Now is the time to start that podcast

If you've been wanting to start a podcast for some time but have put it off and put it off, I'm about to ruin all your excuses.

Below is a step by step process we provide to oncoming clients to walk them through the necessary things to setup their podcast process.

This does NOT include coaching or tips about doing the actual recordings but DOES include everything leading up to that. If you need help with those things, I do provide coaching, so let me know.

Where you see instructions to send us an email, etc. - keep in mind, this is for our clients. Adapt it to fit your situation and you can soon be set up and ready to go with a podcast of your own!

..........................................................................

If you'd like a PDF version of this presentation - download it free here (no email address required)

..........................................................................

SHOW NAME - time required: 15 to 30 minutes || Cost: $0

You’ll need to select the perfect name for your podcast. You can approach this in a variety of ways but I always suggest clarity over cleverness. Make it easy for your ideal listeners to know what the show is about with one read.

• Utilize keywords your ideal listeners will be searching for in the title if possible
• Make sure it reads naturally, not in a “keyword stuffed” manner
• Search Google and Google Podcasts for “Your Title Podcast” and see if anything comes up. If so, you’ll need to change your title
• Finalize your title and send it to us for feedback. We may love it. We may suggest changes.
• Email the link to [email protected]

? DONE __________________

(date)

COVER ART - time required: 15 to 30 minutes || Cost: $199

Cover Art is the square image you create to represent your show in all directories (Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, etc.)

• Go to Google Podcasts
• Search for keywords relating to the topics of your show
• Look at the artwork you see for the shows listed - Use these images to inspire ideas
• Pay attention to the ones that grab your attention and figure out WHY they do

THEN…

• Decide what you want on your cover art - recommendations…
• Your podcast’s title
• Use colors that STAND OUT from the examples you’ve seen
• Don’t put too much text on the page - the simpler the better (It needs to be easily read even when small)
• Your picture (if you think it will build trust with your audience)
• Your brand logo (possibly, especially if it’s a recognized brand in your niche)
• Click on any cover art samples in Google Podcasts that you really like - copy the URL to that show
• Clearly explain your cover art choices to us in an email: [email protected] 

We’ll send you a PayPal invoice for $199 - and get a designer working on what you’ve described

UNLESS you have a designer who can do a high quality job of this for you. :)

Once we have the first draft, we’ll send it to you.

• Give us your feedback including any changes you’d like the designer to make - we’ll tweak things until you’re happy!

? DONE __________________

(date)

MUSIC - time required: 15 to 30 minutes || Cost: $30 - $199

• Decide if you want music for your podcast at all. We recommend you always have music. Think of unique, original music as a “sonic brand” that others are able to identify you by immediately (think of Netflix ? sound, the Amazon ? sound, the Intel ? sound)
• Choose a tune you like in terms of feel/genre/style that has the feeling you’d like to represent your podcast (Youtube or Spotify are great sources to find things)
• Email the link to [email protected]

We’ll send you a PayPal invoice for $199 - and get a composer working on something with the same feel/style and instrumentation that is ORIGINAL and has a usage release from the composer.

UNLESS you have a composer friend who can do a high quality job of this for you. :) - if so, make sure not only they but also their PUBLISHER (if they have one) gives you rights to use the tune. And a written statement of permission is not a bad idea.

Once we have the first draft of the music, we’ll send it to you.

• Give us your feedback including any changes you’d like the composer to make - we’ll tweak things until you’re happy!

? DONE __________________

(date)

VOICE OVER - time required: 15 to 30 minutes || Cost: $199.00

• Decide if you want to source a professional voice over artist to give your show a professional feel and sound OR if you’d rather do this yourself to give your show a more personal, relatable sound
• Decide if you want an intro voice over announcement at all. Instead, some podcasters record a unique intro each time they do an episode to keep things relevant and fresh.
• Write a script for both intro and outro saying EXACTLY what you want the VO artist to record.
• INTRO: Keep it short, sweet, and simple. Tell listeners exactly why they want to listen beyond the intro (but not in those exact words)
• OUTRO: Keep it short as well and include ONE call to action. We recommend you promote subscriptions to the show (you can include those links in the episode description)
• On BOTH - phonetically spell out any difficult names or words
• Email those scripts to [email protected]

We’ll send you a PayPal invoice for $199 - and get a composer working on something with the same feel/style and instrumentation that is ORIGINAL and has a usage release from the composer.

