The Hustler's Digest StaffWith the increasing popularity of podcasts, one should know how to make a podcast. Read the article to know everything about podcasts
The era of digital technology has brought upon many sources of information, interaction, and entertainment. Content creation has existed for many years, but the form keeps on changing to something new and innovative.
After the popularity of social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc., podcasts have become the new trend. They have grabbed the attention of many people who like listening instead of watching content. They are made for entertaining the audience and debate or informing through content creation.
With the increasing number of podcast listeners, many influencers have shifted to hosting them instead of promoting on social media apps. There are some original podcast hosts who started the whole trend through their unique ideas for content.
If you are looking for ways to promote your brand or become an influencer, a podcast is a good start. There are many websites that have enabled users to start their own podcasts. However, you should know how to make a podcast to become an authentic host.
Making a podcast is easy if you have the right guide to follow. So, start your podcasting journey by knowing how to record a podcast by reading the following guide:
What is a Podcast
A podcast is a source of media that is presented in the form of digital audio files. The audio can be posted in the form of episodic series, which listeners can access through streaming sites. The most popular podcasts sites include Spotify, Apple, Google Podcast, and many more.
A podcast can be hosted by anyone from any country in the world. The difference between a podcast and a radio channel is that podcasts can be played whenever the listeners want to because they are downloadable. The listeners can also play, pause, skip, fast forward, and set the speed of the recorded podcasts.
History of Podcast
Podcasts used to be called “audioblogs” before the launch of the internet and streaming devices like iPods. These audioblogs were recorded in the same way as a blog is written on a website. The audios used to be sold in cassettes and magnetic tapes.
Audioblogs were back in the 1980s, and later they were named “podcasts” in 2004. Podcasting became popular due to the availability of mp3 devices. With the introduction of streaming sites like Apple, Spotify, and Google, the podcast became an internet sensation for people.
Now, podcasting is considered one of the most authentic and preferred sources of entertainment and information for listeners.
Why are podcasts popular?
Podcasts have become popular in recent years. According to recent statistics, there are 950,000 of them on different platforms. The reason for this form of media to become so famous is the instant availability and people’s need for more content in the age of digital media.
Back in the day, it took years to release one piece of content; now, it takes one day or one week. The demand for content creation is so much that creators look for new ways to present it through various platforms, podcasts being one of them.
Podcasts target every audience belonging to different backgrounds because of their various types of content. They have become more normalized with daily life. So, if you are going to work, you can listen to it on the subway or bus. There are tons of episodes you can listen to before going to sleep,
Easy access and variety of content is the biggest reason podcasts have become well-known in the general public. Furthermore, streaming sites do not limit people from posting podcasts, so even an everyday person can make podcast episodes for the audience. If you want to become a content creator, you can learn how to make a podcast and start your own show.
Types of podcasts
The podcasts community continues to expand worldwide. People from different backgrounds host their own shows and post content based on the audience’s preferences. There are more than 115,000 English-speaking podcasts. As people try new ways to present content, podcasting is also categorized into types.
Before reading how to make a podcast, here are some types that you should know about:
Live podcasts
Recently, there have been a lot of live shows, which are similar to listening to live radio and different from the simple podc ast. Live podcasts are becoming a new trend because they feature exciting content that can only be watched live.
This type of podcast is usually done by popular hosts because they have a big following that is willing to tune in anytime. However, there are some podcast hosts who rose to popularity because of their live episodes.
Some of the most popular live podcasts shows include The Joe Rogan Experience, JO Radio Live, Will & Amala Live, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Moth, and many more.
Storytelling podcasts
A storytelling podcast is a type of podcast that is spoken as if you’re telling a story. It can be of any genre, but the form of the script should be like a story. Most investigative or thriller episodic series come under this type.
Many people love listening to storytelling podcasts because they are immersive and fun to listen to. This American Life, The Memory Palace, Revisionist History, The Other Stories, Committed, Reply All, and The Truth is the best podcast for storytelling.
