How to Start a Podcast on Spotify and Rock the Airwaves with Your Own Show

How to Start and Grow Your Own Podcast on Spotify: An In-Depth Guide for Aspiring Audio Creators

Hey friend! If you‘re reading this, I imagine you have hopes of one day hosting your own thriving podcast. As someone who analyzes audience data and podcasting trends day in and day out, let me tell you – that goal is absolutely achievable with the right strategic approach.

And in my opinion, there‘s never been a better time to get into podcasting thanks to the massive boom in popularity and platforms like Spotify lowering barriers to entry.

In fact, between 2017 to 2022 alone, the number of active podcast shows grew from 550,000 to over 4 million. And monthly podcast listenership jumped from 67 million to over 100 million in the U.S. alone:

With growth trajectories like that, it‘s safe to say podcasting is going mainstream. However, simply launching a podcast does not guarantee you listeners and success overnight.

The shows that thrive today have hosts who put in the work to deeply understand audience psychology, craft resonant content, and analyze performance data to continuously improve.

And platforms like Spotify now give you access to those hundreds of millions of ears…you just need to learn how to captivate them.

So if you‘re willing to immerse yourself in audience insights and incrementally strengthen your abilities as an audio creator, Spotify can amplify your voice to remarkable heights.

I‘ve compiled this comprehensive guide sharing my best tips on how to start and grow your own podcast on Spotify based on in-the-trenches data and lessons from top shows.

Let‘s get started…this is gonna be fun!

Podcasting 101: What Are Podcasts and Why Are They Popular?

Before we dive into Spotify specifics, let‘s start with a quick podcasting primer for any newcomers…

At the highest level, podcasts are simply on-demand audio programs covering any subject imaginable. Unlike music, they focus primarily on speech-based storytelling and conversations.

And unlike traditional radio with its strict programming schedules, podcast episodes are recorded in advance and made available on services like Spotify for listeners to play on-demand whenever and wherever they choose.

This flexibility around when and how you listen is a huge factor behind podcasts overtaking radio and streaming services as the fastest growing entertainment medium today.

Additional reasons behind podcasting’s surging popularity include:

• Niche Content Communities

Pretty much any hobby, passion or subject now has dedicated podcasts where likeminded fans gather to geek out and build community. The ability to laser target interests is a key difference from broadcast radio.

• Intimate Emotional Connections

The conversational flow between hosts and even the sound of their voices fosters intimate parasocial relationships between creators and their audiences. Listeners often feel like they “know” their favorite podcast personalities.

• Mobility & Accessibility

You can listen to podcasts anywhere thanks to smartphones — while commuting, exercising, cooking, etc. No need to sit in front of a screen. Easy to consume while doing other tasks.

• Variety of Formats & Topics

From tightly produced episodic narratives to loose conversations, podcasts span formats. And topics range from comedy to film analysis to entrepreneurship and way more.

Simply put, podcasts have something for everyone while providing engaging user experiences.

Now combined with distribution on platforms like Spotify boasting over 300 million monthly active users, podcasters have direct access to a ready-made massive audience.

But standing out on Spotify is no small feat. So let‘s break down how to reach your ideal listeners in the ocean of content.

Reaching Your Target Audience on Spotify

As I touched on, Spotify currently has over 300 million monthly active users. Around 95 million of them are streaming podcast content each month.

And get this – Spotify is actually the #1 platform listeners use to discover new podcasts according to a 2022 Infinite Dial study.

So if you can master audience targeting and content marketing on Spotify specifically, they offer perhaps the highest ROI channel for finding new fans.

Now 300 million users is an enormous potential market at face value. But even the most popular shows on Spotify still only reach a fraction of that full pool.

The key here is laser targeting a niche subgroup aligned with your podcast concept and doubledown on producing content tailored just for them.

Here are 5 keys to reaching your ideal audience on Spotify‘s packed platform:

✅ #1. Get Ultra Clear on Your Target Listener

Start by getting ultra specific on the exact listener avatar you aim to serve. Define the following attributes:

• • Demographics like age, gender, income, location
• • Values and beliefs
• • Interests and passions
• • Pains and problems
• • Objections and biases
• • Content consumption habits

Analyze shows in your niche to extract patterns around popular topics and presentation styles. The more clarity you have around your audience‘s unique DNA, the better.

✅ #2. Consistently Nail Your Chosen Niche

With your target listener defined, ensure your podcast concept and content zones in on their precise interests and needs.

For example, a broad comedy show might struggle, but a show laser focused humorous commentary on1990’s NFL football could attract a rabid niche fan base.

Define the topics and conversation themes you OWN to separate yourself from crowded categories like True Crime or Business.

✅ #3. Structure Episodes Around Searchable Questions

Studies show ~70% of podcast listens stem from searching for specific topics rather than browsing by show.

So structure your episodes around questions and themes your audience is actively googling like "Best 1990‘s NFL Running Backs" to get discovered.

✅ #4. Transcribe Audio for SEO

Since audio content itself is invisible to search, create transcripts using AI tools like Descript.

This surfaces text snippets in search along with your episode titles to drive discovery.

✅ #5. Analyze Your Data

Spotify gives you access to rich listener demographics and engagement metrics.

Study them to find out what content really triggers audience growth and retention vs. fallout. Then double down on what converts.

Now let‘s get into the step-by-step process for actually launching…

Step-By-Step Guide to Starting a Podcast on Spotify

You‘ve done the upfront research and have a clear podcast concept tailored to a specific audience niche. Time to start bringing your show to life!

