Are You Ready To Be The Next Podcasting Sensation? | Voices Bazaar

Let's take a dive into the world of Podcasting and understand what its going to take to get one started of our own.

Is Podcasting The Way to Go?

Well, according to recent research reports published by Statista, the number of podcast listeners will surpass 160 million in 2023 after steady increases of 20 million year on year.

The pandemic has given podcasting a huge push, with more and more artists stepping in to showcase their expertise and an ever-growing network of listeners tuning in each day. With this growing popularity worldwide, it only makes sense to hop onto the podcasting train and bring to the table what you feel passionate about. So, if you're looking for a perfect way to voice out how you really feel about something and think you've got a knack for creating some kick-ass content along the way, podcasting is the way to go!

So How Do I Get Started?

While it might appear quite overwhelming at first, you’ll be surprised to know that it's actually not really that hard to do. So let's walk you through these simple steps and by the end of it, you'll be podcasting in no time!

So, how do we get started?

• Finding your Niche
• Creating an RSS Feed Account
• Sharing on Podcast Streaming Apps
• Leveraging your Social Media

Finding Your Niche

First things first, you need to decide on a theme and concept for your podcast. Having an outline of what you're planning to speak about is really the first step on this journey. This is something you should ideally be doing on a subject of great interest, it could be a hobby or even something you do for work and have a real interest in. This will ensure, when you brainstorm, ideas come more easily and will help you to create some great and relevant content consistently. The more specific the topic is, the easier it gets for you to plan and execute your content. However, if you're struggling to find your niche, then listening to other podcasts, researching, and figuring it out over time is the best way forward. On the flip side though, a general podcast about just getting to know someone better might also be a breath of fresh air. A reminder to embrace the ordinary moments of life. It's all about creating a community of like-minded people.

So, once you’re done deciding the topic of your podcast, you can focus on a general script or rather a few pointers so you can structure your interaction with the audience, and it will look like this. Let's consider you're a tech and auto geek and you started a podcast to inform your audience about the features of Tesla's latest model. Your podcast episode outline should look like this...

• Introduction to the new Tesla Model Z (1 min)
• How is it different from its predecessor (30 - 45 secs)
• A deep dive into the list of new features (2-5 mins)
• Addressing questions and feedback from the internet / Talking about Pros and Cons (2-5 mins)
• Outro and stay tuned for the next episode (30 secs)

Writing down a script or pointers on what you’re speaking about will help you sound more cohesive and reflect on your expertise, winning you more listeners over time. And as you get the hang of it, you can even improvise and go completely freestyle.

Another thing to consider is having guests on your podcast - it's a great way to keep things interesting - keep the audience hooked and oftentimes also get a different perspective on a particular topic. The most renowned and by far the most interesting podcast with celebrity guests is the 'Joe Rogan Experience' podcast. Who has gained a massive following from across the globe for his free-spirited take on the working of the World and his ability to talk about absolutely anything. Don't forget to check him out!

Creating an RSS Feed Account

When you’re done with planning and deciding your podcast content, you can now focus on the technical aspect of things, which is creating an RSS account. Now you must be wondering, what exactly is an RSS feed and how do you even create one? Well, put simply, an RSS (Really Simple Syndicate) feed is an easy way to stay up to date with your websites that contain details about every piece of content published. So, If a site has an RSS feed, you will get notified whenever a podcast goes up, and you can check out the summary or the details of the podcast. * Think of it as an Instagram for your Podcast! * All of the podcast apps read your RSS feed which means that you don’t really have to upload your audio file, descriptions etc. on every listening app you decide to share it on, instead you can simply share your RSS feed link with the apps and they can automatically stay up-to-date with your happenings. Pretty straightforward and simple right?

So, there are plenty of hosting sites that can do the work for you but with so many options available, it gets quite confusing for you to choose, so don’t worry, we've come up with a list of a few preferred podcast-hosting sites that will make your selection process so much easier.

1. Buzzsprout - It is one of the most user-friendly podcast hosting sites for beginners. It’s so easy to navigate and you don't even have to do anything, just share your media files and it will be available on all devices. You can customize your podcast's website and even add WordPress plugins to an existing site. It allows you to monetize and get paid for the work you're putting out.

• Prices: A three-tier paid plan ranging from $12-$24 per month. They also have a special offer of a 90-day free trial, so I would suggest that you take advantage of that.

2. RSS.com : RSS.com has become one of the popular podcast hosting platforms that provide you with unlimited bandwidth which means more people can listen to your podcast. It is easy to understand and you can very easily set up your podcast in a matter of minutes. It provides users with a free podcasting website that automatically updates your latest episodes.

• Prices- $4.99/ month for students, $12.99/month or $8.25 a month if you pay annually

3. Podbean : Podbean is great platform that provides you with both free and paid accounts for users. They have a mobile app and podcast player that makes it easy for podcasters to access, with a unique feature called the 'Patron Program' which is basically a paywalled RSS feed that allows your listener to access bonus or exclusive content that is not available publicly.

• Prices: Plans start from $9-$99 per month (Special offers- Free trial available before you pay for the services).

4. Anchor : Anchor is a free podcast hosting that is easy to access, and also one of the preferred sites for people operating out of India. It is pretty convenient since you just have to sign up on the app, start recording and you can even edit your podcasts on the app itself. It also provides you with unlimited hosting and episodes. It is mainly ideal for people like me or someone who wanted to test out the podcasting world and not fully commit to it. So, it is definitely a great way to start your podcasting journey, especially if you're only looking to test the waters and are not comfortable with shelling out a fee.

Sharing Your Podcasts on Streaming Apps

Considering now that you have begun your journey as a podcaster, with your pilot episode ready to create waves, you goal should now be to share it on all the available podcast streaming apps. The most popular apps are:

• Apple podcasts
• Spotify
• Google podcasts
• Hubhopper and many more.

All you have to do is submit the RSS feed URL to your podcast directory, wait for your RSS feed to be approved, and publish your episodes from the streaming website and you're all set to go!

Leveraging Social Media

While your podcast is on the most popular streaming platforms, make sure to let people know about that! And what better way than to leverage your social media? Post stories on Instagram, upload snippets of your podcast on Twitter and make a video version of your podcast for YouTube, it'll only be a matter of time before you have a sea of listeners eager to know what you're about to say next. Meanwhile, stay consistent and keep your audience engaged, host Q&As, ask them what they'd like to know and you're sure to be on your way to podcast fame.

So, now that you're in on how to get started, don't forget to bookmark this link, share it with your friends and we'll be eagerly awaiting your podcast!

Written by: Priyanka Laishram, Compiled and Edited by: Dylin Gomes (https://www.voicesbazaar.com)

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