Your Podcast Debut: A Step-by-Step Guide
Preparing for your podcast debut will take some effort; however, your monthly budget will remain the same. You can format your podcast any way you want, with 5-minute or 1-hour episodes, educational or conversational.
It's entirely up to you how the world perceives you and what kind of energy they'll associate with it.
With your podcast debut, you'll reach a bigger audience and spread your message to a more significant number of people. It's also an excellent approach to promote your services in an informative and engaging manner.
I know many people who had amazing success using their podcasts to bring in new business clients, resulting in record-breaking income growth!
Podcast Debut: To give you more insight, here are reasons why you should get started with podcasts (if you haven’t done that yet).
After your podcast debut, you’ll be able to reach a larger audience
Podcasts are a creative approach for modern businesses to increase brand visibility and awareness. The podcast debut will introduce your brand to people who have never heard of you. It will serve as an additional outlet for growing your following.
Your target audience should typically be your clients, but it can also be a reliable recruiting approach.
Your podcast debut must be structured around growth and effective techniques for retaining customers who are already purchasing items or getting services from you.
Position yourself as a thought leader and build authority in your niche
One of the primary indications of a good brand is authority. People must trust you if they’re to choose your brand.
Sharing your expertise in your podcast debut demonstrates to your listeners that you're an expert – and they can hear it directly from you.
Once your new listeners hear that, they'll have enough faith in your brand to buy from you.
Making the world know that you're an expert in your field is critical for providing your brand with a competitive advantage, and a podcast is an ideal medium for it.
It allows you to build relationships
After you've established yourself as the expert in your niche, your business will thrive by discussing current trends related to your industry. This method keeps your podcast new and exciting and opens the door to meaningful relationships with potential consumers.
When discussing problems affecting your listeners, they'll become more invested. Additionally, coming up with new and fresh concepts implies drawing in more audience members (i.e., potential customers).
Finally, that conversation is how you can create a community. A podcast community is one of the most cost-effective and effective public relations efforts that a developing company can do. It adds emotional and monetary worth.
Expand your business network
Podcasts are always wonderful for guests since their distinct perspectives and experiences ensure that you have exciting, interesting dialogue from which your listeners can learn a lot.
Connecting with other industry players has tremendous potential for growth, especially for newer, smaller brands. Having guests on your show implies that their reputation will rub off a little on your brand.
It's easy to start a podcast, but it can be costly and time-consuming if the appropriate measures aren't taken, such as good branding and effective promotion techniques.
Podcast Debut: Here are the steps to getting started with a podcast for your business:
Make a Plan First
I want you to start on the right foot, so first, you must answer two crucial questions that will guide your decisions throughout creating your podcast.
Why are you making your podcast debut?
There isn't one right reason to start a podcast. New hosts are motivated by various things, but it’s critical to determine your goal ahead of time.
A podcast enables you to connect around a specific topic and find others who share enthusiasm with you, and no subject is off-limits.
To help you answer this question, here are a few reasons why podcasters started their own show:
- Adapt or enrich written or video content for blogs and websites.
- Promote a business or side hustle and acquire new leads.
- Share your knowledge to educate a community or become an industry expert.
- Contribute to charitable, philanthropic, and/or other community-based movements..
- Have fun while exploring new ways to express yourself creatively.
I'll go a step further—getting into podcasting to provide for your family isn't a good enough WHY. Regardless of how noble it is, the keyword remains “your” family. A WHY must be in service to someone else; with that, it's bigger.
I don't mean to deter you from starting a podcast. There are much easier ways to gain influence than podcasting. You should get into podcasting because it’s the best medium best suited to helping you to serve others
As business owners, we must speak up for those we serve – our audience. Consider viewing your show from the perspective of your listeners.
Ask yourself: how can you impact their lives , and what can you do to help them? Yes, you can start by helping them rather than selling your services. Shift your attention to providing content targeted to your client's needs through your show.
Having a go-giver mindset is critical to your success. You work with people, and being giving can help you build trust and foster relationships with those you serve. It ensures that your target audience sees you as a valued resource and, as a result, has more trust in you.
