20 Ways to Learn How to Start a Successful Podcast
If you're thinking about starting a podcast, then you're probably full of questions. I know I am!
- What topic should I cover? What should I call it?
- How do I record and edit it? What equipment and software do I need?
- How do I launch and market it?
- And how much is it all going to cost?
I've been researching the answers for myself, so thought I'd share 20 resources that were recommended by online business owners for beginners about to start their first podcast.
Digital Guides & Checklists for Starting a Podcast
Many podcast coaches and editing services have created free digital guides as opt-in offers to their mailing lists.
- Kelsey Murphy's How to Start a Podcast Checklist provides a 24-point to-do list and comes with an audio guide.
- Krystal Proffitt's How to Start a Podcast works through 7 steps to start, launch and market your podcast including equipment and software recommendations. Episode 46 of The Proffitt Podcast has the same name and works alongside the digital guide.
- Podcast Maven (Patricia Qhobela-Jenkins) has created Launch Your Podcast in 10 Quick Steps that goes from planning to launch and also includes suggestions for podcast hosts and directories.
- The PodcastPRO eBook by Krysta Williams from Almost 30 is a 72-page guide split into three parts: launch, market and monetize. It is packed with information and costs $99. Or you can get Part 1 free of charge by signing up to their mailing list.
Find the latest list of these resources by searching for 'Podcasting / Starting a Podcast' with the product type 'Digital Products & Materials'.
Free Courses on Starting a Podcast
If you prefer to learn by working through a structured course, here are some good options that are also used as mailing list opt-ins.
- Krystal Proffitt's 5-Day Create Your Podcast Bootcamp consists of five daily videos covering starting your podcast, planning content and staying consistent, recording, launching and marketing.
- Angie Jordan's Podcast Boom! Easy Podcasting for Coaches includes six videos and two worksheets. The first part of the course covers whether podcasting is right for you, while the second part focuses on fleshing out the details of your podcast.
- Jackie MacDougal's Start the Right Podcast contains four audio lessons along with a workbook. It covers how to plan and organise your ideas and how to map out what you need to do to launch a successful podcast.
- John Lee Dumas from Entrepreneurs on Fire has a Free Podcast Course that consists of 10 video modules to help you create and launch your podcast.
Find the latest list of free podcast courses by using the product type 'Online Courses & Training Programs' and filtering by 'Free' under the Price Guide.
Paid Courses on Starting a Podcast
Paid courses to help you launch your podcast vary massively in both price and the amount of support you get. The following have all been recommended.
- Gina Winks from Winx Media has created The Podcast Roadmap which includes recommendations and checklists. It currently has a launch price of $37.
- Krystal Proffitt has created Proffitt Podcasting, the complete step-by-step plan for entrepreneurs who want to learn how to confidently start, launch & market their podcast. This costs $289 (or 3 payments of $99).
- Jenna Kutcher's The Podcast Lab consists of a 5-step process to plan, create, launch, promote, scale, and monetize your podcast in 30 days. It costs $297 (or 4 payments of $89).
- Almost 30's PodcastPRO Program is a comprehensive guide to creating, launching, marketing, and monetizing the podcast of your dreams. It is split into three courses: Idea to Launch, Branding + Marketing, and Monetize. Each course is $324, or you can get all three for $798.
- Pat Flynn from Smart Passive Income has created Power-Up Podcasting, to help you launch a successful podcast that gets found and grows your online brand. It includes a Facebook community and office hours with Pat and costs $799 (or 3 instalments of $299).
- Jackie MacDougal's Find Your Voice Academy will lead you through the process of creating and growing a successful podcast. The DIY version is $197 for the program, cheat sheets and templates, Q&A office hours and an active private community. If you would like more support, you can opt for a group coaching version ($397/mo for 3 months) that includes 10 group coaching calls, additional office hours and private 24/7 group chat, or a one-on-one version ($998/mo for 3 months) that includes 12 one-on-one coaching calls and unlimited one-on-one chat access.
- John Lee Dumas from Entrepreneurs on Fire has created a podcasting membership community called Podcasters' Paradise which includes daily support in a Facebook group, step-by-step video tutorials and a library of resources and templates. Membership costs $97/mo or $997/yr and also includes monthly live Q&As, The Podcast Journal and The Podcast Launch checklist. Sign up to the annual plan to receive a 15-min strategy call with JLD and a professional intro/outro worth $600.
Find the latest list of paid podcast courses on Angel Rated. This will be updated as more courses are added.
Done-with-you Podcast Coaching
For those who would prefer to work one-on-one with a coach to get you started, I have found the following options (in addition to the courses that include coaching mentioned above).
- Podcast Maven (Patricia Qhobela-Jenkins) offers Podcast Coaching from $397. This includes 6x45 minute calls to work through every stage of your podcast.
- Marcie Paige has a New Podcast Set-Up service. Prices start from $897 and include an initial podcast strategy session and 4-6 weeks of setup and launch where she handles all the tech.
- MOMentum Market have just created a new Podcast Power Launch Package. The cost is $1,200 for the full package which includes a one-hour consulting call and everything you need to launch your initial 3-5 podcasts episodes.
Find the latest list of podcast coaching offers.
Podcast Editing Services
Finally, if you're looking for support with the editing and management of your podcast, but have figured the rest out, then these services will be of interest.
- Podcast Maven (Patricia Qhobela-Jenkins) offers a Podcast Editing Service. She also provides audio clean up, podcast artwork, show notes, transcriptions and music sourcing. Contact her for pricing.
- MOMentum Market offer three levels of Podcast Editing. Level 1 includes editing and upload of your podcast and costs $250 for 1 podcast/week over 4 weeks. Adding show notes increases this to $350 and adding audiograms and graphics makes it $500.
- Marcie Paige offers Podcast Editing & Management. This starts from $497/mo for podcast editing, from $697/mo to include show notes and website graphics, and from $1,297/mo for full podcast management and post production. In all cases this includes weekly episodes, up to 30 minutes in length.
Find the latest list of podcast editing services by searching 'Audio / Podcast Editing' with the product type 'Experts, Coaches & Consultants'.
Now it's your turn: be an Angel Review and share your experience
If you've used any of these products or services to start a podcast, then we'd love to read your review of them. Click through to the relevant product using the links above and hit Write a Review.
And if you've completed a course or used an expert that's not listed on Angel Rated, then we'd love to hear from you so that we can get them added.