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So many podcasts begin as a dream: “I’d love to … I wish I… Maybe I could … Wouldn’t it be fun? … Well, now that you’ve discovered our How to Start a Podcast Guide, that dream can happen!
We’re going to show you how easy it is to make a podcast, get YOUR one-of-a-kind show up and running, and then how to market, grow, and monetize that dream. It’s so exciting!
We’ve broken the start a podcast process into four critical phases that align with the onboarding process of podcast hosting platforms like Libsyn.
Take a short-cut to wherever you are in your podcasting journey.
Podcasting is the fastest growing medium in the world. According to Edison Research (The Infinite Dial® 2022), 73% of the U.S. 12+ population (an estimated 209 million people) have listened to online audio in the last month, up from 68% in 2021. Let’s put your podcast on the map!
Here on your start a podcast journey, we serve as your compass, exploring your dream podcast destination, what to think about and how to get there. Make it EPIC!
WHY do I want to start a podcast?
Your “WHY” (and ultimately your podcast) should = your expertise + your passion + your audience.
Your area of expertise or interest is a great place to start a podcast. Then, the fuel to keep you podcasting is your passion and excitement about the subject. For some of you, this might be clear, others might spend time really trying to figure it out. Regardless, there is a reason you want to go on this journey.
Ultimately, it is what you are obsessed with that will keep you podcasting, although sticking with it at times can be harder than expected, much like weather you weren’t expecting or a sudden detour …
Can I talk about this for an hour a week for the next year?
It takes most podcasts months or even a year to really gain any traction … it's a long trip. Brainstorm at least 20 subtopics within your bigger idea – was it easy?
Many podcasts slow down, dissolve, or completely dismantle in the first year and do what we call “Podfade.” Some people simply tire of the same topic or types of conversations, others lose their way or tire of the work involved to get from here to there.
Want to know a little secret? Even if you put solid energy into refining your concept before you start a podcast, you can still revisit this process to update and pivot your direction. Understanding that you will need to be flexible and learn from your audience is critical. The most successful podcasters are constantly discovering, learning, refining, exploring and launching new podcasts!
Libsyn will be here to help you avoid the fade and keep your passion — that’s our passion!
Envisioning your audience is critical to your concept. These are the people that will become your community, traveling with you on your podcast journey and compelling you to keep creating. Listeners from all over may evolve into friends or co-hosts
— it happens all the time!
Who is my audience?
Think beyond who your audience is and ask some deeper questions about what’s going to keep
them along for the ride.
Answering these questions allows you to create meaningful content that people look forward to and want to share.
If your goals include monetization or integrating automatic ads, think about whether your audience demographics will reflect the audience sought by the kind of brands you have in mind. If not, you might want to revisit both.
Now that you’ve got a good idea WHY you want to start a podcast and WHO your audience might be, it’s time to layer on some strategy and research. Exploring options and talking to others who have travelled a similar road are great ways to hone your podcast itinerary.
If you start a podcast and hope to attract advertisers, read this blog with Erica Mandy, Sustaining Your Podcast — Purpose & Partnership, and set yourself up for success!
On your podcast journey, think of other podcasts as learning tools and make research your best friend. Since YOU are original, chances are your concept is inherently unique. Still, exploring what others who offer similar content are doing will give you an edge and will, most likely, save you time. Take time to survey the current podcasting terrain.
First, peruse the podcast category in which you think your podcast would be housed on places like Apple Podcasts.
Try searching places like Listen Notes with keywords that you think your future audience might use to discover your podcast. See what comes up and start listening.
You can also install some of our favorite podcast apps, like Overcast or Goodpods, to help you discover fellow podcasters who are passionate about similar topics. Note topics that remain unexplored.
What do I like about fellow podcasts? How is my podcast different?
Always respect other creators' work. Don’t copy content verbatim, use copyrighted imagery, or music without the proper permissions. Don’t risk legal trouble. Keep your work original and uniquely you. YOU are enough.
Think hard about what you are bringing to the party — why would people want to go on this adventure with you? Determine what elements separate you from the crowd and engage your ideal audience.
Fellow podcasters are a great asset and we recommend engaging with your podcasting community early in your journey.You will find that most podcasters are helpful, collaborative and excited to share what they’ve done and how they were able to start a podcast. Always great to talk to someone who’s navigated the path before.
Follow other hosts on the social platform of your choice. Libsyn’s Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Crowdcast, Facebook, and LinkedIn communities are all unique and offer a constant source of learning materials and interaction. Fellow travelers are happy to share their stories!
In what ways am I staying up to date on the latest podcasting news?
By seeking out and participating, you will immerse yourself in of-the-moment podcasting topics and connect with fellow creators. Libsyn’s official podcast The Feed is hosted by Podcast Hall of Fame members Elsie Escobar and Rob Walch. It is a podcasting community-driven show focused on keeping you podcasting, with ongoing podcasting tips, news, information and analysis of the latest and greatest in the podcasting industry along with inside insight into Libsyn.
Don’t underestimate the power of research + originality in what you bring to your podcast. They are powerful confidence boosters and total game changers as you take next steps along the way.
As your podcast vision begins to solidify, the format and style of your podcast might start to emerge more clearly than ever. Take the time to see where it’s going and if you like where it’s headed.
Do I have a clear picture of the format, length and style of my podcast episodes?
Drive Alone or Share The Wheel — The Question of a Podcast Co-Host
Libsyn podcaster Ginger Campbell from Brain Science was asked what podcasting wisdom she would share with new podcasters upon her induction into the Podcasting Hall of Fame.
“Get a co-host if you can.
Having someone to share the load
will make podfading less likely.”
