Podcasting is a way to connect with people to share ideas and opinions or have a conversation about the topics that you think people always want to hear or be part of. Starting a podcast with no budget or fat wallet can be overwhelming, especially when you have no idea how to begin with. So today, we will guide you through the confusion and bring you some interesting guides to help you start your own podcast.
Let’s get started from scratch!
What is Podcast?
A podcast is a digital conversation platform where content is streamed either in audio or video format. It is episodic, which means content is streamed regularly on platforms. It covers a wide array of topics for discussion, from politics, education, and interviews to storytelling and entertainment. You can invite guests to your podcast platform or go single discussing your niche ideas.
How to Start a Podcast?
Now that you know what a podcast is, let’s move on to how to start a podcast from scratch for free.
Yes, you read it right. You can start a podcast for free. All you need is a laptop, a smartphone, and a good internet connection, which is the basic that everybody has these days. Let’s cover it step by step.
Define Your Podcast Niche and Audience
The first thing that you should do is decide your niche and your audience. It means what kind of audience you want to target and what topic you are going to talk about. Choose the niche that you are passionate about and have good knowledge of, as this will give you an edge in fully and most enthusiastically engaging with your audience.
Choose a Name for Your Podcast
Once you have decided on the niche and target audience, it’s time for you to move to the next step, i.e., choosing a good and relatable name for your podcast. An easy and engaging name that goes with the niche is the best option.
Plan Your Content
Planning the content for every episode will provide you with clarity on your podcast goal. Create a mind map to help you get back on track if you lose traction during the conversation.
Make a rough sketch for your initial episodes and write down the content that should be discussed. A good conversation is streamlined. It will keep your audience engaged and coming back for more.
Choose A Platform
Various podcasting platforms like Anchor, Buzzsprout, and many more are available for free. These platforms are available for free. These platforms not only stream your podcast for free but also distribute them to popular platforms like Spotify, Apple, and Google.
Recording & Editing
Recording and editing are important steps in the podcast journey. If you are thinking this is gonna cost you a fortune, nah aa! It’s not. All you need is a good microphone and editing software. A good microphone can cost you as low as $20, and the good news is that the editing software is all free. If you are an Apple user, you can use GarageBand editing software, which is free on any Apple device; otherwise, you can use Audacity, which is free for any device.
Cover Art
Cover art plays a very important role when it comes to attracting the attention of the audience. To create compelling cover art, you can use a free app called Canva, which is user-friendly and doesn’t require any graphic designing diploma.
Podcast Description
A podcast description is the first line of content that the listeners see. Therefore, make the podcast description compelling, engaging, and captivating. Use relevant keywords where necessary to optimize discoverability. Think about it as a sneak peek into what your podcast is all about.
Record a Trailer Episode
Before releasing the full new episode, a teaser for this upcoming episode. This will create curiosity in the listeners and will also serve as an opportunity to showcase your personality & style.
Launch & Promote
After you have launched your podcast, it’s time for the podcast to get discoverable and downloadable. Apply a grassroots approach to spread the wings further. Share the link to your podcast with your friends and family. Use your social media account and promote it there. These small steps will help you reach and gain more audience.
Monetize Your Podcast
There are various ways through which you can monetize your podcast and make passive income, too. Sponsorship and advertising are two ways through which you can generate passive income with your podcast; affiliate marketing is another way. There are other ways through which you can promote your podcast, like advertising networks, etc.
Conclusion
If you have always wanted to start your podcast but could not do it for one reason or another, 2024 is the best year to start it. Earlier information and knowledge about the podcast was limited, and not many people knew about it, but now a large number of people know about it, so what could be a better time than 2024 to start your own podcast? We have shared all the information to help you if you are looking to start your podcasting in 2024. Go ahead and get started.
Happy Podcasting!