I love Soundcloud and find that it is a great way to get started with publishing a podcast.
Previously known as a platform for musicians, SoundCloud has lately evolved to become one of the most popular podcast hosting sites. Most podcasters choose this site over other platforms primarily due to its affordability and customizable nature. The fact that SoundCloud has all the basics covered also makes it popular among beginners. So, how do you start using SoundCloud for podcasting?
CONTENTS
1. Invest in the Right tools
If you’ve ever listened to a podcast with too much background noise, you understand how this can ruin one’s listening experience. Why not invest the time and money it will take to enhance the quality of your recordings? It’s the small things you do behind the scene that will make or break the success of your podcast, so consider making the suitable investments as early as you can.
As a rule of thumb, get yourself decent recording equipment as well as a good sound editing program. Production software is especially crucial in creating a precise, polished clip, and there’s a handful of online programs you could use for this task. You might want to use a free program when getting started, later on signing up for premium tools for enhanced functionality.
2. Create Your SoundCloud Account
If you haven’t already done so, go to SoundCloud.com and create an account. Once registered, your next step would be to build your profile, paying attention to key areas such as:
- Bio: This informs listeners who you are and what you have to offer
- Profile description: This should delve deeper into the nature of your podcast.
- Keywords: These are the phrases you use to target your audience better. You can make it easier for them to stumble upon your podcast by incorporating the search terms they commonly use in the text.
- Links: Adding links to other websites related to your podcast can also help you convince your target audience to click and listen.
3. Post Your First Episode
With the basics of your account taken care of, you can now upload your first podcast on SoundCloud. It’s worth mentioning that you will need to set up an RSS feed for your audience to subscribe to, something that you could easily do by checking the relevant tab on the settings panel. You can also tweak the optional content settings, such as:
- Custom feed name: This allows you to use a more extended title in your feeds
- Email address: Some apps will require this before displaying your feed
Step by step for your podcast
As for the actual posting process, this is pretty much similar to uploading other clips:
- Click on the ‘add’ button to start uploading
- Add a few tags to categorize your podcast, then make it public in the ‘permissions’ tab
- Click ‘save’ for the track to finish uploading
Now that your first track is out there, you will need to prepare your site to make it possible to embed your episodes. This means adding the Shortcode plugin developed by SoundCloud for this purpose. Your next step would be to enhance your visibility and influence within the podcasting community on this platform.
4. Branding is Key
Although podcasts are audio-centric shows, there’s no harm in marketing yours as you try to build a healthy following. Injecting a unique personality into your shows starts with an attractive banner on your page, profile picture, and artwork on each of your episodes. This could be what catches the eye of someone who happens to pass by your profile, so make sure you use an easily recognizable image.
5. Strike Partnerships with Fellow Podcasters
When it comes to reaching a wider audience, collaborating with other podcasters is a highly effective tactic. As it turns out, SoundCloud is a great platform for building relationships with such individuals, so don’t be afraid to reach out. Start by looking for podcasts that cover the same topics as you do, then use the opportunity to bring yourself closer to their creators. Take time to develop relationships with these individuals and see if you could collaborate on projects that will offer value to both of your audiences.
6. Consider Buying Some Plays
This is a great way to reinforce your credibility as a podcast host, especially if you’re having difficulty getting some plays. Purchasing SoundCloud plays can help you build some social proof without committing too much, as long as you get them from a reputable source. Remember that scammers are omnipresent on the internet, so take some time to research providers before choosing one.
7. Go Pro
If you’re looking to make the most of this platform, consider upgrading your SoundCloud subscription to ‘Pro’ status. This will give you access to in-depth stats that will come in handy when fine-tuning your marketing strategy, making it easier to target your prospects as a result. Upgrading your account will also see you get unlimited upload time, a crucial ingredient in achieving long-term success when using SoundCloud for podcasting. Because this site’s subscription list is among the more affordable out there, this is something you want to do sooner rather than later.
8. Use Your Social Media Profiles to Spread The Word
Although SoundCloud offers a handful of tools to promote podcasts, there’s nothing to keep you from taking your promotion efforts beyond this platform to reach out to more listeners. Not only will you be able to use the networks you already have, but sharing outside the site can also help strengthen your podcast’s credibility. When posting your episode links on other platforms, try to draw interest by using an interesting caption. Sharing your production notes and behind-the-scenes photos can also work in getting more people to listen.
With close to 200 million unique listeners each month, it’s safe to say that SoundCloud is now one of the best platforms for launching a podcast. On top of this, the platform also has most of the basics covered, making it the perfect option for beginners. Start using these tips to your advantage, and you will easily be able to harness the immense power that SoundCloud has to offer.