In essence, if you are ok with all the fame AND ALL THE WORK, keep your format solo. If you are more of a team player? Consider a co-host. It’s nice to have someone else who can drive a bit.
Some solo or co-hosted podcasts have guest hosts to step in when episodes are not able to be recorded by the original hosts. You might want to consider early who your guest host/s might be.
Define a Style that Feels Natural
Much like traveling options (luxury, backpack, group tour), many podcast formats are available. Choose one that inspires you, works well with your topic and provides an authentic listening experience. Consider:
Don’t feel like you have to commit to your original format. Podcasting is a journey and sometimes, pivoting is one of the best strategies you can implement, and it is often the way you discover something new.
Podcast Episode Length — It’s Personal
The best podcast episodes match content and audience with appropriate length. When choosing an episode length, try to stick with it. Listeners appreciate knowing that they can count on your podcast. They are often multi-tasking — one of the beauties of the audio format — listening during an activity that also has a predictable length: work commute, laundry, workout, you get it.
Remember, do your best to keep your episodes around the same length, but never to let the length dictate the content.
A longer trip is not always a better trip. If your episodes are usually 60 minutes and you have 45, don’t try to come up with another 15 minutes just to fill the space. If it’s an engaging, informative and complete episode, it’s good content. And quality ALWAYS wins over consistency. Think of it as giving your listeners 15 minutes back to think about what you just shared with them!
Another consideration: typically, longer episodes take longer to prep, record, and edit. Be realistic about how much time can devote to producing your show.
Estimate how long you think it will take you to create an episode and triple that time — that’s how long creating an episode really takes.
The general “wisdom” is that the ideal length for an episode is 22 minutes (pre work-from-home, this timing was the perfect length to fit within a daily commute or daily workout at the gym). But research by Libsyn’s own Rob Walch shows that the average length of popular podcasts is often much longer.
Among the podcasts hosted on Libsyn:
84% of shows with over 100,000 downloads are 51 minutes or longer.
If you are going to have a special longer show in the future, let listeners know and promote it. If you are skipping a week, let them know that, too. Keep your listeners informed and expectant.
Setting realistic ambitions for your podcasting journey will help ensure your longevity. No two podcasters are identical, but most of us can ask ourselves the same questions to arrive at our unique goals.
Take time to write them down, including why your podcast is important to you (harken back to your Purpose, which we covered initially) and what kind of results will let you know that your podcast is successful. Return to these throughout your creation process to stay on track and aligned.
What personal factors will help me set realistic goals?
Break your goals down into yearly quarters (3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months), and then create sub-goals within quarters focused on larger milestones. You can even give yourself monthly and weekly goals.
Your goals will guide you as you grow and evolve content. If you want to create a podcast just for fun, you might be tempted to skip this introspection. But being clear about your motivations and determining destinations can help you keep going when things get difficult. Coming back to your goals will help you reconnect with the energy and inspiration that first got you podcasting. You are on this trip for a reason!
What success metrics can I use to help me set realistic goals?
Consider these metrics and what is achievable, but also provide you with some ROI — financially or emotionally. Don’t stress if you haven’t even considered these yet, just use the list to think about what might work for you.
Remember, a podcast about Heritage Breed Pig Farmers in the US should not have a goal of 100,000 downloads for the first month. This not because it won’t have an audience, but because we have to consider how many people are interested in the topic, and how many of them are listening to podcasts. Getting 100 downloads might be achieving greatness for that topic.
We really can’t say this enough: success metrics should be unique to your time constraints, priorities, budget, and topic. There is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Continue with a spirit of testing and versioning, moving forward with what has value and leaving behind metrics that are no longer meaningful. This is your voyage. What matters is your take-away, who you meet, what you learn, how you connect — and that is ongoing.
More than anything else, never forget that successful podcasting takes time and commitment. If you start to feel defeated or overwhelmed, go back to your initial goals, your why, your audience, and the passion that fired you to get started. These things will keep you podcasting.
If you want to start a podcast, and are looking for a no-cost to low-cost entry point, and are podcasting from home, quick and good is your game. You want to get online as simply and inexpensively as possible, knowing you’ll be set up properly to expand your efforts in the future if you want to.
When only the best will do! If you have a vision for the best podcast ever and have the resources to invest in equipment, podcasting experts, a production team and systems to market and promote your show, the “Go Big” level is for you. You are ready to start a podcast business and create a world-class show!
Creating and entering your podcast show information is one of the first stops you will make when you sign up for a podcast hosting service. These elements succinctly summarize your show and compose its first impression to the world. You have to provide them to your podcast host BEFORE you upload any media or episodes.
Once you jump into recording, you will then be able to adjust these elements, as your recording process will naturally refine them.
Below is the most common show-level info you need immediately after you sign up for a podcast hosting plan with Libsyn.
Think of it as your packing list. Here we will cover the things most likely to impact growth and distribution, starting with your podcast title. The rest are also detailed in the Podcast Glossary.
These elements can and should be refined over time and with content creation. You’ll need this information not only for your podcast, but similarly for individual episodes.
The video below shows where some of these details are entered in the Libsyn Podcast Dashboard settings.
Your podcast title is what allows people to find you when they search the internet. It is the all-encompassing name for the totality of the content you hope to share. It is what you are naming your big adventure, but works best when you bear in mind how you are getting there.
Limit your title to a 25 character count with spaces, so it falls square at the universally acceptable show title median of 20-26 characters. Longer titles may be accepted, but usually get cut off. And remember, you don’t need the word “Podcast” in your title. That would be like stating the obvious: America’s Got Talent TV Show.
Keep your show title brief and intriguing. You want a catchy title that reflects your content and includes ONE, just ONE key search word.
