How to Start a Solo Podcast in 8 Easy Ways

Solo podcasts are becoming increasingly popular. All you need is to have a unique message and a mic, and you’re ready to go. They’re great, especially if you’re new to podcasting or if you are looking for new ideas. 

This podcast format is suitable for those who want to share their expertise or simply like to work on their own. The length of your podcast will depend on the topic you choose. If you are just getting started, you can make short episodes. But, if you have a lot to say, you can talk longer as long as you give some value to your audience.

Based on the research conducted by Grand Review Research, solo podcasts are predicted to expand the greatest, with estimations predicting a 30% increase in the next seven years. So, as you can see, solo podcasts are on of the most popular types of podcasts. If you are serious about this podcast, you should definitely give it a try.

In today’s article, we will walk you through some of the benefits and downsides of solo podcasts. You will also learn a few useful tips to start a solo podcast and take your podcasting career to the next level. 

Pros and Cons of Starting a Solo Podcast

A solo podcast might seem like one of the easiest types of podcasts. However, it comes with both advantages and disadvantages.

The pros of starting a solo podcast are

• You don’t need anyone’s assistance. Everything is up to your schedule and your own speed.
• This is a powerful way to establish more personal connections with your audience.
• Editing one voice is a lot easier than editing several tracks.

The cons of a solo podcast are 

• It requires a lot of talking. Speaking for 30 to 45 minutes can be exhausting. And that happens only if you manage to record yourself perfectly from the first time. In fact, you will end up talking for an hour or more for each podcast episode. 
• There is no one to bounce ideas off or help you if needed.

8 Actionable Tips to Start a Solo Podcast

Now that you already know what pros and cons solo podcasts have, it is time to dive into the main part of today’s article. Below are some effective tips that can help you to start a solo podcast.

1․ Choose a Topic You Are Passionate About

Wondering how to start a solo podcast?

Choosing a podcast topic is one of the most important and initial steps you should take. It could be about anything you can think of – health, beauty, science, technologies, you tell. However, it is highly recommended to pick a topic you’re confident in and have enough knowledge to talk about. If you don’t know much about the topic you have picked, your audience will soon find out about it. You probably don’t want to make the wrong impression, right?

So, opt for choosing easy topics to get started while you get comfortable enough with the solo podcast format. 

If you don’t know which topic to choose, make sure to do brainstorming. Write down all solo podcast ideas that come to your mind. For instance, if you want to talk about a healthy lifestyle, your first few episodes may include:

• What is a healthy lifestyle? (A short summary)
• Why is a healthy lifestyle worth considering?
• Different types of physical activities
• Tips for developing healthy eating habits

You don’t necessarily need to begin with complex or unique solo podcast ideas ever to make great solo podcast episodes. Instead, try to put yourself in the shoes of your audience and think about what topics they are more interested in.

2․ Keep it Short

If you are just getting started with solo podcasts, it’s quite OK to make short episodes in the first few weeks. You can keep your episodes short until you start feeling more comfortable talking to a microphone alone. 

So, at first, you can keep your podcasts 10 or 15 minutes long. Later, you can make longer episodes as long as they are not boring and give some value to your audience. 

3․ Plan Out Your Solo Podcast

Having a clear understanding of what you’re going to say before you start recording will make things go much smoother. A podcast plan can take different forms. It could be a rough outline or a script. Regardless of which podcast plan you choose, planning is always a good idea. It will ensure you are on the right track. 

You can use a note-taking app to create an outline for your podcast. This way, you collect your ideas in one place.

4․ Use Editing Software

As we have already discussed, it is a lot easier to edit a single voice rather than several tracks. However, you still need to use proper software and learn how to edit a podcast for the best quality.

This is done to ensure you make a long-lasting impression on your target audience. If your listeners tune in and find out your content has poor quality, they will just stop your podcast. Moreover, there is a chance that they might not join you anymore. 

So, make sure to invest in proper editing software. It should not be too pricey, especially if you are a beginner. However, you need software that will allow you to make basic adjustments to improve the overall quality of your solo podcast.

5․ Research the Questions People Are Asking

To ensure that you cover a topic thoroughly, try to think about what questions your audience may have.

To do so, you can go with a simple method like using Google. You can find out what questions people are looking for the most. This way, you can have a basic understanding of what key points to cover in your podcast. Besides, this will help you to meet your audience’s needs, as you are doing your best to create content that gives some value to them.

6․ Improve Your Speech Delivery

As your content is going to reach many people, it’s critical that you come off as professional.

Making strange sounds like “umms” can negatively affect your speech delivery. This is why you need to practice a lot to present your topic smoothly.

You should also practice your tone. People don’t like monotonous speech, and that’s why you should avoid it at all costs.

If you are still unsure about how to improve your speech delivery, you can listen to famous speeches and analyze what makes those people’s speeches highly effective. Pay attention to their tone, voice, and wording. Also, try to understand how they use pauses and how they affect the delivery of the speech. 

It does not mean you should copy famous people. Indeed, no. Listening to speeches by famous people is done to get some idea of how a good speech should be. You need to show your audience your unique style. After all, it is an essential thing that attracts most listeners. If they find your speech delivery boring, they will tune out. So, practice, practice, and practice.

7․ Ask for Feedback

You might think that your solo podcast is perfect and does not need to be changed. However, there is always room for improvement. There might be some important details you might have overlooked. 

Asking for honest feedback from your relatives, friends, colleagues, and family can be helpful. They can share their recommendations. More specifically, they can tell what works well and what does not. 

You should not necessarily follow all their suggestions. However, it is always good to receive different opinions. You can later think and decide what changes to make.

8․ Revise

Once you are done with recording your podcast, don’t rush to post it right away. Instead, remember what recommendations you have received and revise your solo podcast. Don’t be afraid to experiment. This will allow you to try different things and see what works best for your solo podcast. Experiment until you achieve the desired result.

Summary

A solo podcast is a great format if you like talking and working on your own.  It can also be the most efficient way to create a personal brand or a more personal attachment with your audience. However, you should keep in mind that there are pros and cons to going solo.

Starting might seem a bit daunting, but you’ll be able to get the hang of it. Follow the above-mentioned tips, and you’re already halfway to succeeding as a solo podcaster!