Interview podcasts
Interview podcasts are just like normal TV interviews, but instead of being visual, most of them are audios. Many hosts invite celebrities, field experts, influencers, and other people who match the theme of the podcast. In this type of podcast, hosts converse with guests over a certain topic; it is an interactive show that many people prefer listening to.
If you like to interview people, then you should learn how to record a podcast and make your own podcast show.
Interview podcasts are highly popular in many countries. Some of the popular interviewing podcasts are Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, The TED Interview with Chris Anderson, WTF with Marc Maron, WTF with Marc Maron, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, and many more.
Monologue podcasts
As the name suggests, monologue podcasts are one-person narrated episodic series. This can be a script, theatrical piece, or anything in the form of a monologue. Usually, actors like to host this type of podcast. Many hosts like reading out scripts of monologue, so if you like reading monologues, learn how to make a podcast and post one.
Some of the monologue podcast shows that you can check Idiots Monologue, Kyle’s Internal Monologue, The Psych Monologues, A Tipsy Monologue, and The Attic Monologues.
Roundtable podcasts
This type of podcast means a group of hosts sitting together to talk on a certain topic. They sit at a round table and converse, which can be quite entertaining for listeners. Most commentary podcasts come under this category. With many hosts in the podcast, the audience doesn’t get bored, and it takes off the burden of just one or two people speaking.
The Reason Roundtable is one of the best that listeners like. If you like anime, you might like the Anime Roundtable. For Horizon League fans, HoriZone Roundtable is the best one.
Game show/Trivia podcasts
These podcasts are interactive shows with listeners to win prizes or game bets between groups of hosts for a prize. It can be trivia, challenges, online gaming competitions, and other types of games that can be played among hosts.
Game show podcasts need a lot of brainstorming to come up with new games; some games also gain popularity in public through listeners. Podcast Game Show by Brandon Beeyard, Ask Me Another, Trivial Warfare Trivia, and Triviality is very popular.
ASMR podcasts
Originating from the original Korean ‘Mukbang’ YouTube content, ASMR podcasts are highly liked by listeners. The satisfying quiet sounds or whispered conversations are preferred by many at night, compared to general interactive podcasts. Eating in ASMR podcasts are focused on describing flavors while eating, which many people love to listen to.
You only need to learn how to make a podcast and a high-quality mic to record ASMR content for podcasts.
ASMR podcasts for nights are best posted by Sleep Whispers, Sleep and Relax ASMR, Serenecast, and ASMR Rain Recordings.
Podcast genres
Every person has different interests, and the media industry works hard to cater to those interests. There are many podcasts that focus on certain genres so that listeners can easily browse through the ones they like. The streaming sites have also put them in categories based on preferences.
The most important step in how to make a podcast is by knowing which genre is suitable for you.
Some of the most important genres in podcasts are news, journalism, politics, entertainment, movies, video games, literature, sports, health & fitness, religion, pop culture, social media influencer, drama, investigation, crime, and comedy. There are other famous genres specific to each country or culture.
How to record a podcast
Now that you have read all the details about podcasts, you are ready to make a podcast. As a beginner, it is hard to figure out how to make a podcast. But if you read this article, you can easily make one without any problems.
So, here is how to record for beginners:
Choose a genre or type
The step to making a podcast should start by deciding which genre and concept you want to pursue. Remember that focusing on one genre is better than trying out other genres. One can only gain loyal fans if they are consistent in their content genre or type. You can try out pop culture, history, the newest gossip, or anything unique that grabs people’s attention.
Once you gain popularity, you can try out other types. For beginners, it is essential to first attract an audience as loyal listeners with unique content.
Setting goals
Setting a goal motivates one to pursue it. Starting without setting any goals can be challenging because you lose the motivation to keep working hard if things don’t work out.
Goals like reaching a certain listener count, making a particular amount of content, acquiring an endorsement, or interviewing a celebrity, anything can be a goal that encourages you to be dedicated to the profession.
Buying an equipment
Equipment defines the quality of your podcast. If you want to become a full-time podcast host, invest your money in buying expensive equipment.
