Podcast FAQ

choosing a podcast host

by Hans Wiegand Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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What To Consider When Choosing Your Podcast Host

  • Storage Capabilities. Podcasters like to talk, that’s likely one of the reasons most decide to start a show. ...
  • Website Integrations. A podcast website is important – it’s the central place listeners can come to find out everything there is to know about your podcast, from subscribing to the ...
  • Audience Analytics. In order to grow a podcast’s engagement, it’s vital to understand the audience, where they’re listening, for how long, and across which platforms.
  • Content Repurposing Services. As mentioned, being able to easily feature your podcast across every directory should be a bare minimum requirement of any podcast host.
  • Monetization Support. Monetizing podcasts is a new frontier, where both hosts and software providers are figuring out how best to advance the industry.

Full Answer

What's the best platform to host a podcast?

10 Best Podcast Hosting Platforms & Services for 2021

  1. Buzzsprout Buzzsprout is #1 best podcast hosting platform and a very easy to use for beginners. It has been operating since 2009. ...
  2. Podbean Podbean is one of the easiest and powerful places to start a podcast. ...
  3. Transistor Transistor is another popular podcast hosting platform for professionals. ...

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What makes a great podcast host?

This accomplishes a few things, like:

  • Makes them feel more ready for the show.
  • They have something to “hold on to” if they don’t know what to say
  • Gets their brain thinking about the subject matter.

Why and how to start a podcast?

Why Should You Start A Podcast?

  • Are you looking for a new medium to tell a story?
  • Do you want to deliver communications for your company through a new method?
  • Is there a topic you’re passionate about and want to share with others?
  • Do you have information to turn into a resource for others to utilize?
  • Are you looking to deliver training to your employees in a new, innovative way?

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What is the best podcast hosting?

  • Dawn Staley is hosting a brand new podcast for Just Women's Sports called "NETLIFE."
  • The superstar coach is overcoming nerves about "being in the spotlight" to elevate women's sports.
  • "Is it gonna be somewhat uncomfortable for me? Yes," Staley told Insider.

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How do you choose a podcast host?

Considerations When Choosing a Podcast Hosting PlatformStorage and Bandwidth Limits. Put this at the top of your list when reviewing podcast hosting platforms. ... Analytics Reporting. ... Compatibility. ... Ease of Use & Support. ... Media Player Capabilities. ... Possibility for Monetization. ... Transcription Services. ... Price.

How much should I pay a podcast host?

How Much Do Podcast Host Jobs Pay per Hour?Annual SalaryHourly WageTop Earners$156,000$7575th Percentile$130,000$62Average$75,931$3725th Percentile$35,500$17

Which platform is best for podcast?

What are the Best Podcast Hosting Platforms?Fusebox. ... Blubrry Podcasting. ... Spreaker. ... PodcastWebsites. ... Audioboom. Best hosting platform for taking your podcast to the next level. ... Libsyn. The most reliable podcast hosting site. ... Soundcloud. Best platform for audio content creators. ... Podomatic. Best freemium podcast hosting platform.More items...•

Is it worth paying for podcast hosting?

The fairly reasonable cost of $10-$20 per month for a paid podcast host in most cases is worth the price. On the flip side, those who aren't confident that they'll continue podcasting long-term tend to like the idea that their content can remain on Anchor indefinitely at no cost to them.

How much money does a small podcast make?

As an estimate, if your podcast has about 10,000 downloads per episode, you can expect to make between $500 – $900 per episode in affiliate sales.

How many listeners do you need to make money on a podcast?

You usually need a larger audience of at least 5K or 10K listeners per month to work with them. One of the largest ad networks is Midroll, another popular network is Authentic, and many of the podcast hosting companies have their own networks as well.

How long should podcasts be?

The length of your podcast also depends on your subject, industry or genre. It could be that around 15-20 minutes perfect for your listeners. But maybe your specific audience wants more in-depth, exploratory information; in which case, 45-90 minutes would provide more value.

