SecondLineThemes https://secondlinethemes.com Premium WordPress Themes & Development Fri, 03 Jul 2020 11:10:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://secondlinethemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/cropped-sl-logo-32x32.png SecondLineThemes https://secondlinethemes.com 32 32 The New Podcaster: A Quick Guide for the best Podcast Setup https://secondlinethemes.com/the-new-podcaster-best-podcast-setup/ Fri, 03 Jul 2020 07:20:14 +0000 https://secondlinethemes.com/?p=40989 Taking the plunge into the podcast world is a big step and a brave choice. You’ll no doubt know that it’s not something you can produce quickly using your phone mic and some basic audio editing. No, you need computers, a podcast microphone, various cables, quality software, and more. We’ll review the best podcast setup […]

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Taking the plunge into the podcast world is a big step and a brave choice. You’ll no doubt know that it’s not something you can produce quickly using your phone mic and some basic audio editing. No, you need computers, a podcast microphone, various cables, quality software, and more. We’ll review the best podcast setup options and cover everything you need to know to get started.

Here you’ll find a list of essential podcast equipment and pieces of tech to get your podcast starter setup complete. From mics to pop shields and stands, let’s get you started…

What equipment do you need for a podcast?

best podcast setup

So, you’ve decided on your topic and the way you’re going to approach it – the big idea is done, now you need to source your podcast kit. If you’re thinking, “What podcast equipment do I need?”, don’t worry, we’ve got some advice for you.

If you have multiple hosts, you’ll need a slightly more complicated podcast starter set including a mixer and alternative mics – there’s plenty of top-notch guidance out there for that, but we’re going to focus on the best home podcast setup for a singular host.

For a single host, the most essential pieces of a home podcast recording studio are:

  1. A high-speed laptop or computer
  2. A good quality microphone

It’s that simple. There are varying quality mic’s and computers, but that’s all the recording hardware you need.

The best podcast setup – here’s what you need to know

Podcast Hardware: Computer specs

If you’re working on an old, slow, struggling laptop and it’s taking forever to edit and save your audio files, it may be time to consider upgrading to a new laptop or tower computer.

As a base point, we recommend you look for one with a lot of RAM, 16GB if you can, to improve the multitasking capabilities. And ensure it has a good CPU to max out your processing speeds – Intel i7 or i5 is good.

There’s also the ever-long debate between Apple and Windows, Mac vs. PC. The choice between the two depends entirely on what recording software you want to use (more on this later). So, do your research and explore the programs you’re going to use and the computer specifications they require, then make a decision based on that.

Podcast Hardware: Microphone specs

Even if you choose the most high-spec, kitted out computer of all time, please don’t use the built-in microphone. It’ll record all the background noise, door’s closing, dogs barking, everything – and at a lower quality than needed.

You can get USB mics at a very affordable price; you simply plug them into your computer and go. But you will need to decide between a Condenser and a Dynamic mic.

What is a Condenser microphone: They’re great for studio recording due to their ability to match the ‘speed’ of a voice. They’re also more sensitive to noise and deliver a louder recording. The downside is that this kind of mic typically needs a power supply.

What is a Dynamic microphone: They’re much more resilient against moisture, accidents, etc. They don’t need a power supply, but they also don’t deliver the same sound quality. This kind of mic is recommended for live vocals.

Check out this site for more info on the differences.

The Blue Snowball microphone.

Optional extras for the best podcast setup

If you want to go further, here are some additional items you may want to invest in to improve your kit:

  • Audio Interface – essential for non-USB mics to converts the audio into a digital file
  • Mixer – helps you control the levels of your inputs and outputs
  • Pop shield – reduces audio pops or rushing breath noises when you speak into the mic
  • Headphones – listening as you record can help reduce retake time and identify audio issues
  • Mic stand – this can help keep your mic steady and results in more consistent sound levels

Our best simple podcast setup buys
You can buy all these parts separately, but there are places out there that sell bundles.

This one is a beginner microphone bundle. It comes with a shock mount to absorb knocks, as well as a USB interface with additional volume controls and headphone jack on the side. It’s a great all-in-one for podcasters.

For a more professional setup, there’s this Pro Streamer Kit. It’s got the lot – a pro mixer, quality headphones, an industry-standard mic and carry case, with cables and a swiveling desk clamp too. It’s everything you need.

How to record a podcast

Once you have your podcast equipment kit, you’re ready to record it – but which podcast recorder is best? As we said earlier, what podcast recording software you use depends on the kind of computer you have.

  • Mac owners will find GarageBand already installed on their computers. It’s free and easy to use to edit your audio.
  • PC owners will need to download software to use as nothing comes pre-installed. Audacity is similar to GarageBand, and it’s free as well – you can download a mac version too if you prefer it.

Next Steps:
Now you’re all kitted out and recording your masterpiece, don’t forget about the additional steps you should take.

Hosting – just like a website, your podcast content needs to be hosted online somewhere so that search engines and music players can find them. There’s an excellent guide here which takes you through the basics.

Marketing – To help spread the word, marketing your podcast is essential. Here are some tips from the professionals on the best tactics and strategies to employ. Another very important step is to create your own podcast website. It creates additional value you can offer to your audience, and at the same time, you can collect subscribers, offer more content, and monetize the podcast via the website by adding sponsors or selling merchandise.
One of the best ways to create a podcast website is with WordPress, the most popular website builder out there. If you’re looking for a podcast website template, look no further, as SecondLineThemes offers the best podcast WordPress themes.

podcast website

While creating a podcast is exciting, it’s not something you can just bang out, submit for listeners, and expect success – the initial podcast starter setup and recording hardware costs time and money. This guide gives you a great starting point and some useful tips, but the rest is up to you. Good luck future podcaster, we hope to hear from you soon.

This is a guest post by Jack Teare. Jack is the Head of Content at Affinity

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How to Build a Podcast Website Using WordPress In 2020 https://secondlinethemes.com/set-up-a-podcast-website/ Mon, 29 Jun 2020 17:22:58 +0000 https://secondlinethemes.com/?p=3810 One of the best things you can do to promote your podcast is to create a dedicated podcast website for it. This can help you attract more listeners, better engage with your audience and offer several types of content (like written posts, videos, images, downloads, an eCommerce shop, and more). However, as a podcaster, you […]

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One of the best things you can do to promote your podcast is to create a dedicated podcast website for it. This can help you attract more listeners, better engage with your audience and offer several types of content (like written posts, videos, images, downloads, an eCommerce shop, and more). However, as a podcaster, you may not be sure how to go about building this type of podcast website. In this post, we’ll cover the process from A to Z.

Fortunately, setting up a website is now easier than ever – there are a lot of excellent online tools to help you get the job done. With WordPress and the right podcast theme, for example, you can have your new site up and running in a matter of hours.

In this post, we’ll touch briefly on the benefits of running a podcast website. Then we’ll walk you through how to get started, step by step. Let’s get to work!

The Benefits of Creating a WordPress Podcast Website

While podcasting sites and social media platforms are essential to attracting an audience, websites still play a central role in online brand building. If you want your podcast to really take off, you can give it a head start by creating a home for it.

On your podcast website you can feature old and new episodes, share information about you or your organization, and point listeners towards key resources. Most importantly, you can set up a contact page so people can get in touch with their comments, questions, and ideas.

There are a lot of ways to build a podcast website, but we’re partial to WordPress. This free, open-source platform makes getting your site off the ground simple, yet provides access to a wealth of features for customizing it.

In a previous article, we explored the reasons creating a WordPress podcast website is such a smart idea. Right now, let’s look at how to actually get your website up and running.

How to Set Up a Podcast Website Using WordPress (In 4 Steps)

If you’ve never created a website before, don’t worry. We’re going to start at the beginning, and walk you through the fundamental steps required.

Step 1: Purchase a Domain Name and Hosting Plan

Before you can start setting up your website, you need two things. The first is a domain name, which is the primary URL for your site (i.e. yourpodcastwebsite.com). You can purchase a domain very cheaply from many places online, including most web hosts:

A domain checker tool.

Generally, a strong domain name choice is concise, memorable, and easy to spell. You’ll likely want to use some variation on your podcast’s name – although you may want to use your name or your organization’s instead, if you’re thinking of starting more than one podcast.

As for web hosting, this is what makes your site available online. You’ll pay a monthly fee – often less than $10 – and in return anyone will be able to visit your site. There are many types of hosting plans, but we’d recommend sticking with a basic shared option at first. This should provide all the resources you need for a fledgling podcast site, and you can always upgrade later on.

You’ll also want to choose a quality hosting provider. Look for one with an excellent track record when it comes to performance, along with strong user ratings and reviews. SiteGround, Pressable, and WP Engine are all solid options when it comes to WordPress hosts.

Step 2: Install WordPress Through Your Web Host

Once you’ve signed up for a hosting plan, you can install your WordPress website. Exactly how you do this will vary, depending on your provider. Many offer simplified or even one-click installation features, which helps to speed up the process.

Some of the premium hosting providers will already install WordPress for you, so that’s really the easiest way to get started. If you’re on a budget, you can still use one of the cheaper hosting providers and use their installation options.

Many traditional web hosts will provide you access to something called cPanel, which is a centralized dashboard where you can manage your hosting plan and website. There, you’ll want to look for a WordPress installation option, which should be clearly labeled:

A WordPress install option in cPanel.

At this point, it will simply be a matter of walking through your hosting provider’s installation wizard, and providing a few basic details. At the end, you’ll have a blank but functional WordPress site, along with the admin credentials required to log into it and start making changes.

Step 3: Download a WordPress Podcast Theme

At this point, you should be looking at your new podcast site’s WordPress dashboard:

A default WordPress dashboard.

There’s a lot you can do here, and we’d recommend checking out the WordPress Codex for beginner-friendly details on how to get started. However, before we wrap up, we’re going to focus on your two most vital customization options.

If you check your WordPress site out on the front end, it will look pretty simple:

A default WordPress theme.

That’s because it’s currently using a default WordPress theme, which isn’t very exciting. Themes enable you to radically change the appearance and layout of your site, and there are thousands to choose from.