It solidifies your message and enables interaction without the tiresome hard-sell approach. It also helps you to stand out. When the subject of your industry comes up again, your audience will remember you more than a competitor who emphasized hard-selling over kindness.
What topic should you go for?
The topic of a podcast influences the structure, tone, and flow of your episodes. There’s no “correct” method to choose what to discuss, although it's beneficial to consider several choices before making a decision.
Whether the topic is money or an unsolved crime, successful podcasts focus on capturing the attention of their target audience.
What makes a good podcast topic is narrating an emotional narrative and presenting the facts so that the audience feels hope, suspense, pain, and happiness as your story unfolds.
Start your research for a podcast topic by listening to your favorite broadcasts. Observe how the host tells the narrative and what emotions stem as you listen.
Whatever idea you choose, the host's passion and enthusiasm make for a fantastic podcast.
Avoid covering everything under the sun on your podcast, especially if you're just starting. To attract the right audience, you must be specific about the topic of your podcast. Ask yourself these questions:
- What’s my main area of interest? Do I have a lot of expertise or experience with that topic?
- Is my target audience interested in this topic?
- Can I apply this to my business?
- How can my brand educate people about this topic?
- What personal experiences can I share with my audience that are relevant?
It's best if your focus is related to your business. This will showcase your authority and experience while increasing your credibility and trust with your audience.
Choose a Podcast Name Before Your Podcast Debut
Your podcast name is an essential aspect of your show. It makes an immediate impression on listeners and establishes the tone of your podcast. While you can name your podcast whatever you want, here are a couple of tips to get you started:
- Keep it short and sweet, but remember to include keywords: Describe your show's tone, topic, and personality. Consider how people search for information on your topic and incorporate those key terms. It can help your show appear higher in search results, attracting new listeners.
- Allow it to glide off your tongue: Remember that you'll be talking about the name as much as writing it down. Check that it doesn't feel like a mouthful and comes out smoothly each time.
- Secure comparable domain names and social media: You'll want these channels to be as close to your podcast name as possible, so listeners can quickly find you online.
- Don't be too clever: if you have to explain the meaning of your name to potential listeners, keep brainstorming. This isn't the place to devise your most bizarre pun; keep it basic.
- There are a couple of podcast name generators that can help if you're stuck on ideas. They’ll also tell you whether the domain name is currently available.
Here are a few free tools:
Find a Format that Works for You
Podcast formats are ways to organize the content of your podcast debut. They're delivery strategies that provide structure to your podcast. A suitable format will keep your content organized and accessible to your audience.
Your show will appear disconnected and haphazard if it lacks a solid framework.
Podcast formats also provide your listeners with consistency. Your listeners will know exactly what to expect when they tune in to a new episode if you stick to a format. You'll lose listeners if your show alternates between a serious solo monologue one week and a funny panel the next.
Furthermore, a solid format will help your audience describe your show to their friends. They'll be able to say, “It's Josh talking with people who are in B2B sharing their expertise.”
This type of word-of-mouth marketing is critical to your show's success, so make it simple for your listeners to advocate for you.
You can create your structure or utilize one of the five most common podcast formats. Each approach has advantages, so consider the ideal way to educate your prospective audience about your topic. Here are common podcast formats you can consider:
- Monologue podcasts
- Co-hosted podcasts
- Interview based podcasts
- Panel podcasts
- Story-telling podcasts
Whatever format you choose will influence how you generate content, who you invite to be a guest on your show, and how you (and maybe your team) collaborate to record and post episodes.
You don't need to choose one of the podcast formats I suggested, but they’re popular for a reason — they work!
Getting guests on your show
If you’re doing a monologue podcast, you can skip this part. Having the right guest on your podcast can help you reach new listeners while providing essential information and captivating your current audience. However, it's simple to get it all wrong, and publishing an episode with a boring guest can dramatically hurt your show's growth.
Producing a successful podcast episode with a guest is about more than simply getting outstanding audio quality; you're also striving for amazing content. The key to this is having the proper guests on your podcast. Even if you're a fantastic podcast host, getting excellent stuff from a terrible guest takes time and effort.