No Keyword Stuffing or Homonyms
What is keyword stuffing? It would be when you give your podcast a title like: Dog Training & Obedience with Expert Dog Psychologist Spike Barkalot. It’s clear you are trying to get to anyone who is even thinking about their dog to find you by loading the boat. Since 2019, Apple has rejected such heavy-handed stuffing. Don’t take that chance. You may not need a search engine optimization consultant, but do keep stuffing in mind.
Also, avoid anything that might trip people up when they are searching for or sharing your show. Like is it 2,000 or Two Thousand? Is it Allowed or Aloud? Take a look at a homonyms list and avoid them. In addition, abbreviations or unnecessary punctuation just complicate things.
Is anyone else already using this title?
The search tools in any podcast directory or app do not work like web search engines. Most deliver results based on individual words rather than phrases, and the results are then weighted by algorithms based on actions like subscriptions, follows, streams, and downloads.
You need to search the directories thoroughly, with combinations of words as well as individual words, and take the time to review results more carefully than you might on a search engine.
We strongly recommend combining multiple methods to confirm your original title.
Keep it Original
Once you have come up with alternatives you like, you need to ensure you are not infringing on anyone’s trademark. Search to make sure there’s not already a show with the name you’re coveting.
Again, originality is critical in this area and we would hate to see you invest in launching a podcast only to be detoured with legal action down the road.
That said, show titles can absolutely be updated/changed, and most podcast hosts will automatically provide the updated title in your account to the popular listening apps.
Apple Podcasts (one of the most important podcast platforms) considers exactly three things when a person searches for a podcast: 1) Show Title, 2) Episode Title, 3) Author Tag. This makes all three extremely important when it comes to listeners finding your show. We will address episode titles under the “Podcast Episode Titles” section.
The podcast author tag is usually presented as a field within your Podcast Hosting platform. Libsyn provides creators with the option to enter this for the Podcast and Episode.
At show level, keep these simple with your name and the names of any co-hosts. Just your name/s is/are perfectly good.
Why Is My Dog Doing That?
with Spike Barkalot
At episode level it is ok to add the names of the guest/s you are interviewing in that episode:
Why Is My Dog Doing That?
with Spike Barkalot &Lassie Bowser
Podcast Cover Art Your podcast artwork is a big deal — the vision of your venture. It’s the first thing audiences see and often what compels them to listen.
It is a critical part of your brand and what people will recognize when they come across your show. Don’t take it lightly!
There are some basic parameters for podcast artwork that you must follow.
Also, review Ron Walch’s article on Creating Podcast Artwork and Podcast Artwork FAQs.
Thanks to Libsyn’s integration with Canva, you can design professional-grade artwork for your podcast or episodes right from your Libsyn account using Canva’s friendly design tools. Canva offers a large content library — graphics, templates, icons, and more — to create engaging and beautiful designs sure to attract new listeners to your show. Also, our integration with Canva generates artwork that is automatically optimized for podcasting, so you don’t have to worry about getting the specs right every time.
Pay special attention to your podcast cover art size — under 500 kb. Artwork larger than this can break your feed or cause artwork not to appear in your audience's favorite apps.
The podcast names are to the point, the titles are clear. The intent is obvious and the imagery striking.
Why does all this matter? You’d be surprised! Check out this “Elsie’s Answers” Video.
Your podcast description is a brief synopsis of what people will get when they listen to your show — what they can expect. It should draw listeners in — an invitation they can’t resist — making them want to join you on your journey every step of the way.
Your description is also what your potential audience will be presented with when they bump into your podcast in a podcast app, on your website, or even a shortened version on social media profiles.
For our example, a good podcast description might be:
Learn how to change your dog’s behavior by understanding his or her motivations, desires and experiences. From barking and jumping, to licking and counter surfing, we get inside your dog so you can, too. Learn to think like your dog as a way to change his mind and in turn, his behavior. Is he anxious, depressed, spastic, withdrawn? Now you can work with him to ease his discomfort and your frustration. Interviews with leading dog experts inform us as well.
Maximum length for a podcast description is 4,000 characters, but most podcast apps display only the first two lines. This makes it essential that you communicate the “elevator” phrase of your podcast mission up front. A podcast description length between 400 and 600 characters tends to work best, allowing enough length to intrigue listeners and encourage them to take the next step.
1. Two Sentence Focus
Make sure that the first two sentences of your description immediately communicate what your show is about and who it would most benefit. In most podcast listening apps, especially if someone is browsing on a smartphone with a small screen, only the first sentence shows up; if they want to find out more, they have to click. Often people make a decision based on those first two sentences.
2. Stating the Obvious
Don’t start your description with “This is a podcast…..” or “hosted by…..” Generally people are searching for content within an app that already has clearly defined podcast categories, i.e. they know that it’s a podcast. Said apps also clearly delineate who the “author” of the podcast is. No need to repeat.
3. What is Streamlining?
Once you start your podcast, you might discover that the show you thought you were creating is not the show that you created. Streamlining or updating your description is a best practice. Forgetting to update your description to align with the current content could lead to not reaching the right audience.
Once you have titles, tags and descriptions ready to go, entering them in your podcast hosting platform is a breeze!
Your podcast script serves as your episode itinerary, outlining the flow of each episode. Some creators write every word they are going to record, others just the high-level bullet points. Regardless of YOUR preferred style, dividing your podcast into repeatable segments will help you create an episode that has the familiar structure with a beginning, middle, and end.
You’re anxious to record, to get to the fun part, but we promise, your pre-record preparation game will speed up your editing process.
What information or details MUST I remember when I record?
These are the types of details you’ll want to have written down in your script so you are clear and accurate.
