How to Start A Successful Podcast in 2024
If you've been wondering how to start a podcast, you came to the right place.
True story: I took my podcast from idea to launch in 10 days with no experience and little resources.
I’ve been an avid podcast listener since 2014, and loved listening to health and entrepreneurship shows. I spent hours listening to hosts like Chalene Johnson, Shawn Stevenson, and Amy Porterfield, soaking up as much knowledge from their shows as I could. Little did I know all of this time spent listening was helping me prepare to launch my own show.
Though I liked listening to those hosts for the knowledge shared on their shows, by listening to them so much I began to understand the medium. Listening to their shows allowed me to study how they conducted interviews and how they kept conversations flowing with their guests. I took mental notes on how they connected with their audiences and tucked the knowledge away.
How I Started My Podcast
I got the idea for my podcast in the fall of 2018, and the second I got the idea, I started executing immediately. After ordering a microphone on Amazon (a $40 Blue Yeti snowball, which was all I could afford at the time) I immediately went down a YouTube and Google rabbit-hole to figure out how to start my own podcast. I felt so passionate that the idea for my show was a good one, and knew I needed to dive right in.
When I sat down to start recording, I realized those hours I spent listening to and studying seasoned hosts prepared me to step into the host seat.
After spending 10 days building the podcast’s website, learning how to set up a podcast on the back end, designing some pretty terrible cover art in Canva, recording a few episodes, reaching out to people I wanted to interview, and teaching myself how to edit audio in Garageband, my podcast was birthed into the world and we’ve been going ever since. In case you’re wondering, no I didn’t sleep during those 10 days (I don’t recommend that part).
Related Episode: How to Start, Grow, and Monetize a Podcast
Almost six years later, my show has earned millions of downloads, signed with a major podcast network, featured some incredible guests, and is now my full-time job. Keep reading to learn how I did it, and how you can too.
How to Start A Podcast in 2024
Here is the step-by-step process you need to follow to start a successful podcast in 2024.
1. Determine your ideal listener.
The number one mistake podcasters make is not keeping their listener at the forefront of their minds. So many people start podcasts because they love talking, and see it as a way to make money. However, the road from launch to monetization can be a long one, and to have a successful podcast you can’t just talk — you have to talk to people who want to listen to you.
Why Your Listener Should Be Top-Priority
The first step towards launching your show should be identifying who your ideal listener is — this is crucial for the growth of your future show. You need to be able to pinpoint exactly who you’re talking to so you can cater your message to people who are ready to receive it. Identify these things about your ideal listener:
- Their age (a general range is fine)
- Interests (this will help you generate topics for your show)
- Where they live
- What their hobbies are
- General income level
- Marital and parental status
- Any other pertinent background information
You want to be clear about these details from the beginning. That way when your ideal listener tunes into your show they’ll think “Wow, this was made just for me! I need to subscribe.” When I first launched my show in 2018, my ideal listener was a millennial woman of color who was interested in wellness but didn’t feel represented by other wellness content outlets, and lived in major cities in the U.S. She was in a relationship but not yet married, and had disposable income to spend on her wellness-related hobbies and interests.
While I have plenty of listeners who do not fit this description, many of my listeners do. When they found my show, they were excited to tune in and share it with their friends because it was relevant to them and what they were experiencing in their lives. This aided my show’s growth.
2. Create your show premise and description.
Now that you know who is going to be listening to your show, it’s time to create your show’s premise and description. What is the “why” behind your show? Why are you creating it? Once you have that nailed down, it’s time to write your show’s description.
This can be a short paragraph describing your show to potential listeners. This description needs to convey to the listener why they should listen to your show and what they can expect to hear when they listen.
3. Determine a format and release schedule.
Will you have an interview-based show? Is it scripted? Will you host it solo? Now is the time to nail down those details. You’ll also want to determine your release schedule. When it comes to podcasting, consistency is key. If you’re looking to grow a large audience, I recommend a cadence of one new episode per week.
While you can certainly run a podcast releasing episodes bi-weekly or monthly, weekly is truly the sweet spot for growth. The more often you can show up in people’s podcast feeds, the more likely they are to listen.
The most popular days to release new podcast episodes are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, as listenership tends to be higher during the week when people are commuting to work.
4. Name your show.
If you haven’t done so already, you’ll want to make sure you give your podcast a good name. Ideally, the name of your podcast should be easy to remember, and easy to understand for potential listeners so they don’t have to guess what your show is about.
5. Reserve related social media handles.
You’ll want to make sure you reserve the social media handles related to your podcast’s name on major social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X. Even if you don’t plan on being active on all of these platforms, you’ll want to make sure someone else doesn’t take your handle, which can cause confusion later on.
6. Sign up with a podcast hosting platform.
Now let’s get to the production. In order to publish your podcast, you’ll need an account with a podcast hosting platform. Your hosting platform hosts your show’s RSS feed, and is where you publish your audio files that get pushed to the major podcasting platforms. Many platforms offer free and low-cost hosting for your show. A few popular platforms include:
7. Start getting your artwork designed.
Before your show goes live, you’ll want to have podcast artwork. Your artwork is often the first thing listeners see when checking out your show, and good artwork can look so many different ways. Some shows opt to have graphic-based artwork, and many shows opt to feature a photo of the host so audiences know who they’re listening to.
