Episode Details

You want to launch a podcast, and in the past, I've talked about how there are 27 steps to launch a podcast (you might want to read that first). Today I want to cover this episode from a new angle and address some of the mistakes I am seeing on episode 636 of the School of Podcasting. If you missed the previous list it was

Step 1: Pick Your Topic

Step 2: Decide if you're podcasting solo or with cohost(s).

Step 3: Pick how you will podcast.

Step 4: Pick where will you podcast?

Step 5: Pick a name.

Step 6. Buy the Hardware

Step 7. Buy Software

Step 8 is purchasing web hosting

Step 9 is installing WordPress

Step 10 is to get your WordPress installation ready to podcast

Step 11 is making your website look good.

12. Domain Name

13. Graphics

14. Intro Music. (optional)

15. Media Hosting (for your mp3 files)

16. Organize Your Content

17. Record Your Content

18. Edit Your Content 1

9. Assemble Your Episode

20. Add ID3 Tags

21. Upload your media

22. Write Your Show Notes

23. Copy the Media URL and Paste It Into Your Post (optional)

24. Click Publish

25. Set Up Tags for iTunes

26. Make Sure your Feed is Valid

27. Submit Your Podcast to Apple Podcasts

What is the Goal of Your Podcast?

You need to know this. How will know if it's successful? Is it a certain number of downloads? Is it a certain number of sales? Is it to position you as an expert?

Does Your Podcast Move You Toward Your Goal?

So if the goal of your show is to help build an email list, did you remember to tell people about your list. If it's to build your consulting clients, did you mention you are available for consulting?

Has Someone Who Is Your Target Audience Given You Honest Feedback?

Have You Checked to See If You Are Unique?

There are at least five shows named "outside the box", and six shows named, "The Feed." If you name your show identical to another show, not only may you be opening the door to legal action, but these people have a head start and you will have a hard time ranking for that phrase.

What you NEED to Launch a Podcast

1. Artwork: The artwork is SQUARE with a minimum dimension of 1400X1400 and a maximum dimension of 3000X3000. The FILE SIZE needs to be less than 500 kb. Failure to meet these specifications can get you rejected, and cause your show not to update, and in some cases get removed from Apple.
2. A Valid RSS feed. That feed will have a description of your show. Along with the author/hosts(s) of the show, categories, and an email address. This is typically entered into your media host (more on that later) or whatever tool you are using to create an RSS feed
3. A media host. I was a Libsyn customer for 10 years before being a customer, but I feel Libsyn.com is the best. For other thoughts on podcast media hosting see this post A quick note: Stay away from Anchor or any other free media hosts. I've seen multiple attempts at free media hosting over the years and it always ends badly
4. One published episode. You can't upload a bunch of episodes as drafts, submit your show to Apple and other directories, and the flip a switch. While many people will tell you to launch with 3, 4, 10, 30 episodes, I'm here