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I'm so very excited to have my friend, Michele Lamoureux, on the blog today to talk about Podcasting 101! Michele's podcast, The Good Life Coach, awakens you to your full potential. Join Michele every Wednesday for inspiring interviews with experts who will elevate an area of your life in (business, relationships, health, and more), as well as entrepreneurial women who are trailblazing a path to success on their own terms. Each episode provides actionable tips to guide you to design a life you love.
I was honored to be interviews on The Good Life Coach recently, and you can listen to our conversation here.
If you've been wanting to start a podcast but not sure where to begin you are going to absolutely love her tips. Let's get started with Podcasting 101!
Podcasting 101 – 5 Steps to Launching Your Show
By Michele Lamoureux, Host of The Good Life Coach Podcast, inspiring women to live the life they were born to live!
A question I often get asked is, how do I start a podcast? Here's Podcasting 101: 5 Steps to Launching Your Show – including where to start, what equipment to use, and how to launch!
Step One:
The most critical question you need to ask yourself is, “Why do I want to launch a podcast?”
Perhaps you believe it is a way to gain more business or expand your network? Maybe you have a message to share and think you'd enjoy doing it through an auditory platform like podcasting? Perhaps you listen to many shows and think to yourself, “I can do this too!” All of these are fine reasons, but I believe to be successful with your podcast and have a positive experience; you must have a mindset around being of service as your main priority.
People don't realize how much time and effort it takes to create a quality show. Did you know that most new shows don't get past episode #10 and even more stop by episode #20?
Get connected to your why and just make sure serving others is part of the equation and you’ll be on the right track.
Beyond that, the potential benefits include expanding your network, generating business, establishing your thought leadership, setting yourself apart, creating regular and useful content, and much more!
Step Two:
Now that you know why you want to launch your show, you need to choose the format. To help you gain clarity, answer these key questions:
• Who is your audience? This answer should be aligned with who you want to serve. The more niche you can make the podcast, the easier it will be for people to find your show. There are fitness shows, shows to educate, to inspire, true crime – really it can be anything you want it to be!
• Do you want to do an interview-style podcast, create solo episodes where you share your expertise, have a co-host, or perhaps a combination of these choices? When you understand why you are making your show and know who you want to serve, it will be easier for you to determine what format will work best for you. For example, I chose to interview leading experts, entrepreneurs, best-selling authors – people with unique stories and wisdom to share with my all-female audience. The intention is to remind women of their power and what is possible in their lives when they have the courage to take action towards their dreams. In addition to interviews, I decided to also share my expertise in solo shows as a mindset coach for over 16 years. I like the variety and the ability to connect one on one with my audience as well as share the wisdom of my guests.
• How long will your show be? This decision will depend on your audience and what you are trying to convey. My interview episodes range between 30-60 minutes, and my solo shows tend to be about 15 minutes long.
• How often will they come out? Daily, weekly, two times a week? Whatever you decide, just make sure to be consistent. If people like your content, they want to know when to expect the next show.
• What should you name your show? Hint – make sure it is something people can easily remember… and make sure reserve the podcast name so that you own it!
Step Three:
Let’s talk equipment.
You may be wondering what equipment you'll need to record. The good news is that you don't need to spend a lot of money.
I use the Audio Technica ATR-2100 microphone. Priced at just under $100, it's a great deal, and the audio is top-notch. This microphone type doesn't pick up on background noise but requires you to speak pretty close to the microphone.
Other people like to use the Blue Yeti microphone. This microphone will pick up on noise in the room, but you don't need to be close to the microphone to speak. To find the best fit for you, it's key to play around and test the audio to see what works for you and your space.
Headphones are always recommended so that you can manage the sound quality. I use a pair of Bose headphones, but any earbuds will do.
Other than that, you'll need your computer and a way to capture the audio. You can use GarageBand for solo episodes if you own a Mac computer; otherwise, people use Audacity, which is free.
If you have a co-host or are interviewing other people, you will need to use a service like Zoom or Skype to record the audio. I use both services. If you do go with Skype, you'll need to purchase “Ecamm Recorder” from Skype. It is a one-time purchase also under $100, and it allows you to separate the audio tracks which is helpful during editing.
Make sure where you record has a rug and other items to absorb the sound. I record out of a small closet in my office. It doesn’t need to be fancy especially since your audience only hears you and doesn’t see you.
Step Four:
Now that you know why you want your show, who your ideal audience is, what kind of format you will have, and what tech you will use, the next step is to reach out to guests or begin recording your solo or co-hosted shows.
I recommend having 8-10 interviews completed before you launch your show on the podcast platforms. Have fun with this part! Remember, it takes time to “find” your voice, so don't be overly critical of yourself. Remind yourself why you began and know you will improve as you do more and more shows! Your first show is called episode 000 – that is where you spend 1-5 minutes introducing the show's intention, explaining who it is for and what the audience can expect.
I edit each show, but some people hit record, stop, and upload it. I prefer spending the extra time getting it to be the most enjoyable experience for my audience both in terms of content and sound.
Step five:
Once you have 8-10 shows completed, you’re ready to launch! This is where you submit to Apple podcasts and the other podcast players like Spotify and Stitcher. There are plenty of free youtube videos that can walk you through the process. I choose to outsource this part every week and that works best for me.
You’d think that once you were ready to launch, that this step would be the easiest. However, I have spoken to many people who never launch their show. They try to wait for the “perfect” time or are worried about getting it out in the world.
The best advice I can give you is to go for it. Post three episodes and then get on your regular schedule, whatever you decided that would be in step two. You want to post three shows, so that if someone enjoys it, they can take in more content and look forward to subscribing or coming back for more. If you post just one show, they might not know that you will have more for them. You can use your website dedicated for your podcast to share your shows, other blogs posts, and to build your audience.
There is always more to learn but these five steps should get you up and running.
I can say from nearly two years of hosting my podcast, The Good Life Coach, that it is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. So, remember to have fun!
I hope you've enjoyed Podcasting 101, and thank you so much Michele! Be sure to hop on over to The Good Life Coach podcast and get inspired!
If you are looking for a podcast website template, take a peek at Nadine!
