How To Start A Podcast The Right Way (The Definitive Complete Guide for 2022)

Last updated on January 19th, 2023

There is no denying that podcasting has quickly become one of the most popular, efficient ways to share stories, news, insights, and opinions. From short, quirky storytelling to extensively researched investigative journalism, there seems to be a podcast for everyone and you are not alone if you’ve put some thought into starting a podcast yourself. Starting a podcast can be a fun creative endeavor, a hobby, or for a small percentage: additional income.

However, “how to start a podcast” seems to be the question most new entrants have. We hope to walk you through how to start a podcast with this comprehensive guide. We’ve talked about why everyone should start a podcast before. We’ve told you that you can set up a podcast recording studio for less than $100.

In several ways, podcasting is a relatively easy medium to dive into with ubiquitous pitches of low barriers of entry, affordable equipment, and the possibility to be up and running within just a few weeks. However, anyone who has ventured into podcasting knows that releasing your first episode is really just the start, and it is truly an uphill climb from there. 

Throughout this guide, we hope to provide you with a basic step-by-step on how to launch a show that can be syndicated and discovered on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more, as well as provide you with tips that will help make continuing your podcast an easier process. 

What is a podcast, actually?

What a podcast is, actually, an audio or visual serial much like a radio program, except you can listen on demand through your favorite podcast player.

Before you even begin podcasting, understanding what a podcast is, how it’s formatted, the history and background and how new listeners discover podcasts can be helpful. 

You are probably well aware that a podcast is a portmanteau of the words “pod,” taken from the word iPod, and “broadcast”, however, today podcasts are hardly limited to iPods. Both audio and video podcasts exist, however, we will largely be focusing on audio since it is the more popular format, and the growth of platforms like YouTube and Twitch have made video podcasts less common.

When a podcast episode is ready to be shared, the file is typically uploaded to a podcast host that stores the audio files and then creates an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed that can be distributed and synced with various online directories such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. 

While you can certainly download a podcast episode directly and listen as an MP3, it is the ability to share a feed with consumers through various online directories that makes podcasts so appealing. Rather than having to share files directly with listeners, the ability to subscribe and automatically be fed new episodes when they are released makes the process easier for both creators and audiences.

Unlike radio, you do not have to “tune in” at a certain time to find a podcast and because of the use of RSS feeds, distributors can share their episodes on as many platforms as they like and reach increasingly large new audiences. It’s scalable, on-demand audio.

Start Podcasting by Planning and Thinking Like a Podcast Listener

The biggest misconception of podcasting is that the average person can simply set up a microphone, share their thoughts on the news of the day or pop culture, and instantly find an audience. Really, starting a successful podcast starts right here. In the planning stage.

With the growth of podcasting, it has become increasingly hard to “break out” and much like YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter, lots of content is created and only ever seen or heard by a few followers. If you want to make a podcast for the fun of it, this may not be a concern, but for creators looking to build or grow a brand, share insight on a field of expertise or grow a large following, this step is by far the most important. 

If you decide to start a podcast, you’re going to be overwhelmed. Feeling overwhelmed at the start is perfectly natural.

To start a podcast takes hard work, and more work, and more work, and mo—

Why did you decide to start a podcast?

At the core, a podcast needs to have information that cannot be found elsewhere, in the form of research, opinions, stories, entertainment, or something else, presented by someone that the audience thinks is the best person to be presenting that information. You need to come across as a smart cookie.

If you want to start an interview show, you’ll need compelling guests, a unique angle in your questioning, and proven expertise on both sides. If you want to discuss pop culture or the news, the same applies.

For comedy, investigative, or any other form of podcasts you will want to determine if you are putting out content that has not already been done before, or at least not as well as you can do it. Essentially, ask yourself the question “Why me?” Why should a listener choose your show over the numerous other podcasts available? 

A podcast presented from scratch in a saturated market means you really need to drill down into your niche.

Thinking of these differentiators before you even begin is a foundational step to creating a successful podcast.

Why this topic to start a podcast?

This topic is perfect to start a podcast because it allows me to explore my opinion on the matter and share what I have learned. You may be thinking.

The perfect podcast exists somewhere between broad and niche, with enough content to return week after week with new information and enough specificity that it does not get lost in the mix of dozens of other similar shows. 

