Podcasting for Indie Podcasters: Podcasting Tips for How to Start and Run a Podcast

In this podcast episode, we'll discuss 10 key learnings from recording over 100 episodes of this podcast. We will talk about having no rules in podcasting, not needing to quit your day job to have a successful podcast, taking breaks from podcasting, assessing the quality of advice from podcasting “gurus”, embracing the supportive community, debunking the need for expensive equipment+video, and defining podcast “success” on your own terms.

Main Discussion Points:

• Podcasting has no rules - you can talk about anything and structure your show however you like
• You don't need to quit your day job or go "full time" with your podcast
• It's fine to miss publishing episodes some weeks
• Some self-proclaimed podcasting "gurus" repeat outdated or questionable advice
• The podcasting community wants to see everyone succeed
• "Podcast strategy" means different things to different people
• You don't need to monetize your podcast
• Podcasting can be very inexpensive to produce
• Video is optional for podcasts
• Defining a "successful" podcast depends on your goals

Episodes Mentioned:

Ep 6: How to Have a Successful Podcast – Hint; It’s Not What You Think!

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:58 The Freedom of Podcasting
• 00:02:27 Lessons Learned from Over 100 Episodes of Podcasting
• 00:03:26 Tips for Managing a Podcast as a Side Hobby
• 00:05:02 Podcasting Tips: What You Need to Know
• 00:07:12 Podcasting Insights from Verity Sangan
• 00:08:40 Monetizing Your Podcast vs Keeping it Non-Monetized
• 00:09:17 Tips for Podcasters: How to Save Money and Time

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🔗 Read the Blog >> https://veritysangan.com

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In this episode, I dive into the world of podcasting statistics, shedding light on the potential inaccuracies and unreliability of common metrics. Don't solely judge your podcast's success based on numbers like episode count or downloads. Success is more than reaching arbitrary thresholds – it's about creating meaningful content that resonates with your audience!

Remember, podcast ranking metrics can be misleading and vary across platforms. Look beyond the numbers to truly understand your podcast's performance and impact. Keep creating authentic content, and don't get discouraged by the stats!

Highlights:

• Discussing the misleading and unreliable nature of podcasting statistics and rankings.
• Exploring different measurements used to determine a podcast's ranking.
• Challenging the significance of being in the top percentage of podcasts for success.
• Highlighting the flaws in commonly used podcasting metrics.
• Questioning the validity of defining podcast success based on episode count or download numbers.
• The variability of podcast ranking metrics across platforms and criteria.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:00:35 Why Podcasting Statistics are Absolute BS
• 00:05:09 Exploring Podcasting Statistics and Rankings
• 00:10:43 Understanding Podcast Ranking Metrics and Statistics

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It's episode 100 of The Lazy Girl's Guide to Podcasting!! And in this episode I discuss the importance of taking a break from podcasting when needed. This summer, I reduced my activity to prioritise self-care. It's crucial to prioritise health and well-being over maintaining a strict episode schedule.

Managing all aspects of the podcast on my own can be challenging, but I value the support from you guys, my awesome listeners!

Highlights:

• Importance of taking a break from podcasting
• Challenges of managing all aspects of the podcast alone
• Self-care to sustain creative energy
• Avoiding burnout in podcasting
• Balancing podcasting with self-care

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:48 Taking a Break from Podcasting

00:06:22 The Importance of Self-Care in Podcasting

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🔗 Read the Blog >> https://veritysangan.com

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We are diving back into The Vault for episode 99 and will be looking back at episode episode 41 to answer the age old question of should you be paying your podcast guests?

In this episode, we delve into the debated question of whether podcast hosts should pay their guests.

Are you a podcaster wondering about guest compensation? We answer this common question and present a compelling case for why paying guests might not be necessary or the norm. Discover alternative strategies to compensate guests, such as exposure and promotional opportunities, that can benefit both parties involved.

Read the Blog: Do You Have To Pay Your Podcast Guests? >> https://veritysangan.com/do-you-have-to-pay-your-podcast-guests/

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Freebies:

✅ Podcast Launch Checklist and Episode Planner -https://veritysangan.com/launchchecklist

🎉 Grow Your Podcast Audience 5-day Email Challenge- https://veritysangan.com/5daychallenge

🙋‍♀️ Podcasting - Getting Your Business Heard - https://veritysangan.com/podcastwebinar

From the vault we are diving back into episode 43: Should I Quit My Podcast!

