What is the Pocket Cast app? 

Before getting on to the topic of how to build a podcast app, it’s important for us to know what a native podcast app is all about! 

A podcast is a digital audio or video file which usually aims at empowering people with knowledge. It can be a series of motivational, technological, educational, entertaining, or inspirational interviews or lectures. 

Pocket Casts is an app built by podcast listeners for podcast listeners. The app is free to use and is exceptionally user-friendly. 

Pocket Casts is available for Android and iOS.It is also available online on Amazon Echo, CarPlay, Android Auto, Sonos, Apple Watch, Google Home, Chromecast, and HomePod.

Pocket casts web: Along with the podcast app, pocket casts also have its webpage, which allows you to listen to podcasts through your desktop, laptop, or MacBook. 

Why should you build a podcast app? 

It’s important for us to first answer your ‘why’ before telling you about how to build a podcast app!

 

“37% of Americans heard at least one podcast each month in 2020, up from 32% in 2019. More than 100 million people listened to podcast in 2020 and the listener rate is expected to reach 125 million by 2022.”

1. Anything that entertains or educates someone is supposed to grow! In such a case, a podcast works as one of the best platforms as it can be heard while doing any other task and by all age groups. 
2. For example, a homemaker can cook while listening to a podcast; a runner can run while listening to a podcast; a teenager can clean his room while listening to a podcast. Accessible to all age groups, the podcast targets a vast market and thus earns heavily. 
3. If you’ve always been thinking of starting something new, especially a podcast app, this is the right time for you!

Suggested read: 100 Money Making Mobile Apps For Business

How to build a podcast app like Pocket Cast? 

Developing a podcast app like the pocket cast will take a long time, but there’s no shortcut to success, right? 

Let me take you through the different developmental phases 

Discovery phase:

As the name suggests, the discovery phase is full of research and planning. It consists of two main steps: 

#Step1: Market Research

Before launching an app, it is essential to know the target market, needs, preferences, and more. In our case, it will include;

• The kind of podcasts people wants to hear
• Demanding features in a podcast app
• Leading podcast creators and much more

Market research will consist of a survey, a questionnaire, and more. 

#Step2: Platform selection

Before launching a native podcast app, It is essential to know where you should launch the app. The selection can depend on your market research or rely on your own choice. 

The three leading platforms are: 

1. Google play store 
2. iOs App store 
3. Microsoft Store 

You can also opt for hybrid, where the app will launch on two or more platforms.This will require a native packager which will write the app in HTML,CSS and JavaScript , making it a hybrid app. 

• Designing phase:

This is the most exciting and creative part of app development. It is required that in this phase, you picture everything that you want in the app and convey it clearly to the app developers. 

#Step3: Identify your goals

Apps can be launched in two ways: 

1. MVP: MVP refers to Minimum Viable Product. Such an app has the minimum features required and can be launched in no time. Apps with MVP are less costly but are primarily incapable of captivating users. You can, however, launch an app with MVP and then add features according to users’ feedback. 
2. ADD-ONs: It would be great to add the following features to your app: 

• A feature that allows different languages: Access to various local languages breaks the language barrier between the app and the user and expands the market. The most remarkable example of this can be Google. 
• API (Application Programming Interface) solution for searching podcasts: Have you ever watched a show on Netflix and then got suggestions for similar kinds of shows? That’s possible because of the API function. It will enable you to recommend podcasts to your users according to their tastes and preferences.
• Get a payment gateway API: If you allow in-app purchases, running courses, or packages in your app, you need a payment gateway API. Keeping these small things in mind since the beginning will not lead to major changes in the future. 
• Get an API solution for push notifications: A podcast app needs to send push notifications to its users to captivate them and make them spend more time on the app. It’s essential to convey clearly to your developers and get an API solution for push notifications in bulk. 

#Step4: Selecting the UI and UX of the podcast app

In this generation, where there are so many options available for everything in the market, it is essential to present yourself in the best possible manner. 

The UI of the app should be visually pleasing, and the app should be highly user-friendly. 

If you already have a design in mind, it’s excellent. But if you are not clear about how you want your app to be seen, you can always ask UI designers to help you. Especially, the developers at Idea Usher, with more than 15 years of business acumen, will always guide you in the right direction. 