Prequalify your potential guests
When you begin your search for potential guests, you will notice that there are some who are a better fit than others. Being a good guest is a skill that requires practice, so to find the right person, there are some general characteristics to look for.
Looking up a potential guest online (pull up their website and scroll through their social media) will give you an idea of who they are. There are exceptions to this rule, but always keep this in mind.
Having a guest on your show is a two-way street — they share your message, and you spread theirs. If you book someone who doesn't have a solid social media presence, they'll be unable to help you promote the episode. So what they lack in followers, they need to make up for in genuine expertise or entertainment value.
With thousands of potential guests lining up, why not ask your audience if you still need to decide which way to take? Leverage your listeners and gather suggestions for the types of people or topics they would want to learn about.
Remember, if it doesn't gel, don't force it. Don't spend time booking a person that's not the right fit for your show!
Choosing the optimal podcast episode length that goes with your podcast format
The rule book often gets thrown out the window regarding podcast episode length. I recommend doing whatever feels appropriate for your content and making it as long as necessary to deliver your message successfully.
While you don't have to have the same length episode every time, the rule of thumb is to keep your episodes in a similar length range. This helps keep your listeners on board because there's that element of familiarity.
When your episodes are too different, for example, 30 minutes longer than previous episodes, your regular listeners may not be too happy about this sudden change.
Pro tip: Instead of aiming for a set length, focus on simplifying your podcast content ideas. People are busy, so stay away from long-winded episodes.
Plan your episodes
Podcast episode planning is where the “rubber meets the road” in podcast creation. Too often, podcast hosts prepare the big picture first, then wing it or skim through the episode planning process. And it shows.
Your listeners will notice when you’re flying by the seat of your pants. The transitions are awkward, and there's generally some dead air.
When podcast episodes are done utilizing best practices, you and the guest(s) can relax, go with the flow, and be present.
Your podcast episodes should always feature these elements, regardless of format, tone, niche, or cadence:
- Intro
- Topic Discussion
- Quick break that may include an advertisement or offer
- Outro
- Call to action (CTA)
They can always be in a different order, but your episodes should always flow seamlessly. The magic of a great podcast episode is measured by how your content delivers on the episode. This includes how the title description smoothly flows into the next, regardless of order.
Tip: The first few minutes of your podcast episode should pique the curiosity of your listeners. Find the ‘secret sauce' to hook your listeners in the first few minutes.
Another thing to consider is how often you'll post your podcast episodes. I post new episodes daily- yes, I'm a content machine! Generally, the more frequently you post, the shorter your episodes. When you publish less regularly, your episodes can be longer.
If you're like me, then consider generating 15 to 20-minute episodes. Forty-five minutes to one-hour episodes can be ideal if you only publish once a week.
Get your podcasting kit before your podcast debut
You can create an excellent podcast with budget-friendly pieces of equipment. You can also go all out and purchase the best equipment available, and it's all up to you.
However, if you're just starting, investing heavily in your tools is a good idea only once you establish your podcasting footing. Prioritize getting the most crucial equipment first, such as:
- Solid Recording Space (Preferably Soundproof)
- A Laptop or Desktop Computer
- A Reliable Microphone and Mic Gear
- Recording Software
- Noise-Canceling Headphones
- A Hosting Service to Broadcast Your Podcasts
For a deeper dive into what podcasting kit to get, head over to this guide.
Start recording for your podcast debut
After you've worked out the fundamentals, you're ready to record your podcast. Familiarize yourself with the recording processes and record as many times as necessary to feel at ease.
For your first recording, aim for something other than perfection. Instead, attempt to record in areas where you believe you can improve. Check to see if your microphone is working properly. Learn the fundamentals of audio editing and how to apply effects to your podcast.
Make sure that you do interviews properly. Begin by establishing rapport with your visitors and making them feel at ease.
Utilize your conversational abilities and ask insightful questions throughout the interview. This delivers meaningful information to your audience.
Edit your podcast episodes for your podcast debut
Editing is quite crucial. The editing quality mainly determines the overall quality of your podcast. Simply distributing your podcasts without trimming unnecessary segments or adding unique elements might quickly bore your listeners.
Ensure that your end product is engaging and has a consistent design with your brand. Focus on these three podcast elements such as:
- Music – avoid having unpleasant gaps in your audio between talks or adverts. Fill in the blanks with music for your intro and outro. Enhance the rest of your audio recording by including special sound effects that highlight vital sections of your podcast.
- Voice-overs – always begin your podcast with an introduction to yourself or your company. Begin with a little voice-over for openings and end each episode properly. This will give your podcast some individuality. In subsequent episodes, you may also review past programs briefly.
- Art – make your identity known. Create artwork that incorporates your brand's colors, logo, podcast name, or host. You want your listeners to know you immediately, increasing brand awareness.
Creating a podcast's editing and production phase is frequently the most difficult for new podcasters. After a few episodes, you'll find your footing and improve your editing skills.
Publishing your podcast debut
Repeat after me: “I can't upload my podcast directly to Apple Podcasts or Spotify.”
You might be scratching your head right now, but let me explain. Podcast listening sites and applications don't save your podcast information. They only receive the audio files from a podcast hosting site via an RSS feed.
Your podcast's RSS feed connects you to your audience, so it's critical to select a podcast hosting provider that meets your needs. Some of the most popular include:
Captivate (this is what I use)
Castos
Simplecast
ZenCast
RSS.com
Afterward, it's vital to publish your podcast to as many podcast directories as possible to make it available to everyone regardless of the platforms they choose. You only need to create an account with each directory and submit your RSS link. The major players are:
Spotify
Google Play
Apple Podcasts (iTunes)
Stitcher
Podcasher
TuneIn
Pro Tip: Get started with the top three directories: Apple Podcasts (previously iTunes), Spotify, and Google Play.
Promoting your podcast debut
Continue promoting your podcast when new episodes are released, or promote your library after the launch date. Consider implementing a few of these promotional strategies for each new episode to boost listenership and attract more subscribers:
- Audiograms: make short video clips of viral quotations from an episode to promote a newly released episode. Audiograms are ideal for promotions on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
- Contact brands and persons you mention: if you give a product or person a glowing review, let them know. Brands and individuals encourage the organic promotion of their services and enjoy displaying “social proof” of others supporting them. Tag them on social media or write them a quick email about the mention, and you might earn a retweet.
- Promote podcast debut to listeners by appearing as a guest on another show. You get to showcase your expertise in your field while also introducing your podcast to new listeners. Try subreddits like r/PodcastGuest Exchange and Facebook communities like Podcasters' Support Group to pitch your expertise.
When marketing your podcast debut, you're going to experience some frustration. Promoting your podcast debut can be awkward, and the needle may only move a little despite your efforts. However, don't give up! Continuously produce new content after your podcast debut to establish a following.
When only 10 people listen, it can feel like a thankless job, but it's critical to your success. Too many podcasters never reached hundreds of downloads because they needed to allow themselves more time to succeed.
Keep producing high-quality content. Podcasts are popular, but consumers prefer to listen to exceptional broadcasts rather than average ones. As you promote new episodes, keep an eye on the quality and commit to a consistent release schedule.
Everyone has a different definition of success. One hundred thousand downloads for your podcast debut isn't what you're looking for, and that's fine.
Raring to go for Your Podcast Debut?
Starting something new can be daunting. However, if it helps your business grow and, in turn, helps educate your audience with valuable content, then why not? Podcasts deliver content that targets and meets your ideal consumers where they are.
It creates audience trust, expands your brand's network, and establishes credibility. From the perspective of a business leader, a podcast debut helps to lay the groundwork for building your brand.
A great podcast debut requires preparation and planning, but once you get into the groove, it'll become an easily actionable item on your branding to-do list. An excellent way to stay committed after your podcast debut is to recall why you started in the first place.
So why not take a Post-It note and write why you're so excited to start? Put it somewhere you see every day to remind yourself of why you give generously to your audience.
Listen to the Thoughtful Entrepreneur
More Resources from UpMyInfluence:
How to Be An Exceptional Podcast Host