Discover how to start and record a podcast in simple steps! Our comprehensive guide takes you from planning and selecting equipment to producing and launching your very own podcast.
For the people of the 21st century, podcasts have emerged as a powerful tool for consuming and sharing information. Unlike the old days of TV and radio where people have to be available at the original broadcast time, podcasts offer on-demand content that can be consumed anytime, anywhere, making them ideal for today's busy lifestyles.
Academics, coaches, fitness experts, and other content creators from different walks of life are now offering in-depth discussions and valuable insights on various issues to educate and entertain the masses.
Today, anyone can start sharing viewpoints with a microphone, internet connection, and reliable podcast software. With greater flexibility, the diverse audience can tune in to the podcast anytime and anywhere. According to a report, nearly 73% of people listen to podcasts on their smartphones.
Starting strong is important and it begins with solid planning. Planning your podcast is the foundation upon which your success is built. Here I will walk you through the essential steps to ensure your podcast stands out, resonates with your audience, and stays sustainable in the long run.
The first step in planning your podcast is to clearly define its purpose. Ask yourself: Why do you want to start a podcast? What do you hope to achieve? Your purpose might be to share your expertise, entertain, educate, or inspire. Understanding the "why" behind your podcast will help you stay focused and consistent.
Knowing who your audience is will shape every aspect of your podcast, from content creation to marketing. Consider demographics like age, gender, location, and interests. The more specific you can be about your target audience, the better you can tailor your content to meet their needs and preferences.
With thousands of podcasts available, it's important to carve out a niche where you can stand out. A niche can be a specific topic, industry, or unique perspective that differentiates your podcast from others. The more focused your niche, the easier it will be to attract and retain a dedicated audience.
This doesn't generally comes at the start, but after you are on your podcasting journey for some time, you should be able to find it.
What makes your podcast different from others? This is your unique value proposition (UVP). It could be your expertise, your storytelling style, or your approach to the subject matter. Your UVP should be something that resonates with your target audience and gives them a reason to choose your podcast over others.
Decide on the structure and format of your podcast. Common formats include interviews, solo commentary, round-table discussions, and narrative storytelling. Consider the length of each episode, the tone, and whether you’ll include segments like Q&A, guest interviews, or listener feedback. Consistency in format helps set expectations for your audience.
Content planning is critical to the longevity of your podcast. Start by brainstorming episode ideas and organizing them into a content calendar. This will help you maintain a consistent publishing schedule. Consider creating a mix of evergreen content that remains relevant over time and topical content that addresses current events or trends.
How often will you release new episodes? Whether it's daily, weekly, or bi-weekly, choose a frequency that you can consistently maintain. Keep in mind that more frequent episodes require more content and time, so balance your ambition with your available resources.
Your podcast name should be memorable, easy to spell, and relevant to your content. It’s the first impression potential listeners will have, so make it count. Ensure that your name is unique and not already in use by another podcast.
Branding goes beyond your podcast name; it includes your logo, cover art, and overall aesthetic. Your branding should reflect the tone and content of your podcast. Invest time in creating professional-quality visuals, as they will be displayed across platforms and help attract listeners.
This is important: Before launching, make sure you have a few episodes recorded and ready to go. This helps new listeners get a feel for your podcast and keeps them coming back for more. Additionally, plan a launch strategy that includes promoting your podcast on social media, through email newsletters, and on any other channels where your target audience is active.
If you're recording with multiple people in a podcast studio, make sure your software can handle capturing multiple tracks on a single computer. For remote recordings with guests in different locations, opt for dedicated remote podcast recording software that provides local recording capabilities, so your internet connection won’t compromise audio quality.
In the wide list of podcast software leveraged by content creators across the globe, Yostream has emerged as a trusted software for live streaming and remote podcast recording. The podcast software of Yostream is user-friendly and super-easy to use even if someone is podcasting for the first time.
With Yostream, you can start and finish your podcast entirely on one platform, offering a seamless experience for remote video podcasting. Record with multiple guests in studio-quality, and quickly polish your podcast with raw audio and video footage of each participant.
Yostream is an affordable and versatile option that offers:
Recording a podcast is essential for several reasons. You can share it later to keep attracting new listeners, post-editing, content repurposing, and other useful activities.
Type yostream.io in your browser and press Enter.
You are now seeing the homepage of Yostream. Click ‘Get Started’ at the top-right corner.
In the login form, you’ll get options to continue using your Google and Facebook login details. You can also provide an Email you prefer to be registered with Yostream. In the present case, we’ll provide an Email before clicking ‘Get Login Code’ at the bottom.
Enter the 6-digit login code received on your Email and click ‘Continue’.
You’ve now entered Yostream’s dashboard. Click ‘Podcast Studio’ to begin your podcasting journey with Yostream.
You’re seeing the following screen.
You can see the option of ‘Join Room’ at the bottom. However, before being able to click it, you need to provide access to your microphone and camera. From the dropdown menu, you can select your preferred devices.
Once you’ve selected your microphone and camera, select either of the options: I am not using Headphones or I am using Headphones. Selecting the first option automatically enables echo cancellation.
Provide a username. You’ll now be able to click the ‘Join Room’ button.
After joining the room, you can see your canvas.
Before anyone joins in, you need to update the default name of the podcast file which you’ll record. Click ' Settings ' from the options given in the bottom panel of your screen.
Click ‘General’.
‘Record with Yostream’ is the default name for your recording. Change it with anything you find suitable for your topic. Now, close the ‘Settings’ box.
You might have joined the room, but you’re alone in there. Start adding guests, and experts by clicking ‘Invite Guests’ at the top-right corner on the right panel of your canvas.
Copy the link and send it to the guest(s). You can see that this link and the URL in your browser are the same. Another approach could be simply copying your URL and sending it to the desired guest.
Click the ‘Start’ button which will begin recording your podcast.
On the left side, you can see a timer that pops up as soon as you start recording your podcast.
Meanwhile, a guest has joined your podcast and you both have started the conversation.
To stop the recording, once again click the button you selected to start recording.
After you stop recording, the file starts uploading. After completion, you’ll see the following message:
Congratulations! You’ve easily learned how to record a podcast.
On your homepage, click ‘Dashboard’.
From the left panel of your dashboard, select ‘Recordings’.
Under the ‘Podcast’ tab, you can locate your recorded file.
After clicking the recorded file, you get a high-quality audio/video recording of each participant. The audio and video of each participant are recorded using their recording setups (microphones, cameras, etc.) to ensure the highest quality, independent of internet-related issues.
To know more about the recorded files, you can read this helpful post: