How Can You Create Your Own Podcast?
There are upwards of 850,000 active podcasts, which add up to more than 48 million podcast episodes you can listen to at any given time – that’s enough content to get you through more than a few lifetimes! With so many podcasts out there, who’s to say that yours can’t be the next one to top the charts?
How to Create a Podcast
Step One: Make a podcast plan
Before you hit that “record” button, you’re going to need to do some prep work. Preparing for a podcast is essential to your success, so resist the temptation to skip this step.
You need to make a plan that includes:
- Choosing a topic: What is your podcast going to be about? Usually, it’s wise to pick a topic that you personally find interesting. Try to zero in on a niche that’s not too broad or too specific. Remember, you need to be able to talk about this topic for many, many episodes, but also have a clear target audience in mind.
- Decide if you’ll be a solo host or a co-host: You can embark on your new podcast journey alone, or you can partner up with a friend (or two!). It’s often easier to be a co-host because the conversation will naturally be more engaging and natural. However, it’s definitely not required.
- Pick a podcast name: Choosing the name for your podcast can be one of the trickiest parts. Even a glance at the top podcast charts will show you that there’s a lot of variety out there. Aim for a name that’s descriptive, but not overly specific. It can be handy to have some wiggle room to expand your focus down the road, and not worry about changing your podcast name.
Step Two: Determine the format of your podcast.
Technically, this is a part of the planning process. But there’s such a significant amount of thought and time involved, we decided to make it its own step. There are several characteristics you’ll need to define before starting a podcast:
- Episode length: There’s not just one “right” length for a podcast episode. There are quick, 10-minute episodes and extended, three- or four-hour episodes, and both kinds can be successful. Focus on avoiding stretching out the episode time simply because you’re going off-topic… stay on track to keep your listeners engaged.
- Style: You can do an interview-style podcast, a solo or co-hosted show, or choose from other podcast styles. Or, you can mix it up and do a little of everything!
- Episode format: Your listeners will want to know what to expect when they listen to a new episode of your podcast, so set up a format and stick to it. For example, a podcast might follow this general structure:
- Teaser
- Introduction/music
- Welcome
- Advertisement
- Interview or main content
- Call(s) to action (“subscribe” or “rate and review,” for example)
- Outro music
Step Three: Get podcasting equipment.
You’ll need some basic equipment for podcasting, including:
- A microphone
- Headphones
- Audio editing/mixing software (you can find many free and affordable options online)
- A laptop or desktop computer for editing and uploading
This is a pared-down list of the basics to get started, but you can definitely upgrade from there.
Step Four: Get set up with a podcast hosting platform.
One of the last steps to make a podcast is to choose the best podcast hosting platform for your show. A hosting platform is the “middle man” between you and your listeners, and where you’ll upload your content so it can be distributed.
Some of the most popular hosting platforms for podcasts include:
- Buzzsprout
- RSS.com
- PodBean
- Resonate
- Captivate
- Transistor
- Castos
Do your research to find the option that best suits your needs and goals.
Step Five: Record a podcast!
From here, it’s all about recording your podcast program – but that’s a topic that deserves a guide all its own.
Learn How to Get a Job in Podcasting and Find a Future in Media
The fact that podcasting is growing at such as fast and furious pace is exciting, but it also means that the industry can be pretty competitive. If you want to make sure you stand out in the best way possible, it only makes sense to gain key skills and experiences to prove your professionalism.
At the BeonAir Network of Media Schools, with campuses located in Miami, Chicago, Colorado, and Ohio, you can enroll as a student in one of our media education programs and learn how to get your dream career in broadcasting or another media field. Depending on your goals, you can pursue your dreams by signing up for our programs like Radio & TV Broadcasting, Sports Broadcasting, Digital Media Production, Audio Production, and others.
For more details about our podcasting training programs and other options for media career training, contact our team or apply today!
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