How to Create a Successful Podcast on a Budget

Everyone seems to have a podcast these days. In fact, some people have more than one podcast! But then there are others who have never heard a podcast! However, these people are in the minority. According to Buzzsprout, 62% of the population over the age of 12 has heard of a podcast, and over 1/3 of Americans listen to it regularly. That’s around 104 million people…so is it any wonder that podcasts are a hugely effective marketing tool for many people?

If you’ve thought about it but are intimidated by how complicated it seems and how much it can cost you, then this article is for you. I’ve wanted to start my own podcast for a few years but put it off because I thought it would be too difficult and cost way too much money. However, earlier this year I bit the bullet and decided to just give it a try.

I started slow and didn’t aim for much, but I managed to get the show out, got over 40,000 listeners, and made a name for myself. Next season I plan to improve things, but this article is all about how to start your podcast on a budget:

See also: How to start a podcast with almost no money

Video podcast or just audio?

I know everyone is talking about the power of video and how you can use it for your social media growth, but if you’re going to do it in the simplest way, dismiss the idea of ​​using video now. It complicates things so much.

Stick to an audio podcast first and you can still create videos for social media with the audio. By creating podcast audiograms, you can trick social media algorithms into thinking you’re using video and it will help increase your reach.

Budget podcast gear

You absolutely need a good microphone, and there’s no getting around it. This mic doesn’t have to cost you the earth, though. Of course you can get fancy mics, but I personally use the Blue Yeti, as do many other podcasters. The sound quality is fabulous and it’s extremely affordable. The other accessories offered are optional.

Then it really is! All you need is a quiet room to minimize any background noise, and then you hardly have to edit. The rest depends on how you record the podcast, which we’ll cover next.

Related: The 7-Step Process to Launch Your Podcast for Free

How to record your podcast

This really depends on how you structure your podcast. You have to make some decisions about what is the best format for your podcast and it depends on your expertise and niche. Will you record the podcast solo or will you have guests?

Anyway, there is some great podcast recording software out there, many of which are free! Not only that, they even include free audio editing software — meaning you can record and edit your podcast for free. It doesn’t get any more budget-friendly.

Some of these have built-in options so you can even record a call with your guest, but these often require a paid upgrade. Alternatively, you can do this for free on Zoom, but the quality isn’t that good.

Here are some of the places where you can record your podcast for free: Riverside FM, Alitu, Audacity, Podbean, and the one I personally use, Anchor FM.

I recorded my podcasts via Zoom (although I know the quality isn’t that great!) and uploaded them to Anchor without using their embedded platform, although it’s super easy. However, I wanted to use video, so this was a bit more complicated. You can also add songs from Spotify (they’re the ones that own Anchor!), add transitions, and add free music.

Pick a niche

The easiest way to get noticed with a podcast is to super niche it. My podcast is for entrepreneurs and star entrepreneurs, which is definitely not niche enough! The more niches you enter, the more likely you are to get noticed. I know this might not be for everyone, but it’s definitely a way to make your marketing a lot easier.

See also: Learn how to start and market quality podcasts

Market your podcast on a budget

You won’t be topping all the podcast charts right away without some ad spend behind you, but you can still make some noise and build a loyal following. Use your current network and ask them to tune in and leave a review for you. This helps your podcast reach more people when the podcast apps think the podcast is doing well.

Repurpose your podcast content so you make the most of every episode. Create audiograms (we mentioned them before) and stick them on your social media channels, transcribe your podcast into a blog post (some platforms will do this for you automatically!), send out a newsletter with the ones included Episodes, and then assemble themed clips from different episodes to provide guides on specific topics.

That’s why I just gave you a guide on how to create a successful podcast for the price of a microphone. Everything else is free. Plus, if you follow the advice in the last paragraph, you can create enough digital content for a month! You now have no more excuses not to create your podcast!