How to Start a Podcast With No Audience: A Step-By-Step Guide (2025)

Key takeaways:

• Careful planning is crucial: Before launching your podcast, invest time in conceptualizing your format, niche, and target audience. A well-defined podcast identity and a strategic approach to branding will help differentiate you from competitors.
• Leverage high-profile guests and communities: If you don’t have an existing audience, bringing on well-known guests or engaging with established communities can help you tap into their listeners and grow your reach organically.
• Consistency and multi-platform publishing matter: Regularly releasing episodes and publishing widely on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube increases discoverability and listener retention. A structured release schedule helps build audience loyalty.
• Use Riverside for high-quality recording and editing: Riverside offers studio-quality audio and video recording, local track recording for better sound, and easy-to-use AI-powered editing features like text-based cutting and automatic show notes. These tools streamline podcast production and ensure professional results.

No audience? No problem. You don’t need an existing following to launch a successful podcast. All you need is a good idea, dedication, and tools.

There are lots of successful podcasters who started just like this!In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to launch a podcast from scratch, key strategies for building a loyal audience, and how to use Riverside to get started.

I’ll also provide a few examples of podcasters who achieved major success despite humble beginnings.

Let’s go!

Starting a podcast with no audience: An 8-step guide 

Starting a podcast without an existing audience might seem daunting, but don’t let that discourage you. 

You can build a loyal following from the ground up with the right strategy. Here’s your step-by-step guide to launching a podcast from scratch and growing your listener base over time.

Step 1: Plan and conceptualize your podcast

Since you’re building from the ground up, you need to spend a reasonable amount of time planning and conceptualizing. 

Rather than jumping straight in, it’s worth properly planning your podcast, what it’ll look like, what you’ll talk about, and who you’ll feature. A few key things you should sort out include:

Define your podcast's identity:

• What is your podcast about? Outline your main topics and themes.
• Why should people listen? Determine your unique value proposition—what sets your podcast apart?
• What’s your format? Will it be interviews, solo episodes, panel discussions, or a mix?
• How long will the episodes be? Consider what best suits your content and audience expectations.

Establish your tone and style. Do you want your podcast to be educational, entertaining, casual, or formal? Will you use humor, storytelling, or expert insights to engage your audience?

Define a consistent tone that aligns with your target audience and niche.

Deciding on a niche for your podcast will make marketing your show easier and generate organic momentum. Entering a niche podcast topic rather than a saturated and popular genre will make it easier to leverage existing online communities. How to find your niche:

• Passion + Demand: Choose a topic you’re passionate about, but ensure there’s an audience for it.
• Look for gaps in the market: What’s missing in your field? Can you approach a popular topic from a fresh angle?
• Balance specificity and growth potential: A highly niche podcast (e.g., "Freelancing for Graphic Designers") may have a small but loyal audience, while a broader podcast (e.g., "Career Advice") may have more competition but wider reach.

Before committing to a niche, research existing podcasts to see what’s working and where you can add value.

Step 2: Identify your target audience

To grow a podcast from zero, you must focus on a specific listener profile rather than trying to appeal to everyone. Pinpointing your ideal listener will help you direct your content creation to appeal to particular interests. This will also help you target your outreach and promotion by tapping into an existing community. 

How to define your ideal listener:

1. Identify key demographics: Age, location, profession, and interests.
2. Understand their habits: Where do they consume content? What problems are they looking to solve?
3. Look for existing communities: Search Twitter, Reddit, Facebook groups, and LinkedIn to find engaged discussions in your niche.
4. Analyze competitor podcasts: See who engages with similar shows and tailor your content accordingly.

Create a listener persona; a fictional representation of your ideal audience member. For example:

• Name: Alex
• Age: 32
• Occupation: Freelancer interested in self-improvement
• Pain points: Wants to maximize productivity but struggles with distractions
• Listening habits: Listens to podcasts during morning commutes or workouts
• Preferred content: Enjoys actionable insights, expert interviews, and relatable personal stories

This persona will guide your content creation and marketing strategies.

Step 3: Get to know your competitors

Understanding your competition helps you position your podcast effectively and find opportunities to stand out. By analyzing other podcasts in your niche, you can learn what works, what doesn’t, and where you can provide unique value.

How to Research Your Competitors:

1. Identify similar podcasts: Search on podcast directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts using keywords related to your topic. Take note of popular and emerging shows.
2. Analyze their content: Listen to a few episodes to understand their format, style, and tone. What topics do they cover? How do they engage their audience?
3. Check their reviews: Read listener feedback to see what people love and criticize. Use this insight to refine your approach.
4. Evaluate their branding and marketing: Look at their podcast name, cover art, social media presence, and promotional strategies. What makes them stand out?
5. Engage with their community: Follow their social media, join discussions, and see how they interact with listeners. This can reveal gaps in engagement that you can capitalize on.

