A Church podcast is a great way to share stories and talk about all sorts of topics. They are very accessible and can be listened to anywhere, whether on a jog, at work, on a bus, or just simply stuck in traffic on your way back home. The other aspect that has led to such a rise in its popularity, is that anyone can create a podcast. It doesn’t take much to rig up some audio equipment and record yourself talking. There are a plethora of outlets where you can broadcast your podcast which leaves one thing to the podcaster and that is marketing and promotion to get their voice heard to the masses. With church, you already have a community and that is your congregation. For a church, it becomes, even easier to start a podcast. Now you may be interested but don’t know where to start, well don’t fret, we will take you through every step on how to start your own church podcast.
Step 1 for a Church Podcast: Planning Church Podcast Ideas
So first things first, you need to figure out what your podcast is going to be. There are countless formats that you can follow, here are a few church podcast ideas:
- Church podcast hosting: Discussions with fellow co-hosts on various topics
- Church news podcast: Interviews with community members and prominent individuals
- Church stories podcast: Discussing the life of a church-goer
There are countless ideas, it can be helpful to take a poll and ask your community what they would like to see.
The next thing to focus on is the duration. The usual podcast is around 30–60 minutes long but that is not set in stone. There are plenty of podcasts that are only about six minutes long. You could create a daily shorts series or could go for in-depth episodes that require research.
Step 2 for a Church Podcast: Presentation
Once you have jotted down the structure of your podcast, it’s time for the finishing touches that make it shine. Good church podcast names for your podcast will go a long way. Think of something that can relate to your goals and can be easily memorable to your audience. Cover art is important when it comes to uploading your podcast to various outlets such as Soundcloud or Spotify. You can commission a piece from a designer if you don’t have an idea. The last thing is to have a catchy intro. Every popular show on TV has a memorable jingle and podcasts are no exception. It’s a great way to form your own identity.
Step 3 for a Church Podcast: Recording and Editing
Your church most probably has sound equipment that is used during sermons and recordings. This eliminates the need to buy new equipment and you can easily talk to the person in charge of it to help you set it for recording a podcast. With recording out of the way, the most daunting task for most newcomers is editing. It can be a brand new experience that will take time to learn and master. Luckily for you, there are if not countless tutorials available on the web to teach you. It’s possible to recruit youth volunteers to help you out if you don’t have the time to learn. Most kids are well-versed in technology and would love to get an opportunity to create something this impactful. If nothing else, you can always hire an editor to do it for you.
Step 4 for a Church Podcast: Church Podcast Hosting and Uploading
A church podcast hosting is a place to store and distribute your audio files. There are many options available, and because it’s a reasonably competitive area, you can always find one in your price range. After uploading, it’s time to submit it on all the major platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Youtube, Spotify, Pandora, and many more. This will ensure that your audience can easily locate your podcast.
Step 5 for a Church Podcast: Marketing
Without marketing, there is a big chance that your podcast will never get heard and all your work will be for nothing. Marketing is extremely vital and you are not short of competitors. So it’s important to spread the word and promote it everywhere. Tell your congregation about it and ask them to share it and be sure to promote it on your website and social media.
It’s to feel dejected after not seeing any positive results instantaneously. It may take time for your podcast to go off but it’s important to keep at it consistently. Instead of aiming for the world, try aiming for your community first.