How To Become a Libsyn Podcaster
Podcasting is a great way to create a platform for yourself. Are you a finance expert? A history buff? A true crime junkie? Use your knowledge as a catalyst to start your podcast on Libsyn.
What Is Libsyn?
Libsyn is a podcast hosting platform where you can publish your podcast to streaming services like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts. Libsyn provides everything you need as a beginner to start podcasting today; storage space for your audio files, audio editing tools in Libsyn studio, podcasting tips, and access to major podcast listening services.
The best podcasts have to begin somewhere and selecting a podcast hosting service is a great place to start. There are a variety of platforms that offer podcast hosting plans for podcast distribution. Libsyn is a popular choice for beginners as it has everything you need to get your podcast off of the ground. It's also used by big-name podcasters like Joe Rogan. Libsyn's favor among new and longtime podcasters ensures that it's a great place to host your new podcast.
Prepare Your Libsyn Podcast
Podcasting requires prep work. To start your podcast, you will need to plan out your content, make decisions about recording equipment, and come up with an advertising strategy.
Choose Your Podcast's Content
Do you want to use your podcast to give tutorials? To review historical events? To assess cold cases? Choose a theme and make a plan for your content. Map out content for as many podcast episodes as you can. If monetization is your ultimate goal for your podcast, you'll want to focus on what kind of content will attract viewers.
When you've selected your podcast's content, you can design a template for your episodes. Your template is an outline to adhere to in every episode, no matter what content you're discussing. You will also need to prepare show notes describing each show's content, and these notes will be displayed with your podcast episodes.
Select Your Recording Equipment
Before recording the intro for your first episode, you'll likely need some equipment. Ideally, you'd purchase a Windows or Apple laptop, microphone, and decent pair of headphones. If you intend to start a video podcast, you will also need a camera for recording. When it comes to purchasing equipment for podcast recording, you'll find that pricing varies. Read product reviews to ascertain what equipment will work well for you and the podcast players who will be listening to your content. If you're going to have a cohost, you'll need to double up on some equipment.
If you aren't able to make purchases now; use your phone to record and upload your podcasts. Most phones are equipped with audio and video recording capabilities. You can start podcasting on your phone, then purchase better equipment later when you can afford to.
Brainstorm Your Advertising Strategy
If you hope to make money podcasting, advertising is crucial. Create accounts on the main social media platforms and be prepared to post on each one whenever you upload a new episode of your podcast. Make promoting your podcast on social media a consistent part of your workflow. You should post about your podcast advertising and its content frequently, but you should also get creative. Use Canva to create episode artwork, document your podcast creation process through photos and videos, create a podcast website where users can find all of your content in one place, partner with other podcasters and post promos for each other. If your content would benefit professionals, post about it on LinkedIn. Explore every possible avenue for advertising and carefully curate the feed of your socials.
Turn Your Podcast Into a Business
If you intend to derive an income from your podcast, consider setting up your podcast as a business. Doing so will impact how you file taxes and your personal liability for your business conduct. Before you download your podcast app and set up your Libsyn account, consider three business structures for your podcast:
- Sole proprietorship: The most basic business structure under which you, the owner, report all business income and losses on your personal income tax return. This structure does not offer you any protection from personal liability.
- Corporation: Under a corporate business structure, the corporation itself is taxed for any profits earned. This structure offers you personal liability protection for the conduct of the business, provided that you adhere to corporate formalities.
- Limited liability company (LLC): A limited liability company offers you personal liability protection for the conduct of your business, provided that you adhere to corporate formalities. An LLC also eliminates the risk of “double taxation" through their status as “pass-through entities."
Business formation is easy with our online business formation service.
Related Resources
- Legal Tips for Starting a Podcast (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)
- How to Start and eBay Business (FindLaw's Learn About the Law)
- How to Start a Photography Business (FindLaw's Law and Daily Life)