How To Create A Podcast On Zero Budget
Do you want to start podcasting but you don’t know how much money it will cost you? I’m going to show you the way it won’t cost you anything just your time. Keep reading if you want to find out how to create a podcast on a zero budget.
Why start a podcast?
Podcasting is so cool right now that if you’re not doing it, you’re like out of this planet. The voice-first is booming online and it’s perfect for people who are too shy for the camera but they still want to promote their business.
You can listen to podcasts while in the gym, driving a car, before sleeping, during cooking, on your commute and you don’t need to pay attention with your eyes which makes it less demanding than a visual medium.
These are big advantages of podcasts when comparing to videos BUT videos is number one medium for online success still and it will be. If you also want to give it a try with video but you’re a bit shy, I have created a perfect guide for people like you. I have over 2,000 students enrolled on it. You can have a look at my course How to talk to the camera like a pro here.
But if you want to take it step by step, it’s time to create your podcast first.
Why there are over 1 million podcast shows?
Because people listen. Huge demand means huge production. Of course that means there is a hell of a lot of competition but on the other hand, not being part of it at all is much worse.
What Do I need To Start A Podcast?
The podcast platforms you should be on are Apple iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Pocket Casts, Stitcher, Radio Public and Soundcloud if you want.
Here are the things you need to create a podcast on a zero budget:
- A smartphone
- Small quiet room
- Laptop
- Podcast graphics ‘cover’
- Idea/structure/interesting topic of what you want to say
How To Name My Podcast?
First of, think about the name of your podcast. Think about being SEO friendly but original at the same time. Do you want to include your name? Remember your name will be listed as a producer of the podcast so maybe you don’t need to include it.
Once you have some ideas, Google if there is a podcast with the same name and if there is, I would suggest you to think of something else. It’s never good to compete with already created podcast.
My podcast is called Girl With A Camera and it represents me being a videographer, as well as a podcaster. So I’m taking my camera (because all my podcasts are filmed) and I film directors, actors, cinematographers and tell their stories. Because of the pandemic, I’m ‘filming’ them online via Riverside FM.
What Type Of Podcast Do You Want?
Do you like the idea of interviewing interesting people on your podcast or do you want to go solo? Or maybe co-hosting with your husband/wife/bestie/colleague?
Once you choose, it’s good to stick with it and not change format every episode. You can have ‘bonus’ episodes if you want to do this but only occasionally.
What Is Anchor FM?
Anchor FM is an app with a desktop version as well that lets you record, edit and distribute your podcast FOR FREE!!!
There are no ads (not yet) and no fees to use it. Why? Primarily because they are trying to grow it and it worked because in 2020 there were 1 million new podcasts created via Anchor FM.
Secondly, it is powered by Spotify so Anchor FM brings them extra listeners and possibly subscribers for their Premium. A win win.
Create a free account on Anchor FM if you don’t have one. Fill out your profile — it’s good for SEO so people can discover you and your podcast.
Download the Anchor app to your phone as well.
How to record with Anchor FM?
Find a quiet room with no distractions and make sure it’s small because bigger rooms create reverb which doesn’t sound good on a podcast recording.
Don’t even think about it recording your podcast outside unless you’re using a professional microphone.
I’ve recorded this interview in Hyde Park with a film director Abbie Lucas using RØDE videomic NTG and cleaned the recording in Adobe Audition as well.
You can directly record, upload, edit and distribute via Anchor FM on your phone or using desktop version.
It’s worth mentioning that if you’re recording solo, it’s very easy. You can open Anchor FM app and hit record and that’s it! You can also do it on desktop.
If you want to record online with someone, you can only do it via Anchor FM app. It works like an audiocall. Your guests need the app on the phone as well and account (not if they join via desktop, though you need to initiate the call via phone).
For recording via Anchor FM, Airpods or headsets doesn’t help as they’re not recognized yet by the app. But you can use just your phone while holding it close to your mouth. The microphone is placed at the bottom of your phone so talk right into it. Nice and clear. If you make a mistake, continue.
I would strongly suggest buying a phone microphone that will give you a much better sound quality for very little money.
If recording solo, you can also record directly into software like Adobe Audition with your USB mic and then upload it to Anchor FM to distribute it.
