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If you have an idea that you think would make a good podcast, then you’re already on your way to becoming a podcaster. Anyone with a voice and an interest, hobby, or passion they’d like to share with the world can start their own podcast.
To start a podcast, you need to plan ahead. This guide will walk you through the process of starting your first podcast, from developing a podcast format to recording and editing each episode. It will also outline how to make a podcast, from building a website to podcast hosting and getting it listed in the major podcast directories. You’ll also learn about the promotional tools you can use to establish and grow an audience. And if you want to go from a passion project to a money-making enterprise, you’ll also learn podcast monetization strategies.
Choosing an idea for your podcast
Laying the groundwork for your podcast includes landing on a topic, name, and format that fit your vision.
Picking a podcast topic
To choose a podcast topic, think about subjects that you’re passionate about or have some expertise in, then think about how your approach to the topic could help you stand out. If your topic is too broad, it will be difficult to establish your niche in the crowded podcast field. Too narrow a topic, and you’ll struggle to find an audience. The idea behind your podcast must also be one that you will be able to explore over multiple episodes—and potentially multiple seasons.
Deciding on a podcast name
Once you’ve settled on an idea, you need to name your podcast. Choosing a clear, concise, and specific name will go a long way toward getting discovered and gaining the attention of potential podcast listeners. The right name can also help you establish your niche and give listeners an idea of the subject of your podcast.
Developing a podcast format and structure
Early in the process of making your new podcast, you’ll need to establish its format. Whether you will be the solo voice of your podcast or joined by a cohost or guests, knowing how many voices will be included on your podcast will help you decide on a location to record your podcast and the equipment you’ll need. There are many free and low-cost options for audio recording and editing software. And you don’t need to spend a lot of money to get a quality microphone.
In addition to the name and format of your podcast, you’ll need to determine its structure in terms of how you will divide up your topic across multiple episodes and an average episode length. That includes whether episodes will contain different segments and how they’ll flow together. Finding the right length for each installment of your podcast is important, as is outlining the order and number of episodes needed to tell your story in the most effective and engaging way.
Thinking about who might listen to your podcast will also help you develop your approach and voice. By defining your audience, you’ll be able to connect to your listeners in a more meaningful way.
Recording a podcast
Before you press record on your first episode, you’ll need to think about the logistics of creating an audio recording.
Determine who’s being recorded
For a start, you’ll need to determine if you will only be recording your voice or if you’ll also need to capture the voices of guests or a cohost.
If you’ll have others involved in your podcast, then you need additional space and microphones for them. And if your guests aren’t local, then you’ll need to record them remotely. Think about everything you need to capture a podcast recording with high-quality audio. Consider including a backup recording on your phone or laptop, and make sure that any guests or cohosts do the same with their recordings. Those backups will be crucial in case you discover a problem with your primary audio files.
Prepare your episode scripts
It will also be helpful to outline the story you want to tell in your first episode before recording it. That outline helps a lot with pacing and keeping you on topic. Writing a script for the introduction could also help you start off strong and really hook your listeners. You may need to rerecord parts of an episode or even record a practice episode when you are first starting out. The more you practice speaking into a microphone, the more natural your voice will sound.
Set up your recording location
You’ll want to pick a quiet room to record your podcast. The size of room required will largely depend on whether you will be recording with all parties in the same room or will be interviewing guests or speaking with a cohost remotely. Some simple soundproofing can improve the quality of your recordings to avoid distracting echos.
Get recording equipment and software
There isn’t a lot of podcast equipment required to create a recording, but there are a few important pieces of hardware you’ll need. A good podcast microphone is the first ingredient in professional-sounding audio. Using headphones will also help with the quality of your audio. A pop filter isn’t required recording equipment, but will help to filter out sharp sounds from words with hard consonants.
For software, it’s simple: You’ll need a recording and audio editing app. Thankfully, there are many free and low-cost options out there, and most are straightforward and easy to use. You might even already own the software (recording software comes pre-installed on some computers) you need for recording and podcast editing.
Source third-party audio files
In addition to your voice and potentially that of a cohost or guest, you might want to record or source a catchy podcast intro and outro. A theme song can establish your podcast brand and a connection with your listeners. Record your own jingle, hire a musician friend to write and record one for you, or find royalty-free music to avoid any copyright issues.
