Podcasts have gained popularity within the last two decades as a form of entertainment that fits right into people’s busy lives.
Unlike videos, it requires less attention from the listener, which means it is also less effort for the animator wanting to start their own animation podcast. If you’re an animator who is rather camera-shy but still wants to engage with their listeners in a more personal way, this is for you.
Other than convenience, there are several other reasons why you should start an animation podcast that will be covered in this blog, as well as a step-by-step on how to get started.
If you’ve read our blog post about the top animation podcasts for freelance animators and considered making your own, you’re in the right place.
5 Reasons to Start an Animation Podcast
1) Lower Start-Up Costs
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The essential equipment needed to host your animation podcast is a computer/laptop with a stable internet connection and of course, an XLR or USB microphone.
A pop filter is also recommended to reduce plosive sounds we make when pronouncing a hard “P” or “T” and buying one doesn’t break the bank.
For animators new to podcasting, using your standard everyday earphones is a good enough start for your audio.
You can also buy a mixer to improve audio quality and offer multi-channel recordings if you have a co-host or decide to have guests on the show.
Lastly, you’ll need recording and editing software to capture and edit to perfection. There are multiple beginner-friendly options for recording and editing software to choose from that won’t break the bank.
Audacity is an industry favorite as it is easy to use and has no startup costs. This software is perfect for beginners since it has all the necessary features needed to capture clear audio and clean it up in post-production. There are also multiple video tutorials to help you get started!
If you own a Mac computer, another beginner-level software that’s free to download is GarageBand. The only drawback is that you won’t be able to record multiple guests on separate tracks. However, if you host a solo podcast then this won’t be an issue for you.
Of course, if it’s within your budget and you’re willing to invest in more equipment like mic stands, noise-canceling headphones, acoustic treatments, or just better quality equipment, be sure to read more about podcast basics here.
Remember, using expensive equipment doesn’t matter as much as what you have to bring to the table as an animator. What will keep your audience coming back is what you have to say.
2) Expand Your Reach
Just like starting your own animation blog or animation YouTube channel, starting your own animation podcast is another way to build an audience.
Once you’ve decided on your specific theme for your animation podcast and started posting, you will attract listeners who enjoy your style and content who can eventually become loyal listeners.
You can host your podcast on different platforms, such as Spotify or iTunes, which will expose your show to new listeners.
3) Increase Your Animation Network
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If you decide to interview guests on your show, this will only help you further expand your network within the animation industry. As your audience grows, so will your ability to reach out to more high-profile professionals within the animation industry.
These connections are valuable to keep in contact and maintain a good relationship with, as you would be more likely to get insight from or get a chance to collaborate on an animation project together.
For more tips on how to go about business networking for animators, check out our guide that will help prepare you to network in the animation industry.
4) Earn Money From Your Animation Podcast
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Although you may have considered starting a podcast as a hobby, there are ways you can make money from your show.
Depending on how high your download numbers or listener base are, you can reach out to companies for sponsorship deals.
You can also use your podcast to redirect your audience to your main website where you have a Call-To-Action for your animation services or a “recommended resources” option that includes an affiliate link. This way, you will earn a commission when a visitor makes a purchase from that link.
5) Time-Efficient
Once your animation podcast has been launched, maintaining it won’t be too time-consuming. Some podcast show hosts publish on a daily basis, and of course, that would be more work. However, most shows only post once a week or less.
As long as you have a set structure where you plan the content of the episode, record it, edit it, publish it, and then promote it, you will not need to dedicate too many hours.
It will only get easier for you to follow your set structure in a timely manner as you get the gist of it with practice and consistency.
How to Start an Animation Podcast
1) Decide On a Theme
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Deciding on a theme sets the tone for your animation podcast as all of your episodes would be centered around your main theme.
To get an idea of what your theme should be, consider who you want your target audience to be, then think of their interests, dislikes, and possible problems they may be facing.
