Are you looking for ways to take your podcast to the next level? You could look at growing your audience through email marketing, upping your social media game, or spend more time in the editing process to help fine tune the final product. All of these are ways that could really boost your reach and improve your podcast. But there is another way you can improve your podcast – you could improve yourself!
You are the one thing every area of your podcast has in common, so if you can improve your skills in some (or all) of those areas, it follows that you’ll be able to channel that into your show, making it that much better all round!
And to help make that process all the more actionable, we’ve collected some of our favorite resources covering different areas of podcasting to help you enhance your podcasting skill set. Best of all, all these resources we’re sharing today are totally free, or can be accessed through a free trial period. Meaning there is zero reason to not boost those skills today!
Check these out!
Podcasting Basics
First up, we start by looking at the resources available to help you master the basics of a successful podcast. These courses are offered by a variety of platforms in a variety of mediums, but have two important things in common. 1. They are free! And 2. They will help you lay a great podcasting foundation! Even if you’ve been creating your show for a while, these “basic” courses can serve as a great refresher, or as a reminder for things you may have let slip through the cracks.
1. How To Start A Podcast from Buzzsprout
First up is the How To Start A Podcast course from Buzzsprout. It’s a step-by-step guide covering all the podcasting basics, from how to find the perfect name for your show to the ins and outs of a successful podcast launch. And best of all, it’s totally free! Yup, that’s right, you’ll get all this expert advice and guidance without it costing you a dime. As one of the leading names in the industry, Buzzsprout has helped over 100,000 podcasters launch their show, so they are more than qualified to help you improve your podcasting skills.
This course has been expertly put together, with video content to walk you through each step of getting your podcast up and running. It really is the perfect course to help you cover all the basics.
2. Podcraft
Podcraft is a podcast run by The Podcast Host created to help you “Hone the art of podcasting,” as their by-line states. Each season, a different podcast-related topic is covered and explored in-depth, giving you all you need to master that aspect for your show. Podcraft’s main aim is to take you from beginner to pro by equipping you with the skills you need to make your name in the industry. So whether you want to learn how to market or monetize your podcast, how to create valuable content for your listeners, or you’re just wondering which microphone you should buy, you’ll find loads of handy information to help you turn your show into the best that it can be.
The Podcast Host also has a whole host of guides and tutorials available that will give your podcasting skills an even greater boost. If you want to know more about monetization options, an in-depth look at software, or want to find out more about promoting your show, check out all they have on offer here.
3. She Podcasts
Another great podcast for podcasting is She Podcasts, hosted by Elsie Escobar and Jessica Kupfermanis. The episodes are packed with all the information, tips, and tricks you could possibly need for running a successful podcast, but they also offer tons of support to female podcasters.
They’ve gathered over 10k female podcasters around them on their Facebook Group, where they offer mentorship, encouragement, and support along the way.
4. The Audacity To Podcast
Hosted by expert podcaster, Daniel J. Lewis, The Audacity To Podcast is a podcast that offers easy-to-follow, step-by-step guidelines, in-depth information, and honest insight into the many facets of podcast creation and publication. Everything you could ever need to launch or improve your podcast can be found on this show. Daniel provides workable answers and gives solid advice besides covering all things podcasting in great depth.
You can check out the podcast episodes wherever you get your podcasts, or head over to the website which offers all the hot tips and take-aways in a text-based format.
5. How to Start a Podcast
Udemy is a site jam-packed with amazing courses to help you learn just about anything! And, they have one for starting a podcast which you can take for free! Udemy’s How to Start a Podcast course offers 57 minutes of video content, all focused on helping you get off on the right foot on your podcasting adventure.
Over 20,000 students have enrolled in this course, and comes very highly recommended by it’s past students. It covers topics such as How to Grow your Podcast Downloads, How to Monetize your Podcast, as well as How to Add ID3 Tags, Images, and more to Your Podcast Episodes.
Related read: How To Start A Podcast In 2021
YouTube
YouTube has a great offering for those looking to amp up their podcasting skill set! Check out some of our favorites.
1. Buzzsprout
YouTube is also a treasure trove of amazing resources to help you enhance your podcasting skill set! The Buzzsprout – Learn How To Podcast channel is where you can find all their fun, informative videos. There is a ton of great content there! From tech reviews and software tutorials, all the How to Start a Podcast videos, as well as the Podcasting Q&A content, you’ll always learn something new, no matter how long you’ve been in the industry!
2. Pat Flynn
Pat Flynn’s YouTube channel is another one to subscribe to if you want to seriously boost those podcasting skills! He’s got playlists for helping you make money online, and even a series on helping you find the right platform to grow your audience, but the one all newbie and would-be podcasters should check out is How to Start a Podcast the SMART Way! It’s reportedly the most watched “how to start a podcast” series on YouTube, and it’s crammed with useful tips and tricks.
Related read: How To Use YouTube To Grow Your Podcast Audience
Software and Editing
Newsflash! Razor-sharp podcast editing is not only for the tech-savvy and professionally-qualified among us! While it is certainly easier to have your podcast edited professionally, you might not be in a place where this is a viable option for you. Or, perhaps you really enjoy the editing process, but you’d like to up the ante and enhance your skills. The following courses can help you do just that!