Your best option is to look for a dedicated WordPress podcast theme. This offers a number of benefits. It will ensure your site’s ‘look’ matches its purpose, for one thing. In addition, a quality podcast theme will include layouts and functionality that let you display your podcast in the best possible light.

Dixie, for example, is a great WordPress podcast theme with a clean and modern look:

The Dixie WordPress podcast theme.

It provides multiple display and layout options, supports both locally-hosted and embedded audio files, and more. Plus, it lets you customize your podcast website easily, adding your own visuals and branding.

Once you’ve chosen a theme, installing and activating it is a quick process – then, you’re on to the last phase.

Step 4: Add Key Features Using Podcast Plugins

In a way, WordPress plugins are a lot like themes. They’re individual add-ons you can install on your site, in order to customize it. However, plugins provide your site with new features and functionality, rather than just changing its appearance.

There are a lot of useful plugins for nearly any WordPress website. As a podcaster, however, you may want to seek out one or more quality podcast plugins. A few of the top options to check out include:

  • Seriously Simple Podcasting: This is a useful entry-level tool, which provides a customizable media player and a few other key features.
  • Podcast Importer: One of the most important aspects of having a podcast website is to ensure it is always in sync with your latest episode. This plugin helps you import your entire podcast and continuously import your new episodes automatically.
  • Podlove Podcast Publisher: Something of a more advanced tool, this plugin offers a high level of customizability when it comes to your media players and podcast playlists.

Each of these plugins can help turn your default WordPress site into a podcasting powerhouse. All that’s left is to start uploading your episodes!

Conclusion

Podcasts have never been more popular – which means it can be a challenge to carve out your own space. Building a dedicated podcast website is the perfect way to stand out from many of your competitors, and create an actual community around your work.

The good news is that setting up a podcast website is simple, especially if you’re using WordPress. You’ll just need to:

  1. Get a domain name and a web hosting plan.
  2. Install WordPress through your web host.
  3. Download a WordPress podcast theme.
  4. Add key podcasting features using plugins.

Do you have any questions about how to create an effective podcast website? Let us know in the comments section below!

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How to Embed a SoundCloud Player in WordPress https://secondlinethemes.com/embed-soundcloud-podcast-wordpress/ Tue, 02 Jun 2020 08:55:31 +0000 https://secondlinethemes.com/?p=38567 If you’re interested in starting a podcast, choosing the right hosting platform is essential. However, with so many options to choose from, deciding on the best solution can be difficult. There are a variety of factors to consider. SoundCloud is one option that gives you powerful features regardless of if you’re a podcaster or using […]

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If you’re interested in starting a podcast, choosing the right hosting platform is essential. However, with so many options to choose from, deciding on the best solution can be difficult. There are a variety of factors to consider. SoundCloud is one option that gives you powerful features regardless of if you’re a podcaster or using any type of hosted audio/music content.

SoundCloud is one of the most popular audio & podcast hosting solutions available. This audio social platform positions you to share your podcast with millions and makes it easy to integrate it with WordPress.

In this post, we’ll discuss the benefits of using SoundCloud as a podcast host. Then we’ll walk you through three methods you can use to add your SoundCloud podcast to your WordPress site. Let’s dive into it!

The Benefits of Using SoundCloud to Host Your Podcast

Technically, you don’t need a dedicated host for your podcast. However, we recommend using one. The primary reason for this is because large media files can bog down your site’s speed and hurt its overall performance.

Therefore, to make the most of your podcasting experience, you can use a host such as SoundCloud. While most podcast hosts nowadays are dedicated to podcasting, SoundCloud is also great for musicians, DJs and more, so it gives you flexibility if that is what you’re after.

The SoundCloud Podcast website.

In addition to making it easy to upload and share your podcast in one place, this platform also provides advanced statistics and analytics for each episode. This means you can gain helpful insight into your podcast performance and make improvements accordingly.

Another benefit of using SoundCloud as your podcast host is that they have a solution for every budget. The free, basic plan includes embed controls, lossless high-quality storage and download, and basic stats.

However, for just a bit more per month, you gain access to the Pro Unlimited plan, which offers a variety of advanced features and tools. This includes scheduled releases and repeat tracks.

Unlike other podcast hosts, SoundCloud operates as a social network of sorts too. This means people can interact and engage with your podcast the same way they would with content on other social media platforms.

Finally, when you use SoundCloud as a podcast host, you’ll have multiple methods you can use to integrate your podcast within your WordPress site. They’re all free and easy to do.

How to Embed a SoundCloud Podcast Within WordPress (3 Methods)

Even though we recommend using a separate platform to host your podcast, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still integrate it with your WordPress site. Creating a website for your podcast can help it grow and make promoting it easier. Let’s take a look at three ways you can add your SoundCloud podcast to WordPress.

1. Embed Your Podcast With Code from SoundCloud

If you want to add a particular podcast episode to your WordPress site, there are a handful of ways you can do this. The first is by using the SoundCloud embed code.

After you sign up for your SoundCloud account and upload and publish your first podcast, you can find the embed code by going to the podcast episode, then clicking on the Share button:

The share button on a SoundCloud podcast.

A pop-up window will appear. Click on the Embed tab and copy the code:

The embed code of a SoundCloud podcast.

You can also preview how the podcast will appear on your WordPress site and adjust the display settings.

Next, go to the back end of the WordPress post or page you want to add the podcast to. In the editor, select the  Custom HTML Block and paste in your code:

Podcast embed code pasted in the WordPress HTML block editor.

When you’re done, save your changes. To preview the podcast on the page, select the Preview button in the top right-hand corner.

2. Use Our Podcast Importer Plugin to Incorporate Advanced Features

While the above two methods can be an effective way to add your podcast episodes to WordPress, neither are particularly efficient. This is why we recommend using our Podcast Importer plugin, which we’ve created to help automate the process:

The SecondLine Themes Podcast Importer WordPress plugin.

To use it, install and activate it as you would any other WordPress plugin. Then, from your WordPress admin dashboard, navigate to Tools > Podcast Import SecondLine:

The Podcast Import plugin tool in WordPress.

This will bring you to the Import a Podcast screen:

The 'Import a Podcast' screen on the Podcast Importer WordPress plugin.

Next, you can simply copy the URL of your SoundCloud podcast feed and paste it into the first text field as you did with the SoundPress plugin. However, as you may have noticed already, the difference with our Podcast Importer plugin lies in the handful of advanced features to choose from:

The advanced options of the Podcast Importer plugin.

For example, if you want to have your podcasts automatically imported into your WordPress site as new posts, you can enable this by selecting the box next to Ongoing Import. Additionally, you have the option to:

  • Import the feature image for the podcast episodes
  • Append the episode number to the post title
  • Use an embed audio player instead of the default WordPress player
  • Select a post type and author

When you’re done, click on the Import Podcast button at the bottom of the page. That’s it! Now your new podcast episodes will automatically be posted to your WordPress site.

3. Install the SoundPress Plugin on Your WordPress Site

Another way to integrate your SoundCloud podcast with your WordPress site is by downloading and installing SoundPress, which is the SoundCloud WordPress plugin:

The SoundPress WordPress plugin.

This is recommended if you are using an older version of WordPress or still use the Classic Editor, and the plugin is free to download and use.

Once you install and activate it on your WordPress site, you’ll notice an Add SoundCloud button added to the WordPress editor toolbar:

The 'Add SoundCloud' button in the WordPress classic editor.

When you click this, a panel will open. Copy the link to your podcast from the SoundCloud platform, then paste it under SoundCloud URL:

The screen to add a SoundCloud URL in WordPress.

Finally, select Done. You’ll then be able to see it within the editor. If you’re satisfied with how it looks, click on the Publish button!

Conclusion

Choosing a reliable platform like SoundCloud to host your podcast can make it easier to upload and share your content. In addition to flexible plans and helpful stats, SoundCloud also makes it easy to add podcast episodes to WordPress.

In this post, we discussed three methods you can use to integrate a SoundCloud podcast with your WordPress site:

  1. Embed the code provided by SoundCloud.
  2. Use our Podcast Importer plugin to incorporate advanced features.
  3. Install the SoundPress plugin on your WordPress site.

Once you have the technical aspects of integrating your podcast with WordPress ironed out, you might consider enhancing the aesthetics and functionality of your podcast website. When you’re ready to do that, we recommend checking out one of our WordPress podcast themes!

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How to Publish Your Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts https://secondlinethemes.com/how-to-publish-your-podcast-on-apple-podcasts-spotify-and-google-podcasts/ Fri, 01 May 2020 09:28:31 +0000 https://secondlinethemes.com/?p=37247 Podcasts have become a popular media format in recent times, and creating them is now easier than ever before. However, publishing your podcast on major platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify remains a frustrating experience if you’re new to the process. The good news is that publishing your podcast on these sites […]

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Podcasts have become a popular media format in recent times, and creating them is now easier than ever before. However, publishing your podcast on major platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify remains a frustrating experience if you’re new to the process.

The good news is that publishing your podcast on these sites can be broken down into a few simple steps. The path towards being published is more straightforward than you realize, and once you’re set up, may help you expand your audience.

In this article, we’ll first explain why your podcast needs an RSS feed (an important aspect of publishing your podcast) and the steps to create one for a WordPress site. Next, we’ll cover how you can publish your podcast to Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. Let’s get started!

Why a Dedicated RSS Feed Is Essential for Publishing Your Podcast

A Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed is a distribution method that helps people keep up to date with content on the web, without visiting a site. You’d usually subscribe to an RSS feed to be notified when new content is made available.

Feeds can be created for specific forms of media, such as podcasts. In fact, generating one for your podcast is essential, as it’s a technical requirement to being published on the major platforms.

Although WordPress comes with an in-built RSS feed, this can’t be used for syndicating your podcast to other sites. By default, the service updates whenever a new post is published, which will likely include articles and other non-podcast content.

Fortunately, it’s easy to create a dedicated podcast RSS feed using a WordPress plugin. Doing so will let you publish your show to the majority of major podcasting platforms, and potentially achieve the goal of expanding your audience.