What is the most popular podcast host?

What are the best podcast hosting services?BuzzSprout. Best podcast hosting service for new podcasters. ... Podbean. Best podcast hosting service for price conscious users. ... Libsyn. Best podcast hosting service for no-frills podcasting. ... Captivate. Best podcast hosting service for professional podcasters. ... Transistor.

How do you start a podcast with no audience?

20 step guide for starting a podcast with no existing audiencePick an idea (ideation)Create a listener persona (marketing)Pick an angle for your show (ideation)Define your brand idea (marketing)Choose your recording gear.Draft or script coherent c.a. 5 episodes.Record your episodes and cut your material.More items...

Does podcast host matter?

Your podcast host is the central place that pushes your show out to all the other listening platforms, including Apple/iTunes and Spotify. So, we know that your podcast host is hugely important. The good news too is that there's a lot of excellent podcast hosts out there these days.

Is Spotify a podcast host?

Note: Spotify doesn't host podcasts. You need to provide a link to an RSS feed in order to have your podcast on Spotify.

Can I change my podcast host?

You'll need to import all your existing episodes into your new podcast host. If you're changing hosts you want all your old and new content to be in one place and the process for how to do this will vary from host to host.

Which is the best platform to host podcasts?

Truth be told, Apple iTunes remains the most popular platform for loading a podcast RSS feed. As a result, it’s important to choose a podcast host that is Apple-friendly, and ideal for Apple podcasts.

How much space do podcasts take up?

Let’s face it, podcast audio can take up a lot of storage space. But, you shouldn’t have to worry about keeping your amazing show down to 30 or 45 minutes if you really feel like going to the 60 or 90-minute mark. You also shouldn’t have to limit yourself to one or two episodes a month if you want to release weekly or even daily. That’s why when you’re trying to choose a podcast host, you want one that includes unlimited audio storage space – many podcast hosts don’t.

Do people like iTunes?

The truth is some people don’t like iTunes, or Stitcher, or even Google Podcasts, but they still want to listen to your shows. That’s why you should choose a podcast host that includes a public website with your hosting fee where your fans and followers can listen to and download your shows directly without the need for plugins or apps.

How long should an episode of a podcast be?

Length of your episodes – your episode should be between 10 and 60 minutes, depending on the type of content you create.

Do podcasts have more downloads?

A number of episodes – in many cases, podcast hosting count downloads so more episodes will mean more downloads in the case of the same audience size. In some cases, hosts give you unlimited storage, but their accounts differ in the number of downloads they will serve during a month.

Do podcasts have a website?

It will help you get discovered in Google and will build you a bigger audience over time. Some podcast hostings also offer a free website in the package. Most hosts usually provide this, but you should skip it and set up an independent site. When it comes to players, all of the media hosts offer embeddable players.

Is there a free podcast hosting account?

On top of that, there are free hosting accounts and even providers offering all unlimited offers, that lure beginners and additionally complicate comparison. Because, how can you easily compare a provider that has a free account and few paid options to a podcast hosting that gives everything for free. Let’s quickly analyze what steps you should ...

What does it mean when a podcast host says they are IAB compliant?

Some claim they are “IAB Compliant”. That means that the podcast host thinks they’re following the rules, but nobody has checked. You have to trust they’ve got it right: and when “IAB Compliant” hosts have become “IAB Certified”, in most cases they change their numbers, so perhaps they weren’t so compliant after all.

Do podcast hosting companies charge based on downloads?

Some charge based on your total downloads. Arguably, if your podcast hosting company charges you based on your total downloads, then the more successful you are , the better it is for them . That might mean they are keen for you to succeed and keep working on new features to help you.

Can you get into a podcast if you are not in the US?

Occasionally, some big podcast hosts can initially get you into places that are hard to get into. If you’re not in the US, you may wish to support podcast hosts in your own country, get invoiced in your local currency, and not have to call their support lines at 11 o’clock at night.

