I’ve never hosted a podcast before but this free app made it a breeze
According to podcastatistics.com, there are “more than 4.52 million podcasts worldwide, with nearly 487,200 new shows launching in the last three months alone.” In the United States alone, approximately 158 million people listen to podcasts every month. The popularity of podcasts shows no signs of slowing down, with the industry expected to reach $39.63 billion by the end of 2025, up from $30.72 billion in 2024.
With so much hype and interest around podcasts and podcasting, I figured it was high time to jump on the bandwagon and use my skills to host my own show. Now, it’s worth saying that before this experience, I had never hosted a podcast before. It’s not because I don’t like attention or am nervous about “exposing myself.” It’s just that the right opportunity hasn’t presented itself yet.
So, with all this new enthusiasm and desire to start a podcast, I proceeded to download Spotify for creators and create an account. So far everything is super simple. The trickiest thing was deciding what the podcast would be about. I have a lot of personal interests including tennis, soccer, and cycling, but ultimately decided to create a show about the latest tech products I’ve reviewed.
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The Spotify for Creators app is available on iOS and Android and is incredibly easy to use. We’ll cover all the main features, including recording a podcast, editing the audio, adding other contributors, presenting the podcast to the waiting world, and finally, tracking performance.
Record and edit an episode
The first step is to record the episode. It’s not possible to do this directly in the Spotify for Creators app, but instead you need to find your own recording workflow. It can be as simple as using the built-in voice recording features on your phone, tablet, or computer. Alternatively, you can use bespoke software like Audacity or Zencastr, which offer advanced recording tools. You may also consider purchasing a microphone to improve the quality of your captured audio.
If you would like to co-host or check in with guests remotely, this can be achieved using the Riverside integration. This allows you to record multi-track audio or video in your browser or on mobile, before importing the file directly into Spotify for Creators.
Since this was my first podcast, I wanted to keep things as simple as possible, so I used my MacBook with a connected microphone that I had on hand. I recorded directly into Adobe Audition, which allowed me to control sound levels. The same application then allowed me to trim the recording and normalize the audio for optimal quality.
After spending a little more time tinkering with the audio, I proceeded to export the file from Audition and import it into the Spotify for Creators app.
Connect with fans
Thanks to the Comments tab, it is possible to connect with your community. One of the main ways to do this is to interact with comments posted by your fans. The Spotify for Creators interface makes this quick and easy, just like any other messaging app you’re probably familiar with.
If you want to increase engagement, then it is possible to upload a short video clip from your episode and even run a poll. These will attract listeners to your podcast and give them another reason to interact with you as a host. Link surveys directly to your audio content and you’ll maximize your chances of engaging new listeners.
My podcast is in its early stages so my community is still very small, but I find that the app provides all the tools needed to help me grow my audience. It’s far from a lightweight podcasting platform, but instead offers all the tools I would expect from this type of app.
Increase your audience
Spotify for Creators offers a range of tracking features, including subscriber counts and episode playback. There is also data on how many hours of your content users have consumed. If you want to dig deeper into your audience demographics, it’s also possible to view statistics related to gender, age, geography, and the platforms they use to listen. All analytical data can be viewed over the last 7, 30 or 90 days, so you can track your progress over time.
If you are having trouble gaining subscribers, you can check out Spotify. “How to increase your podcast audience” resource. This includes help with finding your niche, researching your audience, and how to complement your audio content with video content. Following Spotify’s advice will give your podcast the best chance of success.
I don’t know where my podcast will end up, but I’m glad I started, and it couldn’t have been easier thanks to the Spotify for Creators app. Maybe it’s your time too.
Download Spotify for Creators on iOS And Android.