One plugin to consider is Seriously Simple Podcasting

The Seriously Simple Podcasting Welcome screen.

The Castos website does a great job of showing you how to set up Seriously Simple Podcasting. Once you’re done, check your feed is configured correctly using the free Cast Feed Validator, and if all is well, you can move onto publishing your podcast.

How to Publish Your Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts

If publishing your podcast to the major platforms seems overwhelming, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Here’s how you can publish to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts in a few easy steps.

1. Apple Podcasts

The main Apple Podcasts screen.

Apple Podcasts is a service for podcast delivery and consuming, and supports practically all Apple devices (and iTunes on the PC.) It’s one of the largest podcast directories in the world with over 800,000 shows currently available for download. Additionally, in March 2018, 50 billion episodes were downloaded from Apple Podcasts alone, making it an extremely popular app for people to find new shows and listen to them.

Submitting your show to Apple Podcasts is done through Podcasts Connect. In order to use the tool, you’ll need an active Apple ID that’s been verified through the iTunes Store.

You should also take the time to read through Apple Podcasts’ requirements for RSS feeds, file formats, and optional artwork before continuing. Once you’re ready, you’ll want to validate your feed and submit it through Podcasts Connect. To summarize:

  1. Create an Apple ID that’s been verified through the iTunes Store (if you haven’t done so already.)
  2. Read through Apple Podcasts’ technical requirements.
  3. Validate your RSS feed.
  4. Submit your RSS feed through Podcasts Connect.

Once you’re done, Apple will manually review your podcast, which can take up to five business days. However, you’ll then have a fully published podcast, ready for download.

2. Google Podcasts

The Google Podcasts platform.

Google Podcasts is less of a library or database of podcasts, and more of a search engine that indexes all the podcasts it finds. The platform can be accessed either through the browser or a dedicated Android application. The app currently has over 10 million downloads, which means there’s potentially a huge user base for your own podcasts

Because Google Podcasts differs from other directories by automatically crawling for new shows to index, you may not need to manually add your show. It could be already listed, and you can check if your show has been indexed with the Google Direct Link Generator – found in Google’s Podcast Publisher Tools:

The Google Podcast Publishing tool.

To use this tool, simply type your podcast feed’s URL into the form field, then click Generate.

If the tool can retrieve your podcast, no further action needs to be taken as it will already be indexed by Google Podcasts. However, if it hasn’t been indexed, there are some steps you can take to get it listed.

First, check that your website or podcast hosting provider meets the Google Podcasts Guidelines. Once you are satisfied you’re following the guidelines, you can request Google to index your site using the URL Inspection tool within Google Search Console.

The Google URL Inspection Checker.

To use this tool, simply enter your domain name and hit Enter. However, it can take some time for Google to index your RSS feed, so regular checks may be necessary to ensure your podcast has been indexed.

3. Spotify

The Spotify podcasting platform.

Finally, Spotify is better known as a digital streaming service with access to millions of songs. However, there are also thousands of podcasts to choose from.

While it isn’t usually your first choice for podcast hosting, Spotify’s paid user base grows at a rate of 31 percent each year. This arguably makes it an important channel to submit to for expanding your audience.

As with Google Podcasts, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with Spotify’s Podcast Delivery Specifications for audio formats and podcast images before proceeding. Submissions are made through the Spotify for Podcasting service, and you’ll need an active Spotify account. Here’s how to get the job done, in a nutshell:

  1. Create a Spotify account if you haven’t done so already.
  2. Read through Spotify’s Podcast Delivery Specifications.
  3. Log in to Spotify for Podcasters.
  4. Paste the link to your podcast’s RSS feed.
  5. Confirm your email address by copying the 8-digit code and paste it into the submit form.
  6. Add your podcast information such as its category, language, and country.

While there are many more platforms available for hosting your podcast, these three are arguably the most valuable to your growth. However, regardless of the platform you choose, the steps will be straightforward for each.

Conclusion

Creating podcasts has become easier to achieve over time, but publishing them to the major platforms remains a challenge for many. Fortunately, the process’ bark is worse than its bite, and most platforms offer simple steps for publishing your podcast.

In this post, we covered the following:

  1. Submitting your show to Apple Podcasts.
  2. Checking that your podcast has been indexed on Google Podcasts.
  3. Publishing your podcast to Spotify.

Finally, it’s important to note that all of our themes are fully compatible with the most popular podcasting plugins. Our themes, combined with a dedicated plugin, will let you maximize reach and access potentially millions of new listeners!

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How to Embed a Buzzsprout Podcast Within WordPress https://secondlinethemes.com/embed-buzzsprout-wordpress/ Fri, 28 Feb 2020 12:12:31 +0000 https://secondlinethemes.com/?p=36446 Choosing a podcast host often requires a bit of research. You’ll want to keep your specific situation in mind as you review your options. For example, if you are on a budget, you might be looking for the best value you can get. Fortunately, Buzzsprout has some of the most cost-effective pricing plans on the […]

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Choosing a podcast host often requires a bit of research. You’ll want to keep your specific situation in mind as you review your options. For example, if you are on a budget, you might be looking for the best value you can get.

Fortunately, Buzzsprout has some of the most cost-effective pricing plans on the market. This podcast host offers a very straightforward and user-friendly approach to podcast hosting, and could be an ideal solution for you.

In this article, we’ll learn more about Buzzsprout’s features. We’ll also give you a guide that covers three different ways to integrate Buzzsprout into your WordPress website. Let’s dive right in!

Understanding the Benefits of Using a Podcast Host

If you’re just getting started with podcasting, you might be debating whether you actually need a dedicated host or not. Technically, the answer is “No.” However, this doesn’t mean you should eschew separate hosting altogether from the start. In fact, we recommend separate hosting to your website.

This is because uploading large media files to your web server can bog down how fast your page responds. Since it’s been determined that slow page load times have a negative impact on your web traffic, it’s best to keep your site optimized for speed.

Additionally, when you choose a podcast-specific host – such as Buzzsprout, which we’ll discuss next – you’ll also have access to features designed specifically for podcasters. These typically include the ability to easily publish new episodes to platforms like Apple Podcasts, for example.

Everything You Need to Know About Hosting a Podcast With Buzzsprout

Let’s now take a look at Buzzsprout’s features. This is one of the few podcast hosts that offers a free plan option – you’ll get two hours per month for podcast uploads, and your content will be stored for 90 days:

Buzzsprout's pricing plans.

For many new podcasters, this is plenty to experiment with. Essentially, you can get a weekly, half-hour show up and running for free with Buzzsprout. However, it’s worth mentioning that the free plan does place ads on your podcast page.

If you want to scale up later, you can choose from any of Buzzsprout’s premium plans, ranging from $12–14 per month. Each paid plan includes:

  • Advanced podcast statistics
  • A simple web page
  • Access to podcast directories
  • Custom players for embedding
  • A monthly bandwidth allowance of 250 GB

Another unique feature you get with Buzzsprout is that you’ll never have to sign an annual agreement. All of their plans operate on a month-to-month basis.

How to Embed a Buzzsprout Podcast Within WordPress (In 3 Different Ways)

Another positive about Buzzsprout is that you have options when it comes to integrating your podcast and website. We mentioned earlier that it was best to host your podcast separately, but it’s also beneficial to build a website for your show.

When you have both up and running, you’ll want to look at the following integration methods.

1. Embed Your Podcast With Code From Buzzsprout

We recommend using WordPress for building your podcast website. Not only is it the most widely used Content Management System (CMS) on the market, but it also has a lot to offer podcasters. Before we get to some of those features, let’s look at how you can embed a Buzzsprout episode on your site.

Signing up with Buzzsprout takes just a few seconds. Once you’ve uploaded and published your episode, you can retrieve an embed code by clicking on the specific episode, then Embed this ONE Episode: 

Where to find the embed link for your podcast.

Next, you’ll receive a popup window containing the information you need, including a snippet of code to copy:

Embed code for a podcast on Buzzsprout.

Next, open up the page or post you want to add your episode to in WordPress. You can then choose the HTML Block and paste in your embed code:

Buzzsprout embed code added to WordPress.

In edit mode, you’ll only see the code. In order to preview your embedded podcast, you will need to click Preview at the top of the screen. You should see your podcast displayed in a stylish player on your post:

A podcast embedded in WordPress.

This is just one way to embed your Buzzsprout podcast into a WordPress website. Let’s take a look at another way to achieve this functionality.

2. Integrate Your Podcast With the Buzzsprout Plugin for WordPress

If pasting embed code is not part of your ideal workflow, you can also install and activate the Buzzsprout Podcasting plugin for WordPress:

The Buzzsprout plugin.

This is a free plugin that brings a a number of additional settings to your WordPress dashboard. First, fill in your Buzzsprout feed address:

The Buzzsprout plugin settings.

Now you’ll be able to add any of your Buzzsprout podcast episodes to your posts and pages through your Media Library. In the WordPress Block Editor, you need to add the Classic Block. This will drop the classic text editor into your post. Then, you’ll need to select the Add Media icon:

Adding media to a post.

This will bring up your options for adding media. By installing the Buzzsprout plugin and filling in your podcast’s feed URL, you’ll now be able to choose your podcast from a list and easily add it to your post. When you click on Buzzsprout Podcasting in the list of options, all your published episodes will be displayed. Choose the episode you want to embed and click on it, which will place a shortcode in your content. Finally, preview your post, then save and publish your changes.

3. Use Our Podcast Importer Plugin For Advanced Features

If you’re looking for a more automated way to post your podcast episodes on your website, we’ve created a plugin to get the job done. The result is Podcast Importer:

The Podcast Importer plugin from SecondLine Themes.

After installing the plugin, you’ll need to navigate to Tools > Podcast Importer SecondLine in your WordPress dashboard:

The Tools menu in WordPress.

Then, paste in your podcast feed URL as you did with the Buzzsprout plugin. However, with the Podcast Importer plugin, you will also have some advanced options:

The Podcast Importer settings.

For example, you can choose an Ongoing Import. This means all your new episodes will automatically be imported into your website as new posts. You can also configure whether you want these posts to automatically publish or be saved as drafts.