You have so many great ideas for this episode and you’re so passionate about all them, but your podcast is called “30 Minutes to Improve Your Health.” If you covered all the possible topics for health improvement in one episode, the episode would go on forever. This episode might be titled Low-Sugar Dessert Alternatives, so just stick to that topic and deliver on what the title promises.
If you’re prone to getting off track, tangents can be handled in post-production, but being efficient up front is a lifesaver.
If you are creating an interview show or there is banter between hosts, the best questions you can ask will elicit NEW information that contributes to the main point/climax of your discussion.
Common podcast questions fall into these three categories:
In general, your intro and “discussion” questions will deal more with the person and the product, a discovery path to the resolution or purpose of the episode.
Your podcast intro and outro are what grab attention and showcase your podcast’s personality. The first few seconds of your podcast plays a major role in growing your audience.
A bit of podcast music or a signature sound is a great way to give your show a character all its own. While music is not written into your script, it will impact it, so now is a great time to think about how what you say in your intro and outro would synch with some music you add during editing.
Someone could be listening to your podcast for the first time — how will your intro music and first few minutes keep them listening and tell them what your podcast is about? Consider developing a signature intro and outro complete with royalty-free music.
If you are thinking garage, kitchens or bathrooms, think about the many hard surfaces and reverb you are likely to encounter. Not the best at-home podcast studio ideas. Granted, most podcasters don’t have optimal recording spaces, but nearly every home has bedrooms and closets!
Yes, Closets. You would be surprised how many podcasters use their closets to record podcasts. Even This American Life host Ira Glass has been found recording in the closet! Closets are ideal because they are usually laden with sound absorbing clothes, often carpeted and in less lived-in rooms like bedrooms. Walk-in closets are excellent for achieving clear audio without echos.
What do I ALREADY have that can help improve my recording?
Quiet
Once you’ve picked a place, take some time to listen, really listen to what you hear in that space. What is the ambient noise? Can you hear the ice maker or the fan? Listen for white noise that you don’t usually notice but could be audible on a recording. Then, record a minute or two in your space and listen back to see what you are picking up. This will give you a baseline from which to build, providing insight into the level of sound blocking material you need, or not.Once you have chosen your location, you’re going to want to try out some sound treatment tactics to see what works best to improve the audio quality of your podcast.
Acoustic Treatment Tips To Fit Your Budget
These tips may sound pedestrian at first, but they do the job without expense and can be used in any location you’ve chosen.
Now, do an audio quality test again.
Does it sound better than your first recording? Do you still feel like you need something more? You might find that facing one way or moving to a different part of the space makes a difference. Or, you might find that the podcast sound quality is echoey or there’s too much reverb. All of this information will help determine your podcast studio setup.
Here is a shortlist of soundproofing equipment to help you slowly improve the sound quality in your space. All very doable and not terribly expensive.
Note that if you will have a co-host or guests with you in the same physical space, this changes the game. During your testing phase, make sure to recreate what you will be doing during your episodes as best as you can. Two or three voices is a totally different animal than one.
And cut yourself some slack. You don’t have to make it perfect right out of the gate.
If I were to leave you with ONE thing about setting up a podcast studio, whether it is for recording yourself or multiple people, it’s this: test, test, test! Test your podcast sound quality and your podcast recording space, changing and adjusting until you get it right.
That said, the only way to fully block sound, meaning how to soundproof a room, is to go find a professional recording studio. Most of us don’t need that.
Thankfully, podcasting is a verb, which means you can continue to adjust and re-adjust your recording space as you go. Start good and get better.
A professional podcast studio setup merits hiring a sound and design expert who can advise you based on your needs. Every space is different and the money spent on a sound consultant is well invested. Another option is podcast studio rental. In fact, for most, this is the way to go.
After your series of testing and reconfiguring to aid in the absorption of sound, you’ll be in a position to decide what podcast equipment or podcast equipment bundle will serve you best.
These videos talk about podcast mics, headphones, apps, and podcast editing software, and are 6 to 20 minutes long. They are well worth your time. Moreover, you’ll get great tips on the best equipment for under $100!
If you’re just not ready to invest in any equipment just yet, try out Libsyn Studio, currently in beta. You can create all your podcast segments and even layer in music! It is the easiest way to create a podcast from start to finish — hence, the “studio” name.
Am I ready to record?
If you’ve gone through this list, you’re well on your way to audio or video output ready for post-production editing!
Yes, you are going to want to edit your podcast, if for no other reason, to add in your intro and outro music. You can also take out bloopers, the unexpected child interruption, your pet’s desperate cry for attention or whatever elements feel like they take away from your message.
Above we shared Brian’s recs on editing tools for under &100, and below he demonstrates real-time podcast editing.
How much or how little you edit your recording is dependent on many personal factors. Brian’s video primarily focuses on Adobe Audition, but can be universally applied to any Digital WorkStation (DAW), including free editing DAWs like Garageband or Audacity that also work great.
Don’t get lost seeking perfection, and if you are, consider hiring a podcast editor to handle this leg of your podcasting expedition. There are some very talented folks ready to assist.
At a minimum, you should listen to your finished content at least once all the way through after editing. Don’t miss your chance to catch mistakes, take notes on things you want to improve for next time, AND write down the time-codes for major topic changes that can be used in your show notes when you publish your episode out to the world.
Be prepared — the first time you record could change everything. It could change your life, it could change your voice, it could change your whole concept. Feel free to evolve.
You made it, you are at the brink of being able to say, “Hey world, I made a podcast!”
You have all the elements ready — YOU are ready to publish your podcast to the world.
If you haven’t already chosen a Podcast Host for your podcast, now is the time.
You need a Podcast Host for the next step.