Are you thinking of quitting your podcast? In this episode, we explore the taboo topic of wanting to quit or take a break from podcasting. Quitting your podcast doesn't equate to failure, but it's important to consider your reasons for wanting to quit before you actually give up your podcast.

I'll discuss the common reasons why podcasters give up podcasting, such as a lack of immediate results or effective strategies. We also talk about the attrition rate of podcasters, with many quitting before their eighth episode due to unrealistic expectations and time commitments.

I'll then go through six signs that indicate it might be time to quit, including loss of passion, running out of quality content, and feeling overwhelmed. Instead of quitting outright, we'll also discuss taking a break from podcasting to re-evaluate your podcasting goals and strategies.

Read the Blog Post: Should I Quit My Podcast? (And How to Quit Gracefully) >> https://veritysangan.com/should-i-quit-my-podcast-and-how-to-quit-gracefully/

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Recording equipment:

🎙 Riverside: https://veritysangan.com/riverside

🎙 Blue Yeti Microphone: https://amzn.to/3pxNvSa

🎙 iPhone: https://amzn.to/44q0x30

Freebies:

✅ Podcast Launch Checklist and Episode Planner – https://veritysangan.com/launchchecklist

🎉 Grow Your Podcast Audience 5-day Email Challenge – https://veritysangan.com/5daychallenge

🙋‍♀️ Podcasting – Getting Your Business Heard – https://veritysangan.com/podcastwebinar

📧 Subscribe to the Newsletter >> https://veritysangan.com/newsletter

🔗 Read the Blog >> https://veritysangan.com

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In this episode, we have an insightful conversation with Ash from Shure about the world of microphones, particularly focusing on Shure's prominent models like the SM7B. Ash explains why Shure microphones have a stellar reputation in podcasting and music production, offering tips for achieving high-quality recordings. The discussion also delves into the importance of environment, microphone proximity, and equipment quality - Ash's podcasting tips about recording are invaluable to any podcaster! Additionally, Ash highlights the benefits of using headphones during podcasting for better voice monitoring and consistency.

Read the Blog Post: Why Do Podcasters Wear Headphones? 2 Reasons Why You Should

Episode mentioned: Ep 65: How Expensive Does Your Microphone Need to Be? with Adam Schaeuble from Podcasting Business School

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction to Shure Microphones with Ash
• 00:14 The Legacy of Shure's SM7B Microphone
• 01:41 Tips for Better Podcasting Audio Quality
• 03:25 The Importance of Using Headphones While Podcasting
• 04:05 Closing Thoughts

📧 Subscribe to the Newsletter >> https://veritysangan.com/newsletter

🔗 Read the Blog >> https://veritysangan.com

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Back in episode 38, we talked about Apple Podcasts introducing episodic podcast covers - that is, each podcast episode can have its own bespoke artwork; a little bit like a YouTube thumbnail. Nearly a year later, I'm now reviewing the effectiveness of individual podcast episode artwork to see if its made any difference to my downloads or listenership at all.

Listen to Ep 34: Is Apple Podcasts Turning Into YouTube?

Read the Blog Post: Is Individual Podcast Episode Artwork Worth The Effort? >> https://veritysangan.com/individual-podcast-episode-artwork/

Highlights:

• Comparison of episode thumbnails on podcasts to video thumbnails on YouTube for attracting listeners.
• My experience of creating unique podcast artwork for each episode, including going back to previous episodes.
• The effectiveness of episode graphics in increasing podcast listenership.
• My promotional strategy for The Lazy Girl's Guide to Podcasting podcast across various platforms like Twitter, TikTok, and blog posts.
• Importance of considering the time and effort required for maintaining consistent episode graphics.

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:03 Apple Podcasts Episode Thumbnails: A YouTube Strategy for Podcasting?
• 00:02:09 Creating Podcast Artwork
• 00:03:19 The Impact of Episode Graphics on Podcast Listenership
• 00:05:03 Effectiveness of Episode Graphics in Podcast Promotion
• 00:07:12 Importance of Individual Podcast Episode Graphics
• 00:07:55 Exploring the Impact of Using Episodic Graphics for Podcast Episodes

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🔗 Read the Blog >> https://veritysangan.com

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In this episode, I'm joined by Kendall from Riverside, and we're recording this episode at the Podcast Show London. Kendall and I have been trying to get together for almost a year now to record an episode. Our schedules and timezones just haven't aligned until this event when I basically accosted her at the Riverside booth. No time like the present, right?

