How to Make a Good Podcast

Want to know how to make a good podcast? Well, maybe this will help. Maybe. If the title of this post sounds a little odd, it is. However, it is that way on purpose. As I was researching what sort of information people are looking for related to podcasts, I saw that this was a common search phrase. People aren’t searching for tips on “how to create the best podcast ever.” They aren’t searching for “how to make my podcast sound better than those produced by professional news and broadcast networks.” There are a lot of people out there just looking to make a decent sounding podcast. They want to know how to make a good podcast.

Maybe that is you.

Perhaps you want to start a podcast related to your business. Maybe you have a hobby or passion, and you want to share your experience. It may just be that you have something that you need to say. You may not need a professional producer, a ten thousand dollar studio, an engineer, and an editor in these cases. You might just be wondering how to make a good podcast.

If you already have a podcast and are wondering how to make it better. This may still help. Or, if you need some technical help, you are welcome to try my Podcast Technical Review. Otherwise, let’s start from the beginning.

Step One: What are you trying to do?

With podcasts, as with many other endeavors, people often start the journey without actually knowing where they are going. If you are wondering how to make a good podcast, it helps to define what that is.

Now, I am always up for some adventure but, if you are driving from New York to California, you really need to know that before you leave, or you may end up in Maine. I am not saying you can’t adjust along the way, just make sure that you have some idea of where you are going. There are many reasons to start a podcast, and there is no right answer to this. However, what are you trying to do? Are you starting a podcast to grow your business? Are you hoping to make money with it through advertising or donations? Are you doing it just to have fun? Is there an unmet need that you believe your podcast could fill? This can be clarified with step two.

A podcast setup. Before you even start, you should know what success would look like.

Step Two: What Will Success Look Like?

I believe many things fail simply because no one bothered to figure out what it would look like for them to succeed. There are all sorts of ways to think about missions, goals, and tactics, but this is even simpler. What would have to happen for you to say, “I did it!” or “It worked!”?

For instance, if you are thinking of starting a podcast to grow your business, would you be happy in six months if you gained six new clients? Would that be a success? If you are hoping for monetization, how much would you need to make to call is successful? If you are considering filling some kind of need, would success be gaining 20 regular listeners? Would it be getting one email from somebody saying, “I really needed that.”? Again, you can adjust these targets as you go. But it is best to start out on the journey with some way to know that you got there.

“I believe many things fail simply because no one bothered to figure out what it would look like for them to succeed.”

Step Three: Want to Know How to Make a Good Podcast? Count the Costs

The abandonment rate for podcasts is pretty astonishing. Some are only designed for a limited run, but others just sort of fade away. Now that you have thought through what you want to accomplish, consider how much you are willing to give to that effort. How frequently will you create episodes? Daily, weekly, monthly? How long do you think it will take to plan, record, and edit your show? How many episodes total are you going to commit yourself to? What level of quality will be acceptable for your podcast? Is this really about how to make a good podcast, when good enough may be good enough? Or, are do you want your show to have the sound, features, and feel of one from one of the major podcasting networks? Some of the great podcasts have teams of people working on each episode. You can likely recreate that sound by yourself if you are willing to invest the time.

Also, think of other things that may take time. Will you post-show notes with more information about what is covered in the episode? Will there be artwork for the show? If so, will it change every week? How much time do you plan to spend promoting the show? If you are going to have guests, how long will it take you to invites them, follow up, record, and edit the interview?

Make a really good podcast with a Rode RODECaster Pro Podcast Production Studio

Step Four: Count the Money

Money could undoubtedly be covered under “count the costs,” but you may want to think about it separately. Audio equipment has really become much more accessible, thanks to digital technology. The growth of podcasting has also inspired manufacturers to offer some less expensive consumer-oriented products that still sound really decent. At some point, you will need to figure out a balance between how you want your podcast to sound and how much money you want to spend. Personally, I am a big fan of podcasts that put a lot of time, money, and effort into sound quality. Two of my favorite podcasts, Slow Burn and Revisionist History, enlist high-quality equipment and professional sound engineers to offer a sonically immersive listening experience. From the background music, the audio from the host, and the various audio clips used to help tell the story, everything is close to perfect. On the other hand, some podcasts, especially niche podcasts that appeal to a smaller audience that are almost unlistenable.

What is your expectation for your show? Are you really asking the questions of how to make a good podcast? Or, are you wondering how to make a great podcast? Those can be very different questions.

Keep in mind, making your podcast sound as good as one produced in a professional studio will not necessarily break the bank. If you are willing to do the research, do some experimentation, and take your time with production, you can sound like the pros with a pretty reasonable investment.

Also, consider other expenses. Do you want someone to create professional artwork? Do you want a professional intro made? Will you need to hire an editor to help get things put together? None of these are necessary, but you will need to add up all the expenses?

Is This How to Make a Good Podcast?

Consider these steps groundwork. In the rest of this series, I will go through the next steps of getting a podcast off the ground. Spending some time on these four steps will help you be sure you are really ready and help you more clearly define the path forward to getting your podcast up and running.

In the meantime, if you want to jump right in and get started, check out my “I will help you start a podcast” service. I will help you through all of the technical aspects of getting your show up and running.

If you are looking for equipment, I have some recommendations here.