How To Start A Podcast In College

Podcasting is a booming industry today with dozens of podcasts sprouting from different places around the world. 

It is an excellent platform to express your own opinion on specific topics while engaging with other people and knowing their stand on the same issue. 

The great thing about podcasts is that you don’t have to be a ‘celebrity’ to start your own. Anyone can do it, even college students like you. 

If you want to start now, here are some tips. And who knows if you can make a career out of it.

Understand The Basics First

Just like anything else, before you try to venture into something, you need to understand how its basic principle works. 

Starting a podcast is not that complicated, but it is not easy as well. It takes hard work and perseverance for your podcast to be successful. Once everything is set up correctly, the next steps would just be easy. 

Know Your Audio File Type

Podcasts are usually uploaded using an audio file. The best format for this application is the MP3. This format gives you the perfect balance between file size and sound quality. 

Then you have to choose your podcast hosting platform. There are dozens of platforms available out there. Some of the best known are Podbean, Buzzsprout, Blubrry, Transistor, Smart Podcast Player, Libsyn, and Soundcloud. 

Choose the one which you find you are comfortable working with. After selecting your host, you can upload your file, add your title with the description and then select a time when you want it published. Once done, it will then be displayed along with your older uploads, and people who are subscribed to you would then be notified.

Now that you understand how to start and upload your audio files, it is time to properly create content for your podcast. Remember, it is the lifeline of your podcast; it must capture the interest of your target listeners.

Choosing The Right Topics

As mentioned earlier, it takes hard work for you to be able to start a successful podcast. Part of this work is choosing the topic you can commit to. 

You need to plan what you want to talk about. It needs to be something that you can discuss for more than three episodes. To do this, try creating a list of episodes for the topic. Think of the people you can interview as well. 

Keep in mind, you are just after the ideas, no need to worry about the title for now. If you are having trouble thinking about the episodes, then the topic may not be the one. You must be able to write down numerous episodes and not be limited to just a few. If this happens, then it would hinder the flow of your podcast.

Creating The Right Title

Making the right title for your show is a critical decision since this would be the first thing people would see. There are different ways on how to approach this. 

If your goal is to create a personal brand, you can opt to use your name as the title of the show. It may be hard at first, especially if you are just an up-and-coming personality, but once people get to know you, the name would stick to them and become a brand of its own. 

You can also use witty podcast names that may not make sense at first glance. It is only when the listeners hear your episodes would then they be able to make sense of it. Use people’s curiosity to capture their attention.

Create An Attractive Show Description

After people see your podcast’s title, they would be looking at the show’s description. That is why it is equally important to choose a title. 

It is usually after reading the description when people decide if they want to stay or not. Start it with something that would interest them rather than starting about yourself. 

Try to choose what you will include in your description. You may have the liberty to put everything but if it is not relevant, just keep it out.

Choose The Format Of Your Podcast

If you have seen other podcasts, you may have noticed that not all shows are alike. Some do interviews, while some just involve you and the host. There are podcasts that run longer and are published more frequently than others. Choose the one that you are comfortable with and willing to do for a long time. Select a style that fits your personality. This would help your podcast look more natural and appealing to people.

Have The Proper Equipment

Having the right equipment is vital when starting your podcast. Good equipment makes your recording sound clearer. This would help your audience understand you better. There are tons of equipment out there but for starters,  just secure a proper microphone that would make you sound good. You may have the best content in the world, but if people don’t understand you, then it’s all for nothing. 

Let People Know About Your Show

Now it’s time to let people know that your show exists. Start with your friends and family. Ask them to share your podcast and invite their acquaintances as well. Use your social media accounts to advertise yourself. Eventually, once it starts snowballing, you will see your audience increase. 

There you go, now the only thing you need to do is get up and get started. If you ask when is the best time to start, the answer would be yesterday.