How to start a WordPress Podcast? : Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

How to create a podcast? Is this what you are searching for? Or are you searching for the simplest way to start a podcast? If so, you are at the right place. In the recent times, Podcasting has become one of the essential means for quality content distribution. However, starting and running a podcast may seem quite daunting. Don’t worry, after reading this article; you will find the task more doable 🙂

Firstly let us go through the outlines of the topics we will be covering in this article:

1. What is Podcasting?
2. Benefits of Podcasting
3. How to create a podcast?

What is Podcasting?

A podcast is now the new buzz word in the market. But what exactly podcast and podcasting is? The podcast can be referred to a digital media file or an episodic series of data (typically audio files) that are distributed over the internet. Usually, podcasts are the original audio or video recordings. However, they can also be a recorded broadcast on any television or radio program or anything.

A podcast can be either one-time production or can be a series production. That is to say, new episodes for a podcast can be created on a timely basis. In the same manner, Podcasting is the practice of creating and publishing audio or video files(also known as vodcast) over the internet on the websites by using feeds like which the listeners can subscribe. It is a free service that allows a user to directly download the audio files from the site on any portable media player.

Benefits of Podcasting?

Primarily, podcasts help in educating, entertaining as well as informing people about various topics. Besides that, there are other benefits of podcasting.

• Give you ideas and messages an exposure.
• Podcasting is convenient and inexpensive way to reach out to the target audience
• It helps in Building a deeper connection with your audience.
• Podcasting creates an opportunity to get yourself a recognition as an expert in your chosen field.
• It is a great medium for promoting your business or product to a focused market.
• It creates an opportunity to make some money by sharing valuable information

How to create a podcast?

Here, the main story. There are some few requirements for a professional like podcasting setup. Simply, follow the following steps and your podcast will be ready in few minutes.

Step 1: WordPress Setup to support Podcast

It is essential to select a right platform because Website and blogs make it easier for people to find and learn more about your podcast.
WordPress happens to be one of the favorite platforms for podcasters as it comes along with a built-in RSS feed system for blogs. Thus, I would recommend you all to use WordPress.org to create an outstanding podcasting website.

As we all know WordPress is an open source, it is free to use. Therefore, you can freely download and install the themes as well as the plugins. Moreover, you can alter the designs and customize it as per your requirement without any restriction. Best of you can monetize your website. WordPress is free, however, you do need to have your domain name and web hosting. Also, if you want some premium ones then you can opt for WordPress.com. (See the difference between WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com)

Step 2: Media hosting services

So what is media host and why we need a media hosting? In simple terms, Media hosting is a hosting account that allows us to store and distribute our audio and video files to our subscribers. And we need a reliable media hosting service because the podcast is the large audio and video files that we need to store somewhere.

If we use our web hosting for the storage, then that shall consume a lot of its server resources. Consequently, increasing your website’s load time and making it slow. Hence, it is better to act smarter than harder meaning it is better to use a separate podcast hosting service rather than spending your time, money and effort in increasing the speed and responsiveness of your website.

In the context, I would recommend you to use the popular podcast hosting service providers like Blubrry and Libsyn. In fact, They happen to be the best in their niche.

Step 3: Selection and arrangement of Proper Types of equipment

For a great podcast, the simple primary thing you need is the right microphone and recording software. For a beginner, a nice microphone should do the trick. Since a podcast is typically more of an audio thing, a quality vocal microphone for achieving best audio quality is a must-have. However, for the professional setup for your podcast other equipment like high-quality digital camcorder for vodcasting.

Step 4: Begin Recording, Edit your Podcast

To record a podcast, you will need audio recording software. In the case, audacity pops up in every podcasters mind.  Audacity allows you to quickly record and edit your podcast episodes and that too with ease. Moreover, audacity is also free and open-source yet very powerful tool. The word free itself is so exciting, right?At least, it excites me to the core 😀

If it is your first time using the software, it might take some time to get yourself familiar with it. Thus, you might want to go through its user guide for more ideas.

Anyways, once you are satisfied with what you have recorded, the next step is to edit it. Simply, introduction(important for branding), relevant music and media as required. On a personal note, practice providing your podcasts with names or serial numbers. Trust me you will thank me later 😀

And then save it. For this just go FILE>> Export. Usually, podcasters prefer saving the file in the MP3 format because it is smaller in size yet of considerably good quality.

Step 5: Uploading your file to a hosting service

The next step is to upload the file you just created to a media hosting services. Like, I mentioned earlier, you need a media hosting to avoid the bandwidth issues and the consequences that would come along with it. You can download any of the podcast plugins like blurry and Libsyn for the best customer experience. Save your site from crashing!

For this, you need to head over to your WordPress dashboard. After that, install and activate podcast plugin of your choice. For this article, I’m using Blubrry PowerPress Podcasting plugin. For more details on installing a plugin, you can also check out on our step by step guide on how to install WordPress plugins.

Upon the activation of the plugin, PowerPress will be added to your menu item. Then, click on it, and you will be redirected to a plugin’s settings page.

Next, if you are using Blubrry to host your podcast, simply, click on the configure Blubrry statistics and hosting services as shown in the figure below.

After that, it will redirect to a page where you will be asked your Blubrry hosting account email and password.

Next, right below the configuration button, you will see the sections for Podcast Settings and iTunes Settings. Just fill in all fields required. Later on, this information will be used by iTunes to place the podcast in their directory.
Lastly, click on the Save button.

Then, to upload your file just log in to the to you podcast dashboard. And then, click on Podcast dashboard. Next, click on upload New Media files under the Podcast Hosting section. Only after the upload is completed, you will be able to use the podcast files on your website.

Step 6: Publish Your Podcast With WordPress

To publish your podcast go back to your admin area. Then, go to Posts>> Add New.

Give your podcast a title and give a short description to your podcast in the editor section.Upon the completion of the above-mentioned steps, go down to the podcast episode section.

After that, enter your media URL in the given field. Blubrry hosting users can just click on the folder icon and select the media file. Then, click on verify button. To ensure that the given URL s correct. In the same manner, enter the other required information.

Congratulations, we are done!

Wrapping It Up!

All in all, podcasts can be used for several purposes. It can include a variety of topics like education, technology and more like it. Moreover, podcast is also an outstanding addition to the list of content marketing tricks. Furthermore, it is also very helpful to stay connected with your audiences. A deeper connection to your visitors means greater opportunities for better marketing. Therefore, creating a podcast of your own can be a great idea. So, in this article, I have tried to include every process to make it easier for you all to understand how to create a podcast. Hopefully, this article helped you all with having your podcast up and running.

Was the tutorial helpful? Please let me know your valuable comments. I’d love to hear your words and experiences.

If you like this article, you may also like to check out on our other articles:

• How to install and re-install WordPress
• Best WordPress plugins- Essential Plugins for your first WordPress site 
• How to add Google Analytics to WordPress