Podcasts are one of the fastest-growing media as people become busier and more mobile. If you’re thinking of starting your own podcast for personal interest or to market your business, this is the book for you. Kristen Meinzer, a successful podcast host with more than 10 years’ experience in podcasting, shares how you can find your voice and get the ideas, direction, and know-how to create your own successful show. In this free version of the So You Want to Start a Podcast summary, you’ll learn the 7 steps to creating your own hit show.
7 Steps to Start a Successful Podcast Channel
Kristen Meinzer is a successful podcast host who has reached 10 mil people over 10 years of her podcasting career. She has hosted numerous shows, produced podcasts for various brands, developed shows, taught classes on audio production, and spoken at various conferences. Here are her 7 recommended steps for starting your own podcast channel:
1. DREAM IT: Define your Whys and Whats
Define your purpose: Why are you starting a podcast?
Don’t start a podcast just because everyone is doing it. Know your “why”, e.g. to build a community around a specific cause, to teach a skill, or to grow the brand for your business. For example, By the Book is a show co-hosted by Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg. In each episode, they choose a different self-help book, follow it for 2 weeks, then assess if it made a difference. Through this self-help-cum-reality-show concept, they sought to push the boundaries of podcasting and spread empowering messages in an interesting way.
Consider if a podcast is the best method to achieve your goals. Would your “why” be more effectively achieved through a book, blog, video or social media feed?
Define your audience: Who is your podcast for?
Think of your ideal podcast listeners in such detail that they’re like real people you know and love to spend time with. Consider what you want your audience to takeaway from each episode, and how your episode descriptions resonate across various podcast platforms to attract potential listeners. For example, Meinzer and Greenberg wanted By the Book to be for self-help lovers and haters, feminists, and comedy fans. These may include single mums, women of color, men listening with their wives, or misfits who want to feel less alone or insecure.
Meinzer and Greenberg each created 2 imaginary audience members in their minds. Meinzer’s fictional listeners are Louise and Anwar—one black and one white, one gay and one straight. She knows their personalities, interests, what they do in a typical day, and how they were like in high school. This detailed understanding helps shape a list of questions to address during each episode. Every time she wonders whether a joke would work or if it’s okay to curse on the show, she imagines how Louise and Anwar would react — helping ensure the content stays relevant and engaging.
Define on the subject/topic: What is your show about?
Don’t settle for a 1-word answer when defining your podcast topic. For example, it’s not enough to say that your show is about “movies.” Instead, craft a podcast description that captures the essence of your content, e.g., “Each week, a movie critic interviews 1 person who has had a similar experience as a movie character, uncovering key takeaways and exploring real-life parallels.” Explore your concept deeply, consider your podcasting goals, the common questions your episodes will answer, and the unique angle that makes your show stand out. Then, distill it down to 1-3 sentences summarizing your podcasting journey and what listeners can expect from your informative podcast. Don’t forget to brainstorm episode titles that hook your audience. Make your pitch snappy and practice saying it out loud—you now have an elevator pitch to share your concept confidently!
Passion: Do you love it enough?
Creating and maintaining a podcast is hard work, especially in a rapidly evolving podcasting industry. So, be honest with yourself: do you really love or care about the podcast content or outcome enough to keep working on it week after week? How will the podcast fit into your life, and how do you envision handling podcast marketing and promotions across social channels to grow your audience? Consider that you’ll also need to track your progress using podcast analytics.
Below, you’ll find an outline of the remaining 6 steps. For more details, practical tips, and insights into how to navigate each stage of your podcasting journey, do check out our complete version of the So You Want to Start a Podcast summary.
2. WRITE IT: Define your Format, Structure And Content
This step is about choosing your desired show format, developing and testing a rough structure for the show, and working on your script and title.
3. HOST IT: Select your Ideal Host(s)
Find out why you should consider diversity in selecting your host(s) and team, and how you can do so. A great host doesn’t have to have a specific accent or type of voice—the key is to sound like yourself, but know the techniques for creating a quality podcast. You can also consider having a co-host.
4. CAST IT: Get the Ideal Guests On Your Show
This step is about identify who you want on your show, in order to tell the story you want to tell. Learn about the types of guests, how to get people (including experts and celebrities) to appear on your show, prepare your guests, and conduct a great interview.
5. MAKE IT: Create Your Podcast
Know the key equipment you’ll need, such as a reliable USB microphone to enhance sound quality and minimize background noise. Learn the best ways to record podcast episodes with your guests, whether remotely or in person, and explore options for a podcast hosting service to distribute your content. Discover tips for editing your audio files using podcast editing software to improve audio quality and create a polished final product. Design eye-catching podcast artwork to attract listeners, and consider important factors like intellectual property and the ideal podcast length for your audience.
6. SHARE IT: Distribute your Podcast
Find out what’s involved in creating a release schedule, how to communicate it clearly, and distribute your podcast in 4 steps across various social media platforms and podcasting industry directories. Learn how to make your podcast stand out and attract listeners by promoting episodes through a YouTube channel or an email newsletter to grow your email list. You should also start considering some options to monetize your podcast, such as affiliate marketing partnerships or collaborations with popular podcasts for cross-promotions.
7. GROW IT: Promote your Podcast
To grow your podcast, you must promote your show. Learn different ways to get the word out–including how to spread the word via a community–and embrace your new identity as a podcaster.
Getting the Most from So You Want to Start a Podcast
This is a fun, lively book written in short and easy to read chapters. If you’d like to learn more about building your own podcast, do check out the our full book summary bundle which includes an infographic, 14-page text summary, and a 26-minute audio summary.
Besides the tips captured in this summary, the book also includes useful information such as podcast statistics, sample email pitches and confirmation emails for guests. You can purchase the book here or visit kristenmeinzer.com for more information.
Learn more about speaking well in our TED Talks summary, or find out more about using data visualization in our Storytelling with Data summary!
Who should read this:
• Anyone who’s interested to start a podcast or learn what’s involved; and
• People interested in content marketing and entertainment.
About the Author of So You Want to Start a Podcast
So You Want to Start a Podcast is written by Kristen Meinzer–a podcast host, producer, and former director of nonfiction programming for Panoply. Her hosting credits include Stitcher/Panoply’s By the Book, CNN’s Decades of Movies, and WNYC/PRI’s Movie Date. Her producing credits include Happier with Gretchen Rubin, The Sporkful, Food 52’s Burnt Toast, Girlboss Radio, and other award-winning shows. Kristen’s work has been mentioned in numerous publications including Time, Washington Post, Buzzfeed, and Indiewire.
So You Want to Start a Podcast Quotes
“Podcasts—even the most informative of them—are entertainment, conversation, and companionship.”
“[Listeners] want their hosts to be human, not perfect.”
“Knowing all parts of the machine means you can fix any part of the machine, and it also means you can prevent certain problems from happening in the first place.”
“It’s your show, my friends. Make it sound like you.”
“Talk in stories, not facts…As much as possible, show, don’t tell.”
“Do what you can to make them sound like the truest version of themselves.”
Click here to download the So You Want to Start a Podcast summary & infographic