A podcast host, like Libsyn, is where you will upload, enter, and store all of the details of your podcast. They host this information for you and deliver it seamlessly to your audience on all the most popular listening apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Most podcast hosting platforms will have some kind of “create episode” button with a form to enter the details of your episode after entering your podcast creation details referenced at the beginning of the Creation chapter.
Libsyn offers the option to set episode defaults for some of the details below, so if you want to keep some items the same for every episode, you only need to set those once. We’re all about speed!
While podcast episode titles have some similarities to the Show Title, they have some distinctly different parameters that you should consider, some of which depend on the audience platform.
Apple Podcasts has specific requirements for episode titling. Libsyn provides a unique Apple Podcasts episode title field so that you can optimize your title for Apple Podcasts as well as other platforms.
Requirements specific to Apple Podcasts episode titling:
Examples:
Just like for your Podcast Title, try to keep the character count between 20 and 26 and use one unique SEO term. These tactics will ensure your content is found by the right audience and look its best in the most popular apps without being truncated.
For the Episode Author Tag, you can include the guest for that episode only. For example, if you are hosting a famous guest, enter your name as well as your famous guest’s name in the Author field. Doing so helps listeners find your episode if they are searching for your guest author.
Example of the Episode Author Tag:
The names you provide for the field appear as the authors for this episode only. If you leave the field blank, only your Show Author Tag will appear.
Read more about Episode Artwork Requirements.
Creating episode artwork can be part of your marketing strategy and have multiple uses outside of publishing. For instance, since the primary image is a square graphic, it could be repurposed as a social media post on Instagram or Facebook.
Your episode artwork might also look wonderful behind an audiogram! Use Headliner to help you create audiograms from your podcast.
If you are using one of the Libsyn Show players on your website, episode artwork can look particularly nice! Check out The Show Player for The Feed: The Official Libsyn Podcast:
You don’t NEED to create episode artwork when you start a podcast. In most cases this will default to your show artwork. But remember when you are ready, Libsyn also has a Canva Integration that makes it easy!
Episode descriptions can be full of exciting details and extra resources, or simple and streamlined.
Regardless of your approach, the content is specific to the episode and the first few lines should be written to attract new audiences.
Check out these screenshots to see how much of the episode description is actually visible in the directory listings.
Focus your attention on the first few lines of your episode description and don’t repeat your show title — you only have a few lines to grab your audience’s attention. If you’re interviewing someone famous, this is the place to name drop!
Once the episode is clicked on, the entire episode description is usually visible.
Episode descriptions are also known as show notes and they can include a timecode list of content and topics that help listeners customize their listening experience.
What do I usually want to
know when listening to a
podcast episode?
The great part about including these elements in your description is that you don’t have to memorize them for the recording — you can simply say, “Links will be in the description,” and move on!
As you can see in the screenshot, links to important information and CTA’s are also included in the episode descriptions.
A good starting point for your episode description is to include these elements:
This may seem like a lot for each episode, but Libsyn makes it easy with unlimited text snippets included in every plan. These let you store the most frequently used elements of your description and use them over and over.
Speed up Podcast Publishing with Snippets
You can refine your description by formatting your text (such as bolding words or using colors) and by including links and images. Remember, we cover every part of the Libsyn podcast publishing process in our in-depth podcast support articles. We are here to help you the whole way through. Having gotten this far in our guide, you might find these of interest.
Once you’ve populated all the episode information in the Create Episode form, loaded your media and artwork, all that’s left is that Publish button…
Creating your first episode is the first real milestone in your journey, and it only gets easier from here on out. Your following episodes will feel more familiar and most likely take less time as you learn.
Note that it is often recommended that you publish 2 or 3 episodes before you start working on distribution to the popular podcast apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. This will ensure that you are giving audiences enough content to fall in love with, and the platform enough content to show you some love!
Congratulations! The first leg of your trip is behind you.
More on growth, podcast players, websites, and promotion is just around the corner.
You’re almost ready to launch your podcast!
Best practices ensure a podcast is optimized for growth, but there isn’t one path to get you to your dream destination, just like there isn’t ONE kind of podcaster.
Launching your podcast is just the beginning of growing and creating an audience. The extra planning you put into this step can create a great foundation for future success. Your launch can be super simple or strategic and high budget. The approach should be aligned to the goals you defined. Need help with that? Check out our Podcast Goals section.
Taking the time to publish at least 3 episodes before you tell everyone about your podcast will not only help you refine your work, but will increase your chances of being featured on podcast apps. It will also help your podcast audience find and connect with you. You can create and publish all of the episodes at once or stagger them. And, in Libsyn, you can set future publish dates to give yourself some lead time before creating the next episode.
One of the first 3 episodes could be a trailer for your podcast. A podcast trailer is a short promo of your show, usually between 30 and 60 seconds in length. It’s like a movie trailer — the shorter, the better. Your podcast trailer can be played on other podcasts, it’s easily shared on social channels, turned into an audiogram for YouTube, etc. It’s a teaser designed to offer a taste of what listeners will get if they give your podcast a try. Your goal? Build excitement, anticipation, and introduce potential listeners to your fantastic podcast.
How to make the next great podcast trailer from Apple Podcasts.
You will also want to publish your episodes to the most popular platforms so that when you start telling the world all about your podcast, they can easily find it in their favorite app or podcast directory. Again, Libsyn makes this super simple and handles most of the heavy lifting for you. As you publish you will see options to publish to popular apps and other international podcast directories. We cover more on this in the Podcast Distribution section.
The process of completing your first few episodes, publishing them, and doing a little quality control can take some time. The podcast apps and directories usually take a few days to list your podcast or update it. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time and patience. Think weeks and months, not hours and days.
