How to Create a Podcast: 6 Simple Steps

Image of a microphone, headphones and recording equipment in the background

Podcasts have become one of the most popular ways to consume content. Over the years, podcasts have been growing in popularity, and more and more people are talking about creating a podcast. Although it is exciting, it can also be very daunting at the same time as it can take a lot of time and effort to create a successful podcast, but the rewards are well worth it. In this blog post, I'm going to take you through my journey of podcast creation and share 5 things I learned along the way.

What is a Podcast?

A podcast is an audio show usually released in a series format. It can be about any topic, from business to sports to entertainment. They can be delivered as downloadable audio files or streaming audio shows released regularly.

My journey of podcast creation

When we decided to create the Tales of Teaching Online podcast, I was both excited and intimidated. The first thing was to consider why are we creating a podcast. This was simple; it was just as COVID-19 had hit, and we knew there were some significant initiatives transitioning to teaching online that we wanted to share - to create a community, so we made the Tales of Teaching Online. We had a team of people interested in presenting, so given this was the first time creating a podcast and there were going to be multiple presenters, I wanted to create a workflow. I did a lot of research and consulted other podcasters to see what worked, what didn't and what they would do differently next time. From there, I created a workflow so no matter who was leading the podcast for that day, they knew what they needed to do. Next was deciding on topics and who to interview; although this was time-consuming, it was well worth it after hearing some fantastic stories educators shared. Next was the equipment and ensuring everyone was aware of how to make the audio the best experience possible, so this came down to workflow and communicating with the team.

Step 1: Answer the Why?
Because podcasts are popular, it doesn't mean you should do one. You may lose momentum and motivation if you don't know why you are doing it. So, ask yourself, why do I want to do a podcast? In my instance, as part of the team, we wanted to share stories of educators transitioning their teaching practice online and building a community of practice.

Step 2: Create your workflow
It can be hard to complete editing and uploading yourself, so you may have a few people working with you to complete your podcast. If this is the case, create a quick workflow to maintain consistency with podcast design and development.

Step 3: Review your topics
There are always topics of the moment and topics that will stand the test of time. Know that not everything will be hit, but that is okay. Keep on going. Document your topics and the essential ideas so you can build on them over time. This will also help when you analyse what topics are getting picked up and why.

Step 4: Don’t forget about your equipment
We record in Zoom and recommend interviewers/interviewees have a headset and/or a microphone. We also recommend that all other apps are shut down during the podcast - there is nothing worse than a notification sound mid-sentence! We use audio enhancement features in post-production to ensure it comes out at the best possible quality.

Step 5: Podcast hosting and promotion
Where you will be hosting your podcast is important; whether that be Spotify, SoundCloud or the like, check the associated fees. Once you are hosting it, you need to be able to promote it - but how? You could reach out to that database depending on your existing marketing channels. Otherwise, with the different platforms available, you might find other new and exciting ways to reach your audience.

Step 6: Monitor your performance
Like any production, monitoring and analysing your performance is a good idea. You should track your metrics and analyse your data to see what works and is not. This will help you make informed decisions about your podcast and ensure that it is successful.

Summary

Creating a podcast is a great way to share your knowledge and reach a broad audience. It takes time and effort, but its rewards are well worth it. The tips are personal for everyone, from disseminating knowledge to building your confidence in podcasting. If you want to learn more about the specifics, please contact me.