How To Start A Podcast And Make Money In 2022 (2024)

If you’re interested in starting a podcast but don’t know where to begin, completing the following steps will set you up for success.

1. Define Your Niche or Topic

Narrowing down a topic or niche may seem limiting, but doing so will help you better focus your content and build an audience in the long term. It will also help you build trust and more definitively establish yourself as a subject matter expert.

Pick a topic that’s broad enough that you could reasonably talk about for multiple episodes, seasons, etc., but specific enough to draw in a certain type of person or demographic.

Research Existing Podcasts

Before you dive into recording your first episode, it’s a smart move to do a little digging to see if there are any other podcasts that are similar.

You may find that there are few to no podcasts on your selected topic, or that your niche is already pretty crowded. Even if it’s the latter, doing your research can help you figure out how to position your podcast in a way that sets you apart.

Choose Your Format and Cadence

Your podcast can be a solo act or a group one—the choice is up to you. If you want to host your podcast alongside someone else, you’ll need to coordinate how to do so effectively. In a similar vein, if you want to interview guests on your show, you may need to do some initial outreach.

Your cadence is your publishing schedule, i.e., how often will you release a new episode. Some podcasts release new episodes every day, while others release episodes biweekly. You’ll need to determine the best cadence for your schedule. Adhering to whatever cadence you’ve set will help build trust and familiarity with your future audience.

Define Your Audience

Arguably the most important question you’ll need to answer before creating your podcast is: who is this podcast for? Having an ideal listener in mind will help you create content that is both valuable and relevant. Try to nail down basic information about your ideal listener, such as:

  • How old are they?
  • Where do they reside?
  • What do they do for work?
  • What forms of media do they already consume?
  • Do they already listen to any podcasts?
  • What do they do in their spare time?
  • What problems do they commonly face?
  • What do they wish they knew more about?

2. Build Your Brand and Online Presence

Naming your podcast is a hugely important step. You want your podcast’s name to relate to your subject matter or likeness, as well as be clever or memorable. Avoid using the word “Podcast” in your show’s name—it’s redundant and takes up valuable character space.

Speaking of character space, strongly consider the total length of your title. Longer doesn’t necessarily mean better. In fact, a study by Pacific Content found that most podcast titles are 29 characters or fewer.

In addition to a title, you’ll need to spend time creating your branding elements. Branding elements encompass your show’s cover art, color palette and any custom design or audio work.

You can design your cover art yourself using a free design tool such as Canva, or hire a professional graphic designer to help you capture exactly what you’re looking for.

For custom audio sounds, such as intro or outro music, you can work with a professional musician or studio. Otherwise, you can find sounds that fit your style and vibe from a royalty-free music library.

Create a Website or RSS Feed for Your Podcast

Now that you have an episode or two of your show recorded, you’ll need to make it accessible. One way to do this is to create a website for your podcast. You can build a website using free or paid tools, but we recommend opting for paid ones if you know you want to have more customization options and a professional feel. On your website, you can host download links or embed your episodes so that others can listen and enjoy.

Another option is to create an RSS feed using a podcast-specific hosting site (such as Anchor or BuzzsSprout) instead of a traditional web host (such aslike WordPress or Wix). The term “RSS feed” might ring a bell if you blogged in the earlier days of the iInternet. Modern podcast distribution software still relies on solely on RSS feeds, but you don’t need to have a full- blown website in order to submit your podcast to Apple, Spotify, or other directories.

There are many companies that will host your podcast and create an RSS feed for you for free or at a low cost. All you’ll need to do is upload your episodes and basic information, and you’ll have an RSS feed that you can then use to submit to podcast directories.

Create Social Media Profiles

Typically, if you’re starting a podcast you will want to create social media profiles using the name of your podcast. While it might be appealing to create a profile on a number of different platforms, it’s worth considering which your audience uses most and focusing on those. This is because social media can provide a great marketing opportunity, but only if you actually use it.

Set Up an Account With a Podcast Platform (i.e., Spotify)

This step is optional, but highly recommended if you want to reach as many listeners as possible. To make your podcast more discoverable, you can submit it to a directory. Most major directories rely on your podcast’s RSS feed to verify its legitimacy and ownership, which is why you’ll need to make sure you have one in place beforehand.