Our Podcast Importer plugin also enables you to select a specific post type and author for your imports. This is a great feature that works seamlessly with all of our WordPress podcast themes. At this point, all of your new podcast episodes will post to your website automatically.

Conclusion

Now you know more about Buzzsprout’s economical and user-friendly podcast hosting options, you should be ready to get your podcast published. Having the right tools in place can help you produce the best show possible.

To fully integrate Buzzsprout into your website, don’t forget the three options you have for embedding your show, including:

  1. Pasting the Buzzsprout embed code into an HTML Block in your WordPress post.
  2. Leveraging the ease of using the Buzzsprout plugin for WordPress to add episodes to your posts and pages.
  3. Getting advanced features for your podcast website by using our Podcast Importer plugin.

With some of the technical configurations out of the way, you can focus more on the user experience and overall design of your podcast website. Using one of our podcast-friendly themes for WordPress is one way to make sure your podcast website is optimized for your listeners!

The post How to Embed a Buzzsprout Podcast Within WordPress appeared first on SecondLineThemes.

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10 of the Most Popular Podcasts and What You Can Learn From Them https://secondlinethemes.com/ten-most-popular-podcasts/ Thu, 13 Feb 2020 13:29:47 +0000 http://secondlinethemes.com/?p=35204 For podcasters, 2019 was definitely a banner year. In fact, the top podcast publisher saw over 150 million total downloads in December alone. While this kind of statistic is straightforward, however, measuring what makes a show successful or popular can be subjective and hard to reproduce. That’s where some heavy research and lots of time […]

The post 10 of the Most Popular Podcasts and What You Can Learn From Them appeared first on SecondLineThemes.

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For podcasters, 2019 was definitely a banner year. In fact, the top podcast publisher saw over 150 million total downloads in December alone. While this kind of statistic is straightforward, however, measuring what makes a show successful or popular can be subjective and hard to reproduce.

That’s where some heavy research and lots of time spent listening to podcasts can come in handy. Fortunately, here at SecondLineThemes, we love podcasts. So we’ve explored what’s out there and making waves, so you can learn from some of the best in the business.

In this article, we’ll highlight ten of the longest-running and most popular podcasts. Along the way, we’ll introduce some best practices you can start implementing with your own podcast right away. Let’s get started!

Podcast Rankings and How We Chose the ‘Best’

Ranking podcasts can be tough for a number of reasons. Not only are there many styles and genres, but not everyone uses the same podcast platforms. This can make it difficult to track rankings and popularity.

However, there are several places to get reliable podcast data. Podtrac provides a solid baseline for publishing data across the industry. Plus, iTunes’ podcast charts and Chartable provide real-time rankings in various categories based on downloads from several publishers.

Our list highlights podcasts that are both long-running and consistently popular, based on a combination of data from multiple sources. Keep in mind that you won’t see popular daily news podcasts featured, because we’ve focused on shows that are episodic and serialized.

The 10 Most Popular Podcasts (By Longevity and Popularity) and What You Can Learn From Them

To build our list, we combined data from iTunes Charts, a variety of year-end round-ups (such as The Atlantic’s top 50 list), and data from Chartable. We also looked at some historical data, as well as charts from Top Podcast. The result is ten podcasts we’d recommend checking out.

1. Crime Junkie

The Crime Junkie podcast.

  • Structure: Weekly, 30 to 60 minutes, two hosts
  • Impact and Awards: Often number one in the true crime category on Apple Podcasts and other platforms
  • Episodes: 117 episodes, and launched in December 2017

Consistency is key for most podcast listeners. Crime Junkies has over 100,000 reviews on Apple Podcasts. The level of detail and research that goes into each episode pays off, based on this podcast’s success.

2. True Crime Garage

The True Crime Garage podcast.

Reviews often highlight True Crime Garage as a ‘male-focused alternative’ to some of the other popular crime podcasts hosted by women. It’s a few guys sitting in a garage, drinking some beers and talking about old crime cases.

  • Structure: Long-form, weekly, two hosts
  • Impact and Awards: Has been in the top five overall and most-shared lists on Stitcher for the last eight months
  • Episodes: 367 episodes, and began in 2015

Not only are the hosts appealing to listeners who love crime stories, but there are also lots of laughs. This is another in a long line of crime podcasts that successfully portray dark topics in an entertaining way.

3. My Favorite Murder

The My Favorite Murder podcast.

This show features one host who is also a stand-up comedian. This means you can count on a laugh to go with some compelling true crime stories.

  • Structure: Weekly, with two hosts
  • Impact and Awards: Regularly in the Apple and Spotify Podcasts top ten lists
  • Episodes: 374 episodes since launching in January 2016

Podcast listeners really love true crime. My Favorite Murder is no exception. The twist with this show is the comedic value and energy the hosts bring to the genre.

4. Uhh Yeah Dude

The Uhh Yeah Dude podcast.

Uhh Yeah Dude is touted as one of the first comedy podcasts. As such, it helped to create the genre, and received early acclaim from places like Rolling Stone.

  • Structure: One hour, weekly, two friends with no guests
  • Impact and Awards: Currently not ranked in the top ten of any lists, but certain episodes have ranked in the top tiers consistently
  • Episodes: 769 episodes since February 2006

This show’s longevity and appeal are often attributed to the hosts’ friendly accessibility and connection to the audience.

5. ID10T (Formerly The Nerdist)

The ID10T podcast.

ID1oT is a great example of a niche podcast that focused on ‘nerd culture’ and gained a solid following because of it. The host has a lot of name recognition, and is able to draw in lots of interesting guests.

  • Structure: Weekly, interview-style, approximately an hour in length
  • Impact and Awards: Early acclaim as The Nerdist gained the show a ranking on Rolling Stone’s Best Podcast of the Moment list, although it has since dropped in overall rankings
  • Episodes: 1,044 episodes after launching in February 2010 as The Nerdist

An engaging website has helped this show stay connected with listeners. This was especially true throughout a major rebranding of the podcast.

6. Stuff You Should Know

The Stuff You Should Know podcast.

Stuff You Should Know (SYSK) came about through the work of two former senior editors at How Stuff Works. These hosts deliver an interesting discussion with exceptional production quality, without coming across as know-it-alls.

  • Structure: Tri-weekly, 20 to 60 minutes, two hosts
  • Impact and Awards: SYSK has consistently ranked in the top ten on many publisher charts, and has won several awards including a Webby
  • Episodes: 1,476 episodes since launching in April 2008

Many reviews of SYSK note the level of research that goes into each show as a key reason to listen.

7. The Joe Rogan Experience

The Joe Rogan Experience podcast.

Much of The Joe Rogan Experience show’s success can be attributed to the fact that Rogan was a known celebrity prior to making the show.

  • Structure: Long-form, discussion, and guest interviews
  • Impact and Awards: Frequently in one of the top four spots on Apple Podcasts and other podcast charts
  • Episodes: 1,612 episodes, and begun in December 2009

The prolific nature of this show’s production schedule guarantees that listeners don’t have to wait long to get another dose. Rogan is also known to record shows that are more than three hours long, which means that listeners never lack for content.

8. The Tech Guy/This Week in Tech

The This Week in Tech podcast.

The Tech Guy is often noted as the longest-running podcast. In fact, Leo Laporte now hosts several shows, including This Week in Tech (which won the first-ever People’s Choice award for podcasts).

  • Structure: Weekly, three-hours, with a host, a panel, and call-in participation
  • Impact and Awards: In the top ten tech podcasts on Stitcher, but ranks a little lower on iTunes
  • Episodes: 1,664 episodes, beginning in January 2004

Engaging with its audience via phoned-in questions is a key to success for this three-hour show. Panel discussions with experts and personalities in the technology world also draw a faithful audience.

9. Too Beautiful to Live

The Too Beautiful To Live podcast.

This is a good example of a show that’s really just two friends talking and being silly. Too Beautiful to Live has a humble appeal that feels like you’re just hanging out with friends.

  • Structure: Daily, two hosts, current events and humor
  • Impact and Awards: While not often at the top of the charts, it is a popular and prolific podcast
  • Episodes: 3,085 episodes, beginning in September 2009

Reviewers say they feel at home with the hosts, and that it’s easy to jump in and listen at any time.

10. Keith and The Girl

The Keith and The Girl podcast.

Producing a daily podcast can be grueling, but it’s paid off for Keith and The Girl. Recognized as a pioneer and still going strong, this is favorite show for many.

Audience interaction has been a big driver for this show. That’s a key factor in its high download numbers and listener counts.

Bonus: The Longest-Running Podcast and How You Can Duplicate Its Success

Arguably the longest-running podcast, This American Life (TAL), debuted in November of 1995:

The This American Life podcast.

While this show started before the advent of modern podcast technology, you can access and download episodes from 1995 onward. There are 640 episodes attributed to the show over that time period. While it’s not the most prolific podcast on this list, it definitely carries many accolades.

You can count on TAL being in the top ten of just about any podcast chart available. Its main focus is on journalistic non-fiction. What many have tried to mimic is the show’s ability to tell a compelling story, and apply journalistic practices to create an engaging plot.

Additionally, TAL has a reputation for being willing to experiment with style. The show is also known for inviting listeners in through its website to help create the memorable stories it’s known for.

Conclusion

While murder and comedy tend to dominate the podcast charts, there are some best podcast practices that can be applied to any genre. If you’re working on improving your podcast or starting a new one, the podcasts listed above demonstrate plenty of strategies that can help you set a new bar for your show.

Understanding your audience is one part of the puzzle. However, if your show is not produced well, that can be a problem for listeners who are looking for a compelling auditory experience. On the other hand, if you’re worried about a lack of interesting guests – don’t be. Many of the shows on our list never feature them.

Some of the best shows also keep their listeners engaged through a dedicated podcast website. Here at SecondLineThemes, we make it easy to create an outstanding online experience for your followers with our professional podcast themes for WordPress!

The post 10 of the Most Popular Podcasts and What You Can Learn From Them appeared first on SecondLineThemes.

