How to Start a Podcast: Guide for Beginners | SGS

In just a few short years, the global podcast audience has skyrocketed - from 332 million listeners in 2020 to an expected 505 million by the end of 2024. That's a surge of over 50%! It’s clear, then, how much podcasts have become a go-to source of entertainment and information for millions around the world.

Podcasts are also a great way to help your brand stand out by offering unique, value-driven content that’s different from your competitors. It's a cost-effective strategy that can lead to a ton of benefits. So, how to start a podcast exactly? Let’s dive deep into what is a podcast and how to make a podcast in a simple, step-by-step manner.

Step 1: Understanding What a Podcast Is

Before you dive into the nitty-gritty of how to start a podcast, you need to grasp the basics: What is a podcast? Simply put, a podcast is a series of spoken-word content, distributed as episodes, that listeners can stream or download online. Podcasts can range from personal stories and interviews to educational content and in-depth discussions on niche topics. It all depends on your target audience and what you wish to get out of this platform.

On the other hand, although podcasts traditionally focus on audio, video podcasts are gaining traction, offering an additional layer of engagement - and, as an added bonus, they can significantly boost your SEO! On platforms like YouTube, for example, viewers retain 95% of a message when watching a video, compared to only 10% when reading text. What’s more, videos are 50 times more likely to achieve organic page ranks on Google compared to text-only content (Vidico).

Step 2: Defining Your Niche and Format

Now you know what is a podcast, you may be beginning to wonder what it should be about. Here is where you choose your niche and format. Think about what excites you and resonates with your potential audience. Are you passionate about a specific subject, or do you have expertise in a particular field? Defining your niche will not only guide your content but also help attract a loyal listener base, as people are more likely to listen to things that interest them rather than just because they have purchased/browsed on your business before.

The next step is considering the format that best suits your style. Here are a few popular options:

• Solo monologues: Perfect for sharing personal insights or telling stories.
• Interviews: Ideal for getting into different perspectives by talking to guests.
• Co-hosted shows: A more dynamic format where multiple hosts discuss topics together.
• Narrative storytelling: This is a blend of interviews and host-driven narration, which is great for in-depth exploration of complex stories.

Taking the time to choose the right format is key, as it shapes the overall feel of your podcast and how you engage with your listeners.

Step 3: Gathering the Right Equipment

Creating a podcast isn’t just about finding a topic you’ll like to talk about and pressing record, good audio quality is essential too! This helps keep your audience engaged - you wouldn’t want to listen to an audio that is static and cuts off at the middle of the episode - so investing in decent equipment is crucial when learning how to make a podcast.

At a minimum, you’ll need:

• A microphone: Something like the Shure MV7 can offer high-quality sound without breaking the bank.

• Headphones: These will help you monitor your recording in real-time.

• Recording software: Tools like Audacity or GarageBand are great for capturing and editing your episodes.

What's more, for those learning how to start a content creation business and are focusing on podcasts, investing in quality podcasting gear can also improve your brand’s image, as it showcases a level of professionalism that will resonate with your audience.

Step 4: Planning and Recording Your First Episode

Now comes the exciting part - planning and recording your first episode! Planning is crucial to ensure your content flows logically and keeps listeners hooked. To do this, you can outline your episode to make sure you hit all the points you want to cover without getting lost in the details. And, when you’re ready to record, find a quiet space, set up your equipment, and run a quick test to ensure everything is working correctly.

This moment is crucial - you’re not just recording an episode; you’re setting the tone for your entire podcast! If you’re creating a video podcast, remember to focus on both audio and visual quality - good lighting and a tidy environment go a long way.

Step 5: Editing & Publishing Your Podcast

Once you’ve recorded, it’s time to polish your episode through editing. This process involves getting rid of any errors, adding intros and outros, and enhancing the overall sound quality. Software like Audacity, GarageBand, or Descript can help streamline this process, making it easier for even beginners to produce professional-sounding episodes.

Publishing Your Podcast

After editing and making sure everything sounds perfect, the next step is publishing your podcast. To do this, you’ll need to upload your episode to a hosting platform like Buzzsprout or Podbean, which will then distribute your content to multiple directories such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, making sure the episode is seen/heard in every platform your audience might prefer.

Publishing is also the stage where you should think about your ranking in search engines. But, how can a podcast increase SEO? Relevant keywords into your episode titles, show notes, transcriptions, and descriptions can greatly improve your podcast’s discoverability. So, if you’re wondering, can a video podcast help SEO? The answer is absolutely. Video content can be optimized for search engines, making your podcast more visible and attracting a wider audience. This is because platforms like YouTube, the second-largest search engine globally, heavily favor video content.

Step 6: Promoting Your Podcast & Boosting SEO

This step is essential for growing your listener base. Share episodes across social media platforms, collaborate with other creators, and encourage your listeners to leave reviews. By enhancing your podcast’s visibility in search engines through SEO practices, you’ll also drive more traffic to your content.

Wrapping Up

If you’re interested in how to get into content creation, podcasting is a great way to start. It can serve as a standalone project or complement your broader content strategy. Plus, it offers an accessible entry point to build an audience, establish authority, and even monetize your content over time.

But podcasting isn’t just about talking into a microphone - it’s about creating a space where your audience can get to know you, see different facets of your personality, and ultimately, build a deeper connection with your brand. However, remember that consistency is key. Starting a podcast and then abandoning it can do more harm than good. So, take it seriously, plan strategically, and watch your community - and brand loyalty - grow.