How To Start a Podcast—& Should You?

The podcasting industry has exploded in popularity over the last decade. Like many others who have seen the multi-million dollar deals podcasters have received, this may have left you wondering how to start a podcast yourself. 

But it isn’t always simple to start a podcast from the ground up…there are many factors to consider—even if you’re a creator with a loyal following. Who is your target audience? What’s your concept? How will you handle promotion? What is the equipment needed to start a podcast?

If that all feels like a lot to start with, we’ll help make it simple and break down everything you need to know about how to start a podcast (and whether you actually should) by answering some critical questions.

Why Start a Podcast?

Whether you’re a micro-influencer with a niche following or an individual with an alluring concept and a gift for talking, starting a podcast may be a good idea. If you’re on the fence, here are some impressive facts about podcasts in 2024 that may expedite your decision. 

• Podcast listeners have reached 546.7 million
• Podcast ad spending is forecasted to reach $4.02 billion
• Both new and old listeners find new podcasts by searching the net (if you already have a website with significant traffic, this could be an asset)
• 46% of the US population listens to podcasts at least once per day

Aside from the world population's clear love of podcasts, starting a podcast has significant benefits for your personal brand—whether you already have one or are working on building one. 

• Brand awareness: Help grow your audience by expanding to another platform.
• Audience engagement: Podcasts can be more engaging than other forms of media, such as blogs. 
• Personal connection: Speaking directly to your audience week after week helps increase connection.
• Accessibility: They can be accessed globally and by people with vision impairments.
• Community building: By inviting listeners into your podcast world, you can grow your community. 
• Cost-efficiency: Podcasts are one of the most cost-effective types of media.

What to Consider Before Starting a Podcast

Starting a new project can be fun and exciting, but hammering out the nitty gritty details will set you up for success and give you a clear path for your content strategy. Before you buy all of the fancy podcast equipment, be sure to ask yourself these 4 questions.  

1. What Is Your Podcast About?

Yes, there are some wildly successful podcasters out there who just talk about the world in general. One of the most popular podcasters in the U.S., Joe Rogan, speaks on a wide variety of topics, from aliens to nutrition. 

However, for most, having a niche or an area of focus is helpful when it comes to building an audience. Bill Simmons’ wildly successful BS Pod gained a feverish audience of sports fans. True Crime podcasts have found massive followings since Serial debuted in 2014. And podcasts focusing on fashion, beauty, the entertainment industry, parenting, and comedy all attract hundreds of thousands or even millions of listeners.

So, what are you going to talk about on your podcast? Will every episode focus on the same theme? Will you have guests? If you already have a niche as an influencer, how will your podcast provide added value for your followers?

How to Find Your Niche

• Research the market: Are there already podcasts that focus on your niche? If so, give them a listen and determine what makes them appealing to listeners and what they do well.
• Find a unique angle: Just because there are other podcasts focusing on your general niche, that doesn’t mean you can’t bring a unique perspective or experience with your podcast.
• Bring your unique voice: No one can do what you do quite like you—so use it. Understand what you bring to the table and run with it. Some of the most popular creators are incredibly unique, so don’t be afraid to let your personality shine.

How to Find Your Target Audience

• Who are you trying to reach? Do research to find out where your target audience lives, their demographics, and what sort of content they usually engage in.
• Ensure you understand your audience’s interests: If you’re an influencer, you probably know what content drives engagement, which can be a useful guide for determining what topics your podcasts can cover. Studying what other podcasters are doing to drive listenership and engagement can help you find your audience, too.

2. What Do You Need to Start a Podcast?

While the financial barriers to entry for starting a podcast aren’t especially high, there are some costs associated. You want your audio quality to be good right from the start, as you may only get one shot with new listeners and they’ll turn your podcast off if it’s hard to listen to. 

To ensure you have great-quality audio, you’ll want to make sure you have the right equipment. Here are some factors to consider when it comes to the equipment needed to start a podcast:

• Microphones: You’ll want to choose either a USB microphone or an XLR microphones. USB microphones are more convenient and can be connected directly to most laptops, while XLR microphones typically use an analog connection but provide better audio quality. There’s a wide range of podcast microphones available.
• Headphones: Using headphones while recording allows you to hear what your audience is hearing while you record and adjust accordingly. You don’t need to break the bank buying the most expensive headphones on the market, but you want to ensure yours are comfortable for long recording sessions and the sound is clear.
• Studio: Recording in a professional podcast studio ensures that you’re going to get great audio quality, but you can also set up your own studio at home. The quieter, the better, and recording in a space where your partner, family, and pets won’t be interrupting helps create a professional environment. Background noise can be a turn-off for listeners, too.
• Mic stand: Having your podcast microphone shifting around and hitting other objects on your desk is going to make for messy audio quality, so investing in a stable mic stand will work wonders for you.

