How to Start a Podcast: A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide

Ever had that little voice in your head say, “You should start a podcast”? If you’re nodding along, this guide is for you.

Maybe it’s been sitting on your someday list, or maybe you’ve already recorded voice notes and just haven’t taken the next step. Starting a podcast can feel like a big job, especially when you’re also juggling clients, marketing, and the rest of life.

But it doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools, a bit of planning, and support where you need it, podcasting can be a fun and powerful way to grow your brand, connect with your audience, and share what matters most to you.

This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to get your podcast off the ground with confidence. From gear and software to hosting and promotion. And we’ll show you how using us as your Podcast VA can take the pressure off.

Let’s dive in.

podcast vs editing a podcast at her desk1. Clarify Your Podcast Concept

Before anything else, get clear on what your podcast is about and who it’s for. This is the foundation for everything that follows.

Ask yourself:

  1. What do I genuinely want to talk about?
  2. Who am I speaking to?
  3. What will my audience walk away with?


The more niche, the better. For example:

  • Broad topic: Business tips
  • Better: Marketing advice for female-led service businesses
  • Even better: Social media strategy for solo wellness coaches


Quick test: Try writing down ten episode ideas. If it flows easily, you’ve found your sweet spot.

 

2. Choose a Format That Works for You

Your format should fit your natural style and schedule.

Here are a few podcast formats to consider:

  • Solo episodes: Share your thoughts, insights, or experiences directly with listeners
  • Guest interviews: Bring in experts or inspiring voices
  • Co-hosted conversations: Chat with a partner or friend
  • Narrative/storytelling: Tell structured stories or documentary-style episodes


There’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. Choose what feels sustainable and energising.

 

3. Set Up Equipment (Without Going Overboard)

You don’t need fancy gear to sound great. Here’s a beginner-friendly setup:

  1. Microphone: Blue Yeti is a great-quality, budget-friendly USB mic
  2. Headphones: Any reliable pair will do for monitoring sound
  3. Pop filter or foam cover: Helps reduce harsh sounds and improve clarity


If you’re recording with a guest or co-host, you might need an audio interface, but for most solo podcasters or online interviews, a simple USB mic setup works beautifully. Just make sure your guest is across the recording requirements ahead of time. These are usually available on your chosen recording platform. Think: no background noise, using a microphone and headphones, and making sure their software is up to date.

There’s nothing worse than nailing a great conversation, only to play it back and realise the audio quality is a disaster.

 

 

4. Use Simple Software for Recording and Editing

Choose tools that make your life easier. Here are some popular podcasting tools for beginners:

Recording + Editing:

  1. GarageBand: Free on Macs, user-friendly
  2. Audacity: Free, powerful, and available on Windows and Mac
  3. Descript: Paid option with transcription and editing in a text format
  4. Hindenburg: Designed specifically for podcasters and storytellers

Remote interviews:

  1. Riverside.fm and SquadCast: Record local audio and video for higher quality
  2. Zoom: Easy to use, although the audio quality is more compressed


Editing can be time-consuming, especially if you’re not familiar with audio software or just don’t have the extra hours. It’s easy to get stuck trying to cut out every “um” or make your audio sound just right. If you’d rather focus on creating content and leave the tech side to someone else, we can take care of it for you. We’ll handle the clean edits, add your intro and outro, and make sure your episodes are polished and ready to publish.

 

5. Set Up a Great-Sounding Recording Space

Sound quality is about more than just your mic. Try recording in a space with rugs, curtains, or cushions to soften the acoustics.

Keep your mic around 5 to 10 cm from your mouth. Do a short test recording, make small adjustments to your position, and find what sounds best.

 

6. Create Eye-Catching Podcast Artwork

Your podcast cover art is what people see first. Make it stand out, even at thumbnail size.

Apple’s artwork specs:

  • 3000 x 3000 pixels
  • JPEG or PNG
  • RGB colour
  • Keep it under 500KB

Design tips:

  • Use bold text with no more than two fonts
  • Keep it clean and easy to read
  • Make it identifiable from far away (i.e could you read it of it was a small thumbnail on a screen?) 
  • Avoid clichés like microphones or headphones
  • Ensure it reflects your brand style


You can design it yourself in Canva, or let us help with a custom look that ties into your wider brand visuals.