1. Start Learning Audacity…For Free on Udemy
Audacity, an open-source, cross-platform audio software, is a very popular choice for podcast recording and editing, mainly because it is free, but also because it is fairly user-friendly and has a vast array of features for you to use. However, the key to making editing easier is a thorough knowledge of the product.
Udemy offers a free Audacity course which teaches you everything you need to know about Audacity. There are 39 tutorials for you to work through which will take you from novice to pro-user in no time.
2. The Podcast Engineering Show
Another great resource for all the info on the technical side of podcasting that you could possibly want is The Podcast Engineering Show, hosted by Chris Curran. Chris’s vast background in sound production, not only in relation to podcasts but also in music production, makes him the perfect person to equip podcasters with the knowledge they need to produce high-quality episodes.
Chris is also the founder of the Podcast Engineering School which is a paid resource you could perhaps consider to equip you with the skills of a professional podcast sound engineer and producer.
3. Pod Sound School®
The duo behind Pod Sound School have some incredible resources available via their YouTube channel, as well as through their other platforms. They place a strong focus on high-quality audio, and have some seriously actionable tips to share!
They also offer a free podcasting master class which aims to show the smart way to launch your podcast, and get you to your first 1000 downloads!
Related read: 10 Editing Tips To Increase Your Podcast Sound Quality
Social Media Marketing
Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter are the top three tried and tested platforms for promotion of any kind, so they are all great places to promote your podcast. They are also successful because they cater to a variety of different media, meaning that you can really get creative with the ways you advertise your podcast. But there are some tricks to getting the most out of your social media marketing, and these resources have been designed to show you just how to make social media marketing work for you.
1. QuickSprout University
QuickSprout University, offered on Neil Patel’s QuickSprout website offers everything you need to become a world-class digital marketer. With the tagline of “ Get your MBA in digital marketing for free” this course lives up to that expectation and then some. You’re encouraged to treat the page as your syllabus, and work your way through each offering. Once you’re through, you’ll have skyrocketed your social media marketing skills, and you’ll be able to get your show out there in all the right places.
2. Podcast Marketing: How to Promote a Podcast In 2021 [Guide]
This guide, offered by Respona, is another “must-have” in your efforts to enhance your podcasting skill set. There is so much to glean from this guide! Not only does it offer some best practices for effectively marketing your podcast, but you’ll also find a step-by-step strategy for promoting your podcast. There are also some great examples from well-known shows to help you see the best ways to promote your podcast in 2021. It’s a must-have in your arsenal to help you boost those skills!
3. Facebook Blueprint
Facebook Blueprint allows you the freedom and access to explore fast, free, self-guided courses to help build your marketing skills across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp. And what an array of courses to choose from! Whether you want to use Instagram more effectively or make your Instagram account standout, or perhaps you want the insight needed to attract your audience, Facebook Blueprint has all this to offer and so much more, without you having to pay a cent.
Related read: Social Media Marketing Options For Podcasts
SkillShare
We’ve added Skillshare as an “honorable mention” on this list. While technically a paid-for resource, if it’s your first time signing up for a Skillshare account, your first month is free. You can then “enroll” in as many courses as you can within that period.
The platform really offers some incredible courses on a ton of different topics at different levels of expertise and skill. You’ll definitely find plenty to help you on your podcasting journey.
These are just three of our top picks.
Note: There are often two or even three-month free subscriptions offered by other sites or organizations. With a little skilled Internet surfing, you might find one of these offers available.
1. Podcasting: Zero to Launch on iTunes [Beginners Playbook]
This is another great course to help you master the podcasting basics. As the name suggests, this course is your beginner’s playbook to the wonderful (but sometimes daunting) world of podcasting. It covers everything you need to know to take that great podcast idea from zero to launch!
2. Podcast Marketing: How to Grow Your Audience with a Marketing Plan, Social Media & Metadata Tips
This course offers a comprehensive and actionable marketing plan for your podcast. It offers great insights into podcast marketing, and you’ll come away with the skills to develop an online voice for your show, where to find potential listeners, and how to add your voice to the broader podcasting community. Perfect for any podcaster!
3. Social Media Marketing: Top Tips for Growing Your Followers & Going Viral
While your aim in using social media to market your podcast is probably not to “go viral”, this class available on Skillshare offers some really great insight into the ins and outs of social media marketing which you can leverage to grow your show’s audience. Cat shares some really great insights which are sure to elevate your social media presence.
Closing Thoughts
There’s always something new we can learn, and no better time like the present to learn it. And while so many variables in life are out of our control, what we can certainly take control over is what we want to learn, and the skills we want to master.
So whether you want to be able to create better content or you want to improve your editing skills, there are so many great resources out there to help you do so. And best of all, all of those mentioned on this post are available to you for free, with the exception of the Skillshare course after your free trial period expires, of course! But even though they come without a price tag, the amount of value you’ll be able to bring to all the areas of your show thanks to your new and improved skill set is priceless!
