If you’ve always dreamed of sharing your ideas with the world, developing a podcast may sound like the perfect outlet. For me, it was a chance to talk to thought leaders in my field and ask them for answers and insight to all of my burning questions. What I found was that it gave me so much more than what I had expected. These people are counted among my trusted advisors, business partners, and friends. Podcasting is a way to build an expansive professional network to not only teach others but learn more yourself.

What does it take to get started? With only a few tools and a lot of time to perfect your skills, you’ll be ready to take on this audio challenge. Here are a few tools of the trade that I can’t live without.

#1 You need a platform

You may be quite familiar with Zoom for setting up meetings, but it can also work as a fantastic podcast tool. It gives you the ability to fit guests into your schedule, share screens, and creates an easily downloadable version of your conversation. The platform also has audio only if you are not interested in using the recording as a vlog or YouTube offering. This works on desktop or mobile devices and makes invites for your guests a quick share link to add to your calendars. You should be aware that the free use of the site allows a maximum of 40 minutes of recording time. If your discussion will be longer, you need to purchase a zoom package.

Another great option that I prefer is BeLive. The platform is excellent for Facebook Live videos and does not require bouncing between work windows to take questions in an interactive format. You can also add logos and branding directly to your live feed to further build brand recognition. The platform works on Facebook, YouTube and Twitch, hosts up to 4 people on the screen at a time, and a max of 10 guests. Your reactions and viewer questions can be seen directly from your recording screen, which means more audience engagement. There are a lot of customized layout options to utilize as well. Guests will need to download the app and use a link to access the event

#2 You need video

For many people, their built-in webcam will not have a sufficiently clear picture. They can often be awkwardly placed (just think of that FaceTime call where you end up looking up the other person’s nose the entire time).

Mobile devices can also be used for recording, but there are a few caveats to mention. The most obvious thing to consider is that it needs to be stationary. Now is not the time to prop it against a book and hope for the best. Your best bet will be a phone holder with a light ring for good visibility and flattering light. They aren’t just for makeup tutorials on Instagram, and the Bluetooth remote lets you start and stop recording without editing out the awkward reaching for the camera.

Think about your location for recording and how you want to brand yourself and your podcast. No one wants to see an episode live from a corner in your basement, so think about the composition of your background and make it reflect the image you want. If you’ve never considered it, there are green screen options that make possibilities endless. A simple lime green cloth backdrop with a greenscreen app such as ManyCam will bring a variety of possibilities to your videos. There are options for more condensed spaces, such as one that attaches to the back of your chair. If you decide to use a green screen, always keep in mind the viewing space to make sure your entire viewing area will be covered.

#3 You need audio

This is the most important part of a podcast, so don’t scrimp on quality. I promise that a good quality microphone will save loads of time on post-production editing. Typically, a USB mic with a stand and pop filter will allow the sound to stay consistent and clear. The pop filter lowers the sound of hard consonants such as B, P, D, and S sounds. If you will have multiple guests in person, you will want multiple mics and a multi-channel recorder. This separates each person’s audio and makes it easier to edit.

#4 You need editing

Audacity is my go-to tool for audio editing. It’s a simple interface that allows you to quickly import and export your audio in several formats. This is where you can mix your intro and outro music, eliminate background noise, or cut out repeated takes of a segment. There are a lot of tutorials to help you navigate issues that come up, and the basic program is free to use.

#5 Posting

Once your podcast is finished, you need a host. There are multiple platforms available including Fireside or Podast.co. All of these sites have RSS feeds and allow you to be found on Stitcher, iTunes, and other audio distributors. You can also import your RSS into your website to attract new listeners!

For additional promotion, I like to do an audiogram, a quick 1-minute snippet from the show to entice the listener to download. Create an image in Publisher or Canva, and select a portion of audio out of Audacity. I use Headliner to create a simple audiogram to share on all of my social media space.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, I hope it gives you a few tips to get you started on your way to success!