Often, it can be helpful to lean a bit more on the niche side for the sake of building a small but loyal audience dedicated to the exact topic you are planning to discuss. The old adage applies here: if you try to build something for everyone it won’t work for anyone.

Shows focused on specific pop culture or exact moments in history are proof that this can work. There are countless massively successful podcasts based on a seeming niche subject, here are a couple of my favorite examples:

• 99% Invisible is essentially a podcast about how design impacts our life
• The Adventure Zone started as a Dungeons & Dragons podcast
• Revisionist History explores and analyzes individual events in history

If you spend any time on the iTunes/Apple Podcast charts or read any other list of popular podcasts, it can be overwhelming how many popular shows either are hosted by celebrities or other personas with established audiences, as well as how many are created or distributed by big-name studios, networks or platforms.

It is no surprise that these shows can get an initial head start because they have a pre-established audience, but don’t be scared off or intimidated. Plenty of newbie podcasters make it too, and lots of big shows that are now tied to major networks began in bedrooms or basements. 

Ultimately, you’re going to be technically inclined to create the show you want. Sometimes it’s an art and that goes beyond podcast listing information.

Pros and cons of different podcast formats and what they look like

Some people may disagree with me here, however, here are the different formats of podcasts. Admittedly, it’s difficult to bucket some of these because there are always exceptions. 

Talking head and interview-style podcasts:

• Solo — one-person monologues 
• Solo with a guest — interviewing a special guest or personality such as Joe Rogan interviewing Dr. Jordan Peterson.
• Co-host(s) — you and at least one other co-host discuss topics

Narrative and serialized podcasts:

• Episodic documentary podcasts — each episode dives into a new theme, case, or idea
• Serialized documentary podcasts — a full season dedicated to one concept
• Fiction (both episodic and serialized) — fiction podcasts or audio dramas use creative writing and often sound effects for an immersive podcast

While there are pros and cons with every format, typically co-hosted and interview podcasts are easier to produce, but take effort to book guests, deciding on a topic, and are hugely dependent on the host(s) personality, rapport, and interview technique.

Narrative and serialized podcasts usually require more production effort including research, writing, editing, and sometimes travel. 

Create a plan to start a podcast

A common mistake is recording a single episode, setting up podcast hosting and RSS, publishing the episode, and then not having a plan for the episodes that will follow. We strongly encourage new podcasters to develop a plan for at least two months of episodes, which could be as few as two or three episodes or as many as ten or fifteen depending on the length and release frequency. 

There are a few reasons to do this. First and foremost, you will test if your concept holds weight. If you cannot record or even plan out this much content, chances are your concept is not developed enough to warrant a podcast.

Second, because regular publishing is so important, this lead time will hopefully prevent you from ever having to rush to create a new episode just to keep listeners on a regular schedule. Finally, you’ll get a chance to see if you enjoy the work behind podcasting and if it is worth investing more time and money in. 

Ideally, in building this two-month plan you will have a plan for several episodes on deck that can be released in consistent succession. Alternatively, you can calendar out when you will plan, pre-produce, and record different episodes if your topic is based on current events and cannot be recorded in advance. 

Oh, and what’s your budget? Do you find yourself asking…

How to start a podcast for free?

To start a podcast for free, you’ll need to find a host. Once set up with the hosting service and your microphone or phone/computer, it’s time to start recording. You should get a good microphone asap that you’re comfortable using since the quality of your voice is important for podcasting.

Naming your podcast – eg Choosing a Podcast Title

Arguably, the most important part of your planning. You might think you have a great name picked out already, but there are several factors you should consider in ultimately deciding your name. 

• Make sure there’s not an existing podcast with the same (or very similar) name
• Don’t restrain yourself. If you name your podcast after Star Wars, but then ultimately want to pivot to movies in general, you’ll face a difficult decision down the road
• Consider SEO. Though maybe not as sexy, you want your podcast name to be clear and intuitive to what it’s about. Think about how people will discover your podcast by searching. If you have a podcast about football, you’ll likely want the words “football” or “NFL” to be included in your title.
• Own your domains. As a podcasting best practice, you should have a website, Twitter, and Facebook pages at a bare minimum. Consider the availability of these handles and domains when choosing a name. 
• Make it easy to spell and say aloud. This will help in the future with sharing. 
• That clever pun you like right now? It’ll get old after multiple years and hundreds of episodes.

