Everything You Need To Launch Your Podcast

Launching a podcast is both an exciting and daunting process! It’s a key milestone as it marks the beginning of your podcasting journey. So it’s crucial to do it right. Even though it’s a complex endeavor, you can rock the launch of your podcast if you follow the correct strategies. It’s all about making a good impression with your target audience and hooking potential listeners with those first few episodes. The idea is to get them to subscribe and share your show with their family and friends!

When you start a podcast, the launch can be forgotten as you get caught up in all the details of the show’s content. But a killer launch is necessary to be a successful podcaster. So today we are sharing everything you need to launch your podcast! These tips will guide you step by step in the process of launching your show. Find the best launch strategies down below!

Everything You Need To Launch Your Podcast

Set A Launch Date And Stick To It:

When you create a podcast, you probably have a loose launch date in mind. Well, think about that launch date ahead of time to stay on top of the situation. It’s best to have a set day before you even start recording the first couple of episodes. This will help you to organize a marketing campaign and have a to-do list ready. Make sure you pick the same day of the week that you plan on releasing a new episode each week. It will show potential listeners you are consistent and committed to the show.

Have The First Set Of Episodes Lined Up:

This is a no-brainer, but you should definitely record and edit a few podcast episodes prior to the launch date. It’s important to be sure the audio files have high sound quality. Plus you’ll want to make sure the episodes are not only recorded, but also edited. It’s better to be prepared than to record half an hour of content and have no clue what to do with it! Once you have the first set of episodes ready to go, you can continue with the other launch preparations. But never launch a show without at least three to five episodes ready!

Prepare A Professional Cover Art And A Logo:

If you want to promote your show on social media and submit it to the podcast directories, you’ll need high-quality cover art and a logo. These should be representative of your show’s content and include the name of the podcast loud and clear. The logo should be unique and attractive to potential listeners within your niche. You want people to recognize it at a first glance and immediately link it to your personal brand. The cover art is the main image of your show and it should be a direct reflection of your podcast’s personality and content. As the host, it can be a great idea to be featured on the cover. Especially if you already have a solid following!

Promotional Social Media Content:

Growing your podcast requires a tremendous amount of marketing and social media effort. It’s best to promote the launch of your show on every single platform possible. This includes social media channels, your email list, etc. Content distribution can really boost your listening rates if the promotion is done right. Always include information about the theme of your show and call to action in every one of your marketing efforts. And make sure to have a few aesthetic posts lined up closer to the launch date. Then you can tease your followers with the podcast a couple of weeks in advance. This will hype them up for the show!

Record A Podcast Trailer:

Just like movies and TV shows when they release a tempting trailer to hype the potential viewers, podcasts have teaser trailers. A podcast trailer it’s meant to captivate the potential listeners into subscribing to your show and being alert for when the first batch of episodes drops. A solid teaser can help your podcast reach the right audience! Think of it as the highlight reel to everything that’s coming up in your show. It should include the best clips, the most inspiring quotes, and a quick promo at the end. It’s crucial to mention the launch date and include a call to action for everyone to subscribe and follow the podcast’s social media. If you do it properly, you’ll have more listeners commit to your show!

Be A Guest On Other Podcasts:

Leading up to your official launch date, appearing as a guest on someone else’s show can do wonders for promoting your upcoming podcast. Even if the episode isn’t released after your podcast has already launched, it’s still fantastic to get that early publicity. Ideally, it will be a podcast somehow related to your niche and target audience. But it can be any type of show, really. Just make sure to talk about your upcoming or newly released podcast when recording the episode!

Submit Your Show’s RSS Feed To The Directories:

This task will most likely be done in partnership with your media host. Once you have your podcast RSS feed ready and your podcasting web hosting all set up, it’s time to send it to all the major directories. The RSS feed allows listeners to subscribe to your show and get regular notifications when you post a new podcast episode. It’s crucial to have it ready by the launch date. Otherwise you might have trouble loyalizing your audience!

Create A Professional Podcast Website And Social Media Channels:

Your podcast needs a central hub. For this, a website is pretty much non-negotiable. If you get the SEO and marketing efforts right, it will help potential listeners find your show. All the relevant information about your podcast should be in the same section. And it’s important to include podcasting platforms and social media links. You can also include on your website a small bio with information about yourself and your personal journey to becoming a podcast host. As for dedicated social media accounts for your podcasts, these are optional but highly recommended. The stronger the online presence of your podcast, the more popular it will become!

Upload Your Podcast To As Many Podcatchers As Possible:

Podcatchers are basically podcast directories, but they go further away than the big 5. There are hundreds of small podcatchers on the internet. These apps and online sites collect and play podcasts. And each one of them offers a brand new opportunity to have your show featured on the front page. This is why you should submit your show to every single one of them – they assist with discovery! A few of the best ones are Overcast, Stitcher, and Podcast Republic.

Plan A Launch Contest Or Giveaway:

This one might depend on your budget, but a launch giveaway or contest can really boost your engagement. Try to offer an exclusive giveaway for every one of your followers that subscribes to your show in advance. And announce the winners on the launch date! And don’t panic if there’s no budget to offer a material prize like services, merchandise, or access to a paid online membership. You can always put forward an exclusive interview, a 5-minute spot on the show, or a shoutout at the end of a podcast episode. Just make sure you promote this action heavily on social media!

Have Your Future Guests Ready Before Launching:

You should have some sort of blueprint for the entire first season before you launch your show into the world. Most importantly, if you plan on bringing guests to your podcast: get in touch with them early! It’s key to contact any potential guests as soon as you’re sure you want them on board. Map out the content for every podcast episode of the first season and don’t let time pass you by. Have your future guests ready at the moment of the launch! For more on how to book guests for our podcast, see this post.

Collab With Influencers From Your Niche:

It’s all about networking! Influencers can be a powerful asset for helping your podcast reach a wider audience. Reach out to people from your niche and ask if they would be open to cross-promoting each other’s content. They can create hype for your podcast and you can give them a shoutout or tag them in a social media post. Create synergy with influencers from your niche and you’ll soon have a whole new group of potential subscribers. Plus, maybe you can invite them as guests to your show! There are so many possibilities for creative collaboration. So don’t be shy and put yourself out there. It will help to expand your brand and popularity!

Plan A Virtual Launch Party To Promote Your Podcast:

A party is certainly a great way to cause a fuss! This could be either in-person or remote but bear in mind that the event should be shared online to reach more people. The party can be the night or weekend before the release date or the very day your podcast launches. It’s completely up to you. Though, if it’s a virtual event, it could be fun to do a live countdown to when the show becomes available for all listeners. A party is an amazing way to connect with your audience, grow your following, and let more people know about your upcoming show. These details help to boost the engagement of your podcast and generate brand awareness!

Are you getting ready to launch your podcast?

So that’s everything you need to launch your podcast! It’s a huge milestone. When you make it to this point, you should be proud! If you follow these strategies, your launch will be a total success. Just make sure to plan every detail and give yourself enough time to prepare for the release date. Are you about to launch your podcast? What are some of your favorite strategies leading up to it? Tell us all about your show in the comments! We love to hear about your personal experiences within this industry. Also remember you can always come back to our blog for more podcasting tips and tricks, as well as terrific show recommendations. Good luck launching your podcasts!