Hey there! Have you ever thought about starting a podcast? I know when I first considered it, I was overwhelmed trying to make sense of hosting platforms, recording equipment, editing software. It felt way too technical for a creative novice like me!
But it doesn‘t need to be so intimidating. Launching a podcast is completely accessible even for total beginners. I’ll walk you through getting set up on YouTube step-by-step. Stick with me, and you’ll gain the tech know-how and creative confidence to get your unique voice out there.
Why Podcasting is Booming (Especially on YouTube)
I’m sure you’ve noticed podcasting absolutely explode in popularity recently. Monthly podcast listeners have nearly doubled since 2018. And in 2022, a whopping 100 million people tuned into podcasts every month!
With video streaming dominating people’s attention nowadays, you may wonder if there’s still room for podcasting.
Absolutely!
In fact, YouTube has emerged as a top site for podcasters. Audiences love the convenience of finding both their favorite shows and podcasts in one place.
Not to mention YouTube provides powerful analytics on listeners and suggests your content to interested viewers. This makes it far easier to organically gain traction than trying to rise through the ranks on Apple or Spotify alone.
By launching your podcast directly on YouTube, you give yourself the best shot at actually building an audience.
Step 1: Gear Up Your Home Podcast Studio
First things first, you’ll need some basic equipment to record podcast episodes:
Don‘t go dropping $1000s on fancy gear just yet! Here‘s quality starter equipment I recommend:
Recording Device: Any laptop or smartphone made within the last 3 years
Microphone: $100 USB-powered condenser mic like Blue Yeti or Samson Q2U
Audio Software: Audacity for editing (free!)
Video Software: OpenShot for mixing in visuals ($0-10)
Pro Tip: Place mic close to your mouth and record in an interior room without echo for best sound quality
As you can see, basic equipment is quite affordable! It comes down to your creativity more than anything. Don’t overcomplicate gear needs when starting out.
Want the audio nitty gritty? Here’s a comparison of recording softwares:
| Software | Price | Learning Curve | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audacity | Free | Beginner | Podcasts |
| Garageband | Bundled with Mac | Intermediate | Music editing |
| Adobe Audition | $20+/month | Advanced | Cleaning audio |
And some extras to consider once you’re earning revenue:
- Pop filter: $30+ (prevents popping “p” sounds)
- Audio interface: $100+ (improves mic sound quality)
- Transcription software: $10-50/month (converts speech to text automatically)
Set yourself up for success, but don‘t get analysis paralysis over gear early on!
Step 2: Structure Your Show Flow
With software and hardware covered, let’s talk podcast format.
Plan out episode sections that feel natural: Welcome listeners in, introduce central topic, make your key points, some laughs along the way, simple farewell.
Run with a structure, but don’t robotically stick to a script. Conversation flow keeps audiences engaged.
Here’s elements you may want to incorporate:
Short Teaser Intro: "Coming up on the XYZ podcast…"
Theme Song: Sets vibe for your show (find royalty-free tunes)
Introduction: Summarize topic and guests for this episode
Main Segment: Share research, interviews, stories central to theme
Fun Side Tangents: The conversation spice along the way!
Recap & Takeaways: Drive home your key points
Sign-off: Give sneak peek for next episode & where to connect
Follow the same segments each show to build listener familiarity. But keep filling the meat of each episode with fresh perspectives around your area of expertise.
Step 3: Record Your First Episodes
You have your gear. You’ve mapped out show flow. Time to finally press record!
Here’s how I approach first-take recording to keep some spontaneity:
- Write loose bullet points for info you want to share
- Hit record; speak naturally tying back to those points
- Edit out verbal flubs or boring rambling after
- Share unfiltered opinion, getting raw makes things relatable
When first starting out, I’d record 3-5 episodes before publishing. This ensures you have enough content to attract listeners from the jump.
Aim for episodes between 20 minutes and an hour maximum early on. You’ll likely improve efficiency with experience!
Don‘t worry, first episodes don‘t need to be perfect!