Podcast Artwork

Podcasting is an audio format, why do we care so much about the artwork associated with your pod? Well, you know people still judge books by their cover and that’s a visual format or a movie by its poster. So, ask yourself

How to start a podcast and make money?

There are two ways to start a podcast and make money. First is creating a that needs to be discussed. That makes it more likely that you are going to have a large following. Second,if your product has such high demand it makes sense to start podcasting in order to gain exposure. It’s all marketing.

Importance of Podcast Cover Art

In conjunction with your podcast name, think about how your thumbnail icon will draw new listeners in and be iconic and easily recognizable. Leverage your designer friends to help you create an idea, and if you have the budget, consult a professional graphic designer or logo maker. This thumbnail image can also serve multiple purposes as a logo on your website and Twitter and Facebook avatars. In short, it’s a worthwhile investment. 

The important thing to think about here is to stay simple and always keep reminding yourself how small this will appear to most consumers. For most potential listeners, this thumbnail will about an inch long and wide. Don’t go overboard with the design, keep the font to a large size, and stay simple on the design and color scheme. 

For Apple Podcasts, cover art needs to be at least 1400 x 1400 pixels and can go up to 3000 x 3000 pixels. 

Here are a few examples of podcast cover art done right.

How to record your podcast

Ok, whew. You’ve planned your podcast, settled on a format, named it, and bought the necessary domains so you have a digital presence. Now the fun stuff! Recording your podcast will require a learning curve and you’ll get much, much better with every subsequent episode.

Don’t be surprised if the first one takes way longer than expected and you end up trashing it anyways, these things take patience.

Podcasting Equipment

This (hopefully) shouldn’t come as a surprise to you, but you do need some podcast equipment to record a successful show. You don’t want to simply lay your iPhone down and record a 30-minute voice memo and call it a podcast. 

At the basic level, here are the three things you need:

• A podcast microphone
• A podcast mixer
• Podcast software — editing and recording

Podcast microphones

A consequence of the massive amounts of podcasts available at everyone’s fingertips is increased competition, listener expectations, and lowered patience.

Listeners only have a finite amount of time to listen to podcasts, they don’t want to bother with some crummy sounding show where they have to always have a hand on the volume button because the levels are all over the place. As a result choosing microphone equipment becomes paramount for a professional sounding production.

That said, every podcaster has a unique budget when it comes to podcast equipment. Here are our picks for podcast microphones at different budget levels:

• Blue Yeti
• Audio-Technica Cardioid Condenser Microphone
• Rode Procaster

Related reading: detailed breakdown and reviews of podcast microphones, and podcast headphones.

USB mixers

Mixers are sometimes neglected by first-time podcasters …. and it shows in their work. A mixer is essential for podcasters to create a nice leveled show where the audience can hear a crisp voice that’s not muddied by other noises.

Similar to podcast mics, USB mixers typically run the price spectrum. Here are our picks:

• Behringer Q1202USB 12-Channel Mixer
• Yamaha Mg10Xu 10-Input Stereo Mixer
• Mackie ProFXv2, 8 A-B Box

Related reading: a comprehensive guide to the best USB mixers

Podcast Audio Editing Software And Podcast Recording Software for New Podcasters

Podcast recording software allows you to easily record your podcast, export the audio files, and cut and edit your episodes. As with most things in life, the higher-end tools give you more features. Let’s take a quick look.

For recording and editing: 

• Squadcast

Squadcast is a revolutionary follow-up to Skype, designed as podcasting software from the ground up. It offers a great interface for both listeners and podcast hosts. Squadcast supports high-definition audio and turns any desktop or laptop computer into a podcast studio. 

The editing suite included with Squadcast is simple but strong enough that you can create the whole show in the software without much issue. Each voice has its own audio track, so you can balance out your guests into one smooth experience.

Major companies like ESPN have jumped all over Squadcast as their preferred mobile software platform, so it is worth taking a look.

You can get started with Squadcast for $10 a month for 2 hours of audio, though you’ll probably want to step that up pretty early on.

• Alitu – The Podcast Maker

Alitu is a great tool to level up your podcast creation stack. As a complete podcast software, Alitu streamlines your creation process, and rather than bog you down with any stress-inducing tech, it gives users the tools to get the job done, quickly and smoothly. 

