How to start Podcasting on a tight budget
A very common question is “Can I start a Podcast for Free?” the answer is yes but you can significantly improve the quality of your Podcast by spending a very small amount at the beginning.
In this article, you will learn how to start podcasting on a tight budget.
By following these steps you can start Podcasting with as little as €100 investment money.
With a bit of patience and persistence, you can also make money from Podcasts. Many of our Podcast partners have gone on to get sponsorship which has more than covered any costs involved in making a Podcast.
Keep reading for an exclusive free service offer that will help you start Podcasting for less money.
Best mic under 100 Euro / Dollars
Never start a Podcast without a microphone if you are serious. Your iphone isn’t good enough and neither is the mic built into your computer or webcam. Using an inbuilt laptop mic sounds like this:
For €80/$90, you can have a podcast that sounds infinitely better.
Duplicate this price for each speaker if you are recording with everyone in one space.
I suggest avoiding Condenser or Blue Yeti brand microphones, which get marketed as Podcast microphones. They are overpriced for what you get and unsuitable for a lot of rooms.
If you are looking for the best budget podcast microphone, then dynamic microphones are a safe and reliable choice:
The Samson Q2U or the Audio Technica ATR2001x are dynamic USB microphones that require you to plug into a laptop or computer and hit record.
They sound great and are suitable if you want to start podcasting from home as they reject a lot of background noise. Here is a sample recording I made with a Samson Q2U, in a sizeable untreated room:
Headphones
Headphones are essential for monitoring recording levels and avoiding speaker feedback.
Again, they don't need to be expensive. You may have a pair lying around that will do the job you need. Sony, Sennheiser, AKG and Audio Technica good brands.
If you are buying new Headphones on a budget, I would suggest spending roughly 30-40 euro.
For a solid, affordable pair, I suggest Audio-Technica ATH-M20X. However, if you already have headphones at home, use them and save money.
Podcast Cover Art (€15 - €30 once-off payment)
If you have experience in Canva or Photoshop, you might do this yourself and save some money.
However, Fiverr represents incredible value. You can get something made up for as little as $15. This usually involves finding a reputable seller with good reviews, letting them know what you want, send any assets such as photos or logos. You will have your Podcast artwork back in a few days.
Get Podcast cover art with Podlad
If you are a Podcast beginner who has taken the time to read this then we are happy to offer you podcast starter cover art. Contact us now and we can make something that fits with your brand.
We can create simple, effective and contemporary:
If you are looking for something more advanced, we suggest checking out Fiverr where lots of designers provide cover art at very afforable prices:
Royalty free Music (€8 once-off payment)
Music is great for giving your Podcast a bit of identity. Audio Jungle represents the best value on the market for finding music for a podcast on a budget. You can set the search filter to the maximum amount you would like to pay and see what's available.
Try and choose something that matches the tone and personality of your Podcast. For more help on choosing music, check out my previous article on finding music for a podcast.
Recording and editing software (free)
Audacity offers a free solution for recording and editing. For recording, you don’t need to be any kind of audio expert. It’s as simple as hitting record and making sure the levels are healthy.
Audacity can also be used to edit Podcasts, as it offers multitrack editing. This requires a bit more time to learn what you are doing. It is limited when processing and polishing the audio (for this, you will need to hire an editor), but it is a great free tool for editing a Podcast if you are on a tight budget.
Remote Podcast Recording Platform
If you want to start a podcast that involves remote guests, you need to use a remote Podcast recording platform.
A paid platform may save a lot of potential headaches and guarantee good quality. Zoom is good as a free option but requires some tweaking.
My advice here would be to start with the free solution and see how you get on, then look to upgrade later if you need to:
Zoom (free)
If you want to use the free option of zoom, I highly recommend following my previous article on using zoom for Podcasting.
By default zoom settings are set up for conference calls, not podcasts
However, By changing a few simple settings, you will get much better quality out of zoom.
Zoom has the potential to deliver really good quality audio for Podcasting.
Cleanfeed (free)
Cleanfeed is an excellent free service for anyone looking to record a Podcast with a remote guest for free. Cleanfeed allows multiple speakers to join in a conversation and records a high quality audio file, it is one of the best services I have come across for recording Podcast audio.
Paid option - Riverside.fm - approx €9 per month
Riverside.fm makes recording podcasts remotely extremely easy. It records audio for all guests individually and at source for the highest possible quality.
It’s easy to use for you and whoever dials into the call.
There are also lots of additional features such as multitrack editing and video support inside the paid plan. If you have the budget, this will save a lot of the potential headaches of zoom.
Best Podcast hosting site
In order to start podcasting, You will need a podcast host. This creates an RSS feed and gets your Podcast onto Spotify, iTunes, Google and other platforms.
Anchor (free)
Anchor.fm is a free Podcast hosting site run by Spotify. It is perfect for beginners or hobbyists.
Be aware that technically, Anchor will own all your Podcast content while you use their hosting service. This can make it complicated if you ever want to monetise your Podcast.
It also offers zero support, so if you are having trouble with a feed or a technical issue, don’t expect Anchor to solve it for you in a hurry.
Paid option - Podbean - approx €7.50 per month
Podbean is the most affordable of all the major Podcast hosting services. At just €7.50 per month, you can get a plan that will allow you to upload plenty of Podcasts in a month.
As it’s a paid service, it offers very good support features.
How much money can you make Podcasting?
If you’re starting out then the amount of money you can make directly from Podcasting is limited. However, I have seen some very niche Podcasts go on to receive sponsorship which has meant any costs involved have been covered.
I think the most valuable and realistic way to make money from Podcasts to be lead generation. The vast majority of Podcasters I have worked with have found that having a Podcast has made money indirectly as opposed to directly through advertising or sponsorship.
A Podcast creates brand awareness. If you have a Podcast, more than likely you run a business or offer another service. This should be promoted on your Podcast. It’s also likely that you invite guests onto your Podcast. Many Podcasters find that creating new connections and networking with these guests had led to new business.
Making money from Podcasts is still in its infancy and it should not be your primary focus, but it’s also a lot more realistic than people realise. You need to be patient and consistent as well as focusing on making the very best Podcast you can, which is something we can help with.
Find out more about how you can start making money from a Podcast in this article.
Budgeting for a Podcast
You have learned how to start podcasting on a minimal budget, that looks something like this:
Essentials
Microphone - €80
Podcast Cover Art - €20 (or get for Free with Podlad)
Recommended
Headphones - €30 (use a pair you have already and save)
Royalty-Free music - €9
For an investment of under €100, you can start Podcasting in no time with everything you need to make a professional sounding podcast.
Do what works for you and good luck Podcasting!
Do you want help starting a Podcast?
It’s not hard to start a Podcast. By contacting us using this form we are happy to offer you a Podcast consultation for free. We can advise on equipment, recording, format and promotion while keeping costs to a minimum.
