How to create your own podcast as a blogger without spending any money

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Today I wanted to talk about creating a podcast; something I’ve recently embarked on. If you weren’t aware, you can find out about episode 1 (my journey to full-time blogging) and episode 2 (how to make money from affiliate marketing) So let’s talk about how you can get started if you fancy taking the plunge and creating your own podcast as a blogger too. You might think this post is going to be full of affiliate links but the truth is there aren’t any as I spent no money at all on my Podcast. And you can grow a blog and social media presence without spending money either! But first, let’s talk about how to start your own podcast without spending any money…

You don’t need to spend lots on courses

Everything I learned about podcasting was completely free! There are in-depth courses but there’s also loads of free resources out their too. I used a skillshare trial to listen to some podcast classes but there’s lots I found on Youtube and Facebook groups such as UK Podcasters. It’s really not a hard skill to learn and it’s just a case of trying the software and picking up skills as you.

You don’t need fancy equipment

I spent a while looking at various microphones but ended up opting for Anchor’s podcasting app which allows you to record and edit directly in the app. Podbean also uses a similar setup and both are free podcasting platforms (although upgraded versions are available, I haven’t looked at them yet). So I spent zero money on equipment and just the apps built in recorder and my apple headphones. I guess this depends on the quality of your phone’s microphone but was mine was completely fine! I also heard about equipment for cancelling out sounds etc but I felt my home set-up was completely fine. Finally, I used Zoom to record my interview episodes such as my one with Neesha Rees on how to make your first £100 from affiliate marketing. Simply start the zoom, hit record and download it as an audio file only.

Editing doesn’t have to be complicated

Many podcasting platforms have built-in editing software. I kept my editing super simple and tried to just record in one take. If you stick to a simple format, an episode can simply be you talking naturally to the audience. However, editing is easy enough in Anchor or Podbean and they have royalty free music you can add over the top too. I know some might say my podcast could have some more tweaks or cuts but I’d rather it just be natural.

Getting your podcast out there isn’t as hard as it seems

As I type this, I still haven’t properly promoted my podcast yet as I’m waiting for it to go onto Apple podcasts but the process of uploading a podcast is scarily simple. Again I used Anchor, which is completely free. Anchor will then distribute your podcast to all the main podcast platforms on your behalf, such as Spotify and Apple, and lets you know when it’s all done! It took about ten minutes to be indexed on Spotify which is very scary but takes about 10 days to reach Apple podcasts. Either way, hitting that distribution button takes minutes.

The launch

One of the most refreshing things about creating a podcast without spending any money is that the pressure is off. One of the most stressful things about blogging is you often think about being able to pay your hosting fees, domain name, and theme design. Whilst lots of podcasters spend ages on their launch-I’ve seen lots do countdowns from a few weeks before; others send out packages to influencers with merch and custom packaging or doing lives with other influencers, I really haven’t done much to launch it. Podcasts tend to grow more slowly and I’m fine with that.

You don’t need to monetise a podcast if you don’t want to

Finally, keep the expectations low for your podcast. Not every project has to be monetised and if you’re not spend any money on it, you don’t need to necessarily worry about recouping costs. However, not having Ads on a podcast doesn’t mean it can’t make you any money; you might choose to advertise your own product or service at the start of a podcast or use affiliate links in your show notes.

I hope this post has been useful, you can find my Podcast here.