 Use this information to:

• Differentiate your podcast: Offer a fresh perspective, unique format, or improved production quality.
• Leverage their audience: Engage with their listeners on social media or collaborate with complementary podcasts.
• Avoid common pitfalls:  Learn from negative reviews and mistakes made by competitors to improve your content.

Step 4: Build strong branding

Since you don’t have an audience, great branding will help you stand out and attract new listeners.

Some essential branding elements include: 

• Podcast name: Choose something catchy, memorable, and relevant to your niche. You can use our free podcast name generator to get started.
• Cover art and logo: Invest in high-quality, eye-catching, professional, and professional visuals.
• Podcast description: Write a compelling summary that hooks potential listeners.
• Consistent tone and messaging: Align your website, social media, and episode descriptions with your branding.

Pro Tip: If you’re not a designer, consider hiring a freelancer to create professional branding assets.

Step 5: Leverage high-profile guests

If you lack social clout, the best strategy is to borrow from others. Invite popular or well-known guests to your show and leverage their community. 

You don’t need to have celebrity guests. Chances are there are well-known and respected people within your thematic niche who would love the exposure!

How to get notable guests:

• Start with your network: Reach out to colleagues, friends, or industry connections.
• Target micro-influencers: People with engaged niche followings are more accessible than big celebrities.
• Offer value: Explain how appearing on your podcast benefits them—exposure, networking, or a chance to promote their work.
• Leverage guest audiences: Ask guests to share these episodes with their followers.

Read: 11 Ways to Find People Worth Interviewing

Step 6: Record high-quality content

Producing high-quality content is non-negotiable when you’re starting. No one likes fuzzy audio or patchy video. They want it even less when they’re taking a chance by listening to an unknown podcaster! 

Riverside is a powerful all-in-one podcasting platform designed to help you easily record, edit, and publish professional-quality episodes. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced podcaster, Riverside’s features make the process seamless.

• Studio-quality recording: Capture up to 4K video and 48 kHz audio for crystal-clear sound and visuals.
• Local recording for each speaker: Prevent internet dropouts from affecting audio quality by recording each participant separately.
• Separate audio and video tracks: Gain complete control in post-production with individually recorded tracks.‍
• Text-based editing: Edit your podcast by simply adjusting the transcript—no complicated software is needed.‍
• AI-powered enhancements: Automatically clean up background noise and improve audio clarity with one click.‍
• One-click export & publishing: Distribute your podcast to major platforms directly from Riverside.

In addition to using excellent podcast recording software, here are some other recording tips to make your podcast sound and look great:

• Use an external microphone and camera to boost audio and video quality significantly.
• Find a quiet space to reduce background noise for a polished final product.
• Wear headphones to prevent audio feedback and ensure clear communication.
• Optimize lighting and framing to ensure good lighting and proper camera placement for professional-looking videos.
• Run a test recording to check audio levels and video settings before hitting the record.

Read More: 20 Podcast Recording Tips for Beginners

Step 7: Create consistently and publish widely

To build a loyal and dedicated podcast audience, you must commit to recording and publishing your podcast regularly. A consistent podcast publication schedule requires planning and a substantial investment of time to record and edit everything. 

Since you want to maximize your exposure, you must also ensure that you publish your podcast everywhere. You want to reach potential audience members wherever they might be listening, so don’t be precious about which platforms you distribute to. 

I recommend finding a high-quality podcast hosting platform that distributes content to major podcast directories. This way, whenever new content is published, it will be available to listeners across all major podcasting platforms.

Step 8: Design an effective marketing strategy 

Alongside branding and sharing, you should develop a podcast marketing strategy that effectively promotes your content and builds your community. This strategy will include promoting your content within and outside your existing network.

Consider how you will generate interest in your content across all social platforms. This means incorporating the creation of social media assets into your production process and dedicating time to posting on your social media regularly. 

Ensuring your podcast is active on social media is imperative for building a wide-reaching community. Riverside’s Magic Clips tool makes creating shareable, short-form social media videos and teasers easy as part of your podcast creation workflow. 

Other marketing options include creating a podcast blog, optimizing your podcast for SEO, and even using paid advertising or podcast promotion services.

3 successful podcasters who started with no audience

Need a little inspiration before you launch? Here are a few podcasters who built successful podcasts from scratch.

Answer Me This! 

The Answer Me This! podcast certainly had humble beginnings - it launched in a London living room! Co-created and hosted by Helen Zaltzman and Olly Mann, the podcast’s format was simple: answer quirky questions submitted by listeners. 

The series became one of the most popular podcasts in Britain, eventually recording more than 400 episodes over 14 years.

Silly Stories for Kids

Sam Ramsden’s podcasting career started with an active imagination and a penchant for telling great bedtime stories. The Australian electrician and father of four eventually began sharing his stories through a podcast he recorded in a cupboard lined with blankets, using only a microphone and his computer. 

