Everything I've learned about small business podcasting after 5+ years

Thinking about starting a podcast for your small business? Or ready to upgrade what you’ve already built?
In this podcast, I break down everything I’ve learned from five years helping small businesses launch and grow successful podcasts — the gear, the strategy and the mistakes to avoid. 
🎯 I’ll walk you through the three podcasting tiers:

• Starter Tier – how to launch with just your phone and a mic
• Growth Tier – when you’re ready to look and sound more polished
• Authority Tier – for brands serious about thought leadership and lead generation

Plus, I’ll share:
✅ My top audio and video gear picks
✅ The one thing that matters more than your camera
✅ How to choose a setup you’ll actually use
✅ Free checklist + shopping guide (link below)

👇 DOWNLOAD THE FREE RESOURCES:
🎁 Video Podcast Setup Checklist
🎁 Podcast Gear Shopping List https://www.thepodcast.studio
📞 Ready to work with us? Book a free discovery call: https://www.thepodcast.studio

💡 Subscribe for weekly tips on business podcasting, content strategy and smart production workflows.

#PodcastSetup #SmallBusinessTips #ContentMarketing #PodcastingForBusiness #VideoPodcast

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Hey, welcome to the podcast studio and my name is Chris Dabs. Hello. I want to share everything

(00:07):
I've learned about small business podcasting over the last five years or so. You know,
we've helped business owners launch, grow and scale podcasts that attract leads, build
trust and create consistent professional content. And that's even without big budgets
or production teams. So whether you're a coach, consultant, retailer or runner community

(00:29):
organization or charity or school, podcasting can absolutely work for you. And today I'm
going to walk you through the three most effective podcast video setups I've seen again
and again ranked using a tier maker format. And I'll share the gear, the strategy and
the lessons behind each one. So you can avoid common mistakes and build a setup that actually

(00:54):
works for your goals. So stick around to the end and I'll give you two free resources,
a setup checklist and a full shopping guide with gear links. So let's have a look at the
starter tier. What works when you're starting from scratch? When I first started working
with small business podcasters, most of them wanted to know how to get going without spending

(01:18):
an absolute fortune. And honestly, that's the right mindset to have. You don't need thousands
of pounds of kit to sound great. This microphone here costs a thousand pounds, but you don't
need to use that. If you have a smartphone and a decent USB mic like the Blue Yeti or Road
NT USB Mini, you're already in a great place. Record near a window or grab a basic ring

(01:45):
light for lighting purposes. You can mount your phone on a tripod. That's always useful.
Don't just hold it in your hands. It's going to move all over the place. And to actually
record your podcast, you could use something like Riverside.fm or OBS for better quality
than using something like say zoom to record your podcast, which wouldn't give you the

(02:05):
best quality possible. And also, what you need to do is make sure that your background
looks clean and intentional. So there we go. There's your starter tier. It's low investment,
fast results and perfect for testing your message, getting your branding consistent and
building confidence in front of the mic or camera. Because of course, that's another issue

(02:28):
isn't it? But you know, you can get over that bit. So the biggest lesson here, well basically,
don't overthink it. Start. You'll never improve your show by waiting around because of course,
you won't have a show to improve, really? Right. Let's move on to section two, which is
the growth tier. That's this is kind of when you're ready to level up. So once you've been

(02:49):
going a bit or if you feel a bit more confident in the beginning. So once you show is working,
maybe you're getting feedback or sharing clips on socials or feeling more confident, then
it's time to go for the growth tier. And here's what I've learned. Audio quality is the
most important upgrade at this stage. Listeners will forgive average visuals, but if you sound

(03:11):
is echoey or tinny, they'll tune right out. So go for an XLR mic, like a road pod mic and
an interface like the Scarlett Solo. It's a noticeable upgrade. On the video side, a
mirrorless camera like the Sony ZV or ZV depending on where you are, E10 or the Canon MV50

(03:34):
Mark II paired with the wide lens gives you a much more polished look. Add a second light
for a soft two point setup and guess what? You're on your way to looking like a proper content
creator. So this tier is ideal for solo business owners, small teams or experts building thought
leadership. You're investing in quality and quality equipment without over complicating

(03:57):
your process. So the lesson here, don't just copy YouTubers with massive budgets, find
your own rhythm and upgrade slowly one step at a time. Section 3, the Authority tier, going
pro without the studio. And this is where I've seen the biggest returns for clients who take
podcasting seriously. A full frame mirrorless camera like the Sony A7-4 paired with a 24

(04:23):
to 70mm f/2.8 lens gives your content that unmistakable cinematic look. For audio, look
at microphones. The short SM7B is unbeatable, especially when matched with a roadcaster pro
2. That's kind of like a mixer that you can mix everything together and it will make
sure that your voice sounds rich, warm and polished. 3 point lighting, key lights, fill lights

(04:49):
and hair lights, add dimension and separate you from your background. This is the kind
of production quality that builds authority and trust instantly. So here's what I've learned.
When your podcast looks and sounds like you've put effort into it, people take your ideas
well just more seriously. And remember your back job matters. Use branded colors, clean

(05:12):
shelving, soft furnishings or acoustic panels to keep the focus on you.
Here are the lessons I've learned that apply to all tiers after five years of helping
small businesses to podcast successfully. So here are a few universal truths. Sound matters
more than video. Always prioritize audio quality. Consistency beats perfection. Your audience

(05:37):
cares more about regular content than flawless editing, so don't worry about that too much.
Your setup should fit your workflow. If it takes too long to use, you won't stick with
it. Good lighting fixes most things. A simple key light can make a huge difference. The best
setup is the one you'll actually use. So fancy kit is useless if it lives in a box and

(06:01):
believe me, I've got mixes that haven't been added in a box for four years. So this is
very true. So whether you're just starting out looking to grow or ready to lead your niche
with high quality content, there's a podcast setup that fits your stage. I've put together
two free tools to help you choose a video podcast setup checklist, so you don't miss any essentials

(06:22):
and a shopping list with my recommended gear for every tier. You can download both using
the link in the description. And if you want help launching, producing or improving your
business podcast, book a free discovery call with us at the podcast studio. We help small
businesses turn their ideas into standout audio and video content that gets results.
So thanks for watching, like, subscribe and let me know in the comments where your act

(06:47):
are you in the starter, growth or authority tier. Thanks so much again and I'll see you guys
in the next one. Bye!