We start by chatting about the rise of video podcasting, which a fun quiz at the Spotify booth revealed is the fastest growing segment of podcasting right now. Kendall shares her insights on why video is taking off - it allows creators to connect with their audience in a more personal way and repurpose content for social media.

Her top tip? Just start recording video alongside your audio recordings. Don't overcomplicate it at first. Simply use a tool like Riverside's video recording capabilities to capture video versions. Then see how you like working with that video content before potentially expanding into a bigger video strategy.

We also discuss the tendency creators have to want to do ALL THE THINGS right away, when a gradual buildup is much more sustainable. As Kendall says, the flashy "overnight successes" you see have usually been quietly creating for 5+ years beforehand.

Check out past episodes I've done reviewing Riverside's tools:

👉 Ep 17: Riverside.fm: Everything You Need To Know To Record Your Podcast Remotely

📹 Full Riverside.fm Tutorial for Beginners 2023 | Record, Edit, and Produce Your Podcast 🔉https://youtu.be/l4gb4g3ll1M

Try Riverside for free ➡️ https://veritysangan.com/riverside

Highlights:

• The challenges of scheduling, time zones, and work commitments in organizing the conversation
• Growth of video podcasting in recent quarters
• Transition from audio to video podcasting
• Enhancing connection with the audience through video podcasting
• Advice on incorporating video into podcasting efforts gradually
• Reaching a wider audience through video podcasting
• Creating engaging content for video podcasts
• Importance of meeting listeners where they already are
• Importance of audio quality in remote recordings

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:25 Discussion on the Growth of Video Podcasting
• 00:02:43 The Rise of Video Podcasting
• 00:06:47 Discussing the Potential of Video Podcasting

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In this longer-than-usual episode, I go through a detailed step-by-step guide on how to start your own podcast from beginning to end.

We cover choosing your topic, coming up with episode ideas, naming your show, creating artwork, selecting a hosting platform, releasing your first episodes, promoting on social media, and more. There are so many podcasting tips crammed into this how-to, that even if you already have a podcast, you might pick up some new ideas as you continue to grow your show and podcast audience.

🌟 Get a free 7-day trial of Captivate.fm ➡️ https://veritysangan.com/captivate

Highlights:

• Define your podcast topic and target audience before starting.
• Come up with a list of at least 20 episode ideas to sustain your podcast.
• Research podcast names to ensure uniqueness and avoid duplicating existing shows.
• Check for available social media handles related to your chosen podcast name.
• Research potential podcast topics and check domain name availability.
• Record a trailer for your podcast before launching.
• Use tools like Canva, GarageBand, or QuickTime to create a professional trailer.
• Design podcast artwork on Canva for visual appeal and recognition.
• Select a podcast hosting platform like Captivate FM for storage, distribution, and RSS feed generation.
• Set up your podcast on Captivate FM with a descriptive name, keywords, artwork, and trailer.
• Submit your podcast to multiple directories to maximize reach.

Read the Blog Post: How to Start a Podcast with No Audience in 2025 >> https://veritysangan.com/how-to-start-a-podcast-with-no-audience/

Timestamps:

• 00:00:00 Intro
• 00:01:19 Getting Clear on Your Podcast Topic and Audience
• 00:02:29 Tips for Starting a Podcast Successfully
• 00:03:36 Generating Podcast Content Ideas
• 00:04:22 Choosing a Podcast Name and Checking for Copyright Infringement
• 00:05:36 Setting up a Podcast: Key Steps Before Recording
• 00:06:43 Creating a Trailer and Podcast Artwork
• 00:08:22 Choosing a Podcast Hosting Platform
• 00:09:31 Setting up a Podcast on Captivate FM
• 00:11:04 Maximizing Your Podcast Reach with Directories
• 00:12:15 Launching a Podcast Successfully
• 00:13:20 Tips for Building an Audience and Promoting Your Podcast

📧 Subscribe to the Newsletter >> https://veritysangan.com/newsletter

🔗 Read the Blog >> https://veritysangan.com

Don't forget to subscribe to the show!