What Do I Need to Start a Podcast: 2022’s Step-By-Step Guide

2022 is the year to start your own podcast show, and if you just don’t know where to start, we take you through the entire process and give you the best chance to succeed.

In the sections below, we answer questions such as: ‘What do I need to start a podcast?’, ‘How do I set up my equipment?’, ‘Where and what should I talk about?’, and more.

Keep reading for all the answers!

Planning Your Podcast & Choosing the Topic

Planning is the first and most important phase of creating a podcast, as you have to consider several important aspects of your brand and what you offer.

1. Choose a Topic You Are Passionate About

Picking and committing to a topic that moves you and your audience is the most significant step in any podcasting journey.

What are you most passionate about? What do you want to share with the world? What can you talk about for hours without getting bored?

Narrowing down your topic options until one resonates is very important, as you will have to commit to it and do the work until your podcast is successful.

2. Think of a Catchy or Informative Name

When starting podcasts, you also have to choose a descriptive name that is both unique and unforgettable, as it will be the first thing people hear and remember.

Names can be catchy, informative, or a mix of both. You want something that will make people curious and want to know more about your podcast.

For example: ‘The Joe Rogan Experience’ is interesting and informative, while ‘My Dad Wrote a Porno’ is both catchy and intriguing.

3. Pick a Show Format That Matches Your Theme

Before you start, you must decide on the format of your show. Will it be an interview-style show? A solo show? A panel discussion? An audio drama?

Each type of podcast has its own set of challenges and benefits, so choose the one that best suits your topic and personality. If none of them works, devise your own unique podcasting approach by picking and mixing elements of different formats.

You can also invite various co-hosts to join you on your show to discuss the themes in more depth, especially experts on a particular topic.

4. Create Your Cover Artwork, Description, and Music

When creating podcasts, hosts should not disregard the visual element of their show as it helps them stand out from the crowd, despite the auditory nature of the medium.

Even before hearing your words, the listeners’ first contact with your podcast is the square piece of artwork in any podcast directory. Once they click on it, they will also come across your podcast description, which should concisely describe and raise interest in your content.

Finally, your choice of music is the last element of your presentation meant to add another layer of branding and professionalism. That said, by adding bumper music at the beginning or end of your podcast, with or without voiceover, you will surely make it more memorable.

Getting the Right Equipment

Getting the right podcast equipment doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated, but you still need the essentials to record and publish your show, such as:

• A decent microphone—one of the most important things you need to start a podcast is a microphone that records you clearly, and sites like Amazon offer great yet cheap USB microphones with simple plug-and-play functionality;
• Headphones—you also need noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds, which you can also find in large online retail stores, to hear yourself and others without any ambient distractions and adjust your setup if needed;
• A computer or a phone—naturally, you need a device that you will use to record your podcast and subsequently edit and publish it; you can either use a desktop or a laptop (PC or Mac) or even an Android or iOS phone;
• Recording software—you need an adequate podcast recording software that will both capture your voice clearly and add some functionality on top, such as clearing up noise and organising your audio recordings library;
• Editing software—while most recording applications will also include limited editing capabilities, you might also need specific functionality to cut and arrange your recordings or even mix in additional music and effects.

Note: In addition to the basic equipment listed above, you also need access to a sound-proof or distraction-free recording space as ambient noise greatly impacts the quality of your recordings.

Recording & Editing the Podcast

Once you have all the necessary equipment, it’s time to start recording your podcast. The process is relatively simple and comprises several steps, as explored below.

Step One: Record Your Intro & Outro

First, record a brief intro in the form of a short introduction of yourself and who you are interviewing (if it’s an interview-style show) or just a brief statement about the episode.

At this point, you can also record the outro—just make sure to thank your listeners for tuning in and let them know where they can find more information about you and your show.

Step Two: Record Your Episode Segments

Next, record the main segments of your episode. This can be a discussion between you and your co-hosts, an interview with an expert, or a monologue on a particular topic.

Step Three: Edit the Separate Segments

Once you have all your recordings, you can start editing them. This includes removing any mistakes, pauses, and false starts, as well as trimming the segments to the correct length.

You might also want to add music or sound effects to enhance the overall experience, but do not overdo it, as too many sounds can be distracting and take away from your content.

Step Four: Export Your Episode

After editing your segments, combine them, and export them as a single audio file. Then, you can convert the file into various formats to ensure its compatibility with different platforms.

Tips to Get the Best Recording

In the list below, we include some of the best tips on recording podcasting for beginners:

• Script your episodes, especially as an amateur podcaster;
• When interviewing someone, let them talk and only interject when needed;
• Be sure to pause for laughter or applause;
• End each episode with a summation and tease for the next episode.

Moreover, if you’re editing your podcast episodes yourself, here are some things to look out for:

• Check that each episode is sequenced correctly and has a natural flow;
• Eliminate any background noise or other distractions;
• Ensure that the sound levels are consistent throughout the episode;
• Trim any long silences or extraneous sounds.

Note: Have another person listen to your episode before publishing it, as they can give you feedback on overall sound quality and whether everything makes sense.

Tips on Publishing, Marketing & Monetising

Once you are satisfied with your editing efforts, it’s time to publish your episode and eventually profit off it, especially if you are starting a business podcast.

For that purpose, go through our valuable tips on marketing and monetising your podcast:

• Submit your podcast to directories such as Apple Podcasts, Stitcher Radio, or TuneIn;
• Create a website and blog for your show, and include transcripts of each episode;
• Embed episodes on social media platforms such as YouTube and Facebook;
• Guest post on other websites related to your topic or industry;
• Generate leads through sponsorships and advertising;
• Offer your podcast to online learning platforms, such as Lingopie.

Note: Always disclose any sponsorship or advertising arrangements in the opening and closing segments of your episode. 

Conclusion

So there you have it! That’s the process for starting a podcast, from beginning to end. While it can be a lot of work, it can also be a rewarding experience in more ways than one, especially if you love talking about your favourite topics. Are you ready to get started? We hope so!