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The Best WordPress Podcast Themes in 2020 https://secondlinethemes.com/best-wordpress-podcast-themes/ Tue, 14 Jan 2020 12:41:52 +0000 https://secondlinethemes.com/?p=459 If you’ve been thinking about starting a new podcast, or are looking to boost the online presence of your existing podcast, you may be wondering how to reach a larger audience and engage with listeners. This can be a challenge for many podcasters. In this article, we’re going to cover the best WordPress Podcast Themes […]

The post The Best WordPress Podcast Themes in 2020 appeared first on SecondLineThemes.

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If you’ve been thinking about starting a new podcast, or are looking to boost the online presence of your existing podcast, you may be wondering how to reach a larger audience and engage with listeners. This can be a challenge for many podcasters. In this article, we’re going to cover the best WordPress Podcast Themes and solutions. Let’s start by reviewing WordPress and the podcasting theme solutions.

Creating a dedicated website for your podcast is an excellent way to tackle these issues. To do that, you can use WordPress, which currently claims 50-60% of the global CMS market and powers about 35% of the entire web. That’s because WordPress is extremely easy to use for first-timers, while still providing plenty of enhancement options for savvy developers. In this article we’ll review the top podcast WordPress themes for 2020!

Why You Should Consider a Custom WordPress Podcast Theme

Finding and using a dedicated podcasting theme can be an important step in your design process. This isn’t because using a generic theme is necessarily bad or against the rules. Due to the added complexity of some podcasting features you may need, however, a podcast-specific theme is definitely worth exploring.

Many independent podcast owners rely on WordPress to showcase and share their productions, using a theme created specifically for podcasts. This includes hobbyists, professionals, and networks. One example is Daniel J. Lewis, a well-known podcaster, podcast industry expert, and podcast educator. Daniel is also the founder of The Audacity to Podcast where he provides insights, tools and guidance related to podcasting. It is a podcast about podcasting, in fact. His site showcases both his work and his podcast, using the Tusant WordPress podcast theme:

the audacity to podcast

While any theme can be used for podcasting, thanks to popular plugins such as Seriously Simple Podcasting, PowerPress and SimplePodcastPress, not all themes are built for that purpose. This is why it’s vital to make your choice carefully, as a dedicated podcast theme could save you dozens of hours and already include all the best-practice features for podcasters.

What to Look for in a WordPress Podcast Theme Design

First, clean and simple designs can never be underestimated. A poorly-designed site could send potential listeners running to another podcast even before they try to listen to your show.

What’s more, your podcast site is a key branding opportunity. Its design should match your show’s genre or ‘vibe’ in some ways. You can use colors, images, and typography to create a seamless experience between your actual show and your website. Whatever your brand is, therefore, you’ll need to be able to customize your theme to represent your business or your podcast in the best possible way.

Another design note to keep in mind involves how you display your podcast episodes. A clean list or grid layout allows your audience access to the most recent podcast episodes, and some historical items as well. They can then choose whether they want to download those episodes, or stream them right from the page:

Bolden WordPress podcast theme.

Ideally, your website should also display responsively on any tablet or smartphone. Mobile users account for 46.9% of all internet traffic globally. With this in mind, designing for a mobile audience can be a key way to differentiate yourself from the competition. Podcasting is highly consumed on mobile devices, when people are on the go, driving, commuting and so on, so it’s especially important for a podcast website be responsive.

4 Important WordPress Podcast Theme Features to Look For

There are a few essential elements that we think deserve attention when it comes to evaluating the best WordPress podcast themes. Understanding the following four features can help you pick out a theme that will meet all of your needs.

1. A Highly-Customizable Audio Player

While some podcast plugins have functionality that enables you to place an audio player either at the top or bottom of a post, these options are very limited. If you need to place the player within a content area, such as in a slider, archive pages, header or custom pages, you might be out of luck.

In contrast, some podcast themes include built-in audio players that are highly-customizable. You may even be able to choose from several layout options. For example, our own Satchmo podcasting theme includes a flexible audio player:

Satchmo WordPress podcast theme.

This is one of the most important features for any WordPress podcast template to have. You’ll want to be able to tweak not only your audio player’s style, but also exactly where it’s positioned on the page.

2. Robust Media Resource Support

Another major feature for your podcast theme’s ‘deal breaker’ list is support for multiple kinds of media resources. Having the option to place an embedded podcast audio or video player within your layout wherever you choose, for example, can be extremely important. There are dozens of podcast hosting companies, and it’d be a good idea to choose a theme that supports the majority of these companies. (Just to name a few as an example – Libsyn, Castos, Transistor, Anchor, BuzzSprout, Blubrry, Spreaker. There are many, many more, though.)

Since loading a lot of large audio files onto your WordPress site’s hosting server is not a recommended practice, file management is something to keep in mind. Figuring out how you want to handle the importing of content and deciding where files will ‘live’ can help you decide what themes are best suited for your show.

3. A Variety of Identifiable Subscription Options

Subscription icons are another item to add to your shopping list when picking out a podcasting theme. Ultimately, you’ll want to attract as many listeners and subscribers as you can. With icons for podcasting platform options such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, SoundCloud, and RSS site feeds, you can present lots of choices to your potential listeners:

Podcast Subscribe Buttons

Additionally, you might want to include an icon for a newsletter subscription form, in order to build up your email list. Your podcast audience can easily use these subscribe buttons to keep updated on future episodes. Plus, when you decide you want to look into monetizing your podcast, you’ll already have contact data for your loyal following.

4. Built-in Compatibility for Popular Page Builders

Finally, having support for a quality page builder is essential. Page builders open up a vast array of design options for WordPress users, regardless of programming knowledge (or lack thereof). All of our themes use the grid-based Elementor page builder, which makes creating content simple.

In addition to the usual Elementor features, our podcast themes come packaged with some extra functionality. These features have been created specifically for our WordPress podcast themes. We’ll touch on some of these as we explore the various theme options below.

4 Types of WordPress Themes for Podcasting

Now that we’ve covered the essential items that make up a solid podcast website theme, we’re going to review some of the best options that are available for WordPress. We’ve broken these down into four categories, including our own podcasting themes, free and premium solutions, and even DIY themes.

1. WordPress Podcast Themes by SecondLineThemes

Here at SecondLine Themes, we take podcasting very seriously. After working on multiple projects in the podcasting ecosystem, we become deeply frustrated with the available solutions. At that point, we understood that we had to create our own solutions from scratch, and we aimed for perfection.

That’s why we believe the best WordPress podcast themes are made here at SecondLineThemes:

SecondLine Themes - Best WordPress Podcast Themes

One of the key differences with our themes is that you’re not limited to one specific podcast hosting service. You can use any podcast host that is available out there by importing your podcast. Also, you can host your own audio files on your WordPress server or external hosting services such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), and just simply link out to the MP3 files.

Additionally, we support all the major WordPress podcasting plugins. Our themes also work well with more general-purpose plugins, such as Contact Form 7, WPForms, WooCommerce and many more. In addition, our themes are built on our own custom framework. This means there are absolutely no hidden costs, and you can rest assured that no additional purchase of a framework will be needed. We consider our themes the best WordPress podcast themes out there. You can check our Testimonials/Showcase page for live examples of podcast websites and feedback from podcasters from around the world.

2. Free Themes from the WordPress Theme Directory

There are thousands of free themes available in the WordPress Theme Directory. You can use any of them for podcasting, and even customize some of them to fit your needs:

The WordPress Theme Directory

While many of these themes offer you customizable elements and some flexibility, you may find that you’re still limited when it comes to the essential podcast theme features we’ve discussed. In order to make the most of the WordPress Theme Directory, should you choose to go that route, you’ll want to pay attention to some specific information that it provides.

For each theme in the directory, you’ll find valuable details on:

  • What version number the theme download will be
  • The date the theme was last updated
  • User ratings and reviews
  • The number of active downloads

All of these provide important knowledge that can be helpful in your decision-making process. We encourage you to read through the reviews of each theme you’re considering, and see if anyone has run into issues specifically when it comes to podcasting.

3. Premium Themes from a Marketplace

Popular theme marketplaces such as MOJO Marketplace, Creative Market and the likes are always an option for themes and templates. You can find podcasting-oriented themes on all of the above sites. If you find one you like, you might want to compare its features with our own WordPress podcast themes:

The Creative Market.

Many of the popular marketplace themes lack the flexibility required to choose your preferred podcast hosting service. That’s a key factor to keep in mind if hosting preference is important to you. Also, the majority of these are created by generic theme shops, rather than podcast-dedicated operations, so they may lack some of the specific features you’ll need.

4. Create Your Own Custom WordPress Podcast Theme

If you’re a WordPress developer, you might also consider coding a new theme from scratch for your podcasting project. There are many parent themes available that are an excellent base for developing your own theme.

Creating a custom theme is an option if you have the resources and programming knowledge required. WordPress provides extensive information on the subject, and different ways for developers to get involved through the online handbooks and Codex:

WordPress developer resources.

It makes sense to take the DIY route if you have very specific needs in terms of design or functionality. However, this method also involves a lot of work. You’ll need to spend time designing, coding, and testing your theme. Depending on the timeline and goals of your project, this can result in costly delays, so you’ll want to be sure before you embark on this type of ambitious project.

5 Featured SecondLine Podcast Themes for WordPress

So far, we’ve only talked about our theme options in a general sense. Now, let’s take a closer look at a few of our custom podcast themes for WordPress. We’d like to note that these are all fully-responsive themes, so your mobile users won’t be left in the dark.

1. Tusant

Tusant WordPress podcast theme.

Tusant is the latest WordPress podcasting theme created by SecondLineThemes, and it brings a totally different vibe to the table. This theme comes with a dark color scheme, and beautiful shades of green to highlight different parts of the theme. Plus, with the ability to support more than one podcast show on the same website, Tusant can do it all.

Tusant also comes with a built-in drag-and-drop page builder for fast page and post creation. Additionally, there is plenty of demo content loaded in, which you can use to spark your creativity. Perhaps best of all, Tusant is packed with ready-to-use podcasting plugins, and is compatible with more than 30 podcast hosting providers.