Development phase: 

Finally, after all the ingredients are ready, it’s time to prepare the dish! The development phase again has three stages: 

#Step5:Develop-test-launch

Alpha phase: The developers try to find all the bugs in the app and try to fix them (debugging) in this stage. Some get set, some don’t. 

Beta phase: This is a phase where some more debugging takes place. It’s advisable to fix all the bugs permanently in the initial stages.

Launch phase: The launch phase is not the actual launch of the app. It is a kind of test launch that enables a few users to use the app and give feedback. This stage lets you know if the app is compatible with mobile phones or not. 

After all, the changes are made, and all the bugs have been fixed, it’s time for deployment! 

Features of Podcast apps like Pocket Casts, Audible, or Spotify:

Some of the standard features of the podcast apps which is essential for any podcast app are as follows: 

• User-friendly User Interface(UI) 
• Download feature to hear the podcasts even in no network zones. 
• Option to create your custom playlist. 
• Easy tutorial for the ones who need help
• Support creators by letting them post their content easily on the app 

What is the best podcast app? Top 5 Podcast apps.

The five trending and most popular podcast apps are as follows: 

1 PocketCasts

2 Laughable 

3 Player FM 

4 Stitcher

5 Spotify

How does a podcast app make money? (Business model explained)

Now you know how to build a podcast app but don’t know how to monetize the app? Don’t worry, I’ll help you out.

There are two ways to monetize your Podcast app: 

• Subscription-based: 

You can provide a few services in your app for free and allow unlocking other features for a subscription fee. 

• Through advertisement: 

You can run ads for different companies in your podcast app and earn money from the companies. 

• The hybrid form of business:

Why earn money only through one way if you can opt for both? This is a form that Spotify uses; it reaches through advertisements and asks the users to take the subscription to enjoy listening to the podcast without any interruptions (add-free). 

Also read: What makes Spotify the best music app? | Spotify business model

What does a podcast app look like? 

A podcast app mainly has three sections: 

• Discover page: This is the page from where you can discover new podcasts and genres. The page also shows the top trending and popular podcasts. 
• Filter page: The filter page acts as a library where all the “in progress” podcasts are stored. For the creators, their new releases and podcasts are also listed. 
• Profile page: The profile page has folders for all the stats, downloads, starred, and previously heard podcasts. 

Post-launch necessities for podcast applications: 

You have successfully launched an app, but if no one knows about it, what good is the app for? 

Well, advertising and marketing play a vital role after the launch of the app. 

Along with traditional forms of advertising on television or any other form of mass media, it is also vital to focus on newer forms of advertising like digital marketing. Infact, digital marketing works best for B2C. 

When you can gain from small digital posters, then why spend on big billboard hoardings? 

Digital marketing helps you in the following ways: 

• Gain users from around the world 
• Establish a good relationship between the company and the customers 
• It is cost-effective 

Digital marketing can be done in the following ways: 

• Run google ads 
• Social media pages 
• Ads on different social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, youtube, and more

 

How do you choose the best app developers? 

While choosing the best developers, you should always keep three things in mind: 

• The app developers should be experienced 
• Hire skilled and creative developers. Decide on it by going through their portfolio.
• The developers should understand your requirements- your thoughts, budget, time frame, and more

 

Idea Usher can be your one-stop solution for it; we help with planning, launch, and post-launch. You can get your app developed in the shortest time with fantastic UI/UX at the most reasonable prices. 

 

FAQs 

1.What is the best podcast app? 

A.Apart from Pocket Casts, a few other best podcast apps are Audible and Spotify. 

2.Which is the best podcast app on Google Play Store?

A.Audible is the best podcast app on Google Play Store. 

3.Which is a podcast-making app? 

A.Buzzsprout is one app where you can become a host and make your podcast. 

4.What is a good podcast app? 

A.A good podcast app is user-friendly, has impressive content with good sound quality, and consists of new and exciting features. 

5. How to start a podcast app?

A.The best way to begin would be to hire experienced app developers. They will help you from start to finish in the app development process. Its good to outsource, and save time. Only then, you can utilise your saved time on other activities that require your attention. (eg marketing, funding activities).