Publishing and Promoting Your Podcast

From Free Tools to Full Investment

Starting a podcast is an exciting venture that opens doors to reaching new audiences and establishing your brand or voice. However, as with any new project, there’s always a balance between cost, quality, and reach. Whether you’re thinking of creating a podcast for the first time or improving your current setup, here’s a roadmap for publishing and promoting your podcast effectively.

The Marketing Made Clear Podcast

This article features content from the Marketing Made Clear podcast. You can listen along to this episode on Spotify:

Starting for Free: What’s Possible?

If you’re working with a minimal budget, it’s possible to launch a podcast without spending a penny. Here’s how:

  • Recording: You can record directly from your phone. There are several apps, like Anchor, that let you record and publish audio right from your mobile device.
  • Editing: Tools like Audacity are free and user-friendly. If you already have a laptop or computer, you can use Audacity to edit and polish your episodes.
  • Quality Control: Use free tools like Audio Audit accounts to check the quality of your audio before publishing.
  • Publishing: While some major platforms require paid subscriptions, there are free options available. However, if you want access to platforms like Apple Podcasts, you will need to pay for an RSS feed.

The Paid Route: Taking Your Podcast to the Next Level

While starting a podcast can be free, investing in better equipment and tools can help you deliver a higher quality product and extend your reach. If you’re willing to spend, here’s what to expect:

  • Equipment: A decent setup might cost around £300. With this, you could get a good microphone and an audio interface that works with free software like GarageBand or Audacity.
  • Software & Hosting: A full Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) and professional editing tools will enhance your audio quality. Pair this with an RSS feed (around £10 monthly) to publish on major platforms like Apple Podcasts.
  • Upfront Costs: For those looking to build a studio-quality setup, the total could range from £2,000 to £3,000 upfront, plus ongoing monthly fees of £20 to £50 for software, RSS hosting, and other services.

Monetising Your Podcast: Using Patreon and Crowdfunding

One of the best ways to offset the costs of podcasting is through platforms like Patreon or Buy Me a Coffee. By offering your listeners exclusive content or perks in exchange for support, you can fund upgrades to your equipment, software, or marketing efforts. Crowdfunding allows you to build a community of dedicated listeners while gradually improving your podcast’s quality and reach.

Marketing Your Podcast: Building an Audience

Once your podcast is live, the next challenge is building and maintaining an audience. Social media is a crucial tool for engaging listeners and attracting new followers. Here are some examples of how other podcasters have grown their audience:

  • Anna, Yaz, and Ray all use social media, leveraging trending hashtags and engaging with their audience.
  • Ray has built a strong following through Discord, where he connects with his community on a more personal level.
  • I started the website marketingmadeclear.com to draw in web traffic, intending to convert visitors into podcast listeners.

Your website is a powerful tool for marketing your podcast. But it requires regular updates, fresh content, and a focus on SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). Make sure your site is optimised both on-page and off-page to rank in search engines, bringing in organic traffic. But most importantly, your content needs to resonate with your audience. The more value you offer, the more likely your listeners will engage, subscribe, and share your podcast.

Knowing Your Audience and Encouraging Feedback

It’s vital to know who you’re speaking to and what they enjoy. Engage your audience, whether that’s through social media, your website, or even directly through email. Encourage feedback, both good and bad, and make sure to implement suggestions that can help improve your podcast.

Reach out to me at [email protected] or connect via social media. I’d love to hear what you think of this guide and any feedback you have on my podcast!

By focusing on building a strong foundation with either free tools or more advanced setups, and then leveraging effective marketing and audience engagement, your podcast can grow into a sustainable project that resonates with your target listeners. Happy podcasting!