5 Proven Tips To Launch Your Podcast
Written by: Emily Burton & Hannah Adams
February 1, 2024
Hey there, gals (& guys)! We heard you wanted to start a podcast. Lucky for you, we’re the perfect guides to help you on this magical journey. The Gal’s Guide is a weekly dating and lifestyle podcast created to empower radical self-love and bold relationships. Nowadays, podcasting has steadily grown in popularity for being an outlet to share stories, lessons, and build an audience of like-minded listeners. We are so excited you are considering the journey of starting a podcast and we hope this guide will answer some of your burning questions.
1) DEFINE YOUR PODCAST’S CONCEPT
Before you even add a podcasting mic to your Amazon shopping cart, we need to figure out what you’re going to talk about. The podcasting space is saturated and everyone want to be heard. If you can narrow down your podcast’s concept to a niche target audience, you’ll be more likely to stand out against the average podcaster rambling on about the latest TikTok trends. Don’t get us wrong, those podcasts can be successful too; however, if you don’t already have an established following, it’s vital to make listeners care about you as a host.
We’re not saying you can’t start off on a broad topic. The Gal’s Guide was originally only meant to cover dating topics and never involve guests. But when 2020 hit, we decided to branch out and start interviewing guests with other issues that our female audience was struggling with like body image, motherhood, and self-improvement. Regardless of the topic our priority was the same: being a guide for millennial women.
When brainstorming your own show, ask yourself: will this be an interview-style show, a narrative storytelling podcast, or a discussion-based format? What topics do you want to cover? Your style of show can vary depending on the genre you’re going for. For example, most true crime podcasts are scripted with one host telling the story while the other reacts and asks questions. When considering topics, it’s crucial to always keep in mind your key concept. What ties everything together? Whether that’s a specific type of crime you’re covering (i.e. fraud, missing person, serial killers, etc.) or deep diving into one specific case (i.e. Serial, The Dropout, etc.) make sure there’s a through line to connect every episode.
2) RESEARCH OTHER PODCASTS AND PLAN YOUR EPISODES
Researching other podcasts in your show’s genre is important in helping you stand out amongst them. What makes them different and why do you keep coming back for more? Some hosts use their identity and point-of-view to help them stand out. For us, Hannah was in a long-term steady relationship (now married) while Emily was freshly single and on the dating scene. We were able to give two perspectives on dating and relationships on top of being best friends for a decade.
When it comes to planning out episodes, consider the pillars your show will have. When people tune in, what can they always expect to hear? For The Gal’s Guide, it’s all about relationships with love, friends, and yourself. In each episode, you will hear a brief update on our lives at the top of the episode, our current captivation, and a survival tip to round out the end of the episode. Consider the podcasts you already love, how they tie all of their episodes together, and the routine pillars they have in every episode.
When we initially started doing guest outreach, we made a list of everyone we would love to have on the show and their contact information. Sometimes that method of contact was just an Instagram message and it worked. The key thing to remember before you DM someone like Kendall Jenner is to have an episode idea in mind to pitch them. This will increase your chance of them considering joining you on your show.
3) SELECT THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT
While it may seem daunting and overwhelming, it is important to select quality equipment to enhance the recording and listener experience. Must have items include: a reliable computer, microphone, and headphones.
When searching for microphones, consider USB for ease of use or dynamic microphones as they are less likely to pick up background noises or unwanted feedback. Our favorite beginner USB microphone is the Blue Yeti. It’s well-priced and compatible with different recording applications. Pro tips for using the Blue Yeti include: using cardioid mode, sitting approximately 6 inches away from the microphone, and turning the gain knob on a low to medium level. This will help reduce background or any undesirable noises from being heard in your recording.
If you are in the market for a higher end microphone, we love the Shure SM7B microphone. This microphone delivers smooth and warm vocals while diminishing the distractions of unwanted background noises. With this microphone, you will need an interface. A beginner friendly interface is the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2, which connects to your computer via USB and then allows you to connect your microphone via the appropriate XLR cable.
We have no preference on specific headphones, but highly recommend a wired pair (Airpods are a no-go) as they are non-negotiable for recording. Make sure to ask potential guests to also wear headphones to limit any echo on the recording.
4) CREATE COMPELLING CONTENT
Now that you have your equipment, let’s dive into the content! Before you even tell listeners what today’s episode is about, make sure to introduce yourself. You would be surprised at how many shows don’t do this and listeners are struck trying to decide whose voice is whose.
There are so many days we would love to just press record and talk. When we first started out we would have a rigorous outline of every episode, but we quickly learned that not every episode needs a fully fleshed out script.
If we have a guest on the show, we let them know we have pre-planned questions for them, but we try to keep the conversation as organic as possible. This more entertaining for the listeners ad also relaxes the guest as well and lets you capture more of everyone’s personality.
Depending on your genre, you might be able to get away with a simple bullet point outline. For our episodes without guests, we tend to either create a short outline or a list of questions for each other. There are days Hannah relates to a topic more than Emily and she leads the episode, or vice versa. The key is to create balance between the hosts and let the audience feel like they are in on the conversation. Listeners are drawn to hosts who make them feel included and allow themselves to be vulnerable with their audience.
5) RECORDING AND EDITING YOUR PODCAST
Creating a quiet space for recording is crucial. We try to eliminate as many background noises as possible, although sometimes this cannot be avoided. Pro tips: close windows and doors, record in a room with furniture to decrease echo, and turn off fans or AC units (as needed). Make sure you spend some time prior to recording adjusting microphone placement and recording levels for optimal sound quality. Complete a few practice runs and listen back to the audio to make sure it fits your standard and make changes as needed. Once you are happy with your setup, hit record! Remember, if you mess up, relax, take a breath, and start again. The wonderful thing about podcasting is the ability to edit and make changes post recording.
When it comes to editing, don’t feel the need to immediately download Adobe Audition or Logic and overwhelm yourself. It’s totally fine to use something free like Garageband or Pro Tools First for editing. Your editing software just needs to allow you to remove mistakes, add intro and outro music, and enhance the quality of our audio.
Conclusion
Podcasting can be an amazing way to create stories, connect with your audience, and create an entire brand. Through thoughtful planning, in-depth content creation, and consistency, you have the chance to be the sensation behind the mic. We hope this serves as your go-to guide on your podcast journey and we can be your go-to gals for the rest your life has to offer. If you want to know more about the process, listen to The Gal’s Guide podcast on Apple, Spotify, or whenever you download podcasts for more insight and follow us on Instagram at @thegalsguidepod and Tiktok at @thegalsguide. Good luck and we can’t wait to hear your show!
Want five more podcasting tips from Emily and Hannah?
Read the full article in Issue 3 of crEATe Magazine