A very simple podcast website is perfectly acceptable to start and most podcast hosting platforms like Libsyn, include one for free in the plans they provide. At a minimum, a podcast website should make your podcast accessible to audiences outside of the popular podcast apps, and allow you to provide basic show information. This should include a way to contact you, a summary of the show, and options to connect with you on social or in the podcast apps of your audience’s choice. It is an amazing marketing tool.
If you already have a brand website, adding a PODCAST link/page in the main navigation of your current site also works great. Don’t forget to include specific episode listings with corresponding information.
Read more about the best podcast websites on our blog.
Want to offer podcast merch? You can add a link to your website and use a service like Tee Public to make it happen.
If you’re looking to expand beyond your podcast and need more robust support, consider website hosting and using a template that is designed especially for podcasting, like this free month offer from Pair Networks.
Check out more from Bethany Hawkins from Crackers in Soup.
Even if you don’t plan to use social media now — or ever — we recommend going to some of the top social platforms (Twitter, Instagram (IG), YouTube, and Facebook) and setting up an account for your podcast. This is really all about making sure that no one else takes your preferred handle/account name. Think of it as future-proofing.
Consider if you want to keep any current personal social media profiles as the main one for your podcast and create new ones associated with your podcast name where needed.
Again, don’t feel like you need to start tweeting or creating Reels for IG to launch your podcast. Being present on one platform is better than being barely there on several.
We provide more resources on podcast social marketing below, including how Libsyn makes it super simple!
Basically, check your work! If you have published a few episodes to Spotify or Apple Podcasts, install the app and test searching for your podcast to see how it looks. Use the list you create in the Take-Away below to check them quickly and ensure that your titles, descriptions, and artwork are all looking just how you envisioned. Perfect!
As your podcast becomes available on Podcast Apps and Directories, like Spotify or Apple Podcasts, keep a spreadsheet of those listings and the direct links to the locations for quick reference. BONUS TIP - Plan to revisit and check your show quarterly to do a quick visual quality control check on your title and description appearance.
Searching for your podcast using various combinations of your name as the host, or the show name or a keyword will also help you instruct your audience how to quickly locate your podcast AND how easy it is to find.
Example: Install the ____ app, click search, and type ____ , my podcast is right at the top!
You’ll want to be able to share this kind of information quickly and accurately.
This step will also give you the chance to do some quality control and make any last minute adjustments to your episode titles or descriptions. If you need to make some changes, give the apps and directories a few days to update after you have edited the information in your podcast hosting platform.
What do I need to share with people so they will listen?
This work will expedite your marketing efforts and copy can be used to message on social media, in newsletters, or sent in a text or email to your family and friends.
Thinking of your podcast marketing copy in 3 buckets — Show, Episode, and Host — is a great start. Then create long and short copy for each. Consider using a service like Bitly, Pretty Links, or Linktree to create shortened URLS for links that you want to share to keep your copy short or within the 280 Twitter character limit.
If you think people might not know HOW to find or listen to your podcast, you might want to create some basic short instructions too.
If your podcast launch goes — dare we say, viral — you might need to get the short version of your bio or about your podcast quickly to a publication and if you’ve taken this step, you should have it ready to send!
Launching your podcast in 2023? Watch this packed-full webinar with Bethany Hawkins from Crackers in Soup that has helped numerous women launch podcasts.
More listeners, more downloads, more community, and more conversations. If you’re interested in growing your podcast audience, get ready for more.
While the industry’s common metric for podcast audience growth are downloads, there is a lot more nuance to growth and success than that one metric, but right now … we are talking DOWNLOADS.
Is it the ONLY way to measure impact, reach and ad-worthy content? No. Don’t let it become the only way you value your work. Niche topics will have inherently smaller audiences and can have simultaneously more engaged and valuable audiences.
Why downloads? Because most podcast hosting companies use the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) for verification of the podcast stats that they provide to podcasters. The IAB provides the industry with universal terms and measurement standardization. This gives advertisers the assurance that ad buys across podcasts provide the same reach. It also helps podcasters accurately compare their growth to others in the industry.
If you’re already constantly checking podcast stats on your podcast host of choice, there is a good chance they are IAB verified. More about IAB on the Libsyn Blog.
At Libsyn, we provide podcasters with IAB Tech Lab-verified Stats as well as multiple podcast monetization options, podcast advertising options and podcast subscription opportunities. Regardless of your download numbers, there is an option for you.
It is common for podcast hosts to provide different podcast analytic packages with their hosting plans. When you start a podcast, what stats you need to know to reach your goals might be what determines your plan level. At Libsyn we offer 2 levels, Basic and Advanced stats.
Check out Dave’s Podcast Statistics video below and our Features Page for more details.
What kind of data do I NEED to know?
User Agent Stats
Schedule a stats review process for yourself. Honestly look at your level of commitment, how well you executed your growth plan and the results that you got from implementing your strategy. Keep doing what worked, remove what didn't. Rinse and repeat.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t also mention that downloads do often serve as a key form of measurement for sponsors and ad dollars. Some of the thresholds for downloads can be overwhelming when you’re just getting started, but know that with Libsyn, you have the required IAB certified stats from day one. Libsyn also works with their podcast advertising & podcast subscription services to provide a range of monetization options regardless of how many downloads you have and how far along you are in your podcasting journey.
Podcasting growth is a long game and your stats won’t tell you the full story of your success. Podcast statistics are there to shed light on the work you are doing, where your audience might be concentrated, growing, and to assist in validating marketing efforts.
Podcast growth strategies are all about discovery. How new audiences will find and fall in love with your podcast, so much so that they are compelled to share with their family, friends, and the world.
