Starting a Podcast: Everything You Should Know

Podcasts are great for reaching a different audience – people who would rather listen than read.

Batchwork, batchwork, batchwork.

• Have 10-15 episodes recorded before you launch

• On launch day, have between 3-5 episodes available so people can get a taste for what they can expect from you moving forward & get hooked

• Set aside a “podcast day” at least once a month

• Write outlines for future episodes
  • Record interviews & solo shows
  • Line up guests for interviews

Have a Plan

• What day will you air new episodes? Be consistent so your audience can come to expect a new episode each week.

• How many episodes will you release each week?

• Will you have a Facebook group?

How to submit to iTunes

• You have to have a podcast host first – Libsyn is the main host everyone uses.
  • That will give you an RSS fed to plug in when you submit your podcast

• https://itunesconnect.apple.com/

• Artwork

• JPG, PNG, or GIF image file

• Perfect square and at least 1600 x 1600 pixels. iTunes recommends images to be 3000 x 3000 pixels ( IMPORTANT : If you are distributing your music to the Amazon On Demand store, your artwork must be EXACTLY 1600 x 1600 pixels)

• Best-quality RGB Color mode (including black and white images)

• Resolution of at least 72 dpi (300 dpi is better)

• Only include text stating the artist name and release title (exactly as it appears in the title you enter in TuneCore) or image only with no text

• You’ll get an email saying your podcast has been accepted anywhere between 30 minutes later to 3 weeks later

• When you upload episodes it can take up to 24 hours for them to appear in iTunes, however it can pop up earlier for subscribers

The Gear I Use:

• Neewer NW-700 (stand, mic, pop filter, cords, etc.)
• Blue Yeti USB mic

The software I use:

• Canva or photoshop – designing your iTunes cover photo

• Waave – good for sound bites

• Libsyn – hosting

• Zencastr – virtual guest interviews

• Audacity – solo shows

• Shutterstock or Zencastr – Music

• Yourself (audacity, zencastr), fiverr, – Sound Editing

Lining up guests:

Think about people who will bring value to your show, and who align with your overall message. The theme that I want intertwined in these shows is “empowering and educating entrepreneurs through stories and practical advice” So I bring on guests that reflect that.

Have guidelines in place

• Are you an explicit or clean podcast? If you’re a clean one, make sure your guests know ahead of time that profanities are a no-go.

Make sure they’re prepped

• Let them know how long they can expect the recording to go
• Send them the link to where you’ll be meeting virtually
• Remind them of the day and time (include time zone) you have set
• Send them the questions you plan to ask them so they can have a heads up

Resources

• She Podcasts facebook group