Pro Tips for Starting the Podcast of Your Dreams

Podcasting is the best place to grow your reach and get your voice heard right now. We love podcasting so much because it removes the physical and allows your authentic voice to come through. And put simply, podcasting has completely changed our lives! We went from recording on our closet floors as a passion project to growing Almost 30 into a top-rated podcast, global brand, and community, and now we get to make an incredible living doing what we love. That’s why we want to empower and support others to create their own podcasts.

We’ve heard from so many people that they’ve been dreaming of starting a podcast, but they feel stuck or don’t know where to start. We’ve been there and we’ve learned so much along our own podcasting journey, so today we’re sharing our 6 top tips to get started in the podcasting space.

Define your Why

You should have a clear mission and vision behind your podcast from the very beginning. This will be your North Star, and it will guide all your decisions moving forward. Your WHY will be unique to you, and it may evolve over time, but it’s important to get clear on it from the start. Ask yourself these questions:

• Why do you want to start a podcast?

• What about podcasting do you love?

• What message do you want to share with the world?

• Why is it important that people hear that message?

• Who most needs to hear your message and who will be greatest served by it?

Put pen to paper and journal on these prompts. Don’t overthink it; let your thoughts flow freely. Then, you can reread your answers and reflect. This will help you formulate the mission statement for your podcast.

Do Your Research

Start by listening to other podcasts and pay close attention to what you like and don’t like. Do your favorite podcasts have interviews? What is their structure and flow like? How do they work with sponsors? How long are they? Take notes for inspiration and think about how you can carry certain elements into your own show, plus how you can differentiate yourself.

You can also do market research by asking your target audience what they want to hear. Create an Instagram Story and ask your followers via a poll, or if you already have an email newsletter or blog, you can do a survey via Survey Monkey or Survey Gizmo.

Just Start Recording

It may seem intimidating, but you have to start somewhere so just jump in! You don’t need a lot of equipment — you can start by recording yourself on your phone and playing around in Garageband. Check out our list of free and affordable podcast equipment.

The more you record and listen to yourself back, the more comfortable you’ll become with speaking and hearing your own voice.

Don’t Be Afraid to Outsource

When we first started, it was just the two of us and we did everything ourselves. One of the best investments we ever made was deciding to hire a professional post-production team to help with editing and sound quality. This was huge for us, and it took our show to a whole new level.

Think about where you may want to outsource, whether it’s editing, graphics, or web design. You can find very affordable talent on places like Fiverr, Upwork, and 99 Designs.

Get the Word Out

When you’re ready for launch, don’t be shy about promoting your show! Tap into your already existing network of friends, family, and coworkers. Post on your socials and send an email letting your loved ones know what you’re up to. They will want to support you! Ask them to rate and review your show and share with their own networks. You’ll start to see your audience grow authentically.

You can also create social accounts dedicated to your podcast to share behind-the-scenes looks at the show, fun memes, and other relevant content. We suggest starting with just one platform (the one you’re most comfortable and confident with) and growing from there.

Go for Quality & Consistency—But Not Perfection

Remember, your podcast will constantly evolve and improve. The quality of your show should be great at launch, but it doesn’t have to be PERFECT. Don’t launch until you know you have strong, quality content that you’re proud of. And make sure you’re prepared to release your content consistently. We suggest starting with 3 – 5 episodes already recorded.

At the same time, trust that over time your show will improve even more. Our show when we started is nothing like our show now. (We’ve evolved our mission statement, sound quality, branding, website, and more.)

Don’t let perfectionism or fear hold you back from starting. Just go for it and you’ll see how much you grow!

If you’re looking for more resources to launch or uplevel your podcast, we have an entire program to support you! PodcastPro is a comprehensive step-by-step guide to launching, marketing, and monetizing your dream podcast. Learn more about it here!

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