Here's how you can start a successful Podcasting career from scratch.

Starting a successful podcasting career from scratch is like embarking on a grand adventure: map out your route, gather your gear (mic, enthusiasm, and a pinch of tech savvy), and hit record! Remember, every journey begins with that first step—so march on, podcast pioneer!

Understanding your target audience is key. What kind of content are they consuming right now? Why are they seeking out this topic? What "jobs to be done" does a podcast on this topic serve in their lives? How do they fit podcast listening into their lives right now?

The first step is to pick a niche that you are passionate about or, that you have good knowledge about. There are two reasons why you might want to do it: 1. You will be able to create enough content to keep the show running and at the same time enjoy the process. 2. You will have a fair understanding about the audience you are targeting and this will help you create content that resonates with your audience. Try to not pick a very broad niche because your show will be lost in the sea of podcasts out there and you won't be able to find your audience. At the same time try not to be too narrow and you won't get an audience. Another tip is to find a gap in the current market. Look what other podcasts are missing and try to focus on them!

This is the most important part in the entire process. It is here that a show succeed or, fails. 1. Pick a format that you are comfortable with. If you think you can find guests then surely go with the interview format. Else start your show and then graduate to an interview format show. 2. Plan out your content. You should always have at least 5-6 episodes in stock if you want to be consistent. As soon as your stock depletes add enough episodes to stock it up. Batch recording is a technique that most podcasters use. You can record a few episodes together, edit them and schedule them out. This helps with efficiently using your time. 3. Pick a schedule you can stick to based on your time availability.

My favorite budget-friendly podcast microphone is the Samson Q2U. It can be purchased for under $60 and has both USB and XLR ports. I recommend that you pair it with a windscreen (pop filter).

When you develope real edition skills, maybe a good microphone is not so important. But at the beginning, start with the best equipment you can get, not necessarely the most expensive. You need a microphone: - Blue Yeti - AKG Lyra - Shure MV7+ - Rode Podmic - Samson Q2U These are good examples, but there are a lot more. Go for an USB mic, don't overcomplicate with XLR, additional power supplies, etc. You need headphones for monitoring. Go for wired over-ear closed ones. Some examples: - Sennheiser HD25 - Audio Technica ATH-M20X - AKG K182 You need editing software. Start with a free one. Some examples: - Audacity - DaVinci Resolve And you need a host: - Spotify for podcasters - Libsyn - Buzzsprout There are a lot more. Up to you!

Understanding basic audio editing is pivotal to creating a polished final product. Familiarize yourself with audio editing software like Audacity or Adobe Audition, which are user-friendly and widely used in podcasting. Learn how to cut unnecessary segments, adjust levels, and perhaps add music or sound effects. Good editing not only improves the overall audio quality but also enhances the listener's experience by making your podcast more engaging and easier to listen to.

Once you have a few episodes recorded, start promoting your podcast. Utilize social media platforms, your personal network, and any relevant online communities to spread the word. Creating a simple website or landing page for your podcast can also provide a central hub for listeners to access episodes, learn more about you, and get updates. Consider reaching out to other podcasters for cross-promotion opportunities, which can help expand your reach to potential new listeners who are already interested in similar content.

You have to promote your show. No body else will do it for you. A lot of people believe in "create and they will come". That is a myth. If you want listeners, you need to promote it everywhere. Put your show bytes out on social media, collaborate with other podcasters for promotion, use your guest's network, appear on other shows, write guest blogs.., these are all proven ways to promote your podcast. You need to have a solid promotional strategy in order to get listeners for your show. So spend some time on deciding, where all you will promote the show and what is the frequency. This will help you build cadence for the activity.

Join a community or a few of them, subscribe to industry newsletters, identify and connect with key players in the space and respectfully engage with them. Follow up changes to platforms and innovations, try out their services or tools and find what works well for your flow and niche. Above all, enjoy the journey.