Some of the most popular podcast directories worth submitting to are:

  • Apple (formerly iTunes)
  • Spotify
  • Stitcher
  • Audible
  • Google Podcasts
  • iHeartRadio

After your podcast has successfully been uploaded to a directory, anyone who uses the directory will be able to find your podcast if they search for it by title or keywords.

3. Source Recording Equipment and Editing Software

It’s very likely that you can record audio using the computer, tablet or phone you already have. However, for a better, clearer sound, most podcasters recommend investing in a separate podcast microphone. Podcast microphones can cost as low as $20 to as much as $10,000.

You don’t need to pay for podcast editing software if you don’t want to or are unable to. GarageBand is a great free option if you have an Apple device, and so is Audacity, which is free on any device. Otherwise, you can invest in more advanced, premium software such as Adobe Audition, Logic Pro X or Hindenburg Journalist.

If you don’t feel comfortable or have no interest in editing your podcast, outsource it to a freelancer. You can find a freelance podcast editor to work with through sites such as Fiverr, Upwork, Craigslist or Facebook.

4. Record and Edit Your First Podcast

Once you’ve nailed down your equipment, you’re ready to record. Some podcasters write scripts beforehand so that they know what to say ahead of time, while others wing it. The choice is up to you.

Even if you write a script, you’ll likely have to take breaks, pause, re-record and/or edit your audio to produce a final, polished version. As with anything else, the more you do it, the better you’ll get. Podcasting is a skill in itself that takes time and practice to do swiftly.

Name Your Episode Titles

Each episode you record should have a unique name. Your episode titles should accurately describe what the episode talks about and, if applicable, who the guest speaker on the episode is.

While it may be tempting to create clever or witty names for your episodes, it’s more strategic to name your episodes aptly and accurately. Doing so will aid your podcast’s SEO, meaning it will be easier for listeners to discover your podcast in search engines or on podcast directories.

Craft a Compelling Show Description and Episode Descriptions

To tell potential listeners what your show is all about, you’ll need to write a general synopsis as well as descriptions for each of your episodes. For your general synopsis, be as clear and concise as possible while answering these basic questions:

  • What is your podcast about?
  • Who is your podcast for?
  • What can listeners expect to hear?
  • Why should people listen to your podcast? What will they gain from listening?
  • How often/when do you release new episodes?
  • How/where can people connect with you other than by listening to your podcast?

Your episode descriptions should be similarly concise, but you’ll have the opportunity to insert relevant links to resources, products or anything else you talk about.

Submit Your Episode to Directories

Once you have your podcast ready to go, the next step is to submit (or upload) it to your podcast platforms of choice.

5. Promote Your Podcast

Once your podcast can be discovered and downloaded, it’s time to spread the word about it. You can take a grassroots approach, such as sending direct links to your close friends and family, creating a paid social media ad campaign or anything in between—the choice is yours.

One popular method of publicizing your podcast is via social media channels such as Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and TikTok. If you already have an established following on social media, you can use your existing accounts to promote your podcast. If not, you can create new accounts for the sole purpose of promoting the podcast and connecting with your community.

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How To Start A Podcast And Make Money In 2022 (2024)

FAQs

Is starting a podcast worth it in 2022? ›

A podcast is an excellent way to build an audience from scratch and position yourself as an authority in your industry. Podcasts are a popular content platform because they're easy to consume. People can listen to podcasts on the go, in the car, at the gym, and even at work.

How do I start a successful podcast 2022? ›

How to Start a Podcast in 2022 (10 Steps & FAQ):
  1. Choose a Podcast Topic You Can Commit To.
  2. Pick Your Podcast Name.
  3. Write a Compelling Podcast Description.
  4. Decide on Your Podcast Format.
  5. Get Your Podcast Artwork and Music Created.
  6. Purchase Your Podcast Equipment and Test Your Podcasting Software.

