Everything You Need to Launch a Podcast + The EXACT Template We Use for Launch Clients

May 20

Launching a podcast is more than just hitting "record" and uploading an episode. It’s about crafting a message, building a brand, and creating a sustainable system that supports your goals. Whether you're starting a show to grow your business, share your story, or build community, having a thorough plan sets the tone for everything that follows.

That’s where a detailed podcast onboarding checklist comes in. Below, we’ll walk you through key components of that checklist, helping you prepare for a smooth and successful podcast launch.

Podcast Identity: Set the Foundation

Before you dive into content creation, get clear on your show’s identity. This includes:

Podcast Name: Choose something memorable, keyword-friendly, and reflective of your topic or personality.
Podcast Description: This is your show's elevator pitch. Summarize the tone, topics, and value of your podcast in 1-3 sentences.
Podcast Website: Will your show live on a dedicated site, or will it be featured as part of your current website? Having a home base makes your podcast more discoverable and SEO-friendly.
Social Properties: List the social platforms where you’ll promote your show. Keep it manageable—quality over quantity.

Cover Art: Make a Strong First Impression

Your podcast cover art is the first thing potential listeners see. It should be bold, clear, and brand-aligned.

Inspiration: Browse podcast platforms and collect 3-5 cover styles that catch your eye. Do you prefer minimalist graphics, photo-based covers, or a combination?
Must-Have Elements: Think about what represents your brand—your photo, logo, symbolic graphics, or signature colors.

📌 Pro tip: Cover art should be a minimum of 3000x3000 pixels for Apple Podcasts and readable even at thumbnail size.

Premise: Define Your Unique Angle

What makes your show stand out?

Your Angle: Will you bring humor to a serious topic? Offer practical tips with a dose of inspiration? Fill a gap in your industry?
Your Goals: Be honest. Do you want to educate, build authority, drive traffic, or monetize your expertise?
Value for Listeners: What transformation or benefit will someone get from tuning in?

The more clarity you have here, the easier it will be to attract and retain the right audience.

Production Cadence: Create a Sustainable Rhythm

Decide how often you’ll publish and stick with it.

Cadence: Weekly? Bi-weekly? Monthly?
Length: 15-minute quick tips or hour-long deep dives?
Consistency builds listener trust and podcast growth.

Know Your Listeners

You don’t need to know everything, but aim for a basic listener persona.

Demographics: Age, gender, location, profession, income.
Psychographics: Beliefs, values, lifestyle habits.
Why it matters: The better you understand your listener, the more relevant your content and promotion will be.

Interview Logistics & Tech Setup

If you’re doing interviews, prep your system now:

Best Recording Days: Choose the day(s) that fit your weekly rhythm.
Recording Platform: Zoom, Riverside.fm, SquadCast—test out a few before committing.
Scheduling Tool: Calendly, Acuity, or manual email invites? Whatever you choose, make it easy for your guest.

Guest Engagement Plan

Your guests are your collaborators and promoters—treat them like VIPs.

Prep: Send a pre-interview email with the recording link, tech tips, talking points, and what to expect.
Follow-Up: Send a thank-you message after the interview. Bonus points for including when the episode will air.
Marketing Assets: Provide audiograms, quote graphics, or an episode snippet to help your guest share the episode with their audience.

Measurement Plan: Define Success

What does success look like?

Guest Tracking: Use a spreadsheet or your content calendar to track who you’ve contacted, interviewed, and published.
Success Metrics: Total downloads? Website traffic? Email list growth? Engagement on social? Pick 1–3 that matter most to you and measure monthly.

Content Strategy: Stay Focused and Flexible

Stay on topic while keeping your content engaging.

Content Categories: Pick 3–4 categories that will shape the types of episodes you create (e.g., interviews, solo stories, how-to episodes, behind-the-scenes).
Episode Types: Mix it up—interviews, case studies, panels, solo episodes, Q&A sessions.

Initial Episode Planning

Brainstorm 5–7 starter episodes to build momentum.

Include a mix of episode types.
Consider starting with a trailer or welcome episode to set the tone.
Don’t overthink it—just get your first ideas down and refine as you go.

Your Launch Team & Workflow

Make collaboration simple and repeatable.

Share your episode tracker or content calendar with collaborators like Krysta.
Create a system for episode production—from guest booking to publishing and promotion.
Keep your process simple and flexible enough to grow with you.

Launching your podcast isn’t just about one episode—it’s about building something intentional from the start. By getting clear on your goals, audience, and content plan, you create a show that’s aligned, impactful, and sustainable.

Use this checklist as your roadmap. And remember: Done is better than perfect. Your voice matters, and someone out there is waiting to hear what you have to say.

Krysta Paffrath