How To Record Your Podcast Online?
Recording via Anchor FM might be tricky technically because your guests might not want to download an app and register an account. They would definitely suggest recording via Riverside FM.
Zoom is a great platform, everyone knows how to use it thanks to pandemic and it’s 100% reliable. But Riverside FM doesn’t compromise on the quality of the recording at all. You can even compare it with Zoom.
Great thing is, you also have a video recording as well so it gives you extra content for free to work with.
How long one episode should be?
I would suggest that podcast episode should be longer than 15 minutes (unless it’s a news piece).
The longer the better but if it’s shorter than 1 hour, for example, it’s more probable you will do it more often.
How to edit your podcast?
If you don’t have editing software and you can’t afford a video-editor, either get in touch with me at www.nicoleven.com or make it raw and literally upload it without editing.
You can edit your podcast in:
- Adobe Audition — editing software designed for editing audio
- Adobe Premiere Pro — editing software for editing audio and video
- Anchor FM — I would suggest using desktop version for this
- Audacity — free audio editing software
I train editing in Audition and Premiere Pro at Media Training Ltd at London Bridge but also ONLINE worldwide! Book the courses via my email nicole@nicoleven.com or Media Training website.
Create a Cover For Your Podcast
Once you recorded your podcast, you need some nice graphics with the title of your podcast. As keeping it on zero budget, I would suggest take a photo of something related to your podcast. People should know what’s it about when they look at your photo.
And then you can simply edit it in your phone, add title to it and you’re all set up! Upload the photo to your podcast, fill the description and you’re ready to share it with the world!
Start your podcast today
Anchor FM is absolutely free to use as it’s powered by Spotify. You also get a basic analytics to measure the success of your marketing strategy.
Distribution of a podcast
Distribution of a podcast couldn’t be easier with Anchor FM. It takes one click to automatically publish the podcast to the main players platforms like Google, Apple, Spotify.
Reviewing process of one episode is about 2 days. So it’s good to upload episodes in advance so they get published on all platforms at the same time. This is ensured by RSS feed which is created automatically on Anchor FM as well as it’s free.
When you publish your first episode ever, it can take up to 14 days so plan it accordingly.
You need to manually upload your podcast to Soundcloud and Amazon Podcasts.
Promotion of Your Podcast
Once you have published your podcast, share it everywhere. I know it seems obvious but what I mean is:
- Write a blog for each episode on Medium and your website. And I mean at least 1000 word blogs not 300 word blogs. Why? Because only with long article you can make your SEO stronger and compete with other podcasts.
- Create short trailers/teasers in a video form (In Premiere Pro) for social media. You can publish them on YT as #SHORTS, Instagram Reels, stories, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Twitter.
3. Let your guests promote you on their social media
4. Create motivational/inspirational quotes from episodes for social media
5. Go old fashioned way and create cards to promote your podcast offline
6. If you have a Newsletter, send your latest episode to your contacts
7. Upload Zoom recording to Youtube to gain new audience
How to use AI to create promotional assets?
With a new technology, you can make your life easier and create most assets automatically directly from your episode, for example, newsletter, transcription, description, show notes, resources and so on. I use platform called podsqueeze and if you use code NICOLE at checkout, you’ll get 10% off!
Podcasting Training
There is so much more information I can give you on my podcasting online course which I didn’t include in this article:
- biggest mistakes when creating podcast
- how to identify your target audience and why it’s important
- things to avoid when interviewing
- promotional tools and strategies
- editing in Anchor FM guide
- how to find guests for your show, should you pay them?
- Where to find podcast analytics and how to read data
- how often should you publish? Creating schedule
- podcasting equipment guide
- building a podcasting studio
- recording online hickups
Audio/Video Editing training
Whether you want to edit in Premiere Pro or Audition, I can help you with that.
- edit any podcast and teasers
- enhance low quality recordings
- add music to your podcast
- creating sound effects
- recording USB mics
- add transitions, intros and outros
- adjust audio levels for each speaker
- exporting in legal format
You can book this course via my website www.nicoleven.com
If you have any questions or editing queries, feel free to contact me on nicole@nicoleven.com and you can listen to my podcast right here it’s called Girl with a camera and I talk all things filmmaking, telling inspirational stories of my guests.