 

7. Choose a Hosting Platform

To get your podcast out into the world, you need a podcast host. This is where your audio files live and how your show gets distributed.

Here are some of the most popular options:

  1. Buzzsprout: Great for beginners with helpful extras like audiograms
  2. Podbean: Flexible plans and monetisation features
  3. Acast: Offers dynamic ads and analytics
  4. Pinecast: Simple interface, ideal for indie creators
  5. Blubrry: Integrates well with WordPress and includes advanced analytics


All of these hosts will let you submit your show to the major directories. If you’re unsure which one to choose, we can walk you through it.

 

8. Submit to Podcast Directories

Once your podcast is uploaded to your hosting platform, it’s time to submit it to the apps your audience is already using.

Start with:

  1. Apple Podcasts
  2. Spotify
  3. Amazon Music


Each host has its own step-by-step submission process, you will need to create an account with each of these platforms and connect the unique RSS feed link via your hosting platform. If you want to speed things up, your Podcast VA (aka us) can handle the whole process for you.

 

9. Plan Your Launch

There’s no perfect way to launch. You can go big, or quietly ease into it.

Soft launch: Upload your first few episodes and refine your process.
Big launch: Set a date, build hype on socials, and drop multiple episodes on day one.

If you’re feeling a bit unsure, soft launching is a great way to build confidence and tweak things as you go.

 

10. Promote and Grow Your Podcast

Once your podcast is live, you’ll need to keep showing up to grow your audience. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be on every platform every day.

A few easy wins:

  1. Share episode snippets on Instagram or LinkedIn
  2. Repurpose your episodes into blogs for SEO
  3. Add episodes to your website and email signature
  4. Create soundbites or reels to grab attention
  5. Collaborate with other creators or podcast hosts


Want someone to handle the strategy and posting? That’s one of the ways our social media retainers can support your growth.

 

11. Monetise Your Podcast

Once your podcast is live and gaining traction, you might start thinking about how to turn your episodes into income. While podcast monetisation doesn’t usually happen from day one, there are plenty of ways to earn money as your audience grows.

Here are a few practical options:

Sponsorships and Ads
You can work with brands that pay to promote their products or services on your show. Some podcast hosting platforms, like Acast or Podbean, make this easy with built-in ad features, or you can reach out directly to businesses that align with your niche.

Affiliate Marketing
Mention tools, books, or services you genuinely love, and share unique affiliate links. When someone clicks and makes a purchase, you earn a small commission. It’s low effort and can be a great way to create a passive income stream.

Paid Subscriptions or Memberships
Platforms like Patreon allow you to offer bonus content, early access, or behind-the-scenes extras to your biggest fans. Even a small monthly contribution from a few loyal listeners can add up over time.

Promoting Your Own Offers
If you’re a coach, consultant, or service-based business, your podcast is the perfect place to gently introduce what you do. Use episodes to showcase your expertise and invite listeners to work with you, download a freebie, or book a discovery call.

Create and Sell Digital Products
From online courses to ebooks or templates, podcasts can be a natural lead-in to your digital offers. If you’re sharing valuable insights, you’ve already got your audience halfway there.

As your Podcast VA, we can help you plan your monetisation strategy and make sure your episodes are optimised to support your goals, without ever feeling pushy or salesy. Whether it’s managing sponsorship outreach, integrating links into your show notes, or creating content to support your offers, we’re here to help you turn your podcast into a revenue stream that actually feels good to run.


Ready to Launch with Less Stress?

Podcasting is one of the best ways to build real connection and trust with your audience. But when it’s competing with everything else on your plate, it can quickly fall into the too-hard basket.

That’s where we come in.

At Hey V.A, we help small business owners and creatives launch, manage, and promote their podcasts with ease. Whether you need a one-off setup or ongoing support from a Podcast VA, we’re here to help.

We can support you with:

  1. Podcast setup, design and hosting
  2. Editing, show notes and directory publishing/submission
  3. Blog content and marketing
  4. Social media scheduling and soundbites

Let’s get your podcast out and share your voice with the world.

Book a free discovery call and we’ll help bring your idea to life… sans the tech headaches.