Starting a Podcast Checklist for Your Show
We’ve put together this “starting a podcast checklist” to help you get started on your podcasting journey. It includes everything from creating your show’s name to setting up social media accounts, to booking your first guest—and everything in between.
Starting a Podcast Checklist: The Ultimate Guide
You’ve decided to start podcasting, and now you’re ready to take the next steps. How do you get started? We’ve put together a list of things you should consider before starting your first episode.
Pick Your Topic
The first step in starting your show is to pick a topic. You can choose anything from politics to pop culture, but make sure that it’s something you’re passionate about. If possible, pick something that will resonate with other people as well. The more people who listen, the better!
It’s also important to niche down your topic. The last thing you want is to be too broad and lose your listeners. Instead, focus on a narrow topic that you can talk about in-depth over time.
Select Your Target Audience
Next, you need to decide on your target audience. You should be able to answer questions like: Who are you talking to? Why do they care about what you’re saying? How old are they? Where do they live? What do they want from a podcast? These questions will help you determine what kind of content would appeal to them most.
Having a specific audience in mind will help you create a show that is more targeted and relevant to them. This is essential to building an engaged audience and growing your reach.
Name Your Show
The third step in starting your show is naming it! You’ll want something that’s catchy and memorable for your listeners. Make sure it also describes what your show will be about in general. Think of the name as a promise to your listeners. If they hear it, they should know exactly what they can expect from your episodes.
Try to make sure that the name is something you can use in the long run. If you want to change the name of your podcast, later on, it can be difficult and confusing for listeners. Stick to a name you can be proud of and that fits the purpose of your show.
Set Up Your Podcasting Equipment
The next step in this starting a podcast checklist is setting up the equipment you’ll need. This will vary from person to person and depend on what kind of show you want to do, but it’s important to know what you’re working with before you start recording.
Whether you’re going to do a solo show or host a panel with guests, you’ll need some equipment to get started. Here are some basics:
-A computer with recording software installed
-A microphone that works well with your computer setup
It doesn’t have to be extravagant, but it should be something that can get the job done. You can always upgrade later on if you find that your current setup isn’t working for you.
Choose A Hosting Service
You can host your show on free or paid hosting. If you’re just starting out and don’t have any listeners yet, it’s probably best to use a free option. However, if you have a large audience or are planning on recording more than one episode per week, then it may be worth it to pay for premium features like unlimited storage space and data transfer.
Here are some of the best hosting providers for podcasters:
– Podbean
-Libsyn
There are more options out there so it’s worth it to do some research and find a service that works best for your needs.
Write Notes for Your First Few Episodes
It can be incredibly intimidating to start recording your first episode. This is why it’s important to prepare ahead of time. Write down some notes about what you want to cover in your first episode and make sure that you’re ready with a selection of topics for at least three or four episodes after that one.
Being prepared can help to reduce your anxiety and make the recording process go more smoothly. Note down ideas from your intro to the body and the outro. Be yourself, don’t force it. Your show should be something that comes naturally to you.
Record And Edit Your First Few Episodes
It’s time to record your first episode! Make sure that you have everything ready: a topic, notes, equipment, etc. Don’t be nervous —just have fun with it! Keep in mind that you don’t have to be perfect, so if something doesn’t sound right or if you mess up a word or two, just remember that you can still edit it out.
If it’s your first time recording, it might take a while to get used to how everything works. You may want to practice recording the intro and outro separately before you start recording the main content.
After recording everything, edit your episodes. This is where you can fine-tune your content and make sure everything sounds right. You can delete any mistakes or pauses that didn’t sound right, add music and effects to make it more interesting, etc.
Prepare a Similar Format to “Starting a Podcast Checklist” For Your Launch
Launching your show on a good note can be a great way to build your brand and get more exposure. It’s important to choose a launch date, social media postings on D-day, and other efforts to successfully get your work out there.
Here’s a podcast launch checklist that can help you:
-Set up your website and social media accounts (if you don’t have one already).
-Create a logo, banner images, and other branding elements.
-Prepare your postings from teasers to the day of your launch.
This way, you can already have everything ready for when it comes time to publish your show and avoid any last-minute problems.
Celebrate Your Launch!
