(Image credit: The Sorry Girls)

Today, more people are listening to podcasts than ever before. Whether you’re interested in true crime, politics, health and fitness or popular culture, there’s a podcast out there for you. Podcasts are not only super easy to find and listen to, but also pretty straightforward to create – in fact, you don’t even need to leave your house! All you need to start your own podcast is a solid concept, a few pieces of basic equipment and internet access.

We’ve compiled a simple guide to help you get started on your podcasting journey. For something more comprehensive, check out Buzzsprout’s step-by-step guide on how to start a podcast.

Start planning

As a starting point, set aside some time to figure out your:

Topic or theme. One of the best things about podcasts is that they can be about pretty much anything. The important thing is to make sure the focus of your podcast is something that really interests you – otherwise, you’re likely to get burned out much faster.

Audience. Think carefully about who you want your podcast to speak to and who would be interested in listening, then make any creative decisions with your target audience in mind.   

Format. Podcasts come in many forms. Some are presented by a single host speaking directly to the audience while others feature conversations between co-hosts or between a host and an interviewee. There is no right or wrong answer, so long as the format is suitable for you and your podcast topic.    

Name. Your podcast name should be catchy, unique and memorable. If possible, it should also include some keywords related to your chosen topic to help listeners discover it.

Organise your equipment and software

The amount and type of equipment you use to record your podcast is largely up to you. While it might not yield the most professional results, you can actually record a podcast just using your phone. However, if you don’t mind investing a bit of money, check out this handy podcast equipment guide.

You also don’t have to break the bank on editing software. Audacity and GarageBand are two great audio-editing tools – and they’re both free!

Record and edit your first episode

Before you hit record, make sure you’re prepared. If you don’t want your podcast to sound too scripted, jot down some notes so you have some talking points and a basic structure for your first episode.

If you’re recording in your house, find a quiet and comfortable room to set up your equipment. So that you don’t have to start all over again if the audio quality is poor, try recording some test tracks in your chosen location before recording your whole episode. When you’re ready, grab a glass of water or some coffee and get to it!

Once you’ve finished recording, it’s time to edit. This process can be a bit daunting for beginners, so have a read through this helpful step-by-step editing guide before you get started.

Create (or commission) your artwork

Even though the actual content of your podcast is what matters most, the first thing potential listeners will notice about your podcast is your cover artwork. Therefore, it needs to stand out! As well as being visually appealing, it should also tell people what your podcast is about.

You can create your cover art yourself using Canva, which is free and relatively easy to use. However, if you’ve got some cash to spare, an even better option is to hire a freelance graphic designer or one of your artistic friends to put something together for you.

Share it with the world!  

Now that you’ve recorded and edited your first episode, it’s time to get your podcast out there! One important thing to know about publishing podcasts is that you don’t simply upload them to iTunes, Spotify or any other directory. You first need to upload your podcast to a podcasting host and then submit it to a directory. For more information on how to do this, check out this helpful guide to uploading podcasts.

If this blog post inspired you to start a podcast, make sure to snap a picture of your recording station, post it on Instagram and tag @perthconcerthall. We’d love to share it and keep the positive vibes going!

2023 additional material: Click here for a GarageBand beginners guide