The ease of Alitu is obvious from Day 1 of your 7 Day Trial

The core features of Alitu are simply explained and similarly simple to use:

• Record your podcast episodes – the built-in call recording tool allows you to record solo into the platform or invite a contact via direct link.
• Intuitive podcast editing – easily select, cut, and rearrange clips while also incorporating set and forget intros and outros for consistency across your episodes.  
• Automated post-production – no need to worry about mastering your own podcast, Alitu will automatically standardize your volume and leveling and remove background noise. 
• Direct publishing to favorite hosts – you can connect Alitu directly to most main hosting platforms in order to get your podcast live as quickly and smoothly as possible. 
• In House Hosting – We’ve been tipped off that Alitu is on the verge of launching its own hosting tool, this means that it will be the first all-inclusive A-Z podcast software on the market. Ps, you heard it here first!  

Existing Alitu users have shared their experiences of having taken their production time from anywhere between 2-5 hours down to 10 minutes per episode. Other users are just happy to have a platform where they can produce professional content without the technical know-how.

*Editors Note* New users can get a 7 Day Free Trial with this link.

• Audacity
• Pro Tools First
• Adobe Audition
• Hindenberg Journalist
• Zencastr
• TapeACall Pro 

For planning and workflows:

• Asana 
• Airtable
• Trello 
• Basecamp 

Book a Podcast Studio Instead

If buying equipment and the steep learning curve isn’t for you, then we highly recommend finding a podcast studio in your area. Podcast recording studios have been popping up across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia for years, and can offer you easy access to professional recording equipment for minimal expense. 

Most studios can offer expertise from professional sound engineers, podcast producers, and audio editors, so all you have to do is show up and record. Plus, if you seek video recording on top of your audio recording needs, many podcast studios are beautifully designed to ensure your podcast brand is represented well on video platforms.

To find a podcast studio near you, start by searching on podcastrental.com, the web’s only podcast studio booking site. With hundreds of studios available at a wide range of hourly price points, you’ll find the right recording experience for your production needs.

Podcast recording tips

As with most things in life, getting the right tools can only take you so far. The real power is using these tools the right way to get the most out of your investment. Here are some easy tips to record your podcast.

1. Microphone Choice

In the modern recording industry, there are endless amounts of microphones on the market to choose from. Some specialize in vocal recording, while others specialize in specific instruments and applications. Similar to most industries, a higher-priced microphone typically means higher quality audio produced.

For a podcast, a microphone specifically tailored to vocal recordings will be preferred, such as the Shure SM7B. It’s a durable, and reliable mic that produces fantastic audio quality for the price, and can even be seen on the ever-popular Joe Rogan podcast. If that wasn’t enough to convince you, it was even used to record Michael Jackson’s Thriller album. How’s that for quality?

2. Microphone Placement

A simple adjustment can make all the difference. Having your microphone too far from the mouths of those speaking on the podcast will capture a much lower signal volume while having it too close will most likely produce a distorted signal.

The optimal distance between the person speaking, and the microphone is about three inches from their mouth. This will allow you to capture their audio at a healthy volume, without it distorting.

3. Use a Pop Filter

A pop filter is used to shield the microphone from fast-moving air generated by plosives during speech. Words such as “pop”, or “planet” that have a strong “p” sound at their beginnings, can cause spikes in the audio due to the strength of the plosives that those words create.

Another benefit of using a pop filter is to shield the microphone from any saliva that may be dispersed from the speaker’s mouth. This prevents the saliva from corroding the microphone, as well as keeping it cleaner for sanitary reasons. 

4. Proper Speaking

Having the correct microphone and placement won’t mean much if the person participating isn’t speaking properly. To ensure the first two points aren’t wasted, make sure that each participant is speaking slowly and clearly. Each person should be speaking at a comfortable room level, without any huge jumps or dips in their speaking volume.

Any kind of jumps or dips will only make things more difficult for you later on when processing your audio. Any random yelling or screaming of an overly active individual will likely incur distortion, while any sort of whispering or low-level talking will require additional volume adjustments. 

5. Setting Levels

After you have properly set up your microphone, it is time to test and set your audio levels. While proper mic placement will help with avoiding distortion, it is not enough. You need to set proper gain levels to ensure that the microphone’s signal is strong enough to be sent to your audio interface or mixer.

To keep things simple, gain is the amount of input signal. Too much gain will result in a distorted signal, while not enough will result in too quiet of a signal. Your gain level will be set within your audio interface or live mixer that you are recording into.

To set the optimal level, have those who are talking on the podcast speak into the microphones, and set the levels so that they are within the green, and just under yellow on the signal meters. Avoid any audio being in the red, as this means you are clipping and thus distorting.

While setting levels, people tend to test or speak at quieter volumes than when they perform. To account for this, set your levels slightly lower than what’s recommended, and see how much louder they are once the recording starts.

This is also when you want to use your mixer to configure the headphone playback, which using a quality noise canceling headphone will help this. They’re a bit pricey, but they let you hear everything the mics are picking up.

6. EQ Signal Processing

The next step in ensuring the cleanest audio possible is processing the signal as it comes in from the microphone to the audio interface. If you have any outboard signal processors such as an EQ, or a compressor, you’ll want to run your signal from the microphone to these processors first, and then into your audio interface.

EQ or Equalization is the process of boosting or reducing certain frequencies in an audio signal to make it more pleasing to the ear. For example, if someone has a very low voice, you can reduce some of the low-end frequencies to account for their heavier or boomier sounding voice.

7. Compression Signal Processing

After EQing your audio, you can compress it for added control and overall balance. Simply put, compression sets a threshold that when an audio signal passes through it, the strength of that audio signal is reduced by a set amount, in order to bring down any sharp peaks in the audio.

Similar to the pop filter, it’s another way to eliminate any sharp peaks in the audio, making things much more pleasing for the listener. Both eq and compression can be done after the recording process, however, it does help to clean up the original audio signal as it is being recorded.

8. Cable Management

Often overlooked, cable management ensures that your workspace is clean, and organized and prevents any unnecessary accidents. Keep your cables wound around your microphone stands, and neatly organized towards your audio interface. The last thing you want is to accidentally trip on a cable, and have it rip out of your microphone, thus damaging your microphone or worse. 

9. Mixing

When recording multiple audio sources at once, it helps to have a mixer. Using a mixer will allow you to better control the audio levels of each microphone being used to ensure a more balanced mix between each individual speaking.

Each microphone will be plugged into a separate channel, from which you can control their respective volumes. From there you can run your signal from the output of the mixer to your audio interface for proper recording.

10. Room Acoustic Treatment

Lastly, you want to treat your room acoustically. Every room has a sound to it, which is determined by the room’s size, the materials used to make it, and any other objects within it. Whenever a sound is generated, its sound waves bounce off every surface within the room, creating what we call reverb.

Reverb (or echo as some people mistakenly call it) is the sound you hear after you clap in an open room, or those flutter sounds you hear in a hallway. Too much reverb can become an issue, and muddy up your audio quality. To ensure your audio is as clean as possible, you need to treat your room by dampening it with acoustic panels in order to minimize the amount of reverb hitting your microphone.

Setting up large acoustic panels on your walls, and ceiling if possible will absorb much of the sound’s energy, and reduce sound reflections on these surfaces, thus creating a cleaner sounding room for your podcast.

The thicker the panel, the better the sound absorption, and the more frequencies will be affected. Panels that are two to four inches thick will be your best bet here and provide you with the best quality sound absorption.

Producing your podcast

How to edit your podcast and podcast editing tips

Editing, like producing and recording, will take new podcasters some time to get the hang of. Unfortunately, it’s often one of the most time-consuming aspects of podcasting as well. Mastering your editing is crucial to a polished podcast that’s free of bloopers, long silences, and forcing your listeners to constantly adjust their volume knob. 

Here are our best podcast editing tips for beginners:

1. Adobe is your friend

Look, if you’re looking at little-to-no-budget for your podcast and you don’t want to get into other multimedia creative fields, ignore this tip and use Audacity. That being said, if you’re already doing a podcast, I’d be surprised if learning Adobe Audition wouldn’t benefit you.

The awesome thing about Adobe is that it’s not any harder to learn the basics than any of the free products, and your capabilities are endless. Once you learn how to use Audition for your podcast, it will be way easier to learn how to use programs like Premiere Pro, InDesign, and Photoshop for other projects that could grow your brand.