When your show is finally out in the world, it’s a great idea to celebrate. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant or expensive, but taking some time to acknowledge that you’ve finished your first show and are now ready for people to listen will make you feel better about all the hard work you put into it.
Remember to celebrate every milestone! You deserve it.
These are just some of the things to remember when making a checklist for your show. Use this list as a starting point, and make sure you take the time to think through all of your needs before you start podcasting. The more thought you put into the process, the better your show will be.
Starting a Podcast Checklist For Marketing
Creating a podcast marketing checklist will help you plan out your marketing strategy and make sure that you actually exert the effort needed to get your show out there and heard. Your podcast is your baby. You want to make sure it’s taken care of and that it gets the attention it needs.
Here are some things you can add to your checklist to make sure your show gets the exposure it deserves:
Website or Blog
Make sure you have a website or blog with contact information where people can find out more about your show and how to subscribe, as well as relevant social media accounts.
Also, see to it that there’s a place on your website where people can leave reviews and comments about the show. It’s a great way to have your audience engage with you and each other. It’s also a good way to get feedback on your show so that you can improve it over time.
Social Media Accounts
Make sure you have a presence on all the major social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn), as well as your own website or blog where people can find out more about your show and how to subscribe. You want people to be able to find you whenever they want by searching for something related to what you do.
If you’re posting on social media, make sure you’re using hashtags related to your show, so people looking for podcasts in those categories can find yours! This is an important part of starting a podcast checklist for marketing.
Mailing List
Create a mailing list for your show. This will allow you to send out special promotions and content to people who opt in, as well as build a community around your show. There are tools like MailChimp and AWeber that make it easy to manage your mailing list.
You can also use tools like Google Forms to create a simple signup form on your website or blog, which you can link to in social media posts.
Guesting
As you go on to create new episodes of your podcast, you’ll want to find ways to get other people involved. The easiest way to do this is by inviting guests or being a guest on other shows! Get in touch with other podcasters and ask if they’d like to be a guest on your show.
This can be as simple as sending them an email or DM on social media. Prepare a list of leads and reach out to them in advance. It’s okay if you don’t hear back from everyone—just focus on those who do respond.
Online Ads (Optional)
Another great addition to your marketing checklist is the use of online advertising. This is an optional step and one that you might not want to take if you’re just starting out. If you do decide to use ads, consider using Facebook or Instagram ads.
These are just some of the steps you can take to boost your show’s visibility. There are many more steps you can take, and the best way to learn what works for your show is by testing different strategies. Use a marketing checklist like this one as a guide, but feel free to make changes as needed.
Benefits of Creating A “Starting A Podcast Checklist” Before Your Launch
Creating a checklist before your launch can be the difference between success and failure. It’s important to have a solid plan in place before you even think about posting a single episode of your shows.
Here are some benefits of this:
– You’ll know what to do when problems arise during the launch process.
– You won’t forget any important steps, and you can ensure that you’re taking all of the right ones.
– Feel less stressed out about the launch because you’ve planned out the entire process.
– Have a complete overview of what’s involved in starting a show and launching it successfully.
– Be able to figure out which parts of the process are most important, and focus your efforts accordingly.
– Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve with your show, and know how to get there.
– A clear understanding of how to get people interested in your podcasts, so you can effectively promote them once it’s launched.
As you can see, there really are a lot of essential benefits to having a plan. It can help you keep everything in order so that you don’t miss anything important or forget something crucial at the last minute. This will save you a lot of time and energy, which can be better spent elsewhere.
Remember that at the end of the day, planning is all about making sure that your show is exactly what you want it to be. The most important tip is? Enjoy the process. This is your show, so you should be excited about what you’re doing. If you aren’t enjoying the process, then something is off and should be reevaluated.
Final Thoughts
This “starting a podcast checklist” is designed to help you get your show off the ground and into the ears of your listeners. If you’re reading this, it’s probably because you have a passion for something and want to share it with others. This checklist is here to help you make sure that when you do share your ideas with the world, they’re as polished and professional as possible.
Whether or not these things are important to you depends on what kind of show you want to create—but if any part of this list feels overwhelming or uninteresting, don’t despair! You can do anything if you put your mind to it!
Disclosure: Our objective is to highlight products and services that we believe you will enjoy and find useful. If you buy them, Starting to Know may receive a tiny percentage of the sales proceeds from our commerce partners at no additional cost to you.