But wait, there’s more! Once you activate the theme, you’ll be able to import all the Elementor page templates you might want to use. In addition, all of our themes are fully compatible with WordPress 5.0+, so you can be sure that you’re getting a quality product.

2. Bolden

Bolden WordPress podcsat theme

Bolden is a WordPress theme designed with podcast networks in mind. In fact, at the time of its release, it was the very first premium theme for podcast networks available anywhere.

Even though we had created some pretty amazing themes prior to Bolden, this was the first theme we built that had the capability to run two shows on one site. In other words, we specifically designed Bolden for networks. This means individuals or companies that run more than one podcast can showcase all of them on the very same site.

This theme comes with the functionality you need to create individual show pages, and display podcast episodes in multiple layouts across your website. Bolden also works perfectly for single podcast shows, while supporting all the essential theme elements we discussed earlier.

3. Gumbo

Gumbo WordPress Podcast Theme

Next up, Gumbo brings a beautiful home page slider to the table, and can expertly showcase both embedded content and videos. We designed Gumbo as a dark, modern, and clean WordPress podcast theme. It can also help you display all of your podcast episodes from a variety of categories, in a well-organized fashion.

What’s more, the easy theme settings on offer can help you customize this theme to look however you like. Gumbo also supports embedded media from various sources such as YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud, Podbean, Spreaker, MixCloud, and more.

4. Satchmo

Satchmo WordPress Podcast Theme

Satchmo was the first WordPress podcasting theme we created. Therefore, we’ve had lots of time to put plenty of thought into its features and design. Satchmo was created first and foremost as a clean and minimalistic theme, with an emphasis on black and white colors.

Of course, we also built Satchmo with podcasting in mind throughout the entire development process. You can easily add episodes of your podcast to any part of your site, using a built-in audio player. The single post layout also supports players in the hero section, and right above or below the main content.

5. Dixie

Dixie WordPress podcast theme.

In terms of SecondLine theme lineage, Dixie followed Satchmo and became one of our most popular themes. It has all the same great features as Satchmo, but with a different, bolder style and design. Dixie also features page templates for showing off your podcast’s hosts, since your faithful listeners will want to get to know the real you.

We created Dixie to be a clean, yet ultra-modern and colorful WordPress podcast theme. It supports multiple audio players on a single page, and also enables you to display players on single posts.

How to Get Started With a SecondLine Theme for WordPress (In 4 Steps)

Now that we’ve reviewed several excellent podcast themes, let’s pick one and take a look at how to install it on your WordPress website. All it takes to get you up and running with a SecondLine theme is four easy steps.

Step 1: Purchase and Download the SecondLine Theme of Your Choice

The first thing you’ll need to do is visit our pricing page. You’ll find several options and pricing levels there. These range from single theme purchases for $69, or access to all of our themes for $139. Either includes support and updates for a year:

SecondLine Themes pricing.

Alternatively, if you want to have your cake and eat it too, you can go all in and get our Lifetime Access option. This includes unlimited lifetime access to all of our themes, along with support and updates for life.

Once you purchase your package or theme, you’ll be directed to download the theme’s .zip file. You’ll need this for the next step, so make sure you take note of where you’ve saved it on your computer.

Step 2: Install Your Theme in WordPress

Next, you’ll navigate to your WordPress administration dashboard. There you’ll find the Appearance menu. Once you locate and click on that, you’ll see the Themes sub-menu option:

Theme menu in WordPress.

When you click on Themes, you’ll be taken to the themes management page. You’ll have the option to choose from a previously-installed theme or add a new one by selecting Add New:

WordPress Theme management page.

On the next screen, you’ll see that you have the option to Upload Theme. Since you’ve already downloaded your premium SecondLine podcast theme for WordPress, you’ll want to click on the Upload Theme button, and navigate to the .zip file you saved earlier:

WordPress theme upload page.

Once you’ve selected the correct file, you can click on Install Now. You will be able to see whether the installation went off without a hitch, or if there are any issues you might need to look at before proceeding:

Install Now button.

Your final item in this step is to Activate your theme. This option will appear after all the relevant files have been installed.

Step 3: Import the SecondLineThemes Demo Data

SecondLine themes have a lot of valuable demo content available for you to use. You’ll have to import this separately, however, after your theme is installed. After you activate your theme, you’ll be taken to an installation wizard where you can install plugins and content:

SecondLine Themes installation wizard.

The last part of this process is to import the demo content. This content will help you get familiar with the layout of the theme you’ve selected. You can simply edit and replace the demo content with your own for a fast setup process, or use it as a springboard for creativity.

Step 4: Post a Podcast Episode

At this point, you’re ready to navigate to the Podcast > Add New menu item. Once you click on Add New, you’ll be taken to a page that should look familiar. It’s similar to the regular WordPress editor, but with some extra options at the bottom:

New podcast edit page.

Below the title and content area, you’ll have lots of settings you can play with. You can include an image gallery, paste in an external embed code from a variety of podcast hosting platforms, and more. This is also where you’ll find a lot of the important customization features for your post.

For example, you can assign your podcast episode to a show. The Tusant theme featured in this demonstration has options to display more than one show on a single website. So you can choose a parent show for your episode:

Podcast episode post settings.

This is also where you will upload your audio or video file, if you’re not using an embed code from an outside host. Once you’re done with your adjustments and settings, you can preview your podcast episode post before publishing it:

A post preview.

Once you’re satisfied with your post, you can publish it and relax as your adoring fans like and share your podcast masterpiece.

Conclusion

Choosing the perfect WordPress podcast themes can be an overwhelming task. There is a lot to consider before taking the leap. Fortunately, here at SecondLineThemes we have you covered with not only the best podcast-specific themes, but also a wealth of information and experience to share.

When picking out the right podcast theme for your show, you’ll want to look for:

  1. A customizable audio player
  2. Robust media resource support
  3. Support for a variety of podcast hosts
  4. Out-of-the-box compatibility with popular page builders

With regular theme updates and exciting plans for future releases, you won’t want to miss any of the podcast theme action going on at SecondLineThemes. We recommend taking a tour of our own SecondLineThemes shop!

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The 9 Best WordPress Podcast Plugins in 2020 https://secondlinethemes.com/top-8-wordpress-podcast-plugins/ Tue, 14 Jan 2020 09:00:47 +0000 https://secondlinethemes.com/?p=4717 If you are running a podcast website with WordPress, or planning to create one, you are probably worried about how to create, upload, distribute or publish your precious podcast episodes into the real world. WordPress podcast plugins can help with all of the above and keep you out of manually doing the dirty work. When […]

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If you are running a podcast website with WordPress, or planning to create one, you are probably worried about how to create, upload, distribute or publish your precious podcast episodes into the real world. WordPress podcast plugins can help with all of the above and keep you out of manually doing the dirty work. When managing your own podcast website, you’ll save dozens of hours by using dedicated WordPress podcast plugins and themes. In this article we’ll dive into the different features and info about the best WordPress podcast plugins available. In this article we’ll cover the best WordPress plugins for podcasters in 2020!

What to look for in WordPress podcast plugins?

Fortunately, since WordPress is so popular (and runs on about 35% of all the websites on the internet!), there are many WordPress podcast plugins that are well known and well tested so you’re in good hands. There are plugins for almost any aspect of podcasting – Many podcast hosts offer their own WordPress plugins that connect their podcast hosting platform. This can help publishing your episodes directly from the podcast hosting provide into the website.

There are plugins that allows you to create and host your own podcast RSS feed so you can submit it yourself to Apple Podcasts or any other podcast publishing platform. Other plugins may offer sleek podcast audio players, with podcast-specific features such as control of the playing speed, quick rewind or forward, and more. Furthermore, there are plugins that can help you import your existing podcast to WordPress by pulling the RSS feed, or display beautiful podcast subscribe buttons in WordPress.

In addition to WordPress podcast plugins, it’s always important to have a matching WordPress Podcast Theme. Our themes are fully compatible with all WordPress podcast plugins. Most importantly, the themes offer advanced podcasting functionality that could help you not only display your podcast on your website, but display it beautifully and with full control on the technical, visual and aesthetics areas.

 

The Top 9 WordPress Podcast Plugins for 2019

 

seriously simple podcasting

1. Castos / Seriously Simple Podcasting (Free)

Seriously Simple Podcasting – a well designed, feature rich WordPress plugin from Castos. Just like the name point out, Seriously Simple Podcasting is simple to configure and use.

SSP works with Castos’ premium podcast hosting plans, but it’s free if you upload the MP3 files to your server.

SSP offers a beautiful HTML5 player you can display on any post. Seriously Simple Podcasting also handles RSS feeds and publishing for you. You can link the feed create by Seriously Simple Podcasting directly to iTunes or any other podcast aggregator and publish your new episodes directly from WordPress.

 

powerpress

2. Blubrry PowerPress (Free)

PowerPress, just like Seriously Simple Podcasting, is a “do it all” plugin that handles everything you need for your Podcast within WordPress. You can connect to the premium Blubrry podcast hosting plans. In other words, you can upload your own MP3 files to WordPress for free, and you can also or connect your premium Blubrry account so your WordPress server isn’t inflated with audio files and traffic.

You can use PowerPress to create your podcast RSS feed and submit it to plaftorms such as Apple Podcasts.

 

simple podcast press

3. Simple Podcast Press (Paid)

Simple Podcast Press, a premium WordPress podcast plugin brought to you by Hani Mourra is one of the best WordPress podcast plugins out there.

Not only it offers a really powerful import tool that would automatically create posts from existing podcast feeds, Simple Podcast Press is also built to improve conversions of your podcast. That means downloads, subscribers, and engagement rate are a heavy focus of this plugin.

Simple Podcast Press offers a complete audio player full of features, which is also working beautifully within our WordPress podcast themes. Additionally, SPP can integrate with both the Smart Podcast Player plugin and with Blubrry’s PowerPress plugin and display SPP’s player while still using either one of the other plugins.

