With Spotify investing around $60 million and $200 million in deals on podcast shows, it’s no surprise that an increasing number of content creators are keen to explore the world of podcasting. The demand for audio content is ever increasing, with a respectable number of 45% of the US population tuning in to audio content every day.
Going to a podcasting journey can be both enjoyable and rewarding, opening doors of opportunity for connecting with fresh audience and expanding your business at the same time. Yet, for those unfamiliar with this form of audio content creation, the whole process may seem like a holy grail.
If you’re eager to dive into podcasting but feel overwhelmed and unsure about where to begin, Do not worry! We have got you covered with this comprehensive and very detailed guide to starting a podcast, designed to take you from a novice to an expert in no time.
Before we take a deep dive into the step-by-step guide on how to start a podcast with no audience, let’s first explore some fundamental concepts.
Table of Contents
How to start a podcast with no audience
What is a podcast?
A podcast is a digital audio episode available for people to access, subscribe, and download through the internet, typically offered for free. Episodes are regularly released, often on a weekly or monthly basis, however, some podcasts follow a seasonal format, releasing a set number of episodes over a specific amount of time, such as three months out of a year.
You can check out Buzzsprout to launch your podcast for free.
Why start a podcast?
There are a good number of motivations behind the fact of deciding to start a podcast. A business may seek to increase awareness or educate its customers, while individuals may aim to share knowledge and insights, establish themselves as thought leaders, or entertain their audience.
Your objectives will influence your direction, so keep in consideration what you wish to achieve.
Ready to learn how to give a headstart to your own podcast? Keep reading! we will delve into all the intricacies of podcasting so you can begin creating your podcast the easy and right way.
Should you start a podcast with no audience?
We acknowledge that you might be a bit reluctant to embark on creating a podcast from scratch. However, the beauty of podcasting lies in its accessibility to all. While it may appear a huge task or closed off from the outside, the reality is that some very good platforms encourage novices to create top-notch podcasts regardless of prior experience.
Therefore, there is no need to hesitate even without an established audience, the key to success is consistent output, effective marketing efforts, proactive promotion, and delivering exceptional quality. By focusing on these aspects, you’ll swiftly cultivate a dedicated follower base for yourself.
How to create a podcast with no audience: step-by-step guide
Find your niche
In Podcasting the niche and distinctive concepts are essential for you to better distinguish yourself from potential listeners. While there’s a multitude of “music podcasts” available to the audience, it’s crucial to identify gaps in the market.
Consider what current music podcasts may overlook same applies to any niche you are working with be it music, making money online, sports, etc.
A unique angle is crucial. For instance, a podcast focusing on story songs and their usage in various genres, from country to rap, offers a fresh perspective.
While this approach may shrink the audience ( appealing primarily to those interested in story songs), it makes the presentation more compelling within your specific niche. Additionally, by carving out this unique space, you minimize competition, as there are fewer podcasts out there as our competition.
Identify your target audience
This summarises a careful consideration of your target audience.
To effectively build and expand your audience from scratch, it is very important to align on a specific profile or demographic. Identifying your ideal listener gives you the insight to tailor your content to be congruent with particular interests.
Moreover, this approach promotes precise targeting in outreach and promotion by engaging with existing communities.
It’s advisable to start by gaining a general understanding of the field you intend to focus on in your podcast; the more specific, the better. Once you are done with this, explore platforms like Twitter or other social media channels to locate established communities.
Additionally, also look for other podcasts existing within your chosen niche to gain a deeper insight into your target audience.
We also suggest creating a target audience persona, where you outline the details such as demographics, habits, and pain points of your ideal listener. Utilizing data, such as insights from interviews or competitor analysis, can enhance the accuracy of this persona.
Generate ideas and topics for your podcast
To curate compelling podcast episodes, it’s necessary to plan and have a clear idea of the topics you’ll be covering. This is crucial for hosting successful and attracting engaging guests to your show.
To achieve this, it is important to brainstorm potential podcast topics and ideas.
Ideally, focus on generating topics that are aligned with your brand, industry, or niche. Many podcasters find it helpful to create great titles for episodes by brainstorming various episode titles as a starting point for example:
- What is the best way to earn money online?
- How to select the niche for your Youtube channel
- How to prepare for exams
- What is the best way to lose weight?
Depending on the focus of your brand, there’s potential to generate numerous episode titles and ideas. Your imagination is the only boundary, so let your creativity soar!
Choose the right podcasting equipment for you
Certainly, the equipment you select for your podcast plays a significant role in its overall quality. Subpar podcasting gear can result in a lackluster or uninteresting listening experience, whereas top-notch equipment can make the difference between night and day and can enhance the appeal and enjoyment of your show.
You don’t have to break the bank to get good quality equipment, fortunately. For example:
- Opt for a quality dynamic or condenser microphone. Dynamic microphones are often preferred for podcasting due to their reduced sensitivity to background noise in your surroundings.
- Take a good pair of headsets so you can hear yourself and ensure sound quality is good during any given episode.
- Ensure you utilize podcasting software along with a comprehensive PC setup to have constant access to essential information regarding the podcast, including mixing capabilities, and more.
Investing in quality equipment will establish a strong foundation for your podcast, guaranteeing an excellent experience for your audience from the start and ensuring that each episode is a pleasure to listen to.
Create engaging podcast content
Arguably, the most crucial step in launching a podcast with no established audience is crafting compelling content. Many podcasters develop various types of content, including:
- Episodes featuring guest interviews refer to the podcast host inviting and interviewing captivating guests relevant to the brand’s niche, industry, or the episode’s topic.
- Solo episodes refer to the podcaster reading listener comments or answering questions. They serve as excellent filler episodes.
