Podcast Launch Guide, Part 3: Publishing

 Photo by  Yingchou Han &nbsp;on  Unsplash

Photo by Yingchou Han on Unsplash

Welcome to part 3 of launching your podcast - publishing! Hopefully by this point you have produced a few episodes, and now it's time share them with the world.

hosting

Your podcast episodes need to be uploaded somewhere on the internet where they can be found. This is where a podcast hosting service comes in. A hosting service will provide the space for your podcast episodes to live, and provide other helpful services such as creating your podcast RSS feed.

Choosing a hosting platform depends upon your goals and preferences. Think about what features matter most to you. Do you need something very easy to use? Do you need support for monetization? Do you need support for live-streamed podcasts?

Recommended hosting platforms:


In addition to hosting your podcast audio files, you may also want to host a website. This is where your show's information will live, such as your show notes, transcriptions, and resources. I recommended using either Squarespace or Wordpress.

distribution

Once you've chosen a hosting platform, you can distribute your show anywhere you want. First, find your RSS feed within your hosting service platform. This is the link that you will use to submit to the podcast directories of your choice. Each podcast directory has its own submission process, and can take a few days to approve, but the good news is that once you're submitted and approved, you don't have to do it again for that podcast.

Podcast directories include:

*There is no official submission process for Google Podcasts. If your podcast website can be found via a Google search, your podcast can be found on Google Podcasts. For more info, you can check out this article.

show notes/transcription

Even though podcasts are an auditory medium, show notes and transcriptions for each episode provide value to both you and your listener.

Having a readable option is definitely beneficial for people who are not able to listen due to their circumstances, whether it's because of their environment or a hearing impairment. But for all of your listeners, show notes and blog posts allow them to engage with your content by sharing, commenting, and clicking on the resources that you provide. Text is much more easily searchable and shareable than audio.

Another way show notes and transcriptions help you is through SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Search engines, like Google, rank search results based on: 1 - how many times your links are shared on other website and social media, and 2 - how regularly your website posts new content. Text is more likely to be shared than audio, and show notes count as regular activity on your website. 

Successful show notes include images, an overall summary of the main topic covered in the episode, timestamps of the main points, and links to resources mentioned in the episode. They also include a call to action, such as inviting listeners to sign up for an email list or follow you on social media.

Congratulations!

Great job! Once you have launched your podcast, be sure to spread the word about it! If you have any questions on any step of the process, feel free to contact me.
https://aliciabarrettaudio.com/blog/2018/8/24/podcast-launch-guide-part3
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