Look through your favorite show’s artwork and check out the artwork of shows that are at the top of the podcast charts. This can help inspire the creative direction for your artwork. From there you can work with a designer to get your artwork made or you can design it yourself. You’ll want to make sure your final image is no larger than 3000x3000 pixels, or it can create issues with publishing.
8. Plan the first three episodes you want to launch with.
I recommend having at least three episodes live when you launch your show, to give listeners a chance to binge at the very beginning. Not only will this hook your initial listeners, but it gives you a greater boost of downloads, helping your show rank higher in the charts.
When it comes to your first few episodes, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Your first episode can be an introduction to your show, who you are as a host, and what listeners can expect. Your remaining episodes can be audio versions of content that you’ve repurposed from other places, or they can be completely new pieces of content.
9. Record and edit your first three episodes.
Now that you know what you want your first three episodes to be, it’s time to get recording! You’ll want to record and edit your first batch of episodes to ensure they are ready for publishing. You can also create a short trailer (no more than 60 seconds) for your show as well.
Recommendations for software and equipment are below.
10. Upload your episodes and artwork to your podcast hosting software.
When your first three episodes and trailer are ready, you can upload them along with your podcast artwork to your hosting software so they publish in your RSS feed.
11. Connect your hosting software to all streaming services available to expand your reach.
In order for your show to show up in people’s podcast apps you need to ensure your RSS feed is connected to major platforms like Spotify, Pandora, and iHeart. You can do this through the settings page of your hosting software. It should be a very simple, straightforward step.
12. Submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts for approval.
In order for your show to be available in Apple Podcasts, you’ll need to follow a few extra steps. To do this, you’ll use your Apple ID to create a show in Apple Podcasts Connect. You’ll submit your RSS feed so Apple can review your show before it publishes on their platform. It can take days for this process to be complete, so factor waiting time into your launch schedule. You can find instructions on how to submit your show to Apple Podcasts here.
13. Celebrate the launch of your show.
Once your show has been accepted by Apple, it’s officially launched. Congratulations! Spread the word far and wide, and celebrate the beginning of your podcasting journey.
Related Episode: How I Became a Full-Time Podcaster
Equipment and Software You Need to Start A Podcast
If you feel intimidated by the technical aspect of podcasting, don’t be! Here’s everything you need for a simple at-home podcasting setup.
1. Microphone
Having a microphone is crucial for good sound quality, and thankfully there are several affordable options available. The Audio Technica ATR2100 is a great budget microphone that can plug directly into your computer’s USB port, or it can connect to a mixer with an XLR cable. This mic is lightweight and is also great for travel. You’ll want to make sure you get a windscreen for this microphone for optimal sound quality.
If you’re looking for something a bit more powerful but still affordable, the Rod PodMic is a great option, and is what I use when I’m not recording in-studio. The original PodMic can only connect via an XLR cable, and requires a mixer or interface to connect to a computer. Rode recently came out with a version that also offers USB connectivity.
If you do decide to go with the Rode PodMic, don’t forget to get a mic stand and XLR cable.
2. Interface or Mixer
Depending on which microphone you choose, you’ll need a mixer to connect your microphone to your computer and to control audio levels. For a simple mixer, you can go with the Focusrite Scarlett.
If you’re looking for something more powerful that offers studio-quality sound and additional features like sound effects and the ability to take phone calls, the RodeCaster Pro could be a great option. Rode also recently released a more compact version for two-person recordings. Don’t forget to grab a memory card if you use the RodeCaster.
3. Recording Software
If you’re recording directly to your computer, you’ll need software to record. If you have a Mac, and are recording solo, you can record directly into Garageband. For remote recordings, or if you’d prefer an online option, I recommend using Riverside.
Riverside has high-quality audio and video recordings, and work directly in your web browser making it easy to navigate for hosts and guests. I use Riverside to record anytime I’m not in-studio.
4. Headphones
Next, you’ll want to make sure you’re using headphones, especially for remote recordings. If you don’t use headphones while recording remotely, your microphone can pick up your guest’s audio from your computer speakers, which can really distort the sound of your show. Wearing headphones can also help you pick up on and catch any audio issues during the recording so you can troubleshoot in real time, instead of trying to fix poor audio while editing. You’ll also want to make sure your guests are wearing headphones as well.
For a budget setup, the wired Audio Technica ATH-M20X headphones are a great option. Make sure whatever headphones you use are hardwired, not bluetooth to prevent any lags in audio.
5. Editing Software
If you’re editing your own show, you’ll need software to do that. I recommend using Descript for the smoothest, most efficient editing process. Descript transcribes your show and works as a text-based editor. This makes it easy to clean up your content with the click of a button. It’s a huge time-saver, and much easier than editing in a more traditional audio program like Garageband.
6. Optional: Camera
Video is becoming increasingly important for podcasts. If you choose to incorporate video into your show, you’ll need a camera to do so. You can use the web camera on your computer, or you can use a camera like the Sony ZV-1 which is popular with podcasters and content creators.
There you have it — the full guide to launching a podcast in 2024.
If you want to improve your podcast interviewing skills, download my free cheat sheet showing you my exact prep process for stellar interviews your audience will love.
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