How do I start a podcast with little money? ›

Podcast directories: Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, Stitcher.
  1. Find your niche. ...
  2. Plan your content. ...
  3. Name your free podcast. ...
  4. Create a content calendar. ...
  5. Choose a podcast hosting provider. ...
  6. Record your first episode. ...
  7. Publish and submit your episodes to directories. ...
  8. Promote your show.
Nov 30, 2022

Is it hard to make money with a podcast? ›

While most podcasters make very little in the beginning, podcast and can be a lucrative career if you stick with it, engage your audience, and consistently create quality content.

How much do beginner podcasters make? ›

While many successful podcasters make thousands or even millions of dollars, smaller-scale creators might only earn a few hundred. Typically, a podcaster with around 10,000 downloads per episode can expect to earn somewhere between $500 to $900.

How many listeners do you need for a successful podcast? ›

5,000 listeners per episode almost guarantees a successful monetization. This is where a lot of interesting things start happening. Having more than 5,000 listeners per episode makes a podcast over 29 times more likely to be monetized successfully.

How many listeners do you need to make money on a podcast? ›

To put harder numbers on it, many sponsorship agencies look for 3000 to 5000 listeners, per episode, before they'll take you on. But, if you're doing it yourself, it's perfectly possible to earn a decent sponsorship income once you pass the 200 to 300 mark, especially if you have a particularly niche audience.

What are the 3 types of podcasts? ›

Seven most popular types of podcast formats
  • 1 – Interview podcasts. ...
  • 2 – Conversational (co-hosted format) ...
  • 3 – Educational podcasts. ...
  • 4 – Solo podcasts. ...
  • 5 – Non-fiction storytelling + news. ...
  • 6 – Podcast theater. ...
  • 7 – Bite-sized content or limited run podcast series.

How do I get my first 100 podcast listeners? ›

How to get your first 100 podcast listeners
  1. Focus on “who” before “how” ...
  2. Solve your listeners' problems. ...
  3. Plant the seeds for your podcast on social media. ...
  4. Book guests who bring listeners with them. ...
  5. Write an episode description they can't resist. ...
  6. Invite 10 people to share your first episode. ...
  7. Published is better than perfect.
Feb 11, 2022

Do I need an LLC for my podcast? ›

To have a podcast, you do not need to file to become a Limited Liability Company. There are several different types of legal entities you can choose to register as, including a sole proprietorship or partnership or even S corporation, depending on how you want your taxes and earnings to be managed.

Can you make a living off a podcast? ›

With it comes more monetization opportunities for online creators. Although it requires hard work and dedication, it's definitely possible to start a podcast and make money from it. With the right strategies and dedication, you can even turn your podcasting hobby into a lucrative source of income.

How do you grow a podcast with no audience? ›

Find guests and brand collaborations

Find podcast guests with expertise and an existing audience in your niche and invite them to come and talk to you. After they've been on your podcast, ask them to share the episode with their audience via social media, email marketing and more.

What equipment do I need to start a podcast? ›

A Complete List of Podcast Equipment for Beginners
  1. A computer.
  2. An XLR or USB microphone.
  3. Mixer.
  4. Pop filter or windscreen.
  5. Headphones.
  6. Microphone stand.
  7. Acoustic treatments.
  8. Recording and editing software.

Is it worth starting a podcast? ›

There are a number of great reasons to start a podcast, the most common of which include: You want to build an audience. The most successful podcasts reach millions of listeners. A podcast is a relatively inexpensive way to build a following.

How long does it take to make money from a podcast? ›

Your podcast can make money between six to 12 months with the right strategy. Yes! But while businesses have only just added podcasting to their marketing channels, you're going to organize some targeted marketing to shorten the time to monetizing your podcast.

How long should a podcast be for beginners? ›

#3 The Length of Your Show

Although there are no rules regarding the episode length, it's worth keeping in mind that short episodes will make new listeners more likely to try out your podcast. We recommend keeping the length under 30 minutes when starting out.

How do you start a podcast with no experience? ›

To start a podcast with no existing audience, you need to build a listener profile, define problems you will solve, and ensure your podcast satisfies listeners' expectations. Before you start, you should also collaborate with authority people in your niche to introduce you to a wider audience.