Since its launch in 2023, Silly Stories for Kids has released hundreds of episodes and garnered over hundreds of thousands of downloads, making it one of the most popular children’s podcasts.

Life Shift 

Matt Gilhooly began Life Shift modestly as a grassroots project. Inspired by his own life-altering experiences, Gilhooly’s podcast features candid conversations with people about the key moments that transformed their lives. 

Since its launch, the podcast has recorded hundreds of episodes and was recognized as one of the top podcasts of 2024.

Dos and don’ts for creating a podcast from scratch

There’s no set formula for creating successful podcasts, but there are definitely a few core ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts: 

Do invest in high-quality tools 

High-quality recording is fundamental for podcasters. Bad audio quality is a real deterrent, especially when attracting new audiences. Invest in the highest quality tools you can afford, and assess free options based on the quality they’ll bring to your production.

Read more: Best Podcast Equipment for Any Budget (2024)

Do stay true to yourself 

Audiences love authenticity. Develop a unique show that celebrates your genuine voice rather than trying to emulate someone else or copy another podcast’s format. It’s far more likely to be successful.

"When starting with no audience, the key is to focus on valuable, niche content. For Scaling Today, I concentrated on remote team management and IT management solutions, knowing this would resonate with business owners and managers in need of insights on scaling operations. I promoted the podcast through LinkedIn, where I had an existing network, and cross-promoted with other podcasts in a similar field. I also uploaded episodes to Spotify and YouTube to make them accessible to a wider audience, and guest appearances on other podcasts helped expose Scaling Today to new listeners." - Yuying Deng, Scaling Today podcast.

Do have fun

Starting a podcast from scratch can be stressful, overwhelming, or demotivating. Remember to have fun with it and not take things too seriously. If you love what you’re doing and produce content you believe in, chances are like-minded listeners will, too. 

Don’t get too obsessed with audience numbers 

When starting a podcast without a following, it’s easy to get obsessed with the numbers. Though keeping an eye on your podcast analytics is undoubtedly helpful to an extent, it won’t do you any good in the very early days. Even the best podcasts take a while to gain traction, so try not to overthink it too much. 

"Starting without an audience feels intimidating, but it’s doable. I leaned into existing connections—friends, social media, work contacts. I’d share new episodes and encourage people to listen, even if it was just a handful at first. Getting involved in niche communities made a big difference. I’d join Facebook groups or subreddits about topics my podcast covered, not to promote, but to contribute. That engagement brought listeners who stuck around." - Doug Cunnington, Niche Site Project

Don’t assume anything 

An easy trap is assuming you’ll get your podcast format, content, and style right the first time. Don’t be afraid to take constructive criticism or adapt your content to suit your growing audience. 

Don’t underestimate the importance of editing 

It’s easy to underestimate the importance of editing and post-production. In reality, this stage can make or break your podcast. 

You want to edit compelling, naturally flowing episodes and build an engaging narrative. Avoid choppy or clumsy edits that confuse your listeners. And be sure to leverage all your editor's tools, such as adding media, sound effects, or captions. These features will help you take your podcast from good to fantastic.

FAQs on how to start a podcast with no audience

Still looking for information? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions.

Should you start a podcast with no audience?

The beauty of podcasting is that it has a very low barrier to entry—anyone can get involved. You can start with as little as a laptop, and many free tools are available to help you record, edit, and promote your work.

Even if you don’t have an audience yet, with consistent output, effective marketing, promotion and outreach, and high-quality content, building one is entirely possible. Plus, you have very little to lose if you start a podcast for free.

How do I start a podcast with no guests?

You don’t need guests lined up to launch a podcast. You could even start small by recording a solo show with just you and your laptop.

How do I start a podcast with nothing?

Technically, all you need to podcast is your computer. Open up your browser and head to Riverside to start recording instantly. If you have the budget, we’d recommend getting an external mic and headphones to maximize the quality of your recording. 

Can a podcast have no guests?

Absolutely. Guests aren’t a prerequisite for a successful podcast. Solo podcasts are a very popular format. For obvious reasons, they are low maintenance and easy to produce. 

At what point is a podcast successful?

This depends on what your goals are. If you’re looking to monetize and make money from your podcast, then an obvious success metric is the income it’s generating. If you’re focused on building community, looking at your audience numbers is a good measure of your success. And if the goal of your podcast is to develop or promote a brand, you’ll want to have some metrics around how you’ll measure that success.

Can you run a podcast anonymously?

Absolutely. A few successful podcasts are anonymous, including Casefile and Swindled. However, depending on your niche, putting a name and face to your podcast can make it easier to connect with your audience. This is especially true if you are at all known in your niche.

What is the average cost of starting a podcast?

You can start a podcast for absolutely nothing using your computer, free recording and editing software, and a free podcast host. As you build an audience - and possibly an income - you can add things to your podcasting setup, such as a microphone, headphones, and other features.