 

podcast import secondlinethemes

4. Podcast Importer SecondLine (Free)

The Podcast Importer SecondLine plugin, developed by SecondLineThemes (Yeah – that’s us!) is a great tool for podcasters wanting to import their podcast into WordPress. It allows you to continuously import multiple plugins at once with separate parameters for each podcast. You can use the plugin to import several separate podcast shows/series into WordPress and this feature works great with our Podcast Network themes (like Tusant and Bolden)

To learn more about the Podcast Importer plugin, we’ve gathered a few key features –

  • Create separate imports for different podcast shows.
  • Continuously import your podcast episodes from an external RSS feed – no need to manually create the episode post in WordPress.
  • Many additional import options like setting up different categories, append the episode number to the title, import images and more!

 

BuzzSprout

5. BuzzSprout (Free)

Buzzsprout Podcasting is a free WordPress podcast plugin offered by a premium Podcast Hosting service. (therefore fees may apply if you are signing up as a customer on their website.)

The plugin offers a custom audio player, integration with iTunes and other aggregators, statistics etc.

 

smart podcast player

6. Smart Podcast Player (Paid)

Smart Podcast Player enables you to use a custom designed HTML5 audio player that is dedicated for podcasting.

You can create a playlist or display shownotes within the audio player. The Smart Podcast Player plugin is also responsive and looks great on any device. You can easily customize the colors and layouts, and it even works in combination with the Simple Podcast Press plugin.

Smart Podcast Player is a paid plugin, to read more about their monthly fee please check their website.

 

podlove

7. Podlove Podcast Publisher (Free)

Podlove Podcast Publisher helps creating podcast feeds and display episodes in a audio player. The plugin supports the Podlove Web Player and you can easily create audio or video podcast episodes with it.

 

libsyn podcast plugin

8. Libsyn Podcast Plugin (Free)

Libsyn is among the most poplar Podcast Hosting services. They offer multiple plans for Podcasters who wish to host their MP3/audio files with them.

While this plugin is free, you may need to have a paid subscription for Libsyn’s service in order to properly enjoy all of the features. This plugin connects your WordPress website with your account on Libsyn and allows you to display episodes published on your Libsyn account into your WordPress website. It also allows you to upload new episodes directly via WordPress, so the link can go both ways.

Libsyn also have an Embedded audio player. You can display it on your WordPress website, without any plugin or additional configuration.

 

podcast subscribe buttons

9. Podcast Subscribe Buttons (Free)

The Podcast Subscribe Buttons plugin, developed by SecondLineThemes, is a completely free plugin that allows you to easily create different subscribe buttons for your podcast and display them with a shortcode on any page or post in your WordPress podcast website. To clarify, we initially developed the Podcast Subscribe Buttons plugin as a core part of our WordPress podcast themes.

Additionally, the Podcast Subscribe Buttons plugin offers 3 different layouts –

  1. You can display a pop-up modal with buttons in it.
  2. Display a vertical list that can fit your sidebar or content area.
  3. Add a simple row of inline subscribe buttons for your favorite platforms.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, with so many options, the best WordPress podcast plugin for each user depends on the user’s needs. You can connect some of the above plugins with specific Podcast Hosting services. (Libsyn, PowerPress, Castos, BuzzSprout)
This means that if you already use of one of those platforms, it would make sense to their respective plugin. If you want to import an existing podcast into your site, Simple Podcast Press would be our top recommendation.

Lastly, but nonetheless a very important note to keep in mind is – all of our WordPress podcast themes are fully compatible with all the plugins above. Whether you just want to display a list of your existing that are hosted elsewhere, import an existing podcast into a new website, or host your own podcast on a WordPress website, our themes work simply great with all of the above solutions!

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How to Improve Your Podcast for 2020 By Choosing the Right Equipment https://secondlinethemes.com/improve-podcast-2020/ Mon, 06 Jan 2020 14:13:35 +0000 http://secondlinethemes.com/?p=33807 Now that podcasting has officially entered the mainstream, it could be something you’d like to get on board with. For example, you may have been hesitant to test the waters with podcasting in the past. On the other hand, you might have a dormant show you’d like to revive. Either way, you’ll want to take […]

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Now that podcasting has officially entered the mainstream, it could be something you’d like to get on board with. For example, you may have been hesitant to test the waters with podcasting in the past. On the other hand, you might have a dormant show you’d like to revive. Either way, you’ll want to take stock of your resources in order to create a quality podcast.

Fortunately, there are lots of options for a wide range of budgets when it comes to gearing up for producing a podcast. No matter whether you’re selecting a custom podcast theme or finding the perfect microphone, we’re here to help guide you through the maze of podcast equipment choices.

In this article, we’ll cover our recommendations for podcasting hardware and software. We’ll also take a look at the best plugins and themes for your podcast website. Hit record and let’s get started!

Why the Right Equipment Matters for Your Podcast

Not only have podcasts grown in popularity but they have also proven to be a valuable marketing tool. This, combined with a relatively low barrier to entry, has made podcasting a competitive marketplace.

As such, selecting the right equipment can help set you apart from other podcasts in the same genre. Given the medium, audio quality is a first impression for how professional your podcast, which means having the best equipment your budget allows for is time and money well spent.

In the next section, we’ll go over three different categories of equipment and break them down for beginner, intermediate, and advanced podcasters. However, feel free to jump around and look at the areas that interest you the most!

Picking the Right Hardware: Microphones, Mixers, and Accessories

Of course, having a computer is a basic starting point for podcasting. We’re going to assume this is a given for you, and dive right into looking at microphones, mixers, and other accessories.

Beginner

To begin, let’s look at microphones as you don’t need to consider mixers and headphones so much at the very beginning; a simple set of earbuds will do, although you’ll want to pick up a better quality set of headphones, eventually.

First, the Audio-Technica ART2100 microphone is a solid first choice for beginning podcasters:

Audio-Technica microphone

Due to the fact there are both USB and analog XLR connections it’s a very versatile choice. Similarly, the Samsung Q2U mic is set up with dual connections and is a slightly cheaper option.

If you’re looking for something extremely budget-friendly and highly portable, the Blue Snowflake USB mic comes in around $22. It is pocket-sized with a high-quality condenser and plug-n-play USB connectors.

It’s also worth nothing that these mics are great for solo podcasters, although you can of course record more voices with them if necessary.

Intermediate

You’ll want to begin looking at some accessories next. Boom arm stands (to help position your mic properly) and ‘pop’ filters (to stop plosive sounds from your mouth from hitting the mic) are must-haves. Podcasting kits that include a mic and accessories are a good option.

You may also want to check out a higher-quality mic like the Blue Yeti Blackout:

Blue Yeti Blackout microphone

This is a nice progression for podcasters looking to improve their audio quality without breaking the bank, although we’d argue that a quality mixer or interface will be more helpful, in order to utilize the higher-quality XLR inputs for the mic.

Advanced

The secret of quality audio is to make sure there are no weak links in the chain. As such, you’ll constantly flip-flop between upgrading your mic and interface to keep up. A mic such as the Heil Sound PR 40 bundle is a solid potential step-up from your current equipment:

Heil Sound Mic bundle

At this point the sky’s the limit when it comes to professional-quality microphones. We’d also suggest looking into whether you need to upgrade your mixer or interface. Focusrite are leaders in the field, and their line is stellar. Also, your headphones may also need an upgrade, although you’ll want to make sure they’re ‘closed-backed’ to ensure they don’t ‘spill’ into your mic.

Choosing Your Software: Editors, Websites, and Hosts

Audio editing software is the last piece of the production puzzle. Additionally, you’ll want to pick out a host for both your podcast and your website.

Beginner

Audacity is a free, cross-platform choice that thousands of people use with multitrack audio such as podcasts:

Audacity software

When it comes to creating a website for your podcast, WordPress is a standout option for all users. It’s free, and almost infinitely flexible and customizable in part by using a professional podcast theme. Additionally, WordPress is compatible with all major podcast hosts.

Intermediate

Hindenburg Journalist is a product geared specifically toward podcasting and audio storytelling. Pricing starts at $95 and includes a multitrack, cross-platform editing suite:

Hindenburg Journalist software

If you’re ready to move beyond a free podcast hosting option, we recommend hosts like Castos, Transistor, BuzzSprout, and the likes. These integrate easily with WordPress, and provide features that can help get your podcast out to more listeners. At this level, you can also work on enhancing your listener’s experience with the right themes and import tools for your website as well.

Advanced

At the advanced end of the software spectrum, you’ll find SOUND FORGE and Adobe Audition. They are the most well-known options for professional sound editing, regardless of whether that’s music, podcasts, and other audio projects.

How to Get Started With a New Podcast

There are a few basic tips we recommend for how to get started once your gear is in place. One thing you might want to spend some time on is defining your show niche. This can help keep your show on target and consistent for listeners. Setting a content schedule so listeners know when to expect a new episode is another best practice to keep in mind.

As we’ve mentioned in other articles, we recommend both a website and a podcast host for your show. With both of these in place, monetizing your podcast is easier to implement (among other aspects of promotion, marketing, and income-generation).

Our blog is full of quality articles outlining the steps you’ll need to tick off in order to get up and running, so we recommend checking it out!

Conclusion

Whether you’re new to podcasting or have dabbled in production previously, choosing the right gear for your show is important. Once you have the right gear for your level, you can easily get going.

You can easily resurrect an old podcast or kick-off 2020 with a new show using the right podcasting hardware and software. For example, USB mics are great as a quick entry point, and audio interfaces help to control the volume levels hitting your software. Speaking of which, free editing software could be all you need, although high-end editing software like Adobe Audition or SOUND FORGE is the gold standard.

No matter what level you start at, picking a podcast host and developing a podcast website is essential. Here at SecondLineThemes, we cater to the specific needs you’ll have as you develop your show’s website. Check out our dynamic podcast themes for WordPress, today!