Some animation podcasts focus on storyboarding, character design, and visual development like The Animated Journey. Others cover animation news and tutorials, such as RubberOnion Animation Podcast.
Your target audience can be aspiring freelance animators, aspiring studio owners, or animation clients. Once you’ve identified your target audience, you can more easily cater your content towards what they would want to listen to.
Once you’ve decided on a theme, it helps pave the way for your own niche within the animation industry.
2) Choose a Podcast Name
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Once you’ve established the theme for your animation podcast, it’s time to think of a name for it.
Try to convey your theme in the podcast’s name and use keywords. This will make it easier for people to find your podcast.
You should think of your podcast title as the show’s brand put into words. Keep it short and sweet, and try to convey your theme in the podcast’s name with keywords.
You should also add a brief description in the title tag to help with search results so your animation podcast is easier to find.
3) Prioritize Your Podcast Cover Art and Logo
As an animator hosting an animation podcast, you will probably look forward to this part of the process the most.
The most important part of your podcast is, of course, the content you will be speaking about. However, once your podcast is posted on a platform, the cover art is the first thing potential listeners would see.
Much like how your podcast name should convey the theme of your animation podcast, your artwork and logo are another creative way to stand out from the crowd and communicate the kind of podcasts you will be posting.
4) Create a Podcast Intro
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This step isn’t necessarily a requirement, but when done right, a catchy intro can improve listener engagement and give your animation podcast a personal touch just as your artwork would.
This can be done with theme music or a catchy slogan. Get creative!
5) Edit Your Animation Podcast
The post-production process is crucial for cleaning and touching up the audio to make it as clear as possible. This is also where you can add additional features, such as music and sound effects to your audio recordings before uploading them.
Riverside gives a 4-step run down on the post-production process for making your audio go from adequate to excellent:
Step 1: Podcast Editing
The first part of the process focuses on slicing and dicing the audio which will allow you to arrange it in a way that flows better. Once you’ve decided on your episode’s duration, you can trim any irrelevant parts out of the recording.
Step 2: Sound Design
The sound design focuses on the use of audio elements to enhance your listener’s experience. This includes the intro as stated above, as well as music tracks and sound effects that should be used strategically throughout your podcast without overdoing it.
Step 3: Mixing
Mixing focuses on the technical aspects of your audio quality. During the mixing process, you make adjustments to the elements in your audio tracks like reverb and pitch to get the best audio quality for your animation podcast and reduce noise.
Step 4: Mastering
This step is about putting the finishing touches on your podcast and polishing it up to prepare it for distribution. During this step, you’ll listen to the edited recording to detect anything you may have missed during the first step.
6) Create Quality and Consistent Content
When planning your episodes, keep the duration in mind and try your best to stay consistent with how often you post so your listeners keep coming back.
However, just as important as consistency is, what matters more is the content you will be speaking about in your podcast. As always, it’s important to consider your audience and what they find insightful, inspiring, or entertaining.
Another thing to consider when planning your animation podcast is your competition.
Stay ahead by studying their habits and identifying their podcasts’ strengths and weaknesses. By doing so, you can improve your own podcast’s content.
There are thousands of animation podcasts on several platforms that will cover similar, if not the same topics as you do. Pay attention to what your competitors haven’t spoken about so your own podcast can fill the gaps that aren’t covered yet.
In order to write quality content, you have to know your audience. Another way you can find out what they want is by using the search feature on Google with relevant suggested keywords.
Google Trends is a useful data exploration tool to use as an animator, as it helps you understand what your audience is interested in, what’s trending, and what’s outdated. Knowing this information helps you create beneficial animation content to talk about in your podcast.
Content quality is important, but so is your audio quality. The only way your audience will be engaged with you is through listening, which is why your podcast should be clear and easy to listen to.
When starting out, you may not be able to get all the equipment you want for your animation podcast, but there are some budget-friendly tips regarding podcast essentials as stated above.