2. Learn keyboard shortcuts

While the time you take to learn shortcuts will slow you down a little at the very beginning, you’ll find that once you’ve used them for an episode or two they become natural and save a ton of time.

In Audition, while the quick select tool is turned on, you can right-click and hold to use the move tool, hold command+k to use the razor tool, and of course command+z to undo (if you’re anything like me, you’ll use this more than anything).

3. Eliminate “ums” and “uhs”

This is the simplest, easiest thing you can do to make your podcast, hosts, and guests all sound more professional. You can work with your host to be recorded and have the speech repeated if they stumble during editing so you don’t miss anything.

4. Record separately

If you want your show to be mistake-free, using video chat and headphones to talk while you record on different mics in different places can help. This gives you a different channel for each person, and you can just cut a cough or a sentence trailing off when someone else is talking. Having multiple tracks also gives you clear visual cues for transitions while you edit.

5. Make a template

In Audition, you can create a template of your own, and in Audacity, you can save a file that operates functionally as your template for future projects. Getting everything you use consistently (intro and outro music, transition sound effects, start and end markers) preset and in one place will save you 5-10 minutes on every single episode and won’t take any longer than that to set up.

A pod is something like a business and one insight we can draw from product development is starting planning your shows with a checklist early on. It’s a good habit to get into. That said…

6. Be creative!

Something as simple as intro music, transition sound effects, or how you end the show can connect your listeners to the specific show they’re listening to and subconsciously keep them coming to your show, and not just shows like it.

7. Use room noise often

One goal in editing is to make your show sound “unedited.” Jarring transitions or significant change in response time take distract listeners and take them out of the show for just a moment. To avoid these, record a 15-second track of “room noise” when you record the show and use that to fill in gaps when needed. 

8. Zoom in on your waveform

You’ll always want to make sure your audio sounds right first and foremost, but being able to see where people start and stop talking and the space between words is invaluable when it comes to saving you time. In Audition or Audacity, use “-” to zoom out and “=” to zoom in.

9. Keep consistent pacing

The first edit of the pilot of the 22-minute sitcom Arrested Development came out to around 45 minutes, but director Mitchell Hurwitz simply told them to eliminate all of the “white space” and it would come out the 22 minutes it was supposed to be.

This resulted in maybe the fastest-paced sitcom ever, and it made everyone from the writers to the actors seem extraordinarily clever—even brilliant—with jokes, you can’t even keep up with on your first watch. My advice in the way of pacing is mostly to stay consistent so the audience knows what they are getting into. Just know that a fast-paced edit can make hosts seem brilliant, but it can also sacrifice some of the thoughtfulness that comes with the podcasts we generally respect the most.

And don’t be afraid to rehearse. Walkthrough your podcast setting ahead of time so you’re prepared. It’s rare anyone gets it in one take or with their first draft.

10. Playback at a high speed

While you’re listening through your podcast for edits, the best way to save time is simply through quick playback speed. You’ll find that often five or ten minutes will go by with little to no issues, and sitting through that burns up the valuable time you have to edit.

By simply double- or triple-tapping “L” in Adobe’s signature “JKL” shortcut when you restart the playback is invaluable. Just make sure it’s at a slow enough speed where you can understand it and catch errors that need attention.

Can you use music in your podcast?

There are a lot of myths about using copyrighted songs within podcasts. Let’s dispel some of them here. You CAN NOT use copyrighted music if:

• It’s under 30 seconds
• You give credit
• You’re a non-profit

Another misconception is about fair use. Yes, you can use copyrighted music if it’s part of your discussion (i.e. you’re criticizing or commenting on it), but you can’t use music for no purposeful reason (i.e. as your podcast intro).

There are ways you can use music in your podcast, however. Here are a few free and paid resources we’ve compiled to keep your music for podcasts free of any royalty problems.

Publishing your podcast

So how exactly does the audio you record go from your computer all the way to Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, and the rest of the podcast directories? 

To put it as simply as I can, you need to create an RSS feed that points to respective audio files for the podcast and then submit this feed to the main directories.

Though it may sound complicated, it’s a pretty turnkey process if you find the right solution to partner up with.

