Looking to get your next big audio adventure off the ground but not sure how to get it done?
Looking to get your next big audio adventure off the ground but not sure how to get it done? Podcasting can seem overwhelming at first, but it's really a lot more straightforward and easy-to-do (logistically speaking) than you'd link.
But one thing you need to master is how to publish a podcast.
Where should you be publishing your show, and how do you get it done? This is what you need to know about making sure your podcast gets into the ears of the listeners who want to hear it.
Before we talk about the "how" of publishing a podcast, let's cover where you want to publish it in the first place. Chances are you, like most podcasters, want everyone (except maybe your mom) to access your show.
That means ensuring it makes its way to somewhere that people can listen to it. Namely, a podcasting app (or two). Some of the most popular podcasting apps, include:
If you're brand new to the world of podcasting, getting your first few episodes out there can seem daunting. From recording and editing to releasing it out into the world, there are a lot of things to think about. But with the right tools and a solid plan, it can turn into a fairly simple process. Especially once you're over that new podcast hump.
Before you get too excited and start hitting that publish button, you want to make a plan. While exciting at the beginning, podcasting can get daunting fast when the tasks start to pile up. Creating a plan ahead of time can help combat this right off the bat.
This doesn't have to be some big to-do. So long as there aren't any CEOs looking over your shoulder, a simple outline that you understand can get the job done. I recommend hammering out:
With a plan in place, you'll be more likely to avoid gaps and ensure you have a smooth podcasting process.
Before you can publish anything, you first need to record and edit it!
Recording a quality show means investing in audio equipment like a microphone and a good pair of headphones (it doesn't have to break the bank). Even fresh-out-of-the-gate podcasters can sound professional with a $30 microphone. With your equipment and a solid recording and production system (*ahem* Alitu *ahem*), you can get that podcast off the ground. No frills needed.
If this is your first episode out of the gate (and even if it's not), I highly recommend recording more than one episode at a time. With a few episodes in the hopper, you'll have a better chance of making sure everything runs on schedule without overwhelming yourself.
You want to write (if that's your style), record, and edit your show before you even think about publishing anything.
You can choose your podcast host before or after you start recording. But you do need it done prior to hitting that publish button, because getting it out to the different distribution channels without an RSS feed is a bit challenging.
Your host provides you with an RSS feed, and that feed connects your show to the different podcast listening apps. Instead of having to upload a single episode in 20 different places, you can upload it once and call it a day.
If you’re looking for an easy hosting option, Alitu’s hosting service is now in beta. Once you’re done recording your show in the platform, you can make any necessary edits, hit that “publish” button, and you’re good to go. If you want something that has a few more publishing bells and whistles, there are some exceptional hosting options out there, though none with the recording and editing capabilities of Alitu.
Once you've picked your host, and added information like your name, description, and artwork, you need to actually connect your podcast with the individual platforms. More accurately, you need to connect your RSS feed to the different platforms.
Publishing your show is easier if you’re making a podcast with Alitu, even if you’re not hosting with the beta program. You can connect to most major hosts from right inside Alitu and send your finished episodes right to your RSS feed. Once your episode is with your host, it gets distributed to any platform you’ve already connected to.
How you do this depends on both your host and the platform. Many platforms have built-in support for connecting to different platforms that simply takes the click of a button. However, larger platforms like Apple and Spotify often require you to set up an account with them and add your RSS feed manually.
It's worth getting the connection process directly from your host as they might have a system that's easier already set up for you. There's no need to make any manual connection if you don't have to. That's just extra steps!
That said, here are a few handy little guides to help you get set up on the bigger platforms:
When everything's all set up and connected and you have your episodes ready, you can start uploading them.
If you decided to stay ahead of the game and get a few of your episodes done early, you can upload them and schedule them so they release on time.
When you upload your show, you'll want to make sure that you include all of the important information that the podcast players need to be able to access. This includes ensuring that:
Making sure you do this ahead of time will help ensure that publishing your show is as efficient as possible.
Simply throwing an episode up on Spotify or Apple Podcasts doesn't guarantee anyone's actually going to listen to it. Not only are you in charge of creating the show, but you need to promote it too.
Where and how you promote it depends on your target audience (not everyone hangs out in the same place) and what you're interested in doing (Tik Tok isn't mandatory, if you can't stand it stay away!). While promotion won't look the same for everyone, here are some popular ways to get the word out about your show:
Not every promotional method is going to be right for your show, and if you're just starting out you'll want to test things out.
You don't have to wait until you're "ready" to get started on your show. You can get started in Alitu today with a 7-day free trial. The sooner you start creating, the sooner you can get publishing, and the sooner you can see growth!
Get a 7-day free trial and walk through our personalised onboarding to get started. We've got loads of resources and a super-friendly support team to help you out all along the way.
