality content, and effective promotion. By focusing on these five key areas—identifying your niche, planning your content, investing in equipment, learning basic editing skills, and promoting your podcast—you'll be well on your way to creating a successful and engaging show. Do you have a podcast? We’d love to hear more about it! Or if you’d be interested in being on our podcast we are always looking to connect!

Happy podcasting!