UNLESS you have a voice over artist friend who can do a high quality job of this for you. :) - if so, make sure they have truly professional equipment and a professional environment in which they can make the recording.

Once we have the first draft of the voice over, we’ll send it to you.

• Give us your feedback including any changes you’d like the VO artist to make - we’ll tweak things until you’re happy!

? DONE __________________

(date)

EQUIPMENT - time required: 15 to 30 minutes || Cost: varies

There are many equipment options and most podcasters make it WAY too complicated. Here are two basic options we suggest to most clients. If you feel you have a special circumstance, please let us know.

• This affordable mic / stand / headphone package includes everything most podcasters need.

• If you want to upgrade your sound slightly, this package is the next step up. But you’d need to buy a good set of headphones in addition.

• Both of these microphone options will plug into your computer via USB, which is all that’s needed in most cases.
• Please email us at [email protected] once you have your equipment and we’ll jump on a Zoom call to help you assess the quality of the room you’ll be recording in, using that equipment.

UNLESS you have equipment already. If so, let us know what you have and we can advise whether it’s adequate for good podcast recordings.

? DONE __________________

(date)

MEDIA HOST ACCOUNT - time required: 15 to 30 minutes || Cost:varies

Your “media host” is where your audio lives online. Think of your account with them as your personal audio library for your podcast files. When Apple, Spotify, or any other directory receives a request from a user for one of your podcast episodes, they will pull it from your media host account. 

You will want to wait to set up your media host account until you are ready to begin production on your first episode(s). That way you avoid the monthly cost until it’s needed.

That means your choice of media host is very important. We recommend you use one of these two options:

• Libsyn is one of the best and longest-lasting media hosts in the space. It is optimized for podcasts and has great support and stats. If you use the code “PFT” to set up your Libsyn account you’ll receive up to 1 ? months free (depends on when in the month you subscribe). This IS an affiliate partnership we have with Libsyn.

• Captivate is an up and coming media host platform but is run by long-time industry professionals. It’s fresh look and new approach have gotten lots of attention, mine included. It’s a very reliable and easy to use media host platform. This IS an affiliate link.

Most podcasts will need nothing more than a $20 subscription on either of these services. Be sure you read the details to see what you receive for your monthly payment and when/if the pricing increases with usage.

? DONE __________________

(date)

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO THINK ABOUT…

DISTANCE RECORDINGS - time required: 15 to 30 minutes || Cost: varies

Any interview-based show will eventually run into situations where recordings need to be captured over a distance (your guest is not physically present). There are three ways I recommend you do this kind of recording. I’ll list them in order of quality and preference

Record what’s called a “Double Ender” - this is only a possibility if your guest is at all tech savvy and already knows how to record themselves with high quality on their own computer. If so, here’s how you do it.

• Each of you set up your own microphone, etc. so you can record your own voice on your own computer.
• You jump on a phone call so you can hear each other
• You each hit the “record” button at roughly the same time
• Your guest shares their file with you.
• You now have both sides of the conversation which you can sync up and edit for a final audio file

Record using a “double-ender” type platform that does the work for you

I always recommend a service called Squadcast.fm - it records you on your computer and your guest on their computer, then syncs the file for you online and allows you to download it for editing and production. In my experience, Squadcast is the most trouble-free of all the platforms that provide this functionality.

• COST: $20-ish per month
• Easy to use
• Has video so you can see each other (but doesn’t record the video - yet)
• Check out Squadcast here (this IS an affiliate link)

Record using a video conferencing platform

The most-used video platform for recording podcast episodes is most likely Zoom.us - I have many clients who use it. Here are the pros and cons of using it.

• CON: The audio quality is not as good as we’d prefer. BUT, there are ways to adjust the settings to make it a bit better.
• PRO: There is a free plan that allows for one guest, for as long as you like
• CON: For more than one guest, calls can only be 40 minutes long on the free plan
• PRO: Many people are already familiar with the platform, so the learning curve is low

If you'd like a PDF version of this presentation - download it free here (no email address required)

................................................................................................

Who IS this guy?

Carey Green is the founder of Podcast Fast Track (a full-service podcast production company focused on serving small businesses and entrepreneurs) and Narrativly (a full-service narrative podcast service creating hand-crafted podcasts for influencers, brands, and C-suite execs).

He's a retired Pastor (who can't really retire - his own daily devotional podcast is proof of that). As of 12/2019 it's hitting over 20,000 downloads per day.