How many podcast episodes should you launch with? ›

Publish 3 to 5 episodes when you first launch.

What kind of podcasts are in demand? ›

As of May 2020, the most popular shows on Apple Podcasts have a few common topic threads: talk shows, true crime, and investigative journalism. Knowing these podcast ideas are already popular with large audiences, you may be tempted to jump right into one of these topics.

What percent of podcasts fail? ›

Did you know that over 75% of all podcasters discontinue their show within 12 months of starting?

How long before a podcast is successful? ›

How long does it take a podcast to grow? You should start to see podcast growth within the first 30 days of your launch, and your podcast growth should continue indefinitely month over month, even if it's a small amount. Slow and steady growth is a good thing in the podcasting space.

How do you know if a podcast is successful? ›

Some podcast owners measure success through downloads and listens. Others are more subjective with assessments like social engagement, relationship building, and reviews. For us, success doesn't just come in the form of listener numbers or another singular metric.

What is the best day to release a podcast? ›

The Megaphone Analysis

They reveal that podcasters tend to publish their episodes on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday between 2 am and 5 am, with 5 am being the best time to gather the max amount of downloads.

What makes a successful podcast? ›

Sometimes, a podcast's success is a result of an interesting topic or effective editing and production techniques that improve the broadcasting quality. In other cases, a podcast's success might depend on marketing and advertising or the creator's existing platform and audience.

What is the #1 podcast in the world? ›

The Daily

What are the top 5 things to know before starting a podcast? ›

  • Know the 'What' and 'Why' from the Beginning.
  • Podcasting Takes a LOT of Planning and Organization.
  • Focus on the Value You Bring to Your Audience.
  • You Don't Need to Spend a Fortune—But You DO Need a Quality Setup.
  • Plan to Manage Your Web Presence.
  • You'll Get Bad Feedback.
  • It's Not Easy to Make Money as a Podcaster.
Jan 8, 2023

What is a good topic for a podcast? ›

24 Podcast topic ideas to start with today
  • Speak about some cool countries or cities.
  • Tell biographical facts about famous people.
  • Do book or film reviews.
  • Make a coaching podcast and teach your audience something.
  • Start series of interviews with intriguing guests.
  • Tell about your daily chores.
Dec 26, 2021

How do I make my podcast go viral? ›

In Summary
  1. Become an early mover in a niche.
  2. Release frequent content.
  3. Use all distribution networks.
  4. Create a separate website that captures leads and makes the podcasts available.
  5. Grow your mailing lists.
  6. Interview guests and send them links to their episodes.
  7. Send guests links to their episodes.

How do I get traffic to my podcast? ›

8 Ways to Drive Traffic to Your Podcast On Social Media
  1. Social media promotion. ...
  2. Share episode updates. ...
  3. Pin your episode to your page. ...
  4. Create stand alone images. ...
  5. Tease the audience. ...
  6. Reshare, reshare, reshare. ...
  7. Use stories to your advantage. ...
  8. Launch day.
Nov 10, 2016

Do I have to copyright my podcast name? ›

Short answer – no. It is not necessary. People start thinking about turning their podcast into a business entity if they are worried about possibly being sued and possibly losing their homes, cars, or other personal assets.

How much does it cost to license a podcast? ›

It all depends on the parties that own the rights. A podcast license from a publisher for a well-known song can range anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500. But a record label sometimes demands much more – ranging anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000.

How much does it cost to register a podcast? ›

On average, pricing for podcast hosting ranges from $5/month to $50/month. Pricing varies depending on which company you go with, how many episodes you produce, and how many downloads you get.

How long should a podcast be? ›

The length of your podcast also depends on your subject, industry or genre. It could be that around 15-20 minutes perfect for your listeners. But maybe your specific audience wants more in-depth, exploratory information; in which case, 45-90 minutes would provide more value.

What causes a podcast to fail? ›

Whatever the reason, not sitting comfortably within your niche is a top reason why podcasts fail. You may be able to get away with it for a little bit, but pretty soon, your audience will pick up that you're out of your depth, or that you're pulling at straws to fill an episode with content.

