Let your audience hear you coming.
Before Twitter became what we know it as today—chaotic discourse—it was a podcasting platform named Odeo, albeit not a successful one (coming full circle, much?). Say what you will about how things panned out for the social networking platform, but one thing remains clear: you cannot underestimate the business potential of podcasting.
As of 2021, there were over two million podcasts and nearly 50 million podcast episodes circulating in the virtual world. What’s more, the digital audio content is expected to bring in over 100 million listeners by 2024. Take a moment to let that sink in.
For your business, this growing audience could mean an increased chance of reaching your target audience if you launch a podcast. And if that doesn’t convince you, know that podcasts bring in profits (more money, more problems or more money solves problems? We’ll let you decide), thanks to advertisers and sponsors. Plus, they are cheap, easy to make and easier to listen to.
So, if you have decided to start your own podcast, here’s how to go about it.
Step 1: Define your podcast niche
Before you start recording, it is essential to define the topic or theme of your podcast. You need to identify your target audience and tailor your content to their interests. This will help you build a loyal following and make your podcast more marketable. Then, choose a topic that aligns with your business or industry and something you’re passionate about to make it easier to sustain long-term.
Let’s say you’re a marketing consultant, and you want to start a podcast to showcase your expertise and attract potential clients. Your podcast niche could be “Marketing Mastery for Small Business Owners”. You could cover topics like social media marketing, email marketing, SEO and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. By focusing on these topics, you’ll be able to attract a specific audience interested in marketing for small businesses.
Step 2: Choose your equipment and software
When it comes to equipment, you don’t need to break the bank. A high-quality microphone, headphones and recording software are the basic equipment for recording a podcast, and you can choose to get them secondhand. For recording your audio, you can use free software like Audacity or paid options like Adobe Audition or GarageBand depending on your preference. Each software offers different editing options, so do your research.
If you are a small business, you might not have the budget to book a recording studio. Fret not, you can create high-quality podcasts at home. To do so, find a quiet space and use a good-quality microphone. Test your audio settings and minimize interruptions by informing your family members or housemates. Be mindful of your posture and breathing, record multiple takes and select the best one during the editing process.
Step 3: Plan your podcast episodes
After identifying your podcast’s niche and getting your equipment, it’s time to plan your episodes. To do so, you can create a content calendar. This ensures that you have a steady stream of content and allows you to plan your guests and interviews accordingly. Your content should be engaging, informative and valuable to your target audience.
Let’s say you plan to release an episode every two weeks. You could create a content calendar that covers topics like “The Power of Social Media Advertising”, “SEO Strategies for Small Businesses”, “Building an Email List that Converts”, and “How to Use Pay-Per-Click Advertising to Boost Sales”. Then, you can plan out what you want to talk about in each of these episodes. For instance, you could also interview successful small business owners and marketing experts to add valuable insights and perspectives and perhaps tap into their audience.
Step 4: Record and edit your episodes
With your equipment and content plan in place, it’s time to start recording. To connect with your audience, try to keep your recordings natural and conversational. Add personal stories and anecdotes to differentiate your podcast from the competition.
Once you’ve recorded your episode, it’s time to edit it. Editing helps to improve the sound quality, remove any mistakes and add any necessary sound effects or music. You can edit your audio on the same platform you recorded it on; that could be Adobe Audition or Pro Tools, among others. You might need to watch a YouTube tutorial or two to get the hang of using these tools, but once you do, it’s a breeze from there.
Take the time to listen to your recording and make any necessary changes to create a polished final product. You might even want to create a signature intro that prompts immediate recall for listeners.
Step 5: Publish and promote your podcast
The final step is to publish your podcast and get it out into the world. Choose a podcast hosting platform like Buzzsprout, Libsyn, Podbean or even Spotify to distribute your podcast. Make sure to create an eye-catching cover logo to accompany it, write compelling episode descriptions and optimize your podcast for search engines to attract more listeners. Once your podcast is live, promote it on your website, social media platforms (e.g. YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit, Twitter, Instagram and Facebook) and to your email list.
Now that your podcast is up and running, it is time to monetize it. For that, you need to tap into sponsorships, advertising, selling merchandise and products, affiliate marketing and crowdfunding.
While listening to popular podcasts, you might have had to sit through some ad breaks or sponsored content. That’s how podcasts make money. For instance, the “Happier with Gretchen Rubin” podcast sells merchandise, like happiness journals, relevant to the YouTuber’s audience. The “My Favorite Murder” podcast—the second-highest earning podcast in 2019—partners with sponsors such as HelloFresh, Warby Parker and Squarespace. By using one or more of these monetization strategies, you can generate financial support and turn your podcast into a profitable business venture.
A business podcast is not just a tool for brand awareness, but also a means to connect with customers and establish thought leadership in the industry. Launching a business podcast is like embarking on a profitable journey where each episode and conversation can open up new growth opportunities.
Also read:
- Why You Should Start a Podcast for Your Business
- 5 More Business Podcasts You Need to Listen To
- The 11 Best Podcast Channels for Entrepreneurs
Header Image by Unsplash
