How to Start a Podcast
Here is my complete guide to starting a podcast in 2022. I’ve selected the 42 best of the best resources on starting a podcast. Using them will save you time whether you don’t know where to begin or you want to hone your podcasting craft.
Read on to learn:
• what to do before you even touch a microphone
• how to get guests and ways to get the most value from them
• professional recording tips and techniques
• podcast editing that will make your shows sound slick and professional
• scaling ideas to maximize your stats
• promotion tips to extend your reach and connect with more people
I’m keen for you to get started with these great resources so you can begin seeing positive results.
Let’s dive in.
Contents
Contents
Before You Start
Strong foundations are critical. Knowing why you podcast will help every aspect of what you do, including planning content, finding guests, and buying equipment.
I’m going to show you easy ways to to align your podcast with your values. More than 2 million podcasts compete for attention and you will see how to make your podcast shine by being clear about what you are doing, why, and for whom.
Check out these posts to get your podcast on point from the get-go.
What is the Purpose of a Podcast?
(PodShop)
There are an estimated 485 million podcast listeners worldwide. This site gives you history and background so you can put your podcast in context in today’s podcasting environment.
Top 10 Reasons to Start a Podcast
(Tyler Basu)
Why start a podcast? This post will draw your attention to 10 fantastic reasons to start podcasting. Take one and get specific with your intentions, or draw on them all for motivation.
Starting a Business Podcast in 2021: The Complete Step by Step Guide
(Podcast Rocket)
Starting a podcast and starting a podcast for your business are different. I’ve packed this post with concise information to help you align your podcast with your business.
How To Start A Podcast: A Complete Step-By-Step Tutorial
(Podcast Insights)
Podcast insights will walk you through every step of podcast creation. Check it out in its entirety, but it’s particularly good on the planning stage.
How to Start a Podcast in 2021? Find Answers to All FAQs
(Riverside)
I love this blog post on how to start a podcast. Arranged as FAQs, it is very easy to use. It speaks clearly and directly to the beginner podcaster.
How to Start a Podcast: Every Single Step for 2021
(The Podcast Host)
This great walkthrough will take you from “why are you doing a podcast” to “next steps after you launch.” And it will do it in 20 paces, quicker than you can get from your chair to the refrigerator.
How To Start A Podcast In 2021: A Step-By-Step Guide
(RSS)
This post from RSS is one of the best resources on the web on every essential aspect of podcasting. Surprise surprise, it also explains RSS feeds and how they can boost your podcasting success.
Podcasting for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Getting Started With Podcasts
(Buffer)
Kevan Lee, Buffer’s VP of marketing, addresses common fears about podcasting. Check out this post for cast-iron advice from an industry pro backed by a team that loves data.
How to Start a Successful Podcast (For Under $100)
(Shopify)
If you enjoy making decisions based on facts, you’ll love this step-by-step guide. It’s full of stats, useful images, and links to more resources that will help you go deeper.
Guests
With multiple voices, viewpoints, and tones, a podcast can be more dynamic, engaging, and fun. Having a new guest every episode is an excellent way to keep a show vibrant and the audience on its toes.
But how do you attract quality guests that are right for your podcast without exhausting the well? These resources on podcast guests will help you consider which guests align with your podcast, how to approach them, and how to make the experience meaningful and memorable for everyone involved, including your guest.
9 Tips to Get Your First Podcast Guests
(Take Flyte)
This post is a great icebreaker on the subject of podcast guests. Get straight in there with nine ways to find guests to appear on your show.
How to Find Podcast Guests Who’ll Bring Value for Your Listeners
(The Podcast Host)
When you understand some techniques for approaching guests for your podcast episodes, check this out to focus on the guests that add the most value and align with your brand.
21 Great Resources for Finding Podcast Guests
(Podcast Websites)
Potential guests who could delight your listeners are everywhere. Here are 21 places to look first.
How to Onboard Guests Into Your Podcast
(Podcast Rocket)
This is an excellent post on an under-emphasized aspect of podcasting. Once you’ve got your guests lined up, what do you do with them?
Here, I tell you how to treat your podcast guests so they have an enjoyable, professional experience and so your brand gets the most value from their contribution.
How to Get the Best Podcast Guests
(ConvertKit)
“Oh friend, we’ve been there.”
Finding and working with a guest can be tricky. Be a podcast-guest boss with ConvertKit’s guide. Among other things, it will show you how to make your guest feel special. A brand that makes people feel special is a brand to remember.
High Profile Podcast Guests
(Rachel Corbett)
Now you know how to get a guest, how do you get one that will blow your audience’s socks off? Rachel will help you develop the practice and mindset to book exceptional guests for your podcast.
Do Podcasts Pay Their Guests
(Improve Podcast)
Do you pay podcast guests? Here’s a guide to why podcasters tend not to pay their guests and the benefits you may be offering instead.
How Do Top Podcasts’ Do Their Intros
(Podcast Rocket)
In this post by me, you will see why it’s important to include an introduction when you record your podcast episodes.Then I’ll teach you how long your introductions should be, what they should contain for optimum results, and much more.
How to Record a Podcast
(Rachel Corbett)
This addresses the little matter of what to use to record your podcast. It’s a gentle overview, so a good ice breaker before checking out some of the more in-depth resources below.
How to Record a Podcast
(The Podcast Host)
This post contains a good overview of how to record your podcast. Then it gets into helpful detail about software.
How to Start a Podcast 2020: Podcasting for Beginners
(B&H Photo Video)
This is an awesome 12-minute video with 30,000 likes at the time of writing, all deserved. It gets into the what and why of recording equipment. And you get to see the equipment in action, which will help those visual learners out there.
Podcast Recording Tips
(Castos)
Now, how about a massive 21 tips to help you record like a pro? This post will have you adopting professional behaviors, which is so important for an organized, clean-sounding podcast. Learn to create an experience that represents you and your brand.
The Best Podcast Recording Apps for iPhone
(Microphone Basics)
If you own an Apple iPhone, it might not surprise you that you can use it to create and share your podcast. Here’s a rundown of the best podcast iPhone recording apps to save you time and money.
The Best Podcast Apps for Android 2021
(Android Central)
This is Android Central’s comprehensive and useful list of podcast apps for Android. It starts with the top 3 and then explores other options that might also suit your podcasting needs and style.
13 Vocal Tips for Podcasters to Get More Listeners
(Improve Podcast)
Recording a podcast isn’t all about knobs, mics, and apps. It’s about you and your voice.
Whereas many people assume that their voice is fixed, this post encourages you to experiment. Use your voice as the tool it is by applying these simple techniques.
Professional Audio
(CopyBlogger)
This is a great lesson in improving audio quality. Read this post for a great explanation of what can disrupt your audio recording and how to avoid it.
Editing
Wondering how other professional podcasts sound so slick?
Proper preparation, practice, and plenty of time editing in post-production.
Editing won’t only change the length of your podcast. It can have a significant impact on its tone, flow, authenticity, and ultimate success.
Eliminate unwanted noise, pauses, hesitations, mistakes, and other nasties without losing the heart of your episodes with these great posts on how to edit a podcast.
How to Make Editing Easier
(Rachel Corbett)
Before you get into the technical side of how to edit, check out this excellent post. Here, Rachel focuses on making your podcasting life easier. Learn to record your podcast with editing in mind.
The 5 Best Podcast Editing Software, According to HubSpot’s Senior Podcast Producer
(Hubspot)
Cut through the noise. This is a selection of top editing software to polish your podcast.
How to Edit a Podcast
(Lower Street)
I love this post because it’s so comprehensive. They dig deep, so you’ll come out with everything you need to know to edit your podcast professionally. However, if you are thinking about outsourcing the post-production of your podcast. Check our post about podcast agency..
The Easiest Way to EDIT a Podcast // How to Edit a Podcast Quick
(Pod Sound School)
Quick and easy are two words that don’t always go together with podcast editing. Watch this excellent video to learn skills and ideas that take pain out of podcasting.