Making a podcast website
Once you’ve developed your podcast idea and produced your first episode, you’ll need a place for it to live online. One of the easier and more inexpensive ways to get your podcast online is to build a blog website. With Squarespace, no coding is required to create a blog to host your podcast. Simply customize a template to create a professional-looking blog that listeners can visit, then create a new blog post with an audio block for each episode you release.
Squarespace’s blog templates vary in design and allow you to find the right look and feel for your podcast site. No matter which template you choose, it will feature a landing page to greet your visitors with an introduction to you and your show with your cover art and podcast description.
Behind the landing page will be individual blog pages for each podcast episode. You can also include About and Contact pages to further connect with your listeners. When you find a following, you can add an online shop, Member Sites, and even a media kit page to give sponsors or media partners a way to find out more about you.
For each podcast episode you post, Squarespace’s template lets you add a title, plus show notes like an episode summary, guest info, and more. This metadata can have an outsized effect on getting your podcast discovered by search engines by improving your site’s search engine optimization (SEO).
Another effective method for building an audience of loyal listeners is establishing a consistent publishing schedule. Set a regular cadence so your podcast remains near the top of your listeners’ feeds. The more episodes you create, the more opportunities there are for new listeners to discover you.
Learn more about how to make a podcast website
Promoting a podcast
A successful podcast starts with a good name and compelling concept, but building a following requires legwork. To grow your audience, you’ll need a podcast marketing strategy. With an accurate and attention-grabbing name and concept for your podcast, a custom URL, and effective use of metatags, you can help improve your rankings in search results.
Even more importantly, you can submit your blog’s Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed to get picked up by the significant podcast platforms. Squarespace sites have built-in RSS feeds that can alert podcast platforms and news aggregators (sites that collect popular stories on the internet) when you publish new content.
Creating a custom logo and cover art for your podcast can help you establish your brand and make your podcast stand out in crowded podcast directories. Give your podcast an eye-catching logo or artwork to quickly inform new listeners of the subject and tone of your show. It is well worth your time to create high-quality artwork for your podcast or work with a graphic designer to get an image that fits your brand.
Social media is another tool you can use to get the word out about your podcast. Posting snippets of your most recent episode accompanied by a short video or your podcast artwork can be effective in finding new listeners. Asking your listeners to rate, review, and share your podcast with friends is also an effective way to market your work. Consider adding incentives for sharing and reviewing, like a shoutout during your next episode.
Squarespace’s Unfold app will help you create promo posts quickly with customizable social media templates. Your posts will look trendy and professional, and there are tools to schedule posts and create brand content for multiple social platforms. And with Squarespace’s Bio Sites, you can create a one-page link-in-bio website to make it easy for your followers to connect with everything you’re creating. You can add a link to your podcast to your Bio Site and share it across your social media bios to help grow your listener base.
Learn more about how to promote your podcast
Monetizing your podcast
Not every podcaster starts a show to make money, but if you have established an audience, then there are ways to monetize your podcast. From ads and affiliate codes, to memberships and merchandise, you have a number of revenue options.
One common way you can earn income is by inserting ads into your podcast. Many platforms, including Squarespace, have affiliate programs that let you earn a commission. All you need to do is sign up for your chosen brand’s affiliate program and mention their products and services on your podcast. From there, if your audience uses your link or custom code to purchase that brand’s goods or services, you’ll receive a cut, based on the affiliate program guidelines. You can also pursue or sign brand sponsorships for your show.
Another way to generate income from your podcast is by putting some episodes behind a paywall. After you have produced enough episodes that you have created a library, you might choose to give exclusive access to your most recent episodes in a Member Site that only your subscribers can listen to during a specific time period. Or archive your oldest episodes and offer access only to paid podcast subscribers.
Alternatively, you could have a free podcast, but create exclusive content just for membership subscribers. That could include bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes blog posts or videos, Q&As, and a newsletter.
If your podcast reaches a certain level of popularity, selling podcast merchandise to your fans can help you earn additional income from the merch. With your listeners drinking from coffee mugs, carrying tote bags, and wearing t-shirts with your podcast’s name and logo, you’re likely to gain new listeners. With a custom merch partner, you won’t even need to produce or manage the products yourself.
Another option for popular podcasters is to host and record live shows. You’ll be able to earn money from ticket and merchandise sales, connect with some of your fans in person, and share the recording of the show with the rest of your audience.