Your audience — who you envisioned them to be — should be front of mind in developing a strategy for growth. Your audience, time, and budget will be the framework that keeps you grounded during strategy development.
What do I ALREADY have that can help improve my recording? Consider creating a short list of KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) that validate your strategy is working. This might be download growth, but it could also take the form of website traffic, leads, newsletter subscribers, more speaking engagements, social channel growth, or simply an improved mental state of mind!
Asking for or collecting audience feedback might seem like a strange growth strategy, but many successful shows ask for feedback from listeners and include that audio feedback in the show. The person mentioned is then more likely to share the episode because they were just called out on their favorite podcast.
Want to make episode sharing even more simple and extra? Send the person who just spent time creating content for your podcast a thank you including a social media graphic, link to the episode, and even some show swag.
These small gestures cement relationships and trust that can span a lifetime. Let your audience know that they are part of the journey and that you value their opinion AND honor their time.
There are many amazing newsletters whose sole focus is helping podcast listeners find more podcasts to enjoy. The podcast newsletter authors are always looking for content. Pitch them your show. Consider writing for them (if they allow it). Here are some of the most well-known newsletters that make regular podcast content recommendations.
Don’t feel like you are finding one that matches your target audience? Reach out to publications covering adjacent or similar topics but not recommending podcasts. A newsletter covering parenting tips might totally feature an up-and-coming kids podcast!
On the flip side, you could start your own newsletter and use it to keep people informed and updated on your latest podcast episodes and other podcast community news. You can use an email newsletter provider like Mailchimp or Aweber, set it up by using their opt-in pages or add a way for people to opt-in directly on your website.
If you’re an avid podcast listener, you have opened one of your favorite apps and noticed the elusive, featured, most favorite, or “new and noteworthy” podcast listings. Getting listed in one of them is a great opportunity to boost the visibility of your podcast.
There are hundreds of podcast apps out there. Many of them are solely focused on building community. A great example is Goodpods. Use the app to curate content and engage with other podcasters. Other podcast apps have curated feature sections and/or offer options for paid podcast placement. Head to their websites to find contact information or how to advertise with them. Some great podcast apps to start with are Overcast, Castro and Castbox.
Rob & Elsie from The Feed cover how to get featured on Apple Podcasts.
Or, read this article on How to Get Featured on Apple Podcasts from the Libsyn Blog.
Your show notes are like a travel journal/souvenir. They are an opportunity to share a lot of valuable information with your listeners about each episode: special guest bios and informative links, time stamps for important moments — top takeaways and memorable quotes — and also a way to encourage listeners to connect.
Show notes are also a perfect opportunity to leverage SEO (search engine optimization). Be sure to include key search words in the titles and and headers of your copy but avoid keyword stuffing (always a bad practice). Rather than a transcript of the episode, show notes are more like Cliff Notes: a summary with highlights, so a visitor can get a good sense about or reference a key point in the episode.
In the end, show notes are a real bonus for your listeners — and you. It’s definitely worth taking the time to produce them for both retention and promotional benefits. The opportunity is there. Why not make the best of it?
We cover more in-depth tips on show note creation in our Episode Description Creation section of this guide, including the Libsyn Snippet feature that speeds up your workflow!
Be a guest on another podcast. This is always a win-win. You get to share your knowledge/expertise with a new audience because the host clearly sees you as a valuable conversationalist. They get to introduce their listeners to something new and exciting. And you get to give them the best of your podcast self. This is a back-and-forth game that works well for everyone involved!
Show up for the opportunity prepared to share your podcast details and the CTA and messaging you want to land during the podcast. Communicate these goals to your host AND make sure you know how your audio recording will be used long-term.
Anytime you partner with another show for promotional purposes, ensure you are both clear with your objectives and use of the content created.
Looking to find a host with similar content? Podchaser is a great resource. Watch the video below featuring Dave Keine from Podchaser (essentially the IMBD for podcasts). He’ll tell you everything you need to know about being ultimately searched, ranked and heard!
How can I reach non-listeners?
Start with one or two of the above podcasting growth tips to get the ball rolling. Consistently commit to executing on a regular basis. Once you feel like you’ve built a workflow on one or two tips, add another — or two.
When you look at the vast social media landscape, take comfort in knowing you don’t have to be an expert at them ALL.
Your audience is probably not concentrated on all of them and some podcast audiences may not use any.
How do you know where they are? Just ask them. “Hey listenters, what is your fave social media platform?”
What is my current social media presence?
We love the excerpt below from our Webinar with Ekrik Fisher from Beyond The To-Do List. The truth about social media elaborated on here both hurts and is freeing at the same time.
One of the simplest ways to start promoting your podcasts on social media is to announce new episodes with a link to listen. This can usually be done without an enormous level of effort, cost, and still provide some ROI. Libsyn has made posting super simple by creating a social media post-creation and scheduling calendar.
You can use the marketing copy you created in the Podcast Launch section above to help you create little snippets that can then be customized slightly with the publishing of each episode.
When you’re just getting started, these posts should go out on your newly created podcast social media accounts as well as your personal ones (where you likely have more followers) to help spread the word.
Check out the followers who regularly engage with your podcast. See if there’s anything they are looking to amplify. Tap on “retweet” or “share” and give them some love. This is an undervalued podcasting tip that shows you care. You might even end up getting additional followers because of it!
Social media shout-outs are possibly the number one way most podcasters say “Thank You” to their audience.
Look back at your audience’s interactions on social media or their email responses. Compile a list and do a social media shout-out during a specially dedicated segment of your show. Instagram shout-outs are another great podcast strategy.