3. How Do You Record & Edit a Podcast?

‍

The best podcasts may sound like they’re just recordings of free-flowing conversations between smart, charismatic people, but that’s at least in part because they’re well edited. Recording and editing are skills and you’ll get better as you go, but there are tools out there to make it easier.

Recording

• Software: You’ll have the option of paying to use high-end software, but there are lots of podcasting recording softwares out there, like Riverside and Streamyar, you can try for free. They’ll also allow you to upload your podcast for free to platforms like Spotify and Apple.
• Video: Will you be hosting guests remotely over video? There are dozens of options for Podcasting software that allow that and it’s definitely worth picking one service and sticking with it.

Testing out a few with friends and seeing what fits your podcast best is enough to give you a good idea of what software is easiest and works best for you.

Editing

Editing is oh-so-important and essential to learn as you try to start a podcast. Here are a few things that you should focus on after your podcast recording when you are preparing to publish.

• Eliminate background noise: Listeners don’t want to hear cars in the background or other people talking. Most podcasting software allows you to easily cut background noise in your podcast episodes.
• Edit out mistakes or long pauses: There are going to be pauses in any conversation, that’s not a problem. But audiences don’t necessarily need to hear them. Don’t hesitate to edit them out. And every podcaster is going to make mistakes. Sometimes, you’ll have to start a segment over again. Don’t beat yourself up about it. Just edit it out—your listeners only need to hear the finished product.
• Add music: There’s lots of royalty-free music out there for podcasters to use, and adding a little music to your podcast can bring it to life and help make segment transitions smoother.

4. How Do You Promote Your Podcast & Build an Audience from Scratch?

Once you’ve figured out the basics and can record and edit your podcast, the next challenge is building a following. Attracting potential listeners through social media is a good way to start, especially if you’re an influencer who already has followers.

But getting people to listen to an episode and keep coming back for more is one of the biggest questions people have about how to start a podcast. Some effective ways to do it include:

• Appear as a guest on other podcasts: Being a guest on other podcasts is a great way of exposing you and your podcast to new audiences. If listeners find you engaging and interesting, they’ll give your own podcast a try. You can return the favour, too; cross-promotion is common in the podcasting industry. Directories of podcasts are available if you need to find someone to connect with.
• Promote through social media: The people who follow you on social media follow you for a reason. They like your content, and if you’re any sort of influencer, they will trust you when you communicate with them about your niche. Engage with your already-existing audience and they might follow you across platforms.
• E-mail marketing: Building a base of subscribers and promoting your podcast through e-mail is a proven method of building an audience.
• Analyze metrics and gather feedback: Platforms like Spotify provide lots of data about downloads, listens and audience engagement. Study it and figure out what’s working and where you can improve. Asking your audience for constructive feedback helps you build your podcast into something better, too.

Connect & Grow Your Audience by Starting a Podcast

The podcast industry is growing rapidly and can be a great way to expand your personal brand and connect with your audience. If you’re wondering how to start a podcast, the good news is that it's totally doable with the right work and preparation.

MODERNSPEAK’s expert team has helped countless influencers and creators grow their brands and quit their day jobs. If you’re ready to take your audience to the next level, let’s talk. Reach out to hello@modernspeak.co or call 1-403-991-4988 to find out what’s possible for your career.

FAQ About Podcasts

How to start a podcast with no audience?

It can be daunting trying to build something new, but there are countless examples of podcasters who built their audience from scratch. Spend some time planning your podcast so that your output is consistent—in terms of quality and how often you publish your podcast. 

Marketing goes a long way, too, and finding high-profile guests can quickly grow your audience. Also, make sure your audio quality is high so you don’t turn off first-time listeners. Then, be patient while you promote your podcast on social media and be a guest on other podcasts.

How much does it cost to start a podcast?

If you’re wondering how to start a podcast for free, the good news is that it doesn’t cost anything to upload your podcast to services like Spotify and Apple. You’ll want to ensure you have the right equipment, though. It’s worth investing in the equipment needed to start a podcast, including microphones, headphones, and mic stands.

Do podcasters make money?

You’ll need time to build your audience, but the podcasting industry is increasingly lucrative. There are a number of monetization channels available to podcasters, and connecting with sponsors for ad-reads can bring in revenue once you’ve proven that people are listening.

‍