Distribution
After a podcast is recorded and edited, it needs to be shared with the world and accessible to the intended audience. This can be done manually or by using a hosting and distribution provider.
Podcasts are distributed through a web feed called RSS, which stands for ‘Rich Site Summary’ or ‘Really Simple Syndication’. RSS is a way to automatically send out updated information that a content creator makes to subscribers. Essentially, the RSS feed allows you to share your podcast on platforms and directories like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher. This process can be done manually by writing some code. If you’re interested in learning more about manually distributing your podcast, Jeff Towne has published an excellent guide on transom.
An easier way to distribute your podcast is by using a podcast hosting platform. Podcast hosting platforms store your media files online and provide an RSS feed that can be used to get your podcast listed by a distributor. Most podcast hosting platforms, free and paid, will provide you with basic features like providing an RSS feed and analytics. However, there are some other considerations you should think about when choosing a podcast hosting platform.
Storage and Bandwidth Limits: the amount of storage and bandwidth offered by a podcast hosting platform will impact many aspects of your podcast. It can determine how many episodes you are able to release in a week, how accessible your old content is, and can even impact how many people can listen or download your podcast at any given time. It is always a good idea to start with a free plan; however, you should make sure any hosting site you choose can meet all your storage and bandwidth needs if you need to upgrade to a subscription in the future.
Accessibility and Compatibility: it is crucial that your intended audience can find and access your podcast. A website is a great way to promote a podcast, engage with the audience, and optimize your podcast for SEO. Many podcast hosting platforms offer the option to create a personalized podcast site. If you have a website, you should make sure that the podcast hosting platform you choose has the capability to integrate with your domain and RSS feed. Adding keywords to your episode and promotion through social media can also help to optimize for SEO. In addition, checking if a podcast hosting platform offers word-for-word transcriptions is also important. Providing a podcast transcript provides accessibility to individuals with hearing impairments and allows the audience to easily engage with and reflect on the podcast. Furthermore, transcripts can also act as SEO content when published on your website.
Ease of use: you should research the podcast hosting platform you choose and explore the features offered. Try to familiarize yourself with the dashboards of various platforms; YouTube is a great place to start. Consider your familiarity with similar technologies and if you think you will need more support, choose a platform that offers more in-depth technical support.
There is an enormous number of different options when it comes to podcast hosting. Josep Garcia at tooltester provides an excellent up-to-date overview of all the most popular hosting options. The overview is an excellent resource as it provides the features of each platform and some positive and negative aspects.