- Discussion episodes get down to the podcaster engaging with comments or conversing with listeners on various subjects. This format bears a resemblance to a radio show.
Focus on creating quality content for your audience
Podcasting constantly requires a significant commitment, and maintaining that commitment is only possible if you are genuinely in love with what you do. If you are not passionate about the show: a) burnout is inevitable, and b) your lack of enthusiasm will be evident to your listeners.
To create enjoyable content for your audience, you must first enjoy it yourself. Prioritize delivering quality content consistently above everything else.
Invite guests to join your show
Even if you are usually hosting solo, bringing on a guest can be a strategic marketing tactic. It exposes your show to its audience when they promote it and provides another avenue to attract new listeners.
Ensure to do plenty of preparation before talking to them, and listen to any of their other interviews. To contribute value to the podcasting space, you want to have distinctive conversations that offer something unique, not readily available elsewhere.
Market Your Podcast on Social Media
While creating a podcast is amazing, you need to ensure that it’s discoverable it is essential. This involves marketing your podcast effectively. Social media is surely the easiest way to do this since it is so accessible.
When you publish your episodes, share the links on your social media platforms accompanied by relevant posts encouraging users to listen and share the episode.
This is a straightforward approach to expanding your audience and connecting with users who may not typically come across your podcast.
Moreover, utilizing social media for contests, giveaways, and exclusive offers allows you to nurture a loyal following and promotes listener engagement.
Measure & optimize
Effective podcast hosting requires thorough measurement and optimization. Key areas to measure include:
- How many listeners do your podcast episodes get
- Determining whether your listeners stay through entire episodes or drop off at some point is crucial.
- If listeners discontinue listening to episodes, track the points where you observe the highest drop-off.
By carefully analyzing these data points, you will gain insight into the type of podcast content you should be producing in the future and what content resonates most with your listeners. Additionally, feedback such as surveys, comments, and other voluntary input from your podcast audience is invaluable.
Keep in mind, that podcasting is a marketing tool and a product. Gathering voluntary feedback from your podcast audience is invaluable.
Monetize your podcast
Monetizing your podcast is advisable after you have established at least a modest audience. Once you reach this milestone, there are several avenues through which you can do that:
- For instance, you can run ads into your podcast and utilize it as a central platform. This involves reading advertisements, sharing coupon codes, or offering similar discounts within the duration of your show.
- Sponsorship deals are another avenue for monetizing your podcast episodes. This involves collaborating directly with various brands to feature ads before, during, or after the show.
- Alternatively, you can explore paid deals. If your podcast gains significant popularity, you might secure agreements with major platforms such as Spotify. In such cases, the platform itself compensates you for creating podcast content.
Podcast ideas for beginners
Once you’ve pinpointed your general area of interest, refine the scope of topics your podcast will delve into. Take into account the following suggestions as you begin brainstorming episodes:
Share your story
Provide listeners with an insider’s perspective on how you got to where you are today. Episodes could highlight various lessons learned throughout this journey, offering suggestions and reflections on what could have been done differently.
Even if not all episodes are lesson-oriented, sharing personal stories fosters trust and connection. You might also consider incorporating humorous and entertaining stories.
Interview others
Interviews offer an excellent opportunity to collaborate, connect communities, and foster relationships. Reach out to individuals within your industry or area of interest. In doing so, you may discover opportunities to guest appear on other podcasts, thereby broadening your audience reach.
Offer advice
Whether it’s meditation, fitness advice, art techniques, or cooking tips, provide your listeners with comprehensive step-by-step guides in your area of expertise. In addition to how-to exercises, offering general advice, tips, and listicles can also be beneficial for your audience.
Encourage them to submit topics they’d like more information on, helping you plan your episode content effectively. Some podcasts that excel in this approach include We Can Do Hard Things with Glennon Doyle and Dear Sugars, hosted by Cheryl Strayed and Steve Almond.
Review Existing Media Content
Offer reviews, recaps, or interpretations of various aspects of pop culture such as TV shows, movies, books, poetry, art, and even music videos (don’t forget those Easter eggs!). Anything that would captivate your audience’s interest is fair game. Encourage them to join the dialogue and engage with your content.
Tell a story
Whether exploring a True Crime mystery, a fictional whodunit, or any other genre, narratives offer an exciting avenue for experimentation. Building a compelling plot can entice your listeners to return for more.
Repurpose old content
Transform your existing content into fresh material on different platforms. For instance, if you have relevant blog posts related to your industry, discuss them in various podcast episodes (you can also provide links to the original content in episode descriptions).
This strategy is effectively employed by author Gabby Bernstein. Gabby frequently repurposes her past content, including previous lectures, events, and excerpts from her bestselling books, for episodes of her podcast, Dear Gabby.
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How much does it cost to create podcasts?
The cost of creating and producing a podcast varies widely depending on the creator’s preferences and choices, ranging anywhere from $0 to $10,000. There are plenty of free tools available, allowing you to launch a podcast without any initial expenses.
If you have a budget and are interested in investing in starting a podcast, you can consider options such as renting a studio or setting up one in your home with sound-isolated walls and professional-grade equipment to achieve studio-level audio quality.
Can you get paid for podcasts?
Yes. There are different ways podcasters can make money:
Running ads: Anchor is a platform that offers podcasters the option to enable advertisements on their podcasts, allowing them to earn revenue.
Sponsorships: Podcasters have the opportunity to collaborate directly with brands to feature advertisements for their products and services within their episodes.
Paid deals: Occasionally, popular podcasts, often those hosted by celebrities, secure exclusive deals with platforms like Spotify and other podcasting platforms to host their podcasts solely on that platform.
If you own a business and offer products or services, you can leverage your podcast as a marketing tool to promote and sell your offerings, thereby generating revenue.