How to Make a Podcast – 5 Steps for Success

Podcasts have been steadily increasing in popularity and are therefore profitable for businesses and bloggers. They are a form of content that’s easy to digest. People can listen to podcasts while driving to work, jogging, or relaxing in bed. If you want to start your own podcast but don’t know where to begin, read our quick and easy guide on how to make a podcast in five simple steps.

How to Make a Podcast

1. Choose a Theme

The first step in making a podcast is choosing a theme. This will keep your podcast focused and let people know what kind of content to expect. You can go broad or narrow, depending on what theme you feel most inspired by. You can narrow the theme or broaden it later on if you think it’s necessary. Or you could start a new podcast based on the change in theme you want.

After picking a theme, you should determine how long each episode should be. 10 minutes? 15? 30 minutes? Or maybe a full hour? It’s not recommended that you exceed one hour because most people aren’t willing to or don’t have the time to listen to a podcast episode that long. Remember to always account for time you want to spend on playing music or using a pre-recorded introduction in your podcast. Even a short one-minute introduction should be accounted for.

2. Write a Script

Picking a theme is one of the obvious steps in how to make a podcast. Some people are surprised to find out that they need to write a script for each episode too. You don’t have to plan far ahead; you can write each script before recording the corresponding episode. But you should still write a script before recording a podcast episode. A script will give your show structure, focus, and professionalism. It can help keep you on track while recording the episode in case you forget which segment was next.

If you want to have a podcast that’s on the spontaneous side or allow for going off on tangents, it’s still good to have a basic outline. You don’t need to make it detailed. To write a script for a podcast, you must ensure the word count matches the corresponding time to say those words. You can find script timers online to help identify approximately how many words can fit within a certain period of time.

3. Prepare the Equipment

You’ll need a few pieces of equipment to create a podcast, such as a mic, headphones, and editing software. A mixer isn’t required for podcasting but it does have a few benefits. It gives you greater control and optional effects. It’s recommended that you utilize a mixer if you use multiple mics. A mixer is also beneficial if you want to include music or movie clips in your podcast.

Headphones, as you’ll discover while learning how to make a podcast, are essential. They help you hear yourself and others on the show. If you’re using a mixer, headphones are needed to change the audio channels as well. Another necessary piece of equipment is an external mic because it provides better audio quality than a computer’s internal mic. If you have cast members or plan on having guests on the show, then you’ll need to buy more than one mic. Each participant should have their own mic to be heard clearly.

4. Record the Episode

After you have a script and the necessary equipment for making a podcast, you’re ready to record the first episode. You may feel nervous, but don’t worry too much about it being perfect or you might not ever actually record and upload the podcast. Also stay calm if you encounter a problem while recording. Even the best podcasters experience problems or technical difficulties sometimes. You can rehearse the episode before recording if you want to or go right into the recording.

5. Editing

Never upload a podcast episode without editing it. You might want to forego editing to keep it authentic, but editing is necessary to detect spots where the audio may have been unclear. You want the audio to run smoothly to look professional and avoid annoying listeners. While editing a podcast episode, tighten dead space between phrases and make sure vocal levels are about the same for all speakers. If your podcast has background music or sound effects, check that the volume for the music and sound effects is low enough for the speakers to be heard.

Conclusion

The best way to learn how to make a podcast is to start recording episodes. While preparing and planning are important, you don’t want to delay actually recording the podcast or you might not follow through. Remember to always honor the schedule you provide listeners as well. If you say a new episode will be up every Friday, make sure you stick to it.

Do you have a better understanding of how to make a podcast? Still confused about a particular step? Let us know in the comments.

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