Podcast hosting primer

Most podcast hosts do much of the heavy lifting for you, they store (or host) your audio files, generate the RSS feed, structure the metadata, and submit on your behalf to the directories of your choice. Still, you want to make sure the distribution hosting service they’re providing is up to modern standards for 2022. Every host we recommend has the widest distribution available and will distribute podcasts everywhere.

The key here in your decision making is finding a podcast host that’s right for you based on the features you need, your budget, the structure of your podcast, and the estimated popularity of the show. Podcast hosts typically price their services based on two things: storage and bandwidth. These terms may seem familiar to you, but here’s what they mean in the podcast world:

Storage — how many episodes are you recording and how long will they be?

Bandwidth — how many people will be downloading your podcast? Remember, when you’re just starting out you can sacrifice unlimited bandwidth and space for a partner that will help push your podcast out to the masses.

Ultimately, we’ve found Buzzsprout seems to be the podcast host that meets the needs of most new podcasters. Their starter plan comes with unlimited storage and a monthly bandwidth of 250GB — more than enough for new podcasters. Their analytics are also easy to use and provide comprehensive coverage. 

Best Podcast Hosting Services

Here’s a breakdown of other podcast hosts we’ve tried and tested, and if you’re looking for a more comprehensive breakdown of podcast hosts and their features, read this article about the best podcast hosting services.

	Simplecast	Blubrry	Buzzsprout	Spreaker	PodBean
Cost (monthly)	$15	$12	$12	$5.50	$9
Storage (monthly)	Unlimited	100MB	Unlimited	Unlimited	Unlimited
Bandwidth (monthly)	20k downloads	Unlimited	250GB	Unlimited	Unlimited
Podcast analytics	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
RSS support	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Website host	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Promotion	First month free with code: discoverpods	First month free with code: discoverpods	$20 Amazon card	First month free with code: discoverpod	First month free

Submitting your podcast to directories

You want people to listen to your podcast, right? Well, where do you listen to podcasts? List every possible place you listen — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Radiopublic, etc. — and that’s where you want to be. 

Fortunately, if you have a sound podcast host, most do this for you with a click or two with an API connection. Since we recommend Buzzsprout, here’s an example showing how easy it is from their dashboard. And really, Buzzsprout is just about the perfect place to start a podcast. A Buzzsprout presented podcast, even one presented by Buzzsprout from scratch is a lot different than going it alone.

For the directories without a one-click solution from your podcast host, you can typically go to the directory, create an account, and paste your RSS feed to submit. 

How to submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes)

For the third time, if you have a good marketing podcast host they should do this for you. If you’re going a more bespoke route, here’s what you need to do: 

1. Test your RSS feed

Apple recommends new podcasters use Podbase to validate their RSS feeds. Simply paste your RSS feed URL and it’ll automatically verify if your feed is compliant with Apple’s standards.

2. Validate your podcast feed has the right metadata fields

Apple requires you to have the following fields:

• Podcast Title
• Description
• Podcast Artwork

You should have already finalized these three fields before reaching this point, but if you haven’t you need to now. 

3. Submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts

Go to iTunes Connect when you’re ready to submit. If you have an existing Apple ID use it here, if not create a new one. You’ll be asked to validate your RSS feed once again — use the same URL you used in the first step. 

Finalize which podcasting categories you’d like to show up in (up to three), the language of your podcast (use the two-letter language code) and if there’s any explicit material. When you pick a main category, there are a dozen subcategories to choose from, so be consistent when you find something that clicks.

4. When you’re done, click Submit. 

Apple claims the review process can take up to two weeks, but we’ve seen most are approved within a couple of days. You can check the status of your podcast review from within iTunes Connect. Previewing a podcast on iTunes is pretty straightforward and it should automatically be sent to your device when ready.

How to submit your podcast to Spotify

In a similar submission process to Apple Podcasts, Spotify requires the following to submit a podcast to their directory:

• Podcast Title
• Podcast Description
• Podcast Cover Art
• Podcast Category
• Language Selection
• At least one live episode

The episode requirement is the sole difference from the Apple process. If you don’t have an episode recorded yet, we recommend creating a 30- to a 60-second trailer to generate buzz and get your podcast on Spotify prior to the show officially launching.