Is it easier to use a podcast host?

Some podcast hosts are much easier to use than others. Some podcast hosts are very 2005 and techie-looking; some are super-friendly. See if you can find screenshots of the dashboard, and check it looks decent. If you’re the type of person who needs IT support a lot, make sure your podcast host has good support.

Is Anchor a good podcast host?

Anchor’s a fine podcast host that wants to make things really easy for you. We’ve taken a look at Anchor in more detail. Because they want to make things easy, they can sometimes have undesirable effects.

Is Podnews a daily briefing?

You should get Podnews every day, which is an excellent daily briefing about podcast and on-demand. And, if you want, also add us on your smart speaker’s news briefing service, or podcast app. And if you really like what we’re doing, support us. James Cridland is the Editor of Podnews, a keynote speaker and consultant.

Does every podcast host have RSS?

Yes. Every podcast host does this. Some have integrations directly into these podcast platforms: but every podcast host will get you the RSS feed that you need to get into every single podcast directory. Cheers. So - statistics on my podcast downloads.

What is a Podcast Hosting Platform?

Just like you need a website host to store content, like pictures, written content, forms, etc., you need a podcast hosting platform to host and store the media files for your show.

Why Do You Need Podcast Hosting?

When recording a podcast, you create a large number of media files that you'll need to share online with your audience. If you know what you're doing, you could create a website to host and share those media files. But, most website hosts don't have the storage or bandwidth capabilities needed for large audio and video files.

Do I Need a Website for Hosting a Podcast?

We don’t recommend hosting your podcast files from your own personal website due to storage issues and slow website load times. That said, creating a website in tandem with your podcast hosting platform can be beneficial for a number of reasons:

Considerations When Choosing a Podcast Hosting Platform

Most podcast hosts, free and paid, will provide you with basic features like an RSS feed and analytics. As your podcast grows and evolves, you'll probably need more than just the bare bones.

Conclusion

Choosing the podcast hosting platform for your program can make or break the success of your show. When budgeting for your podcast, set aside plenty of funds to get the best podcast hosting platform. You can find many podcast hosting sites out there, but not all of them offer the same features and functionality.

What Does Your Podcast Need A Host?

Platforms for podcast hosting and distribution store and broadcast your content. They also ensure that the enormous audio files on your site do not slow down or overload it.

Podcast Host For Beginners FAQs

There are several free podcast hosting choices available, of course. On the other hand, free options frequently have additional constraints on features such as analytics and storage space, which you should be aware of.

Final Thoughts

When you record a podcast, you generate a lot of media assets that you’ll need to share with your audience online. You could construct a website to host and share those media assets if you know what you’re doing.

What is a podcast?

Podcasts offer you the opportunity to create your own portable radio station, tailored to your interests and hosted by people you may empathize with. Whether you are commuting, working, or merely relaxing at home, podcasts always provide a free and fresh way of entertainment with that added benefit of allowing the listener full control of what they’re listening to. With podcasts, you have it all at your fingertips: flexibility, variety, and novelty. Go ahead — discover the wide and entertaining world of podcasts.

What are the different types of podcasts?

There are five main types of podcast formats: solo podcast, interview podcast, multi-host show podcast, roundtable or panel podcast, and the newsletter or information podcast. Some people may be drawn to one format over another, and figuring out what option suits you better makes it easier to navigate through the variety of available podcasts. Although some of these varying styles of podcasts may shift their format from time to time, once you have discovered which type best suits your preferences, choosing the ideal podcast will become a lot easier.

Why are podcasts important?

Whether you are commuting, working, or merely relaxing at home, podcasts always provide a free and fresh way of entertainment with that added benefit of allowing the listener full control of what they’re listening to. With podcasts, you have it all at your fingertips: flexibility, variety, and novelty.

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