Or, produce a podcast segment dedicated to your audience themed around the open arms of gratitude and giving thanks. Of course, this idea is determined by the amount of content that you could add into a dedicated episode — but remember, it could just be a simple 5 minutes of all love to your audience with some added stories.
Many social media platform algorithms favor accounts that go live to interact with the audience. Live means you have the opportunity to be promoted within the platform and provide some valuable interactions with your followers. Who knows, you might love it so much you make it a regular habit!
If you have a co-hosted show, you could do a playful episode designed to interact with your audience, maybe even covering topics that are generally not part of your podcast — what we do when we can’t sleep at night, or our most ridiculous moments. Think about fun podcast segments that maybe you wouldn’t put out on your regular show.
With an app like Streamyard, you can go live on so many different platforms at once, manage interactions and get to know your community from a super clean interface.
Instagram Live has great features that allows those watching to ask questions and even be brought into the Live itself! This is a great way to learn how to create an entertaining podcast while building an audience.
The integration between social media and podcasting continues to grow and algorithms that impact your visibility are in constant flux. Check out these videos from podcasters AND marketing gurus!
Check out these tools to help with some quick social promotional content creation.
You’ve got this! You can tackle one platform at a time until you are ready for more — and more!
So Many Podcast Apps & Podcast Directories To Explore
So how do you get your podcasts on all of these platforms? Well, a podcast host like Libsyn makes this super easy. Set up the connections once and then Libsyn publishes to them automatically each time you release a new episode. Yep, set it and forget it!
Libsyn provides an RSS Feed — typically an important part of the submission process. Here’s more about Podcast RSS feeds, but in short, it is how all of your podcast artwork, descriptions, (meta data) is packaged together and shared with the world. It is the backbone of distribution for most podcast directories and apps.
Be EVERYWHERE. Yes there are platforms that are more popular, but listings in podcast apps are typically free and you never know where you might find new fans.
Amazon Music/Audible offers podcast streaming services to millions of global customers and is tightly integrated with Alexa. Alexa, Play my Podcast.
A titan of the podcast community and one of the first places to aggregate podcasts, making them available natively on personal devices. Get Your Podcast on Apple Podcasts.
Listerners cann use any device to listen on the AUDACY app and browse their huge collection of podcasts by category, or they’ll find you one! Get Your Podcast on Audacy.
Boomplay is the #1 music streaming & download service in Africa. Get Your Podcast on Boomplay.
Castbox is free, well-designed and works on Android and iPhone, allowing listeners to sync devices of different operating systems.
Deezer's dedicated Podcasts tab features a wide selection of podcasts, including locally produced shows, specialist subjects and international hits. Get Your Podcast on Deezer.
Gaana is the Indian online music podcast platform,with 150 million+ users. Get Your Podcast on Gaana.
A community-driven podcast app we love. If you’ve submitted your podcast to Apple Podcasts, there is a good chance your podcast is also available in Goodpods.
Free podcast listings in Google. Install the Android or iOS app and listen to your favorite podcasts.
iheart is originally known for its music content, but it’s popular for podcasts too, especially among older listeners. Get your podcast on iHeart.
Build a global fan base with JioSaavn, which features millions of users logging in every day, and millions signing up every week. Get Your Podcast on Jiosaavn.
The Listen Notes draws 4,600,000 pageviews/month. More and more people use Listen Notes to search podcasts by topic, where they may discover your podcast.
Free, simple, award-winning podcast player for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Simply add your podcast to Apple Podcasts and it’ll show up here. Download the iOS app.
Podcasts on Pandora are available to all users on the web at pandora.com and via Pandora's new desktop app for Mac and Windows.
PlayerFM is a top independent podcast player and library, empowering listeners to listen to more than 20+ million free podcasts. Get Your Podcast on PlayerFM.
Pocket Casts is a listener favorite with features like cross-device and cross-platform syncing, episode auto-downloading and cleanup.
Your podcast may already be listed on this massive database. If not, email your RSS feed to and ask them to add your show!
Resso is a music discovery platform that offers podcast streaming services. Submission is available directly through Libsyn. Get Your Podcast On Resso.
Reach a vastly growing audience. Available exclusively on Samsung devices. Get your podcast on Samsung.
Millions of songs and podcasts. No credit card needed. Get your Podcast on Spotify.
Stitcher is an extremely popular podcast listening app, especially among Android users.
Listeners use TuneIn to stream local AM/FM stations (100,000+ global stations) on all devices, plus live news, sports coverage, and podcasts for every passion.
How can I make the most of the podcast directories I am on?
The marketing that can be done for your podcast is truly an endless horizon. Start with the small things and pick a course for 2 to 3 months. Then, evaluate to see what is working. This time frame should be long enough for you to streamline a strategy, and provide enough data for your KPI to measure what is working.
You might find that it is exciting and even energizing to promote your podcast. Talking with listeners, engaging with those who have similar interests, new opportunities to talk, share and learn. It’s all very fulfilling and all a huge part of how your podcast grows and becomes a platform that can then earn revenue as well as raves!
Oh, the places you’ve been. Oh the discoveries ahead! Your opportunities to grow and learn just keep expanding. It’s all part of your continuing podcast journey! Isn’t the trip great?
The best idea for a podcast is always a niche that needs to be filled. Look around, like Brook and Mindy from REMalations did before they started their comedy dream interpretation podcast. Nobody else was doing it; that gave them the first chance at a potentially eager audience!
All you need is a good idea that an audience is looking/waiting for. That, and a unique personality to deliver equally unique content. Take Brook and Mindy from REMalations: A Comedy Dream Interpretation Podcast. They saw a niche for dream interpretation, honed their already infamous best-friend banter and got started. It’s that easy!