What stops people from starting a podcast? ›

Finally, many people are afraid it is too time-consuming, too expensive, and difficult to monetize.
  1. Fear of being an imposter (the imposter syndrome) ...
  2. Fear of Failure. ...
  3. Fear of the new. ...
  4. Routines are comfortable. ...
  5. Fear that podcasting will be time-consuming. ...
  6. It's expensive to begin. ...
  7. Difficult to monetize.

Is it too late to get into podcasting? ›

No. It's not too late. The market may be more crowded than it once was, but people are still listening to podcasts at a growing rate. Podcasts are and will continue to be an amazing marketing tool that gives you a way to build a community and gives you a platform to advertise your products and services.

Can you start a podcast with just your phone? ›

You absolutely can start podcasting with a smartphone. All you need is a simple recording app. You can even go with something podcast-specific such as Anchor or Spreaker which let you create episodes and upload right from your phone.

How many days a week should you do a podcast? ›

Now, ideally, for a very generalized audience speaking in very broad general terms here, once a week is a good release schedule. just about anybody can find time to listen to one podcast episode per week. And it keeps you in their mind fresh every week. They always know they have a new episode from you.

Are podcasts hard to start? ›

Starting a podcast isn't difficult, but there are a number of steps you'll need to go through in order to get it launched. In this podcasting tutorial, we'll walk you through every step of the process: Choosing a topic & name. Show and episode format.

What percent of podcasts make money? ›

99% of all podcasts aren't profitable.

How hard is it to monetize a podcast? ›

Sell sponsorships or ads

Sponsorship is the most common way to monetize a podcast. Aside from accepting donations it's also the easiest because you don't have to create or sell anything. You just have to set up a deal with a sponsor.

Does anyone make money on podcasts? ›

Do podcasts make money? Of course they do! Big names are getting large amounts of listeners and large amounts of ad revenue in return. According to AdvertiseCast, average 30-second CPM (cost per 1K listeners) rates are $18, while 60-second CPMs are $25.

Do you need to edit podcasts? ›

Podcast editing is an essential part of the podcasting process if you want to give your listeners a high-quality show. So start getting yourself across the software and practice, practice, practice. The more time you do it the better you'll get and the more your show will improve.

Is it too late to start a podcast in 2022? ›

It's never too late to do anything you love to do, even if it's difficult and there are many competitors out there in the podcasting world.

Are podcasts still popular in 2022? ›

We all witnessed how significant 2021 was for the podcasting industry. The addition of podcasters, listeners, and marketers was staggering! Podcasting's ascend as a popular media continued in 2022, gathering 424.2 million listeners worldwide.

Are podcasts worth starting? ›

There are a number of great reasons to start a podcast, the most common of which include: You want to build an audience. The most successful podcasts reach millions of listeners. A podcast is a relatively inexpensive way to build a following.

Are podcasts declining in popularity? ›

38% of the US Population Listen to Podcasts on a Monthly Basis. It was estimated that in 2022, 38% of the US population older than 12 listened to a podcast on a monthly basis. It was a drop of 3% from the previous year.

Why do people stop podcasting? ›

People quit podcasting all the time, for loads of different reasons. Quitting because of a lack of time, lack of resources or simply life getting in the way are all things we see every day running a podcast hosting platform. The thing is, podcasting, like anything, is a commitment that takes time to work at.

How long should my first podcast be? ›

The length of your podcast also depends on your subject, industry or genre. It could be that around 15-20 minutes perfect for your listeners. But maybe your specific audience wants more in-depth, exploratory information; in which case, 45-90 minutes would provide more value.

What will replace podcasts? ›

Live audio apps/social audio features

Both have become popular spaces for audio content creators and podcasters in 2021, and we anticipate the growth of this trend this year. Even social media platforms like Twitter, Discord, and Reddit have introduced voice or audio features like Spaces and voice notes in 2021.

What problems do podcasters have? ›

In the same vein as our point about quiet audio, one of the most common issues new podcasters face is recording audio that doesn't sound very clear. Your voice might sound muffled, and you could also have a lot of background noise—especially if you recorded the episode in a busy location.

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