How to build a profitable podcast.
This article helps aspiring podcasters with essential knowledge and insights for a successful journey.
Let's welcome our guest writer Stephanie Rogers!
If you haven’t met someone who has started their own podcast, do you really exist in this day and age?
While this is a bit of hyperbole (or is it? ), there is no denying that the podcasting industry has exploded over the past decade. Technological innovations and unprecedented access to information have made it possible for people to create epic content and start recording from just about anywhere in the world.
With that said, creating a podcast is about far more than recording and hitting “upload.” This is especially true if you have any aspirations of ever monetizing your show. It takes a specific, scientific approach to achieve podcasting success.
Here is the Podcasting 101.
From choosing the right studio acoustic panels to soundproof your recording area to providing insight into the marketing process, keep reading for 8 important things to know before recording your first podcast episode!
I know, I know.
You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t have this crazy idea about starting a podcast on your most favorite topic in the world.
But the reality is that if you ever want to monetize this thing, you are going to have to talk about this topic.
A lot.
Podcasting 101 teaches us that a successful podcast requires dedication and hard work. And a good majority of that time will be spent doing unpaid work on the weekends and evenings while you are exhausted from your day job and the responsibilities of life in general.
So unless you really love what you are talking about, those dreams of podcasting dollars rolling in will inevitably fizzle out.
What’s a name compared to countless hours of podcasting gold?
Everything, actually. That’s a Podcasting 101 given.
Your name is your brand, your sales pitch, and your introduction.
It can truly be the make-or-break sequence of words that determines whether listeners hit “download” or keep scrolling through the Play Store.
The trouble with naming a podcast is that it is just not easy. It needs to be clever without being smarmy, informative without being boring.
Therefore, take ample time to perform some market research before naming your podcast. Look at similar podcasts in your niche and determine what you like and don’t like about the names of each. Make a list of potential names and whittle them down based on feedback. Take to social media to pitch ideas. Don’t be offended when your favorite is received with little enthusiasm.
Go with a working title in the early going as you brainstorm episode ideas and hash out a content plan. It will be much easier (and less alienating) to change the podcast’s name in the early going than it will be once listeners have downloaded several episodes, so do whatever it takes to get the name right in the beginning.
Don’t feel like you have to host an interview-style podcast that brings a new guest on the show every episode.
You are not compelled to find a partner to conduct a banter-style broadcast.
There are countless successful podcasts hosted by a single person.
With that said, it is always important to remember that there is power in numbers, and it is a good idea to have some connections in mind as you start to build your concept.
This may be something as simple as a subject-area expert who could proofread your scripts for factual accuracy, or a fellow podcasting enthusiast who would be open to a potential guest spot here and there.
And also remember that depending on your niche, having guest interviews can really go a long way toward attracting listeners.
Fair or not, athletes and entertainers have a major leg up when starting a podcast because they have countless friends and contacts in their industries that they can get for guest spots.
So even if your podcast isn’t in one of these niches and you plan on hosting a solo show, it is still worthwhile to work to make some connections in the field.
Building a home recording studio does not have to involve tearing down walls and sequestering an entire section of your house.
But it does involve some degree of effort and renovation.
You will get out of it what you put into it, and poor acoustics are a surefire way of alienating listeners from the get-go.
Fortunately, there are many innovative sound mitigation products that can effectively dampen unwanted noises and reduce echo without requiring major alterations to your walls or ceilings. In fact, the best insulation for acoustic panels is typically a fiberglass core wrapped in a decorative fabric, mounted to your walls in a profile as inconspicuous as a picture frame. As long as you use these types of sound panels on about 25% of your wall area, you can expect to receive a noise reduction coefficient of around. 95, just short of the industry standard for complete soundproofing. In many cases, visitors will never know that they are sound panels and will mistake them for attractive wall decor.
One of the allures of starting a podcast in 2023 is that the barriers to entry are very low. As long as you have a recording device and an internet connection, you can make a podcast.
While this is true in theory, it is not the way to ensure sustainable success.
You don’t want to try and regularly pump out podcast episodes from a computer that is bogged down with viruses and is at its storage capacity. Likewise, it’s probably not the best idea to record episodes on your smartphone.
Therefore, invest in the right equipment and technology to give yourself the best chance for success. Some items to consider include:
It is also a great idea to consider investing in a desk. Not only will this help keep your equipment organized, but it makes it easier to take notes as you record and easily mark-up scripts as you go.
It can be tempting to hit “publish” the second you finish recording an episode.
However, recording is just one aspect of the overall process.
Not only do you need to go back into the DAW and edit out the blips and awkward pauses, but you also need to include the intro, outro, and sound bites as necessary.
These pieces of sound give your podcast character and can provide the catchy hook that keeps the podcast at the forefront of listeners’ minds.
When making the intro, it is often common practice to state the name of the show, who the host is, and preview any guests that will be appearing.
The outro will give listeners a hint that the show is ending, provide a call to action, and give a plug to your website or social media channels.
It’s Podcasting 101 knowledge that you’re never going to monetize your podcast unless you have listeners.
And you won’t get listeners unless people know about your podcast.
Therefore, it can feel like you are spending as much time marketing as you are recording in the early going.
Social media promotion is obviously the most straightforward way to market your podcast. Not only should you pump the podcast on your personal accounts, but it is also a good idea to start accounts specifically for the podcast itself.
In addition, it is worthwhile to start a website for your podcast. This is a great place to deposit episodes, provide updates, and upload other types of SEO-friendly content.
Stephen King is one of the most prolific writers of all time. You would think he figured out how to write a book a long time ago. However, he understands that he has to continually work at his craft. He spends the first few hours of every day reading--not writing--to help spark his imagination and get his mind to work.
You would do well to take this same sort of approach. If you want to have sustainable success in podcasting, you have to work at it. Stay ahead of rapidly evolving trends in the industry. Take the time to continually improve what you are doing. Be an avid podcast consumer yourself.
If you are struggling with where to start, bCast is a great website that regularly deposits resources aimed specifically at podcasters and content creators.
It is a great time to be a podcaster. Everyone has the tools at their disposal to start recording can’t-miss episodes of their favorite topic from the comfort of their own home. With that said, it takes a meticulous approach to stand out in an increasingly competitive podcasting field. By using any of the 8 ideas listed above, or looking through all of the helpful content on podcasting websites like bCast, you are taking the necessary first step to achieving podcasting success in 2023!