When you’re starting out, it’s okay to only use what you’re able to get your hands on, but you can get creative with what you have at home.
It’s okay if you don’t have a mixer to add effects or equipment to help with acoustics just yet. As long as you’ve got a quiet space to work with where there’s minimal outside noise, you should be good to go.
Once your podcast is well-established, you can then invest in higher-quality audio equipment.
7) Promote Your Animation Podcast
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If you are able to get your podcast listed on paying platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Google Podcasts, it is already exposed to 95%+ of all podcast listeners.
Getting your podcast listed on these platforms is an important part of your marketing strategy, but don’t fret if you aren’t able to get your show on playing platforms just yet.
Choosing free (YouTube and SoundCloud) or budget-friendly platforms doesn’t mean you won’t have a successful animation podcast. It just means that you will have to put a little bit more effort into promoting your podcast yourself.
There are several podcast hosting platforms to choose from to suit your needs. When you’re just starting out as an animation podcast host, you might want to try out free platforms or platforms with free options to upload your podcast and grow your audience.
Popular platforms to consider with free options are Castos, PodBean, BuzzSprout, and RSS.com to name a few. All of these platforms come with their own unique set of features such as statistics, a text editor for notes, free websites, etc.
As an animator, you should leverage the following you have on your social media accounts by linking your podcast in your bio. Similarly, you should include your social links in the description of your podcast so your listeners will know where to find you if they want to see more of you.
Another good way to get exposure is by making a guest appearance on somebody else’s animation podcast. This exposes you to an audience interested in the animation industry and is an easy way for you to get people to tune in to your own podcast.
Why Should You Start an Animation Podcast?
If you’ve ever considered making your own podcast as an animator, but didn’t think you were capable of doing so or just needed that extra push, then you should consider the benefits and simplicity of hosting your own animation podcast.
5 Reasons To Start An Animation Podcast:
- Lower Start-Up Costs: When compared to videos, there’s a lower start-up cost for podcasts that require less equipment. Podcast essentials when starting out include a computer/laptop with a stable internet connection, a microphone, headphones, editing software, and a quiet space.
- Expand Your Reach: Starting an animation podcast can help you build your audience and expose you to new listeners.
- Increase Your Animation Network: Interviewing guests on your show will help you expand your network within the animation industry. As your audience grows, you will be able to reach out to high-profile animation experts and build valuable connections with them.
- Monetize Your Animation Podcast / Earn Money From Your Animation Show: Once you’ve got a decent amount of listeners, you can charge sponsors to be mentioned on your show or promote a product or service you’re affiliated with and redirect your listeners to that link.
- Time-Efficient: You don’t have to post daily as it is common for most podcasts today to post one episode weekly or less. Keep a set structure to dedicate just the right amount of hours to your podcast.
How To Start An Animation Podcast:
- Decide On a Theme: Your theme sets the tone for your animation podcast as your episodes would be centered around your main theme. To help you decide on a theme, consider your target audience and what they would be interested in.
- Choose A Podcast Name: Try to convey your theme in the podcast name and include keywords so that you’re more discoverable.
- Prioritize Your Podcast Cover Art and Logo: As important as the content is for your animation podcast, the cover art and logo is the first thing your potential listeners will see, so get creative!
- Create a Podcast Intro: Another creative way to add a personal touch is to include an intro to distinguish you from other animation podcasts.
- Edit Your Animation Podcast:
- Create Quality and Consistent Content: Make sure your episodes duration is similar and that you post consistently. To stand out from other animation podcasts, do your research on what your audience wants. This includes analyzing your competition and doing keyword research.
- Promote Your Animation Podcast: As an animator with different platforms, you should leverage your social media following by including your podcast link in your bio and vice versa.
For more tips on how to expand your career as a freelance animator, be sure to sign up for our free masterclass and download a copy of our free marketing handbook.
