You never needed to “pay a pretty penny to rent professional studios and pay a team of producers to get your message out to the world.” The technology to create a high quality podcast on a home computer was available since podcasting began.
I started my first two podcasts in 2006 with a refurbished PC, an $89 Samson C01U microphone and Audacity and received great reviews from my listeners for the high production values of my shows. My total cost was about $150, less than half your minimum price point for entry. I was not the exception.
Part of the problem with the podcast industry today is the misconception among newcomers that you need a lot of gear to get started. That’s the beauty of it. You don’t. In fact, you don’t need a mixer if it’s a solo show, and you can even get away without one if there are two hosts or a host on each end of an Internet connection, if you know what you are doing.
And that’s the real investment. It’s not about all the tech gear, it’s about taking the time to learn how to use what you have, and knowing how to make the most of it. And most of this is stuff you can learn on your own, by utilizing the vast storehouse of information and resources already available on the web, and by networking with others who podcast and are willing to help you along the way.
Don’t just buy $300 of high tech stuff to start. Research thoroughly before you spend one pretty penny.
The one exception to this is when it comes to hosting your podcast episodes. This is one area where you don’t want to be cheap, because this is where your podcast recordings are going to live, and hopefully for the long term. There are many podcast hosting services available, and they offer a wide range of perks and services. Some offer hosting at no cost to you, and you could opt for one of those to save money.
Yet every thing that purports to be free still comes with a cost. This is true of anything that is advertised as free, and especially your hosting options. Free hosting isn’t free, and you get what you pay for. Be sure you are comfortable with the trade-off before you sign up for any free hosting platform.