Here is a step-by-step playbook for launching on Spotify:

Step 1: Set Up Your Recording Studio

To produce a podcast, the bare minimum gear you need includes:

• • A computer
• • A decent USB microphone like the Blue Yeti or Audio-Technica AT2100
• • Closed-back over-ear headphones for sound isolation
• • Audio recording & editing software like Audacity or Garageband

This basic equipment captures balanced, clean audio to keep listeners engaged.

You‘ll also want to record in an acoustically treated, sound dampened space when possible to limit echo and background noise.

Investing a couple hundred bucks upfront goes a long way in providing professional sound quality — but you can start very simple even just using your smartphone mic and earbuds if needed in a pinch!

Over time look to upgrade to premium gear like large diaphragm XLR mics and digital audio workstations as your show scales up.

Step 2: Structure Recurring Show Segments

The next step is planning your show format to give episodes consistency.

Aim to establish 2-3 recurring segments listeners can expect on a regular cadence.

For example, a pop culture show could always include:

• • Banter on trending news
• • A sitdown interview with an influencer
• • Audience Q&A

Work segments into a script outline you can riff off of and time your runtime to about 45 mins – 1 hour per episode.

Leave room for flexibility while guiding discussion flow. Outline 10+ future episodes during early planning.

Step 3: Record a Backlog of Episodes

With your show format set, it‘s time to start recording!

Begin by building a backlog of at least 5 full episodes before launching. This buys you time to keep producing more without pressure.

Ideally, batch record several episodes in one session by inviting groups of guests. Then schedule releases consistently via your publishing workflow.

Step 4: Edit Episodes

With raw recordings captured, audio editing is essential for polish.

Import your files into software like Hindenburg Journalist or Adobe Audition to:

• • Remove unwanted sections
• • Balance audio levels
• • Insert intros, outros and transitions
• • Append artwork

Head to YouTube for editing tutorials if new to learn the ropes.

This editing phase is vital for amplifying listenability before publishing.

Step 5: Generate Transcripts

As noted before, creating text transcripts unlocks SEO benefits.

Upload your final edits into automated services like Descript or Scribie to get JavaScript generated transcripts.

Then you can copy and paste text versions of your episodes directly onto your Spotify show profile for discovery.

Step 6: Set Up Your Spotify Podcast Profile

Now that production is underway, it‘s time to establish your official podcast presence on Spotify:

1. • Visit Spotify for Podcasters and connect your Facebook/Google account.
2. • Select "Upload Episode" on the left nav to import your first finished recordings.
3. • Fully complete your Podcast Profile adding imagery, keywords and decoded text snippets.
4. • Import your RSS feed from your media host (Buzzsprout, Libsyn) to connect new episodes.

This registers your show within Spotify‘s podcast ecosystem for distribution.

Step 7: Analyze Performance Data

Once you‘ve released a few episodes and accumulated some listeners, start studying your Spotify podcast stats dashboard.

Key metrics and insights to analyze:

• • Follower growth over time
• • Episode download numbers
• • Listen duration and fallout
• • Listener location data
• • Listener age and gender data
• • Traffic sources (browse vs. search vs. external)

Compare this to your initial target listener persona. Then refine both your content and promotion strategy to better match their preferences.

Rinse and repeat this process to incrementally grow your fans with every new episode.

On to the money making possibilities…

Monetizing Your Spotify Podcast

If you‘ve managed to build a sizable following delivering value through your content, Spotify offers a few ways to directly monetize your audience and turn your passion into a business.

Let‘s explore your options…

🚀 Advertising

Once you‘ve achieved thousands of downloads per episode, Spotify allows you to manually insert dynamic ads. You can also enable their programmatic ad marketplace to run automatic placements.

This puts your show in front of sponsors both big and small, earning you cash based on the impressions served.

Requirements to activate:

• • 5,000 downloads per episode
• • Located in a Spotify supported monetization region

Rates vary based on your audience size and engagement, but ~$10-$50 RPM is common.

💵 Subscriptions

For creators with highly loyal followings, Spotify now lets listeners sign up for paid monthly access to exclusive bonus content and perks.

This gives superfans ways to directly support you while unlocking premium programming. Requirements include:

• • ~1,000 followers
• • 2 public episodes released
• • Located in an approved region

Subscription revenue is split 80/20 between creators and Spotify after any processing fees. So the revenue can stack up quickly at scale.

🎁 Listener Support

Enabling listener support lets true fans provide voluntary, ongoing monetary contributions to your show as a form of crowdfunding.

Fans can support at tiered levels, much like the Patreon model. Requirements are:

• • 2 public episodes
• • Located in the US

Again this taps your most loyal, engaged supporters to lend financial stability, while granting them access and recognition.

Between these approaches, if you focus on overdelivering immense value to a clearly defined audience over an extended period, you can absolutely transform your creativity into a sustainable business on Spotify.

Key Takeaways:

If you‘ve made it this far, hopefully you now have clarity and confidence around launching your own podcast on Spotify from top to bottom!

Let‘s recap the big key points:

• ⭐ Define your target listener persona beyond demographics to inform content.
• ⭐ Obsess over your niche topic area & unique positioning against competitors.
• ⭐ Structure search-friendly episode themes people are googling.
• ⭐ Transcribe episodes to extract textual content.
• ⭐ Analyze performance data to fuel content experiments.
• ⭐ Monetize loyal fans once audience size thresholds are met.

The overarching keys are persistently publishing high quality content matched to a specific audience and relentlessly fine-tuning based on metrics.

Rinse and repeat this process for months and years, not days and weeks.

While organic growth takes patience and work, the long term rewards of impacting lives through audio make it all worthwhile.

So avoid getting overwhelmed. Start simple. And gradually level up your skills and production along the way.

You got this! Wishing you monumental success with your podcasting journey ahead 😃

Talk soon,
[Your Name]