Here’s my suggested process for those critical early recordings:
- Practice episode out loud a few times to build confidence
- Record a take in your recording software
- Trim out filler words like "um", "you know", etc
- Fix any audio quirks: background noise, clipping, levels
- Listen back critically. Could be better? Just re-record!
I can’t tell you the number of episodes I re-recorded 5+ times starting off. But each one made me more self-assured to hit publish. You’ve so got this!
Step 4: Import Visuals and Render Video
YouTube requires video uploads rather than just audio. Easily turn your podcast episodes into "videos" by:
- Design a title image in Canva matching YouTube size
- Import audio file and image into OpenShot
- Combine and export final video from OpenShot
Use this static backdrop image consistently across episodes.brands your show. Maybe splash in some supplemental B-roll video clips down the road too.
But don’t worry about advanced editing skills off the bat. Simply laying down audio on an unmoving image works great!
Step 5: Upload Your First Episodes to YouTube
Everything’s prepped. Time to finally publish your polished podcast to the masses!
Hop onto YouTube Studio and:
- Click Upload Video button
- Select your rendered episode file from file folders
- Enter eye-catching title and description
- Customize elements like thumbnail, end screen
- Schedule release date & time for episode
- Publish it out to hungry listeners!
With your first 3-5 episodes scheduled on YouTube, focus on promotion. I’ll expand more on listener growth tactics in the next section.
Step 6: Grow Your Podcast Through YouTube Features
You did it – those debut episodes are driving curious clicks! But don‘t stop hustling once content goes live. Clearly no one finds your show unless you amplify visibility every possible way.
Here’s organic YouTube tools to keep accelerating growth:
- Playlists: Curate episodes around themes to binge
- Cards: Link best moments to full episodes
- Community posts: Give sneak peeks and insider news
- Subtitles: Translate to reach global audiences
- Hashtags: Attach episodes to trending topics
- ATE: Auto-create shareable clips from full shows
And don‘t forget external channels:
- Instagram Reels: Repurpose engaging audio bites
- TikTok: Use transcript feature for micro-clips
- Twitter: Share wise one-liners
Then nurture the audience you do capture through:
- Thoughtful comments
- Questions that spark discussion
- Polls around hot takes from an episode
- Q&As to fuel future episode topics
Deliver incredible value, facilitate community, stay laser focused on helping people… then growth will come organically.
Podcasting Mistakes to Sidestep
I definitely don’t want you repeating my early blunders! Here’s mistakes to avoid when first getting started:
Overinvesting in gear: Resist the urge to drop thousands on pro equipment right away. Focus budget on growth not vanity metrics to start.
Skipping post-production polish: Even 5 minutes of basic editing goes a long way. Tighten up pacing and clarity.
Publishing too infrequently: Challenge yourself to stick with a set release cadence from the outset.
Releasing half-baked episodes: Have 3 episodes mostly done before publishing your first. This sustains initial interest.
Not engaging with early fans: Give supporters attention and value ASAP while numbers are small!
Myopic niche focus: There’s power in bridging audiences interested in adjacent topics. Think bigger!
Final Tips to Conquer Podcasting Imposter Syndrome
I vividly remember nerves choking me up before hitting publish on my earliest episodes.
What if no one cared what I had to say?
How could I sound as smooth and professional as those popular names?
Looking back, that was all fear talking! I‘ve come to learn a few truths after years podcasting on YouTube:
- You’re already interesting enough: High production quality is a bonus, not a requirement for listeners.
- Comparison kills creativity: Don‘t worry what others are doing, focus on your unique angle.
- Consistency compounds: Publishing regularly – even if just weekly – builds unstoppable momentum over time.
- Authenticity attracts people: Flaws make you interesting; leaning into vulnerability builds powerful connections.
- There‘s plenty of market share available: Hundreds of millions actively listen each month – claim your slice of earballs!
You got this. Press record, get started sharing what you care about, help others… the rest smoothly falls into place.
Excited to help with any other questions! Just drop them in the comments. Now go create something awesome 🙂
