We are living in really uncertain times. The global outbreak of COVID-19 has turned the world on its head, and the usual workings of things now look completely different. As a result of lockdowns or stay-at-home orders, you might find yourself with a lot more free time, so why not use that time to improve your podcast? There’s always something new we can learn, and no better time like the present to learn it. We’ve looked at a variety of different areas that work together to create a successful podcast and have found some great resources to help you hone your skills and improve your podcast game. There’s a mix of free and paid resources so there will definitely be something to suit everyone. Get your thinking cap on and get ready to start learning!

The Basics

First up, we start by looking at the resources available to help you master the basics of a successful podcast. We’ve got you covered with online courses from a variety of platforms as well as some great podcasts that will really help you improve your show.

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. 

2. The Podcast Masterclass: The Complete Guide to Podcasting

Udemy’s The Podcast Masterclass: The Complete Guide to Podcasting is another great resource to help you master the basics of podcasting. It really is a complete guide to all things podcasting, covering everything from growing and monetizing your show to how to add metadata to your episodes. This one does come at a cost, however, of around $200 (US), but this does buy you lifetime access to the course. Also, Udemy often runs great specials on their courses, so if you look out for it, you could get the course material for a real bargain!

3. 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 variety of podcast-related courses you can take through The Podcast Host Academy. There is an annual cost involved, but you’ll get the benefit of expert guidance on your way to podcasting excellence. 

4. 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, and offer mentorship, encouragement, and support along the way. 

5. 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.  

For more great podcasts to help you podcast, check out our post on our Top 10 Podcasts About Podcasting.

Content Creation

It’s no secret that the long term success of any podcast is greatly dependent on the quality and value of its content. The bottom line is that great content that gives value to your audience is always going to be what makes you and your show a success. As a podcaster, your content flows from the specialist knowledge you have within your niche, but you can also enhance your content by taking writing-focused courses. The Internet is full of free and paid writing courses, but the course we’ve decided to feature is one aimed at improving your writing productivity, therefore maximizing the time you have to put into your show.

1. Productivity Hacks for Writers

This course is full of great strategies and proven techniques to help you get the most out of your writing time. Whether it’s for your podcast episodes, or for your blog or social media posts (more on those later!) you’ll be equipped with hacks to get you in the “writing zone” and dramatically improve your writing skills. This course is available on Udemy for $100, but it is often available at a discounted price. 

Related read: 7 Tips for Creating Great Podcast Content

Blogging 

If you’ve been podcasting for a while, then you are well-aware of the necessity of having a blog alongside your podcast. If you are new to the podcasting scene, running a blog is an important part of increasing the overall discoverability of your podcast as it improves your SEO (Search Engine Optimization). And while courses for content creation can be used to enhance your blogging skills, we also think it would be helpful to feature some courses focused solely on the mechanics of blogging. This includes courses that help you master your blogging platform, as well as those focused on enhancing your blogging skills.

1. WordPress for Beginners – Master WordPress Quickly

WordPress is a very popular blogging platform. It’s user friendly with a range of price plans, and while you can figure the basics out, there are some software-related features that you may need some guidance mastering. This WordPress for Beginners course from Udemy is a great way to master WordPress quickly. The course covers all the basics of the platform and will help you build a beautiful, responsive website. As with most Udemy courses, it costs around $195 (US), but remember to keep an eye out for those specials!

NOTE: Whatever blogging platform you use, there’s sure to be an online course for it. Do a little research to find the one that best meets your needs. Also, the platform itself also often offers a tutorial on the basics of the site which can be really informative.

2. How to Start a Blog – Blogging for Beginners

Skillshare has a whole range of courses specifically to enhance your blogging skills. The How to Start a Blog course is run by Laurie Wang, an award-winning blogger, who shares the skills she’s picked up along the way. If you’re signing up to Skillshare for the first time, you’ll get two free months of Skillshare Premium, after which, there is a monthly fee of around $15 (US), but you can cancel your membership at any time. 

Related read: How to Improve the Discoverability of Your Podcast 

Software and Editing 

When it comes to podcast editing there are a variety of thoughts on the matter. There are some who think that editing can only be done by the tech-savvy among us and there are others who believe it is a costly endeavor and write it off entirely. The main hurdle podcasters face when it comes to editing is not knowing how to use their software to its fullest. So if you’re needing a little help in the editing department, we’ve got some resources just for you.

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. Adobe Audition CC Audio Production Course Basics to Expert

If you’re looking to use Adobe Audition for your podcast, then a course to master the basics is a great idea. This course featured on the Udemy platform is run by audio guru, Mike Russel. Throughout the course, Mike not only covers all the bases when it comes to using Adobe Audition, but he also shares audio editing tips and tricks as well as audio production secrets which you can start applying to your show. This course is usually around $200, but like all Udemy courses, you get lifetime access to the content. 

3. 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 another paid resource you can use to equip you with the skills of a professional podcast sound engineer and producer. 

Related read: 8 Strategies for Faster Podcast Editing

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. 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.

2. Social Media Marketing Mastery

This Udemy course gives you everything you need to know to master social media marketing on a variety of social platforms, from Facebook to Pinterest and everything in between! It’s chock-full of amazing insights and sound strategies to boost your social media presence which you can then use to expand your show’s audience. This course really does have everything you need to know to master that all-important social media marketing, and so would be a really effective way to use some of that lockdown time.

Related read: Best Places to Promote Your Podcast

Closing Thoughts

We still face a lot of uncertainty in the days and weeks ahead, and while we have little control over how long lockdowns and stay-at-home orders will last, what we can control to a large extent is what we do with our time. And there is no better time than the present to hone and enhance your podcasting skills! Whether you want to be able to create better content or you want to improve your editing skills, there are so many great courses you can take or podcasts you can listen to boost your abilities and so improve your show. We should never stop learning or finding ways to enhance our skills, and the courses and shows mentioned on this list are just some of the great ways we can do that. Give some (or all!) of them a try and just see the difference, not only in your show but also in your podcasting confidence! 

Related read: How to Start a Podcast 2020 Edition