Starting a Podcast

Where I began

For a long time I always wanted to start a podcast. I’m not sure why; maybe it was a desire to be some sort of radio talkshow? Maybe it was just me wanting to talk about subjects I wanted to talk about and send that message to the world.

So I started my first podcast using the hosting service Spreaker. At that time it was just about learning the ropes, playing with sound and testing the waters. This went on for around 17 episodes until I reached a point where I ran out of ideas. This account remained with podcasts up to episode 17 until my paid account finished after 1 year.. This was early 2014 or there about.

Starting Over with A New Podcast

Recently I decided it was time to start over; time to start talking and letting my word out. This time round I decided to talk a little more time learning some more of the ropes. For example, my first podcast wasn’t even delivered into iTunes.

I did some research. I tested some items. I chose a subject. I was lucky enough to own equipment and in regards to software I chose Audacity as this was both free and quite a good program for audio.

So; I already had two of the 3 most important items. I had my idea and I had my studio. All I needed now was my hosting service. After looking around I decided on using Soundcloud.

Why Soundcloud?

I decided to us Soundcloud as my hosting service for this new Podcast because firstly I could use it for Free. At least up to a point where I would know if the Podcast was working or not. A free account with Soundcloud allows you to upload 3 hours of content. That allows me to test the water; my podcast estimates on size would be around 15 minutes so allowing me time to see how it goes.

This is something you may need to consider; is the length of your Podcasts going to be long or short. If longer then you may only get a few. If you find your; or in the case; if I find my podcast takes off then you can get unlimited upload quota for $9 per month - so this was the first consideration; testability with future expandability.

The second reason is that Soundcloud provides you with an RSS feed for your account allowing you to put this into iTunes. Of course; there are many other dedicated sites out there designed just for podcasting hosting and these will allow you to have or create an RSS feed for each of your podcasts. With Soundcloud you would need an account for each podcast. Again, something I considered when I created mine which I am happy about - but for you; the person reading this - consider if you want to create more than one account and if so check out some of the others such as libsyn.

iTunes and Stitcher

You will get some listens of your new podcast in Soundcloud. However, if you want to be serious then you need to submit your new podcast to iTunes and Stitcher. Now, doing this is easy enough as you simply take the RSS feed address from Soundcloud and submit your podcast to iTunes and Stitcher.

In iTunes; this is done by going to the iTunes store; selecting podcasts then clicking on the link ‘Submit a Podcast’ . I have included the image below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you have done this then just follow the instructions. You will need to pose the RSS feed address. Once all submitted you get an email notifying you that it has been submitted followed by a second email (generally 2-5 days later) saying it has been successful (or not).

Stitcher is quite similar; you need to sign up for an account. Once singed up you will see a link in the many ‘ADD SHOWS’. Selecting this will display the screen that is shown in the image below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Like the iTunes submit you enter a few details; one of the important ones being the RSS feed URL.

So what next?

For me its create more and more content. For my Podcast you can find me on iTunes here :

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/geekz-talk-podcast-podcasting/id1064945409?mt=2

or in Soundcloud its

https://soundcloud.com/netroman28

I’ve; at the time of posting this article; created 4 episodes. I have another to be recorded this week. My goal is to continue with creating valuable content and maybe moving on to a second or third.

If you have a goal such as this then don’t hold back; just do it. All you need is a computer (or phone) with a microphone. You can download your free software for editing (Audacity) and upload for free using Soundcloud. Infant; to make it simple and easy I’ve created a new Udemy course showing you how to do it for yourself. If interested then check out the following course link :

https://www.udemy.com/create-your-first-podcast-for-free-and-submit-to-itunes

 Conclusion

If you have a dream; just go for it. That was my conclusion. If people enjoy what  you produce then they will listen. If they don’t them they still may listen. But in the end; it takes very little to create your podcast above and beyond what you already have. Don’t hold back and I will see you in the Podcast iTunes store.

Has Technology helped us to start our own business ideas? This is a question I often ask myself these days. On the surface of it; there are far more opportunities opened and it takes much less capital. But in my eyes this means there are far more people also taking that plunge.

Many years ago, to start a business you had to have your capital to start, potentially buy or make product, advertise in the local and national directories. Certainly to make it international as a business you had to get seccessful.

Then came out the Internet. That wonderful tool we all love and use. And after a few years of dodgy image sites and various personal pages; businesses started to get they idea that this was a useful media to have a presence on. Even the .com businesses were born and things were wander fun. At least from around 1997 till around 2000; peak trading is recorded at being March 10 2000.

Then the bubble burst and many of the .com companies went out of business. At this stage it's safe to say that technology didn't help us start our own business...

Those companies that did survive have managed to become some of the big players in the market; such as Amazon.

[the_ad id="178"]The good news since then though, at least in my eyes, is that companies have learnt that the biggest advertising force, the best tool to get their brand sold is use, the consumers. By giving us the facility to earn a percentage of their profit by helping them sell their product is a brilliant concept and so affiliate marketing is the biggest help to use to create our own business.

Affiliate marketing gives use the option to advertise products to sell. Products that we don't need to stock ourselves. Products that when sold we earn a commission on. I've seen many online shops created that sell just affiliate products as all you need is a web domain and something like WordPress with WooCommerce. Technology has done well here.

For those that want to sell products sites such as eBay were born. Sites were you can auction off things that you don't want. You can even advertise products for drop shipping which is where you sell a product and its shipped from the manufacturer.

Even Amazon selling is easy to do. You can sell your old items through a seller account. You can sell as an affiliate. You can even buy products from drop shippers that will take the products you purchase to Amazon; you sell through Amazon and Amazon gets it delivered. They even advertise it. So you just pay for the product and a percentage to Amazon. How easy is that...

Next thing we have is advertising such as Google Adwords. You can create a website or blog. You can get a Google Adsense account and you can sell space on your site for advertising. You can even create video and put on YouTube and use Adsense. Some people make their entire living this way.

Finally we have sites where you can sell a digital product. We have clickbank where many products are sold by affiliates. You also have sites such as Udemy where you become a teacher.

So, has technology made it easier to start our own business? Yes BUT so easy that many are doing it making it harder to get noticed. Marketing today is different to years gone by. But that is another subject.

As a side note. You can even run much of a business from a smart phone these days. This blog post was created entirely with a iPhone as an example.