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5 Ways to Monetize Your Podcast and Create Revenues https://secondlinethemes.com/monetize-your-podcast-create-revenue/ Fri, 20 Dec 2019 11:16:06 +0000 http://secondlinethemes.com/?p=33322 Podcasts have a really low barrier for entry. All you need is a decent microphone, and you’re in. There are many ways to edit and host your podcast for free. This makes podcasting exceedingly popular as a medium. Many podcasts start as a side-huslte or hobby, but in some cases, podcasts can become a lucrative […]

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Podcasts have a really low barrier for entry. All you need is a decent microphone, and you’re in. There are many ways to edit and host your podcast for free. This makes podcasting exceedingly popular as a medium. Many podcasts start as a side-huslte or hobby, but in some cases, podcasts can become a lucrative endeavor or a way to generate alternative sources of revenue. Figuring out how to generate revenue can often present a challenge, but that’s what we are going to cover today!

Fortunately, there are several options you can implement immediately when it comes to generating revenue with your podcast. If advertising campaigns seem too involved, there’s no need to worry. There are plenty of monetization options that don’t require in-depth marketing know-how.

In this article, we’ll review five ways to monetize your website. We’ll also take a look at some podcast specific web site themes that can help make monetization easier. If you’re ready, let’s dive right in!

Why Now is The Right Time to Monetize Your Podcast

There really is no better time than now to initiate a monetization plan for your podcast. In fact, recent research has highlighted now as a ‘watershed’ moment for the medium. Podcasts are seeing roughly 90 million listeners a month. This signals its crossover into the mainstream. According to Daniel J. Lewis, from The Audacity to Podcast, there are now “More than 800,000 valid podcasts now available in Apple Podcasts”. This is clearly way beyond a “trending” topic, and with so many listeners, companies, podcasters, advertisers, acquisitions and more flowing in, there’s also a lot of money exchanging hands in this rapidly growing industry.

In terms of revenue, the podcast market is projected to see a 110 percent increase in revenue in 2020, from 2017, according to TechCrunch. Some of this increase has been fueled by Spotify’s acquisition of podcast creation platforms Gimlet and Anchor:

Spotify's podcast menu

Anchor alone claims to be supporting 40 percent of all new podcasts, helped by their free podcast hosting service. All of this means there is really no time like the present to generate revenue with your podcast.

How to Make Sure Your Podcast is Ready to Generate Revenue

Before opening the floodgates, you’ll want to make sure your podcast is actually ready to be monetized. One way to do this is to make sure you’re publishing new episodes regularly, and can keep up the schedule you establish. This doesn’t mean you need to publish daily. It’s more important to establish a balanced approach that works for your brand and resources.

Another way to prepare your podcast for monetization is to assess your website’s theme and structure. The right theme can add a significant benefit to your website, especially when they are designed specifically for podcasts (like ours.) Using a podcast theme means you’ll have e-commerce tools like WooCommerce at the ready. Our themes also come bundled with the popular drag-and-drop page builder Elementor, to help you create a design meeting your exact requirements.

6 Ways to Generate Revenue With Your Podcast

There are a number of ways to go about turning your podcast into a moneymaker. Let’s look at six different options!

1. Treat Your Podcast as a Brand

To many podcasters, their podcast is only an audio format available on Apple Podcasts or other platforms. It’s important to realize that your podcast can become a brand, or be part of your existing brand. This would surely help you increase your audience, the engagement with your listeners, and improve your chances of really monetizing your podcast. This means you’ll definitely need to stay in touch with your audience via other mediums, such as social media, a website, blog or even a weekly newsletter.

Treating your podcast like a brand means you’ll need to pay more attention to some key details and maintain “control” over your brand. Let us explain what we mean by “Control” – it’s really easy to get tangled up with all the different podcast platforms and podcast hosts, and forget about the brand behind your podcast. When you podcast is only available through one or a few platforms, you can’t control your brand and identity.

This is why we strongly recommend all podcasters to create their own website, where you could control all the content, send links to listeners, share more types of media beyond just audio, and really take things up to the next level. It’s going to be really hard to monetize your podcast before you have a brand behind it. Once you start to establish a brand, you’ll also notice how easier the path to monetization becomes, as it would be much easier to land advertisers, sponsors, sell merchandise, and more.

2. Establish a Membership/Subscription/Donation-Based Podcast

Many podcasters use Patreon as a platform to enable them to charge you to set up a membership-based business. This means you can create a variety of membership tiers and invite listeners to support your podcast by becoming regular donors. You can also offer different incentives and packages for each tier. For example, you could have $10 and $15 a month memberships that include a t-shirt and premium content, respectively.

In terms of podcasting, Patreon actually has a specific platform for podcasters. This includes features designed to benefit the medium:

Patreon for podcasts

For example, you’ll be able to provide a special private RSS link to your paying supporters. Additionally, Patreon provides communication tools so you can stay directly connected to your fans and supporters. There’s a lot of flexibility in the platform and it’s easy to set up.

Besides Patreon, there are other alternatives. For example, you can create a WordPress website for your podcast and enable premium content or memberships on your website itself. This is the most “direct” method, as everything would be handled directly on your site and not on other platforms or marketplaces. There are free and premium WordPress plugins that would help you achieve this quite easily, like Restrict Content Pro, MemberPress, Easy Digital Downloads and more.

Lastly, in the past few months more new companies have emerged that help podcasters charge subscriptions in different ways. One example you can look at is Supercast.

3. Advertising and Sponsorships

Another way you can monetize your podcast (and podcast website) is to offer advertising or sponsorship opportunities. Many podcasters choose to run a quick ad at the intro of their podcast and mention one or more sponsors in exchange for a fixed fee. It is also possible to insert ads dynamically throughout your podcast, and several companies already offer this method, although it can be a little less relevant for your audience at times. In addition to your podcast, you can create space on your podcast website that can be purchased for advertising, or accept sponsorships for on-air mentions. Podcast advertising has been called ‘an advertiser’s dream’ as it’s been found to be highly effective.

When it comes to podcast advertising there are three main spots in an episode where you’d typically offer sponsorship options:

  • Pre-roll: This is at the very start of your show where you can drop in a line that says the podcast was sponsored by a company.
  • Mid-roll: You may have listened to podcasts that use the mid-roll option, as this is when talk segues into a break or transition to a guest. You can then use the natural break to talk about a sponsored product.
  • Post-roll: The very end of your podcast, sometimes called an ‘outro’, is another place where you can do a quick sponsor mention.

One way you can get started with advertising on your podcast is to use a podcast advertising network. While you will have to pay a fee or percentage to the brokers that manage these, it will be one less item you have to devote resources to, and the benefits could outweigh the negatives.

If you already have a decent amount of listeners, you can reach out to companies relevant for your podcast and see if they would be interested in sponsoring your future episodes. For example, if you run a successful podcast about coffee, reach out to your favorite cafe, or a coffee-machine manufacturer or brand. They would (usually) be happy to sponsor your podcast and reach an audience of targeted listeners.

4.  Sell Show-Related Merchandise

There are lots of options to help you create an e-commerce store for your show merchandise, without ever having to handle the physical product or manage the shipping logistics.

One way you can approach this is to use a print-on-demand service such as Teespring. This means product orders are printed only when someone puts in an order. You won’t have to purchase a stock of different items and deal with the leftover product.

One example of this kind of merchandise option is from Joe Rogan’s popular podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience:

The Higher Primate ecommerce store

His Higher Primate e-commerce store offers up apparel and other products from the show. As your show gains followers, this is one way to continue to engage and build a community with your listeners. Not to mention, the more branded t-shirts you have walking around in the world, the more free advertising for your show!

Don’t limit yourself to to T-Shirts and socks, you can easily sell e-books, software, or any other products you may see fit for your brand. In fact, many businesses are creating a podcast to promote their own products or brand, so it’s really a two-way success!

Selling products would probably mean you’ll need to do it from your website. We recommend using WordPress. It’s probably the best platform that would allow you to have all of your episodes, your merch or products, a blog, subscription options and even more all on the same website!

In terms of eCommerce, WordPress works really great with WooCommerce – the most popular eCommerce plugin for WordPress. You can also use Easy Digital Downloads to sell digital items, or connect your WordPress site to other eCommerce services.

Needless to say, all of our Podcast WordPress Themes work flawlessly with WooCommerce!

5. Create Premium or Restricted Content

We discussed membership and subscription above, but this approach might take a little extra effort on your part but can be an effective incentive for listeners who already love your show. If you’re not sure what kind of premium content you might be able to produce, there are several options, including:

  • Recording extra material with special guests that only paying members can access
  • Live streaming or providing video recordings of your podcast sessions to subscribers for a monthly fee
  • Creating an ‘early access’ membership
  • Offering ad-free content
  • Creating a private podcast and charge for being among the listeners/community

Combining this with other options on this list is one way to create a more comprehensive monetization strategy. You can enable those options either as a one-time purchase or subscription-based.

6. Use Affiliate Links to Generate Revenue

Affiliate revenue is already successful on the internet for decades. If you don’t want to create or sell your own products, there are affiliate programs you can use to generate revenue with your podcast. For example, one of the most popular affiliate programs is the Audible Creator program:

Audible Creator program for generating revenue with podcasts

This is a simple option where you can offer an Audible trial to your listeners with a custom URL. For every free trial initiated with your link, you’ll get $15.  Many podcast hosting services also offer affiliate programs as well. Just remember, it’s a good practice to disclose affiliates to your listeners so they don’t feel mislead. You can always add affiliate links either during your show, on the shownotes, or via your website.

Conclusion

When you take into consideration that advertising during podcasts is actually approved by 78% of listeners, you can proceed with confidence that introducing a monetization plan won’t necessarily alienate your listeners. As such, pressing on with any number of strategies could be great for your listeners, cashflow, and more.

There are several options when it comes to generating revenue with your podcast. Let’s recap what we covered in this article:

  1. Create a brand for your podcast.
  2. Setting Up a Subscription-based revenue stream
  3. Offering advertising and sponsorship opportunities.
  4. Sell show-related merchandise.
  5. Create ‘Premium-only’ content.
  6. Use affiliate links.

There are many more ways for monetizing your podcast. We recommend to stick to the one you find most relevant to you and your podcast. You can also be creative and create new revenue streams.

Regardless of how you decide to generate revenue with your podcast, we have all the podcast-related WordPress themes and resources you need. Check out our many podcast-friendly themes and pricing!

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