Should you begin, and if so, how? Do you need a co-host? Should you record from a distance or in a personal space like your basement? Interview-style? Panel discussions? Documentaries? These are all considerations before starting a podcast project.

However, the primary question isn't about logistics. The initial inquiry should be: why should this take the form of a podcast? 

Planning to start your own? If so, here's what I found on how to get started in this new content area. Keep reading this blog to know the ABC of podcasting for beginners. 

Why Podcasting Might Be Your Next Big Move

Podcasts are super popular now, with lots of Americans giving them a listen. Over 62% of folks aged 12 and up have checked out a podcast, and 38% tune in every month. Big companies like Spotify and Apple are putting big bucks into podcasts, signing deals with famous folks like Joe Rogan and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. What's cool about podcasts is they grab your attention – and act as a background medium just like radio does. It keeps you hooked for more than 30 minutes! Plus, you can listen while you're cooking or driving. 

If you are considering starting your own podcast, it will bring lots of perks—like reaching new audiences, facing less competition, and building stronger connections with them. And guess what? It doesn't take much to get started.

The Ideal Everything for Podcasts

• The ideal length of a podcast: 22 minutes

• The best day to post a podcast: Tuesday

• Best frequency to post a podcast: Weekly

Forty percent of the Top 25 podcasts with a consistent posting schedule release episodes once a week. The next most popular frequency is twice a week.

Investing in Quality Podcasting Equipment

A good podcast needs good equipment, that's for sure. But if you want your podcast to make money, have you heard of the MVP concept? It means making the simplest version of your podcast, seeing if people like it, and then making it better based on their feedback. Invest in making a good podcast, see how it goes, then improve it from there.

1. Buy a Microphone 

Good audio quality depends on the microphone you use. A better microphone means your podcast will sound better. This is important, especially when your podcast is competing with big names like WNYC, NPR, and ESPN.

The best budget-friendly microphones for podcasting include the 

• Audio-Technica 

• ATR2100x-USB, 

• Blue Yeti Nano, 

• Samson Q2U

•  Zoom H1n Handy Recorder

These microphones offer a balance of affordability and quality, making them suitable choices for beginner podcasters worldwide.

2. Recording, uploading, and promoting

Before you start recording your podcast, there are a couple of things to do to get ready.

• Format: What’s your podcast going to look like?

• Content: What’s your podcast going to say?

Content is the key and Podnotes is a great tool to help you with your podcast journey. 

Podcasts can be set up in lots of different ways. It could just be you talking, or you 

might have co-hosts or guests. You could even take calls from listeners. Matt Haughey, the founder of Metafilter, suggested a while back that it's good to have two or three hosts, and that's still good advice today. 

To make your podcast sound neat and professional, it's smart to practice first. Think about what you want to talk about and make a rough plan. You don't need to write everything down word for word or follow a script. Just have an idea of what you'll cover and where you're going with it.

3. An Ideal Outline of A Podcast  

• Show Introduction (Introduce yourself and discuss what topics you'll cover): 30-60 seconds

• Intro Music (Use the same music for each episode to help listeners recognize your show): 30-60 seconds

• Topic 1: Discuss for 3 minutes

• Topic 2: Discuss for 3 minutes

• Interlude (Music or short break): 30 seconds

• Topic 3: Discuss for 3 minutes

• Topic 4: Discuss for 3 minutes

• Closing Remarks (Thank your audience, and guests, and preview the next show): 2 minutes

• Closing Music (Same as Intro music for consistency): 30-60 seconds

If you can't meet with your guests in person, a simple recorded Zoom call can be an easy solution for the actual recording process. Remember, podcasts are often casual chats between two people, and these spontaneous conversations can make a big impact. 

4. Editing and Polishing 

Podcasts can be long, so having the right parts in the right spots is important to keep your listeners interested. Choose the right editing software, organize your audio files, trim unnecessary parts, adjust the volume levels, mix everything together, and then export your final product. Additionally, transcribing your podcast can make it more accessible and easier to find in searches. Podnotes is an excellent tool to assist you with transcribing your podcast.

The most followed editing style for a podcast is the conversational style, where it sounds like a natural conversation between hosts or guests, with minimal editing to maintain authenticity.

5. Uploading Process

Before uploading your podcast, analyze which tools your target audience uses. Based on the apps they prefer, choose the platform wisely. 

Once your podcast is recorded, edited, and polished, you can upload it to hosting websites. These sites will generate an RSS feed for you, which you can then submit to platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and others.

6. Promotion

When it comes to promoting and sharing your podcast, the platform you choose to upload it on matters a lot. Websites like Soundcloud have great sharing features. You can easily share your podcast on Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms. Plus, you can embed the audio directly into your blog posts. 

Podcasts to Learn From

• The Tim Ferris Show 

• Joe Rogan Experience  

• Serial 

• Huberman Lab  

• Diary of a CEO 

Conclusion

Don't stress if your voice sounds odd or if you're nervous about public speaking. Many top podcasters started the same way. Simple podcasts don't need much editing. Tech skills are easier to learn now, and basic equipment costs as little as $40. 

Feeling better? Plus, Podnotes is your go-to solution for all things podcast-related, from repurposing content to tackling headaches like generating content and transcribing. Overall, it's a smart AI that will ease all the podcast-related hustle in seconds. Sign in now!