Podcast launch checklist
Launching a podcast has a lot of moving parts. This four-phase checklist takes you from strategy to a confident launch day without missing the steps that matter.
Phase 1 - Strategy & setup
- Write the podcast strategy brief (goal, audience, pillars, format)
- Lock the show name, tagline and one-line description
- Commission cover artwork and an episode template
- Choose format, length and cadence you can sustain
Phase 2 - Production setup
- Pick recording and editing tools (or a production partner)
- Set up a podcast host with IAB-certified analytics
- Create intro/outro and a music bed
- Write the run-of-show and standard questions
Phase 3 - Guests & recording
- Build a Dream 100 and start guest outreach
- Send each guest the guest brief
- Record 3-4 episodes before launch (a buffer)
- Edit, write show notes, and cut launch clips
Phase 4 - Launch & promote
- Submit the feed to Apple, Spotify and YouTube
- Launch with 3 episodes live (not one)
- Run the episode promotion checklist for each
- Set up attribution (form question + tagging)
pick a version, copy it, or download as .docx or .pdf — then make it yours.
How to fill it in
Launch with 3 episodes
A multi-episode launch gives new listeners something to binge and signals momentum to the platforms. One lonely episode rarely converts a subscriber.
Build a buffer
Record several episodes before launch so a cancellation or busy week never breaks your cadence - consistency is what compounds.
Set up attribution on day one
Add 'how did you hear about us?' to your forms before launch, so you can credit the show from the very first listener.
Common mistakes
- Launching with a single episode and no buffer.
- Choosing a cadence you can't sustain past month two.
- Treating launch day as the finish line instead of the start of promotion.
Want your launch handled end to end?
Fame launches B2B podcasts for clients - strategy, setup, guest booking, production and promotion - so you go live with a show that's built to drive pipeline.
Frequently asked questions
How do I launch a B2B podcast?
Work through four phases: strategy and setup (brief, name, artwork, format), production setup (tools, host, intro, run-of-show), guests and recording (Dream 100, outreach, briefs, a buffer of episodes), and launch and promotion (submit the feed, launch with 3 episodes, promote each, set up attribution).
How many episodes should I launch a podcast with?
Launch with about three episodes live, not one. It gives new listeners something to binge, signals momentum to the platforms, and improves the odds they subscribe.