Some of us love wandering through strange lands, traveling from continent to continent in search of the exotic. Yet, if you have a 9-to-5 desk job it may seem like that isn’t something you can do regularly. By starting a podcast (about travel), you can earn your living by having fun.
Here’s How to Start a Travel Podcast:
Tips on How to Start a Travel Podcast
Know Your Platforms
As a content creator, you should know which platforms are useful, which are trendy, and which are suitable for your needs. To host your podcast, use services such as Buzzsprout. Spotify and SoundCloud are ideal for podcast distribution. SpotifyStorm helps you grow your audience. For podcast hosting, choose Melon as a free service that requires very little setup.
What does this all mean? After recording your podcast you will need a server to keep your podcast audio files – that’s where a podcast hosting site like, Libsyn podcast hosting, comes in. Usually, you are given the option to distribute your podcast (to listeners) from within their platform – to different sites that listeners can use to tune in. The top app listeners used to tune into podcasts in 2020 was Spotify.
Set a Regular Schedule
I know, I know – you just left a job full of schedules. However, by keeping to a schedule you can be sure not to get side-tracked by your travels. Also, a regular podcasting schedule means listeners will be actively waiting for your podcast every week.
How Do I Make Money?
Most podcast hosting sites, as well as audio streaming services, will give you the option to monetize your podcast. This is done by placing ads before, after, or during your podcast. Another (more lucrative) way to earn money is by seeking out sponsors. Many podcasts giants are sponsored by companies that pay them to read a few scripted lines of advertisement during their podcast. You should aim to have as large an audience as possible, as sponsors/advertisers will usually pay proportional to your audience size. Wired Clip has a great guide for podcasting.
Be Unique
Although there aren’t many travel-related podcasts online, competition is fierce. If your content is unique you can almost guarantee that listeners will choose your podcast over others. You may try traveling to farther away destinations or maybe rediscover already well-known cities from a different perspective. If you have ever watched Anthony Bourdain’s show ‘Parts Unknown’ and were mesmerized by his travels – you get my point. If your content is not interesting to the listeners, everything else is redundant. Join the creative operations community is definitely something new and unique.
Use Quality Equipment
Your audience will be tuning in and listening to you speak – possibly with a guest or two. If your microphone is constantly rubbing against your clothes or has a continuous hum; you can expect listeners to start tuning out. Crisp, clear audio is the king of audio podcasts. Many podcasters also use a microphone windshield to avoid excess noise from blowing near to the microphone or other noises. If possible, you can record your podcasts in a room with very little background noise. Soundproofing your recording area is also a good idea. This can often prove to be their downfalls, and that’s why consulting reviews for all fishing gear out there is so important. Make sure to also look into Melon App’s streaming tool to create high quality live streams for your listeners.
Hosting Podcast Guests
It can be very difficult (but not impossible) to have a podcast with only one speaker. A monologue can get boring very fast. Since there is no one to respond to, podcasters without a guest can start to sound monotone, and quickly lose the listener’s attention. Generally, podcasters and other experts are keen to be accepted as podcast guests – it is a method of raise awareness of their own podcast/other product. A tried and true method is to go to other podcasts as a guest and in turn host the other podcaster on your show. In this way, both podcasts gain an audience.
Use Other Social Media
Even though your podcast is an audio stream – you can benefit from the larger user base of other social media platforms such as Youtube, Facebook, and Instagram. Many podcasters upload audio snippets from their podcast and upload them to other social media platforms. As these are usually the best parts of a longer podcast, they serve as a teaser – functioning much like a movie trailer.
With a few tricks, you can travel the world and earn money while doing so. In short, you would be having your cake and eating it too! With podcast revenues expected to rise, now is the optimal time to start your podcast.
