7 Steps To Start A Podcast! (Even If You've Never Done Anything Like It Before)
Introduction
I used to think podcasts were the domain of radio DJs and people with a whole lot of time on their hands. Then I started listening to them, and now I'm hooked! They offer an opportunity for anyone to share their voice with the world, so long as they're willing to put in some work. If you want some tips on how to start your own podcast—even if it's been your dream since the late '90s—read on:
1. Decide What You Want to Talk About
The first thing you need to do is decide what you want to talk about. There are a lot of options here, so don't feel like you have to make your podcast about something specific. You could talk about your life experiences or hobbies and interests, or even just whatever comes up in the moment.
If you want some guidance on how to choose a topic for your podcast, here are some ideas:
What topics are most interesting and relevant in your life right now?
Is there an issue or because that moves or inspires you?
Have any events recently happened that would be fun/interesting/important enough for listeners who might not know much about them (i.e., "news" events)? This could include anything from local news stories all the way up through national elections!
2. Pick A Name for Your Show
The next step is to pick a name for your show. A good podcast name should be easy to remember, but not so long that it's hard to spell or say out loud. It should also be available on all major platforms (iTunes, Google Play Music), which means you'll need to check if there are any existing shows with similar names before settling on one yourself.
Finally, try not to choose a title that sounds too similar another existing show; this could lead listeners into confusion about what they're listening to when they hear yours in their feed!
3. Find A Theme Song Or Intro Music
This is one of the most fun parts of starting a podcast, but it can also be the most overwhelming. You have so many options! You can use royalty free music, find a song that you like and use it as your theme song (this is what we did), or even find some royalty free music that sounds like your favorite bands.
There are lots of websites where you can find free music with no copyright issues like: freemusicarchive.org/music/Kevin_MacLeod/Songs_for_the_Weekend/.
If you want to go with something more specific, maybe try searching for artists like The Lumineers or Coldplay on YouTube and see if any of their songs might work well for your podcast intro!
4. Get A Good Mixer (Or a cheap one!)
In order to record your podcast, you'll need a mixer. The mixer is a piece of equipment that mixes the audio from your microphone with the audio from your music. A good podcasting setup should include an XLR cable connected from an external microphone into one channel on your mixer and then another XLR cable connected from an instrument or CD player into another channel on your mixer.
The most common type of mixer is called a "board," but there are other types as well (like compact digital mixers). You can buy them new or used online or at music stores like Guitar Center or Sam Ash Music Stores; they cost anywhere between $150-$500 USD depending on how many channels they have (channels are what plugs into).
5. Pick Out Your Equipment
Pick Out Your Equipment
Once you've figured out what kind of podcasting equipment you need, it's time to buy it. While some people like to buy used items and refurbish them, this isn't always possible or practical for everyone. So here are some tips on how to pick out the right equipment:
Make sure that all of your equipment is compatible with each other (for example, a USB mic won't work with an XLR cable).
Buy high-quality items that will last longer than cheaper versions of themselves; otherwise, they won't be worth their price tag down the line! For example: If buying two $100 microphones instead of one $200 microphone would save money over time because they wouldn't break as often or require replacement parts like batteries often enough (which can add up!), then go ahead and splurge! However...
Don't let yourself get carried away when shopping around either because cheaper brands aren't always better than more expensive ones so don't feel pressured into spending more than necessary just because someone says something sounds "good enough."
6. Buy Some Microphones And Headphones (And Optional Cables)
Get a good quality microphone.
Get a good quality headset.
Get a good quality cable, if you need one for your audio interface and headphones/microphone combo.
7. Create A Branding Strategy With Twitter, Instagram and Facebook Accounts
Now that you have your podcast idea and are ready to start recording, it's time to create a brand. This is the first step in making sure that your podcast stands out from all of the others out there. If done correctly, this will open up opportunities for sponsorships and partnerships with other companies or organizations who want their product associated with yours.
The first thing you need to do is create an Instagram page for your podcast! You can also create Twitter Accounts but they aren't as important as Facebook because people tend not to use Twitter as much these days since everyone has switched over onto Instagram instead (which comes with its own benefits).
Once you've set up those accounts:
Create a logo based off of one single theme; try not too many colors because this makes it hard for people's eyes when looking at what kind of vibe/energy does each episode give off?
You can be successful on social media
Social media is a great way to connect with your audience. It's also a great way to build your brand and grow your audience, which can help you create content that will reach more people.
Conclusion
I hope this article has helped you get started on your podcast journey. If you're still unsure if this is something that would be right for you, I encourage you to take the time to think about what kind of content would best fit into your life and then try it out! You never know what kind of impact your voice could have on others until they hear it for themselves.
If you reached this last line, this shows you are part of the 0.01% who finish what they started. best of luck
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