- Cannacopia
How to Start A Cannabis Podcast in 2019

ATTENTION IS THE CURRENCY
As a cannabis brand or business, you know that it is essential to be seen online by as much as you can by your audience. ( at least I hope you do). Attention is the currency now.. right?
If you’re thinking to yourself, " I know this! This isn't new!" I would probably agree. To most businesses, this concept isn't new. To drive sales, you need attention. But where is the attention now? And how can you separate your business from all the others?
You may have your social media accounts such as Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook, which are a great start but alone, that isn't going to diversify your cannabis company enough. That's where I introduce you to the world of podcasting.

WHY IS PODCASTING IMPORTANT?
If you're looking for the technical and step by step advice on starting your podcast, then feel free to scroll down to that section of the BLOG. But if you're new to this whole concept, I want to educate you on why podcasting is so important to not even just businesses but to the behaviors of people.
Do you know that in a 2019 report from podcastinsights.com, 51% (144 million) of the US population has listened to a podcast? Isn't that insane?! And of that 144 Million, 49% of podcast listening is done at home, and 22% of listening is done in the car.
And why is that number so staggering? People love podcasting because they can MULTITASK. If you are an active auditory listener, whether it is podcasting, the radio, or your music playlist, you know that great feeling of listening to an educational show when you are walking to the bus or listening to your favorite song while in the shower. Multitasking in a busy world saves people time, and TIME is irreplaceable.
So I don't want to hear " my audience does not listen to podcasts though." Out of 144 million people, there is a percent out there no matter what industry you're in that is interested in your type of content. Trust me
EQUIPMENT AND SOFTWARE
Ok so now you understand why podcasting is so crucial for your brand, so what's the next step? Let's talk about some of the equipment you will need. We will talk about items from cheapest to more expensive versions.

MICS
When it comes to podcasting your mic choice is going to be critical because let's be honest. You can have the best content out there but if your mic sucks then no one will listen to it. Here are a couple of mic choices :
FIFINE USB Microphone - 4.5 Stars ( 1,700 Ratings ) $ 21.99
Blue Yeti USB Microphone - 4.5 Stars ( 7,000 Ratings ) $98.98
Shure SM7B Cardioid Dynamic Microphone - 4.5 Starts ( 231 Ratings ) $399
Each one of these mics has its pros and cons, so do your research and see what works best for your needs and your budget.

SOFTWARE
Ok so you got the mic but where do I record it? Software is going to be an essential item in your kit that is needed for podcasting. And I know what you’re thinking. Software = Expensive. But to your surprise, there are plenty of FREE tools you can use for this. Here are a couple of choices :
Garageband - FREE (For MAC Editing Software):
Audacity - (For PC/MAC Editing Software):
Podbean - Free version or Monthly Payments (For PC/MAC Editing Software):
Adobe Audition - $31/Monthly (For PC/MAC Editing Software):
I have used all these and they all have great qualities but again do your research to see what's best for you.
EXTRA ADVICE
Honestly, now that you have a mic and you know what software you are going to use then you should go for it. Wayne Gretzky said it best, " You miss 100% of shots you don't take. A lot of this process is trial and error, and you will learn best from experience!
But if you still feel unsure let me leave you with a few more tips :
Make sure your location is quiet enough so no outside can ruin your audio
Don't overthink your show title. It can be your business name, your name, or something relevant in the cannabis industry.
Have an awesome description of your show so your audience knows what they are getting into.
Have fun! Your happiness is what's going to help this podcast pop!
SUMMARY
So if you're a cannabis brand or a business, then I hope you take your content to the next level and start a podcast. We talked about why it's important, how many people listen to podcasts, and what you need to start.
So are you ready to start?