How to Start a Podcast.

I’ve been up and running for close to three years now, so I thought I’d share some of the knowledge I’ve gained with regards to starting…and continuing…my podcast.

Starting a podcast can be a fun and rewarding way to share your ideas and interests with the world (or at least with anyone who will listen). But before you get started, there are a few things you'll need to do to get your show up and running.

1. Get a title, and more importantly, a topic.

First, you'll need to come up with a snappy title for your podcast. Something like "The Daily Rant" is probably taken, whereas "Chit Chat with Chad" might not be. Do research first, you don’t want something similar to someone you’ll be competing with. Get original. Next, you'll want to choose a topic that you're passionate about and that you think will be of interest to your listeners. This could be anything from sports to pop culture to the history of cheese graters. I’ve found that the more granular you are, the better. A ‘general sports talk’ podcast probably won’t get you very far, whereas focusing on a certain team or niche will gain a greater audience in a shorter amount of time.

2. Get some equipment (but don’t break the bank).

When it comes time to record your podcast, you'll want to make sure you have the right equipment. This should include a microphone, headphones, and a recording software like Audacity or Adobe Audition. And don't forget to have some snacks on hand in case you get the munchies mid-recording. Just kidding, don’t eat snacks while recording, your listeners will never come back. If you’re just starting out, don’t worry about buying fancy equipment. There are serviceable microphones for under $50. Just use something better than your laptop microphone. Audio quality matters, and at first, it’s one of the most important factors other than the quality of your content.

For more about microphones, check out this link.

3. Create an RSS feed and record.

Once you've settled on a topic, it's time to get down to business. You'll need to create an RSS feed for your podcast so that people can easily subscribe and receive new episodes as they are released. Certain recording subscriptions make this easy. Anchor, for example, is a free service you can use. There are a ton, like Buzzsprout, Spreaker, etc. Do some research on the service that works for you. I host my RSS feed on my website, so that I can manage it more closely.

Plan out your content in advance, whether that means writing a script, creating an outline, or simply jotting down some notes, and accept that you’ll mess up. Your first few episodes will probably sound rough and unnatural. That’ll change over time. Your format may even change because of your ideas and maybe even listener feedback. That’s all part of the process.

4. Promote, promote, promote.

Once your podcast is up and running, it's time to promote it to attract listeners. You can use social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to share your podcast and engage with your audience. You can also reach out to other podcasters and websites to see if they would be interested in featuring your podcast or collaborating with you. If you have a niche subject, link up with other folks in the same arena to join forces.

5. Schedule.

And finally, to keep your listeners coming back for more, be sure to consistently produce new episodes of your podcast. This might mean setting a schedule for yourself and sticking to it, or simply recording new episodes as you have time. Whatever approach you choose, just remember to keep things light and fun (and don't forget the snacks).

I hope some of this helped as a starting point. You can always reach out to me at forcefivepodcast@gmail.com if you want specifics or recommendations!