One of the best ways to establish a social media presence for yourself is through a successful podcast.
While, starting your own podcast looks easy on paper, but it's actually pretty tricky if you aren't smart about it. For instance, there are a lot of precursors that you need to set up to get yourself started, such as podcast gear and a reliable internet connection to upload your podcasts on time.
In that case, I recommend that you use an Xfinity internet connection if your podcast setup is at home. This will ensure that you record, process, and upload your podcast in time and keep your audience engaged.
However, there are a lot of other things you need to take into account.Here's everything you need to know.
Plan and Brand Your Podcast
The first thing that you need to do is lay a foundation for your podcast, since you can't just jump in headfirst.
You need to pick a niche that you will be catering to and the kind of audience you want to engage. For that matter, you have to decide on a topic that you will talk about and then figure outwho you are talking to. If you talk about gaming, for instance, then you need to talk in such a way that you would to a seasoned gamer.
You'll also have to come up with a name and description for your podcast, just make sure it is easy to remember and speak. Similarly, you'll need to see if you want to be a part of the podcast alone or if you want a co-host on it. Better yet, you can also interview people once your podcast is credible enough.
Come up with creative artwork for your podcast so it stands out from other podcasts, and lastly, pick out some catchy music for your intro and your outro.
Record and Edit Your Podcast
The next step is to record your podcast so that you can edit it later. This is the part where you invest in some gear to record your podcast. This will include a good USB microphone (or two if you're co-hosting or interviewing), closed-back headphones, pop filters, and a shock mount so that you can ensure you get crystal clear audio without any shaking or distortion.
Next up, you also need a dedicated recording space where you don't have any distractions. The space has to be quiet, small,and with soft furnishings so that you can avoid echo as you record. While recording, you have to ensure that you speak clearly, maintain a proper distance from the microphone, and angle it a bit away from your mouth. Plus, try not to stutter since that part will need a lot of editing later.
While recording, you'll need software that captures the whole process, and you can edit it later. Such software usually includes a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) such as Audacity, which you can use for free, or GarageBand for recording and editing on a Mac.
While editing, listen closely to remove mistakes, add cuts, music, and enhance the audio for it to be clearer. Record separate tracks for more speakers.
Publish and Growth
Once you are done with recording and editing, the next part is the moment of truth. You'll have to publish your podcast and work towards growing it in the future. Take care of the hosting process,by uploading your edited audio files to a podcast hosting service such as Buzzsprout or Libsyn.
Doing so will generate an RSS feed, which is basically the unique link for your podcast. You will use this link to distribute your podcast wherever you want people to stream it. The next part depends on your preferences, where you have to send the RSS feed to the major directories, which include Apple, Google, and Spotify, where people usually listen to podcasts. This will make your podcast visible to audiences all over the world.
When you launch your podcast, make sure you go easy with it. Launch a couple of episodes in the initial stages so that you don't overwhelm your audience. This will also give your listeners the chance to binge your content. Once your podcast picks up pace, the next thing you need to do is to share it on social media. Once you do, more people will be inclined towards listening to your podcast, and who knows, you might get famous soon!
AsA couple of bonus tips: make sure that you are genuine and authentic, be consistent with your uploading,and try to keep your podcasts sweet and short, ideally under an hour.