When you’re ready to submit, go to the Spotify For Podcasters portal and click Get Started. You’ll again validate your RSS feed, enter the requirements listed above, review the generated feed preview, and click through the final prompts. 

Spotify typically approves podcasts faster than Apple, so you should see your podcast in their app in less than a day.

Content Measurement Audience Insight Engagement

At a certain point, if you want a successful podcast, you need to ensure that people are actually downloading, listening, and engaging with your show. If you’re putting all this work into recording then you need to be living, loving, and lusting after your metrics. The better, and more granular the metrics about your show are, the better off you’ll be.

It’s one of the most important factors in choosing a podcast host. Even if they submit your podcast everywhere automatically, if you can’t see the end result of those episodes, then you can’t tailor your show and grow your audience.

Really good hosting with detailed analytics can tell you a lot about your audience beyond downloads. They can tell you information like what device had access and what content platform or app the podcasts were downloaded to.

Growing Your Podcast by Promoting

There is no get-rich-quick scheme for podcasts, nor is there a silver bullet to getting tons of listeners. Like any small business, growing your audience takes savvy marketing fundamentals but most importantly a good product. All marketing does is provide a magnifying glass to your podcast. If listeners don’t like what they hear, they won’t stick around. Focus on making great content first. 

After that, your marketing preferences are going to bear a similar relation to your exercise preference. Just don’t skip leg day.

Here are some basic digital marketing fundamentals you should be doing at a bare minimum:

Build a Website With Your Host or With WordPress

Build a website for your podcast if your podcast host doesn’t already provide one. You should have a streamable player for your podcast embedded within the site, an “about us” section, and ways to get in touch with you through email and/or social media. You can use your site to confirm the email subscription of listeners and build your distribution list. You can send out a newsletter telling interested podcast subscribers what you’re up to.

Basic search engine optimization will help new audiences find your show. What does an established podcaster want? Just that, passive traffic from SEO. Publishing a podcast on WordPress can help older audiences find your show.

The best podcast websites I’ve seen also provide complimentary material to the podcast acting as companion material. Here’s 99% Invisible’s social media website with blog posts providing more info on each episode. 

Have listeners submitting a subscription for paywall content? Yes, please. Even if there’s an error in the subscription confirmation, that’s just another opportunity for a touch point. Remember, a podcast that makes money is a business. You’re a brand unto yourself.

“When I’m out in public, I can tell which media channel is the catalyst for someone approaching me. The bro-approach (i.e., “Yo Dawg”) is made by fans of our videos. Someone who wants to engage in a sober, analytical discussion about the dynamics of streaming or the harms of social media reads the newsletter or my books. But someone who approaches me as if we’re good friends listens to the podcast. It’s similar to running into an old acquaintance you really liked, and who really liked you … but you never had the chance to become good friends. The goodwill is evident. This now happens several times a week.”

– Professor Scott Galloway, NYU | Host of the Prof G Show

Popular podcast hosts know that the interest in a show is intensely personalised. The audience is telling you they are intimately interested in your podcast when you build that rapport.

Stay active on social media and Comment Soon

Social media remains a key discoverability route for new listeners. It remains the most effective audience building strategy beyond having great content.

Post new episodes, engage with fans, solicit feedback, give behind-the-scenes info, give away swag, and more. Many a newbie podcaster established themselves by being guests on slightly more established podcasts because it helps build rapport and camaraderie. Almost like having a mentor.

That’s the power networking has in podcasting.

Foster a community You Love

There are several ways to build the foundation of a community — Reddit, Facebook Page, Slack, and Discord. A strong community will encourage word of mouth engagement and grow your audience in organic ways. 

Ask for feedback from Everyone

Your listeners are your customers, ask for feedback whenever you can. You want to continually improve your show and the best way to do that is to constructively listen to what your fans say about your podcast. 

More than that, ask, repeatedly and consistently for reviews. In a conversation with Mark Timberlake on the Udemy podcast, he explained how important reviews are to the algorithm of every podcast directory boosting your show organically. So make it happen.

Rinse, repeat, and keep at it by Creating Engaging Content

Remember at the top of this guide when I said: “Starting a podcast is hard and takes work, and more work, and more work, and mo—”? Don’t get frustrated by a slow start, tireless nights, or a lack of feedback, and definitely don’t get hung up on download numbers. 

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