How to Edit a Podcast Properly
(Castos)
It’s great to get tips from podcasters, but how about some killer tips from recording engineers? Look out for awesome screenshots and commentary based on real-life, professional experience.
How to Edit a Podcast in GarageBand
(BuzzSprout)
Garageband is an awesome app for Mac OS. Typically used for making professional quality music – for free – did you know that you can use it to record your podcast – for free? Check out this video to find out much more. (And if you encounter any recording issues, check our guide on what to do when Garageband stops recording).
Scaling
Scaling your podcast will enable you to make high-quality episodes fast and get the maximum result for your time and energy. Once you’ve made a podcast episode, that’s a long-term asset.
Learning how to share, leverage, and polish your episodes can help you scale to a million downloads. Check out these resources for skills, techniques, and attitudes to get more for your effort.
Podcast Ownership Agreement: What is it, and Why do I Need One?
(Podcast Rocket)
Not many people talk about this aspect of podcasting, so I did.
It’s wise to make a contract so that you and your guests know where you stand regarding ownership and use of the content. Check out this post and scale your podcast in confidence.
Average Downloads for New Podcasts: 13 real-world examples and what to expect
(Income School)
Income school has created this post full of real examples that give you an idea of what is possible for your podcast, how you compare to others, and how high you can aim.
How to Scale a Podcast Fast to Over 1 Million Downloads
(Improve Podcast)
To scale sensibly, keep it simple. This post on scaling your podcast will keep you on the straight and narrow so that you scale successfully, focusing your time and energy.
How to Scale a Podcast to 1 Million Downloads
(Entrepreneur)
Eric Siu, collaborator of Neil Patel and podcasting expert in his own right, will tell you how to scale your podcast to a million listens. To paraphrase: Don’t cry about it; just do the work and set yourself apart.
Podcast Promotion: The Complete List (2021)
(Podcast Rocket)
I personally selected 104 tips to help you promote your podcast. This post will make promotion exciting and effective.
We Didn’t Know How to Promote a Podcast. So Here’s All We Learned
(Buffer)
The people at Buffer are masters of using social media. Turn to them for great advice on how to promote and grow your podcast.
11 Strategies to Market Your Podcast in 2020
(Outbrain)
Check this out for strategies that are more “out-of-the-box” than other podcast guides. These words will help you do more with what you’ve got.
How To Promote A Podcast: The 2021 Ultimate Guide to Podcast Marketing
(Castos)
Another post from Castos. This one is remarkably comprehensive and sure to help you. It starts by explaining the two pillars of growing a podcast: quality content and time.
The Ultimate Guide to Promoting Your Podcast: Part 1
(Spreaker)
Bigger isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s just bigger. This two-part podcast guide won’t disappoint though. The first part is particularly good on the importance of maintaining a podcast website alongside the podcast itself.
The Ultimate Guide to Promoting Your Podcast: Part 2
(Spreaker)
Part 2 of this great-looking, easy-to-use guide will help you create a complete, actionable marketing strategy for your podcast.
Podcast Marketing: 50 podcasters share the tactics they used to grow their shows
(Buzzsprout)
I believe in learning from those who do as well as teach. BuzzSprout shares tips from 50 experienced, successful, working podcasters to help you grow your podcast. There is a section on marketing, but the entire post is podcast-growth gold.
Conclusion
So, we’ve reached the end.
Now you should have everything you need to go from an idea (or even no idea) to attracting top-tier guests and achieving impressive downloads per episode per day.
I hope you have a successful, creative, enlightening journey making, perfecting, and growing your podcast.
Comment below to let me know what was most helpful about this guide to the best resources on the web for starting a podcast.
If there’s something you’d like to see in this guide, leave me a message to let me know.
Now It’s Your Turn
That’s quite a list, right?
I hope it helps you on your journey.
Maybe not all of them work for you.
But I hope there is one perfect resource to start a podcast for you.
Take what works and ditch the rest.
The best of luck to you in starting a podcast.
