Do you secretly want to start your own show, but you’re feeling blocked by a preconceived notion you have about it? Or, you might already be a creator but keep wondering whether you’re doing it “right”? If your answer is yes to either of these questions, you may have fallen prey to a podcasting myth.
Podcasting myths are beliefs about who you are, what tool you have (or don’t have) at your disposal, and what success means as a creator that aren’t actually true in reality. If you have these false ideas in your head, you’re not alone. Podcast myths are common, but we’re here to set the record straight.
Here are some of the biggest podcasting myths—busted. Take a look at the truths behind these myths and how they can change your outlook, goals, and confidence as a creator.
You might think you need radio or broadcasting experience to be a podcaster. Or maybe you think you need to be a social media influencer, or have degrees or awards in a field of study to talk about a topic on a podcast. The truth is, with more than 6 million podcasts on Spotify alone, many creators will not fit into any archetype of what a creator is supposed to be, and that’s a beautiful thing.
You don’t even need to be an extrovert to be a podcast creator—even if you have a solo podcast. Maybe your so-called weakness eventually is what becomes your unique angle, for instance, that you’re an introverted show host. The point is that anyone can and deserves to start a show or podcast, no matter their experience or background. For example, the team behind “Growing Up Halal” started their podcast as a “fun little passion project at the beginning of quarantine,” recording with just an iPhone 6 and a pair of AirPods.
You can start your own show even if you don’t have a large social media following or network. You don’t need to have a large online presence, a ton of friends or family, or lots of email contacts in order to corral a group of eager fans to tune into your first episodes. There can even be some advantages to not having an initial audience when you’re first starting out, as it can give you more freedom to play around and get comfortable with recording and nailing your format.
If you start with zero listeners, that just means you have room to grow. Entrepreneur and podcast creator Arlan Hamilton has tips for hitting the first 100 plays milestone. You can go from zero to 100 by knowing and speaking to your unique target audience, providing value for your listeners, promoting your show on social media, and bringing in guests that can help draw an audience.
This is an extension of the previous myth. There is no rule that says you need to get your first 100, 1,000, or even 10 fans within a certain amount of time after you start your show.
Growth takes time, and it’s all about gaining momentum. Don’t throw in the towel if the first couple of episodes don’t yield the results you hoped for. Our 2022 Fan Study shows that the biggest growth happens during the first four months, so stick with it, and fans may come in time. In fact, your audience might be from where you least expect it—our Fan Study revealed that even the smallest shows often have fans from several corners of the world.
While you’re building a following, work on your production process and quality, establish your niche, and promote your show. You can also start forming relationships with other creators and making cross-promotion deals to increase your exposure.
You’re likely already active on one or more social media channels, posting about your life and interests. You might even primarily use your phone to post content, but maybe you have a professional camera if you’re into photography or an accessory or editing suite to fine tune your content. Sometimes, once you’ve crafted a video or series of photos with the right music, filters, and any other features, it can take up to 20 minutes or more. You could make an entire podcast episode in the same amount of time and with the same equipment.
It might seem easier or less of a commitment to make and publish everyday social media content, but if there is something you love talking about, long-form shows are the perfect and easy forum where you can share what is on your mind and find an audience who wants to listen to your words and watch your content. Although podcasting can sometimes require a little more thought and planning than posting a spontaneous photo or video to your favorite social platform, if you’re already creating content for your social media profiles, you can also do it on a long-form show.
A common barrier for aspiring and established creators alike is the belief that you need to make new, fresh content every week. Keeping up with a podcast schedule is critical to maintaining consistency, which is essential for building a loyal following. But with busy lives, time constraints, and delays that come up in production, this can sometimes feel like a tall order.
If you have weeks where recording and releasing a new episode isn’t feasible, whether you’re on vacation or have a big exam coming up, there are different ways to work around that. The beauty of audio and vide shows is that they are a very flexible and versatile medium when it comes to format and length. So if you mainly interview guests but there are scheduling conflicts that prevent you from publishing an episode on your typical day and time, you can record a solo episode where you talk about a topic. Or, if your episodes are usually over an hour long and require a lot of advanced planning, you can create a shorter “minisode.” You can also republish an older episode from your archives that some of your newer fans might have not yet heard, or promote one of your friend’s relevant podcast episodes in your feed that week with their permission.
It’s surprisingly easy to start recording a show. For an essential, low-budget podcast equipment setup, you probably have most of what you need already: a computer, a camera (yes, a phone camera works too!), headphones, a USB microphone, cables, a pop filter, and software to edit and publish your show. As your podcasting journey progresses, you can level up and expand your equipment, but a minimal setup will still produce excellent quality.
As for the location where you record, all you really need is a quiet room. And with Spotify for Creators’ integration with Riverside and their Magic Tools, one tap will help eliminate distracting background noise and improve the clarity of your voice and visuals. So, that opens up more opportunities for recording locations, even if they are a bit noisy.
Creators often wear many different hats, like most creatives. One of those involves creating your show’s visual aesthetic—or podcast branding. Maybe you’re an amazing interviewer, but you’re lost when it comes to design. Or, maybe branding is actually your forte. Both are fine.
Your podcast cover art is an important part of establishing your show’s identity, so it’s something you should put some thought into before you publish your first episode. But, it’s okay if you don’t get it exactly right the first time. The same goes for podcast and episode descriptions, marketing messaging, catchphrases, and other signatures unique to your podcast. As your show takes shape and evolves, you’ll better understand what resonates with your audience and can make adjustments as needed as you get listener feedback with comments and polls and as your show evolves.
You don’t need to be signed to a major network or be on top of the podcast charts to make money. Many creators wonder if they can make their dreams of monetizing their passion or hobby come true. The answer is yes, but it’s something you build up over time.
There are several different ways of making money from podcasting, including listener donations, offering a podcast subscription, including podcast ads, and selling merch. Explore your options and test out different methods to discover what’s most effective.
Trust that whatever stage or skill level you’re at as a podcast creator is the right place to be. Each person has to start somewhere, so, own where you’re at and start or continue making authentic content. Learn as you go, grow as you learn, and enjoy the ride.
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