So you have decided to start your educational podcast. Excellent choice! Podcasts are becoming more and more popular, and they are a great way to get your voice out into the world.
Starting a podcast is relatively easy. Unlike creating a website or a blog, you don’t need to worry about content design, hosting, etc. This is because audio files are more straightforward and compact than video files. You can easily create an audio file using your smartphone, laptop, or desktop computer. However, it’s crucial to get started as a professional to ensure success.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to establish a successful educational podcast.
№ 1. Choose your ‘niche’ and ‘angle’
The first and the most crucial step in establishing your podcast is picking a niche or field you find comfortable discussing.
This will help you come up with topics for your podcast, but it will also help establish a small listener base. Here are a few topics that would work well as a podcast:
- Personal Development
- Growing Up
- Break-Ups
- Cooking
Since everyone has their personal preference, picking a topic you’re passionate about will help you throughout the entire process.
Now, depending on whether you want to take advantage of the niche for a given subject matter, you might want to shrink the niche further. And in every case, it’s important to start developing your own voice, your unique, interesting way to view the world.
№ 2. Listen to other podcast… last?
It is advisable to stay unique on your podcast, but it would also be wise to consider what other podcasts are doing. The key question is: At which point of your journey?
Listening to their episodes will help you understand what they have as their target listeners, what they talk about, and what they do. This information will be helpful when you’re considering what kind of podcast you want to start. You might even want to consider copying them and making a podcast about their topics. Just remember that the point is to develop something unique.
№ 3. Name your podcast
Now that you have a niche or field of specialization and understand what other podcasts are doing, it’s time to name your podcast.
While it may seem like a no-brainer, the title of your podcast is an integral part of its branding. It is the first thing people will see when searching for your podcast on a podcast app or iTunes.
Start by examining your field of expertise; for example, “Bakers and Cooks Talk,” a culinary podcast that might explore the world of food, cooking, and recipes. Many people name their show after their name, company or blog name, or favorite word or phrase.
Your podcast might be named after the location you record it in, for example, “The Living Room.” The name of your podcast will tell consumers what your show is about and how it will be formatted.
№ 4. Figure out your equipment AKA ‘tech stack’
After picking a name that matches your podcast, your next step should be to acquire the necessary equipment to record your podcasts.
This will be the most expensive and time-consuming step. There are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for podcasting equipment. Just start with the basics, and keep advancing as you see fit. Test new tools to see how much (if any) they add to the value and experience.
- You start with a computer with decent audio inputs and a webcam
- You will need a way to host the podcast episodes
- You need an audio editing program
- You will need to purchase a mic for better quality sound
- You need an interface
- You will need a microphone
- You will need a pop filter
- You will need headphones
- You may need a mixer
- You will need a microphone arm
- You will need a shock-mount
- You will need a broadcast-quality microphone
- You will need studio monitors
- You will need an XLR cable
- You will need a USB cable
№ 5. Record!
Recording your episodes should be a walk in the park, and the right equipment will make it more “park-like.” When it comes to recording, don’t expect to sound perfect at fist. Remember that this is the first time recording your episode. There will be a lot of control over the recording quality after a few times.
You can start with some practice before getting into the actual business. Also, you can record the episodes more than once to get your desired sound.
№ 6. Editing time
Once you’ve recorded your episode and tested it out, it’s time to edit. Editing is the stage where you will trim down your audio, fix mistakes, and throw in sound effects. You may want to start by trimming down your audio to get it down to a more manageable duration. You will usually want to trim from the beginning of the episode to start with the introductory music.
Next, you will want to fix any mistakes in the audio. You can do this by using a quiet audio section from before or after the mistake and splicing it in.
Finally, you will want to spruce up the sound of your episode. You can do this by throwing in sound effects and music.
Once you’ve edited your episode, you want to mix it. Mixing is the last stage of creating an episode, and it’s the most complicated. The goal of the mixing process is to make sure that the audio is the best quality possible to reach your audience. The first thing you want to do during the mixing process is to fix any mistakes from the editing process.
№ 7. Publish
Once your episode is ready to be sent out into the world, it’s time to publish. You finalize your post and add a title and a picture to the episode.
№ 8. Promote
In this age of social media, promoting your new episode is essential. Follow the steps above to promote your episodes and watch the followers roll in.
Keep in mind that you don’t want to spam people and annoy them. You want to engage in a positive dialogue and encourage your listeners to comment. You may want to synchronize your social media posts with the release of your new episode so that all your followers and listeners know that there is a new episode that they can enjoy.
Conclusion
Starting an educational podcast doesn’t have to be complex. As mentioned above, you can follow steps to make the entire process easy. So what are you waiting for? Start your educational podcast and share your knowledge with the world.
About the author
Anna is an educational freelance writer with a passion to make life easy for students in college. It’s through her podcasts that I found a professional from Do My Homework 123 to work on my assignments and boost my grades. When not working on her podcasts, Anna loves spending time on the beach with her dog, Murphy.
