LAUNCH YOUR PODCAST FOR 2023
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LAUNCH YOUR PODCAST TODAY
Want to share your story? Want to share your expertise on a subject? This year has been one for the books, as they say, and many people are exploring new paths and want to share their experiences.
Now, is the time to start your podcast and in this post, I’m going to provide step-by-step instructions so you can launch your own show in a short amount of time. I’ll cover the equipment, what you need to get started and I’ll even do it budget-friendly for beginners!
Buzzsprout makes the process simple and easy and unbelievably quick to get started. They list your show in every major podcast platform, they also provide a great-looking website to compliment your podcast and they are passionate to help you succeed. Many have chosen to host with Buzzsprout, over a hundred thousand podcasters currently.
In this post, we are going to cover the basic equipment needed, programs to record your very first show, artwork, and then how to launch your podcast. Let’s get started!
Getting Started
To begin all you need is some basic equipment, a microphone, a computer, internet connection and you can be ready in no time. You can even get started using your cell phone.
Recording Software
Audacity
To begin, you will need to have a place to record your audio. Audacity is a free, open-source cross-platform audio software that can be used to record your podcast. What’s so great about it, is that it’s literally free.
All you have to do is visit their website, (click here for Audacity), and then download and install it. From there, you can tweak the initial settings, like volume, register your microphone (more on that in a bit), and export your audio so you can upload it to your podcast platform.
GarageBand for Mac
If you have an iPhone, there is a pre-installed app called GarageBand that you can use to record your podcast. Great news, it’s also free. Learn more about GarageBand here, or open the app on your iPhone. Maybe you deleted the app? That’s okay, you can download it here.
Table of Contents
Microphones
Budget-Friendly Microphones
While there are many great microphones on the market today, we are going to list popular microphones under $100 (at the time of this post). While you can record using GarageBand on your phone, it may not have the best sound quality for a podcast, so let’s look at other options.
There are two microphones that both will serve as great choices. First, we have the Audio-Technica ATR2100x (left and below) and second, the Blue Yeti Nano USB Microphone (below and to the right). They both are recommended for podcasting and will give your voice the sharp sound quality like you are recording from a real studio.
Audio-Technica ATR2100x
The Audio-Technica ATR2100x-USB Cardioid Dynamic Microphone is a great choice in that is comes in under $100 and has a 4.5 star review on Amazon with over 1176 ratings.
It’s a plug and play microphone, so all you have to do is connect it to your computer and you are in business. This easy set up makes it a good choice if you are not too tech-savy. Additionally, this microphone is recommended for podcasting – win-win.
Blue Yeti Nano USB Microphone
The Blue Yeti Nano USB Microphone is a popular choice for many first time podcasters. Not only does it look amazingly cool, but it also easily connects via USB, and has two custom capsules tuned so your voice and audio will have exceptional quality.
This microphone can be used for podcasting but also for game streaming and for yelling at your neighbor’s dog (just kidding on the last one). This plug and play microphone is small in size, but the sound quality and performance is outstanding.
Microphone Stand
InnoGear Microphone Stand
Next, you will need a microphone stand. While they both come with a stand, you may prefer to have an arm so you can move the microphone around and be hands-free if you like to talk with your hands.
The InnoGear Microphone Stand is complimentary to either microphone above (which makes it a good choice). It also comes with a windscreen pop filter so your P’s will sound perfect.
The stand can easily be mounted to your computer desk, it swivels too, so you can move it out of your way when not in use, plus it makes your computer desk look like you have your own podcast or something. 🙂
Headphones
In order to edit your audio and ensure the sound quality is how you want it, you are going to want to invest in a solid pair of headphones.
One of the best headphones is the Plantronics Voyager Focus UC Bluetooth USB Headset with Active Noise Cancelling. Not only does it allow for up to 12 hours of talk and listening time, but it will let you be mobile and travel up to 98 ft. It connects via USB and is even compatible with Microsoft Teams for collaborating. You may be surprised the difference it makes!
Invest in Sound Proofing
When you are recording your podcast, you will want to be in a quiet environment that will be free from distractions and background noise.
It’s great if you have a separate dedicated room to be able to record, and if so, you will want to invest in sound proofing. This way here, you can eliminate or reduce background noise like street noise, dogs barking or a plane flying overheard – or even the sound of the dishwasher.
We have installed Focusound Foam Panels on the walls and it has reduced the background noise measurably. What we like about the Focusound Panels is they are quick and easy to install, easy to remove and does not damage the wall or paint. They come in 12 x 12 x 1 panels and come in packs of 24, 48 and now 50 pieces per pack. It also comes with the double-sided tape which makes the purchase a one-stop shop.
Design your Cover Art
So now you have your equipment and are ready to record your first episode. What will you call your podcast? Do you need artwork or someone to design your Podcast Cover? Maybe you want to design your own?
Perfect! If you wish to surface your creative juices and design your own, head on over to Canva, where you not only can make eye-catching graphics on your own, but you can also design FB posts, YT Thumbnails, they even have music and videos on their site which you can download to bring your creations to life. Check out Canva here.
Oh, did I mention, they have a free plan, which makes getting started easy and of course you can upgrade it too, so you can have enhanced fonts and more.
Hire a Graphic Designer
If you tried your creative juices with Canva but feel, your podcast cover art needs a professional appearance, (you will want it to look amazing and stand out), you may wish to hire a freelance graphic designer to work their magic.
There are a lot of freelancers on Fiverr for just this task. I have hired many from Fiverr and they have provided great options and I have been pleased with their work.
Ready to Launch
Now you are ready to launch. You have your Podcast Cover Art, recorded your first episode, now it’s time to upload it to Buzzsprout. Was it easier than you thought? As mentioned above, Buzzsprout has over 100,000 podcasters (there are that many?), and currently allows you to connect your podcast to many directories.
They have a free plan (perfect for beginners) and paid plans too. Currently, Buzzsprout is offering a $20 amazon gift card to you by using our link. (time-sensitive).
Leave us a comment, when your podcast launches and/or if there are questions! I’m excited for you in your launch. I wish you the best of luck in your new adventure! Drop a link to your podcast below!
Update
Updated: Ironically, as I was writing this post, Buzzsprout send us a Congrats email. We really have all of you to thank! We launched in March of 2021, and as of May 2023 we have hit over 64,000 podcast downloads! Many thanks!
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