Some people start podcasting by recording on their phones with headphones. This is the cheapest way and sometimes successful for podcast hosts. Experts believe that the quality of sound doesn’t matter if your content is rich in quality. However, your podcast audio should be clear enough for people to hear you.
For a more formal set-up, podcast hosts buy mics and other equipment related to it. You might have seen video podcasts that use good equipment to give a good impression on the viewers. For audios, it might not be necessary.
So, buying equipment is your choice, but the sound quality should not be compromised.
Pick a topic
Now that you have done the major two steps, it is time to get podcasting! The first is to pick a topic. Anything that interests you or might be an attention-grabber for the listeners can be a center of discussion for your podcast. If you are unsure, you can try looking for some topics on Apple Podcast or Spotify for ideas.
Note that the topic must be something unique yet known or intriguing to the listeners. However, even if you pick a very novice topic, you need to show great enthusiasm and passion while talking to attract people.
Plan your script
Planning a script is essential before recording the podcast. Many people mistake not writing down a script which makes the podcast sound unorganized and fragmented. Remember that the focus of podcasts is ears and reasoning; if you are not making any sense, then there is no need for a person to listen to you. So, always plan your script no matter how experienced you are.
Planning a script is simple and easy. You start by researching and reading things related to the topic. You can look for other podcast hosts who might have talked about the topic or search for articles online that you can reference. Anything that makes you sound authentic can be valuable to your script.
Writing a script does not need a formal format, just write a bunch of things you want to discuss and can easily read out while talking.
Set a tone
The tone is the most significant part of podcasting. If one knows how to make a podcast, one should know that the tone should be right. Some podcasts require gentle tones like therapy podcasts or night podcasts, while others require a very energetic tone like pop-culture music podcasts or history podcasts.
Many listeners listen to certain podcasts because of the hosts’ voice or tone. Since the main focus of podcasting is the tone, you have to put a lot of effort into using the right one.
Set podcast length
The length of a podcast is based on the type of podcast you are doing. If you are doing an interview, it should be an hour or half an hour long; if you are doing a single host show, it can be 15-30 minutes long, depending on the nature of the talk.
The recommended length by most experts is an hour. If your podcast exceeds an hour, many listeners might not bother listening to it. As a beginner, you can begin by making a 15 minute or 30 minutes long podcast so that casual listeners familiarize themselves with your podcast.
Add music
Many podcast shows have a theme song at the start of their podcast or add music in between their podcast. Most pop culture genre podcasts require music to keep the listeners engaged with the host. There are three types of categories: Copyrighted music, Royalty-Free (Paid), Royalty-Free (Free). For copyrighted music, you need legal permission to add music on a podcast, or you can be reported for violating laws. Royalty-free requires a one-time payment of original music that you can use for a lifetime.
You can use Creative Commons licensed music in your podcast for free as well. For a more personalized sound, you can hire a freelancer or a music producer.
Naming your podcast
Naming podcasts can be quite challenging because it needs to be concise and appealing to the audience. Many people judge a podcast by reading its name, so you should work on writing the right title.
You can look for other podcasts and see how they have named their podcast for ideas. Experts suggest mentioning keywords and common words in the title to make it enter the relevant search algorithm. You should also add your name with the title so that it is easier for loyal listeners to be directed to your podcast.
Write a description
Description, tags, and title are basic components of a podcast that define its success. No matter how good or bad a podcast can be, these three should be written very carefully. The description should be appealing and attractive to read for the people.
Long descriptions can bore people out, while short descriptions look unauthentic. So, the key to writing the perfect description is using keywords, tags, and things you will be covering in the podcast episode. Most podcast hosts write descriptions like this, which is considered highly effective.
After writing a perfect description, title with keywords, you are ready to publish your very own podcast.
Podcast software
Like video editing, podcasts also require edits. You might need to cut out something or improve the sound quality. Use software to edit podcasts. The software is available online and easy to use.
Instead of using apps on your iPhone or Android, download software on your desktop and edit your audio. Some famous software includes Alitu, Adobe Audition, Descript, and Garageband. Musicians mostly use Garageband, but podcasts can also be edited on this software.
