7 Things I’ve Learnt After Starting My Podcast

 1. Success Doesn’t Come Cheap

Podcasts aren’t free. You need recording equipment (either a computer or phone plus essential opt-ins like microphones and earbuds). Then there’s the host website (in my case Buzzsprout) and the app you use (Riverside in case you’re wondering) to record conversations with people around the world. This all costs money. Luckily, I already had my phone and computer, but the software has been more expensive than I’d anticipated, especially as none of the apps offers a one-size-fits-all package. Microphone upgrades are also long past due, though this could set me back a whopping $100! But it’s the price I have to pay if I’m to compete at the highest level of the podcasting world (a challenging task in itself). 

2. Success Doesn’t Come Easy

It comes after a lot of hard work and patience. I’ve watched my podcast develop from a show with zero views to one capable of getting 150+ a month. Hardly stellar ratings but an encouraging upward trend nonetheless. I have to be willing to make mistakes, embarrass myself, and take setbacks in my stride. I’ve had problems with audio, video, finding suitable apps, and booking guests to name but a few. But it’s all good - these are the things that I must experience in order to grow my channel and increase my ratings. Hopefully in a year’s time I will be looking at several hundred downloads an episode instead of the present 60-70. 

3. Marketing Is Important

Marketing is the magic that will take ‘What! The Heys’ to the next level. My social media presence has increased far more as a result of my podcast, chiefly by sharing regular updates about my show on sites like Facebook and Threads. But I’ve also learnt about the importance of making and sharing attractive videos on Instagram. These help generate buzz for my channel and keep people informed about what I am doing. Then there are the mailing groups that I’ve set up on Instagram, Threads, and Facebook- these give me a captive audience that I can direct my podcasts to. They also introduce me to future guests for my show, further helping it grow. 

4. Book More Guests

When I first started ‘What! The Heys’ I recorded monologues where I told the world my thoughts on writing and reading. Though these were initially very good, I began to realize that having guests on my show would help me grow my channel more quickly. They were also more interesting for me to record. I get a huge buzz from booking guests for my show, never mind the actual interview itself! For me it’s the best thing in the world- I get to have a conversation with writers from all around the world about one of my favorite topics- writing! Now what could be better than that?!

5. Multiple Platforms

A great piece of advice for other would-be podcasters is to get your show on as many platforms as possible - Apple, Spotify, and YouTube etc so that your voice reaches as many people as possible. You’ve already put the work in so it makes sense to make sure that the distribution is as effective as the product. Putting my podcast on YouTube was one of the best decisions I’ve made, especially as it’s now responsible for half my monthly views and my list of subscribers is steadily growing. If I had just kept my podcast on Apple and Spotify etc it would’ve been harder to reach my audience as some people aren’t as aware of these as they are of YouTube. 

6. Celebrate Your Successes

This is something that every podcaster must do, no matter how insignificant they may seem at first. I celebrate monthly listener data for example, especially when I’m breaking records or doing better than the average trend. If an episode does particularly well then I share the good news with everyone too. I’m not averse either to sharing old episodes on social media in order to increase my audience. It’s a good way to remind your listeners that you’ve got successful content out there that they should listen to. You could also encourage your guests to share these successes too, further widening your reach. 

7. Editing Is Key

Always listen to your podcast before it’s released to check for any sound issues and then edit accordingly. I do this every week with ‘What! The Heys’. Marketing is all very well and good but if the product is faulty then it’s harder to attract and retain listeners. You should also have a similar approach to how your podcast is designed such as photos, name, and episode titles etc. I’m always going back and checking mine. It’s okay to make mistakes so long as you are prepared to go back and fix them. But what’s more, you need to learn from them, so that you don’t keep making the same mistakes. This will ultimately make your marketing strategy more effective and allow your audience to grow over time.