Investing money on software is the best decision to make as a podcast host, so pick the one that suits you and buy it.
Schedule the podcast
Scheduling podcasts helps listeners to set their time aside for you. Many loyal listeners set their schedules based on the schedule of the podcast. It is better to set a certain time of the day or week. Some podcasts are published daily, while some on a weekly basis.
Experienced podcast hosts believe that publishing per week is more effective than daily. However, if you want to publish every day, you have to set a certain time for it. You can announce your schedule on your profile or social media or announce it on every podcast episode for new listeners.
Choosing a platform
Publishing podcasts on a certain platform is the decision of the maker. You can either choose to post your podcast on Stitcher, Apple, Google, Buzzsprout, Transistor, Podbean, or Spotify.
Your platform choice can really define the success of the podcast. Some sites are free, while others require you to pay a particular amount. You start with publishing podcasts on one popular platform and then expand it to other platforms; this approach is adopted by many podcast hosts and is highly practical.
How to make podcasts for free
When you have a creative mind and a recording device, podcasting is easy. Starting a podcast is completely free once you get hold of the basic guide on how to make a podcast. Many hosts struggle to keep up with the community simply because they refuse to read the basic guide or do research.
There are many opportunities for people to make podcasts for free. You just need an idea, a phone, and a script to start recording a podcast. Many platforms charge creators for posting their podcasts; however, there are many famous platforms that are free for posting podcasts. You can easily gain listeners from these platforms; SoundCloud or Blubrry is free for people who want to publish their podcast for free.
If you have the willingness to become a professional podcaster, then you will find ways to do it for free. When you publish a free podcast, the competition is tough because there are thousands of podcasts with the same topic. Your ability to produce something unique and eye-catching makes you successful.
How to make podcasts on iPhone?
Making a podcast on an iPhone is kid’s work. iPhone comes with a recording app that consists of various features like editing, re-recording, cropping, etc. Many people buy iPhones because of these features for podcasting.
Furthermore, Apple Podcast is platform-specific to iPhone users only. There is a built-in app on every iPhone that listeners can access for podcasts.
If you are looking for ways how to make a podcast, here are steps to follow:
- Open Voice Memos app
- Write a script down and practice it before recording
- Record your voice by following a script; you can record as many times as you want
- Make final edits on the app using the tools provided
- Share on your email or transfer it through iTunes to your desktop
- Publish it online on a podcast website or Apple Podcast directly from the iPhone
The iPhone’s sound quality and tools are convenient for many beginners. Instead of getting tangled up with complex equipment and software, you can easily record a podcast for free on an iPhone.
How to make a podcast on Apple
If you want to post your podcast on Apple, you can either directly post through your iPhone or through the official website of Apple Podcasts. Making a podcast on Apple is easy because of its user-friendly navigation. There are no complex steps, just simple clicks, and you can make a podcast on Apple.
First, you should know how to make a podcast; then, you can make one on Apple. To post on Apple Podcast, make an account; if you have an Apple ID, you can use that too. After making an account, join the Apple Podcasts Connect, where you will be asked to identify yourself as an individual or company. A company can add podcast hosts under its account, while an individual is an entirely separate account.
Here are some basic steps to follow on how to make a podcast on Apple:
- Browse the Apple Podcasts Connect after creating an Apple ID,
- Register of podcasting, you should have a place to keep your files and RSS feed
- Create an RSS feed URL
- Click on the (+) button to add the show and paste URL there
- Add title, description, tags, and other features before publishing
- Wait for Apple to review your podcast
Once Apple approves your podcast, it will be ready to publish on the platform.
Final words
Podcasting can be quite challenging. If you know how to make a podcast, it becomes a little easier. In an industry filled with hundreds and thousands, you need to put out something new and unique that can highlight your presence. Once you follow the guide on how to record a podcast, you can familiarize yourself with the industry quickly.
You can become the best podcaster in the industry if you are dedicated to making the best and most authentic content. So, stop worrying and try podcasting today!
