Not quite as easy. But…

Can Podcast Interviewing Techniques Be Learned?

Yes, podcast interviewing techniques can be learned by studying the fundamentals, a little bit of psychology, and practicing, a lot. It may seem awkward at first, but it is in fact a fun skill that can translate into many facets of your life.

Learning how to interview people and create a great podcast takes time and practice. That’s why today, we’re going over the fundamentals of interviewing so you can make your podcasts even better than they already are.

One of the best interview podcasts 2022 had to offer was Hot Ones with Sean Evans. He’s an amazing interviewer and has some of the best podcast interviews with celebrities on the internet. We’re going to look at his example several times throughout this article.

A Great Podcast Interview Is Well Researched

The more you know about your subject, the easier it will be for them to open up about themselves and their work. You’ll also be able to ask them questions that make them feel like they’re talking about something they love—which means they’ll feel more comfortable and be able to relax. Honestly, they’re going to feel engaged and that they’re being heard.

This will make for a better interview overall!

Have a Podcast Interview Checklist

Even short interview podcasts need a checklist. Especially if the subject matter isn’t in your wheelhouse. You don’t need to be a subject matter expert, and in fact, it’s better to know a little less than you’d like.

Be Curious

Know the material you want to cover ahead of time, and make sure you can weave that information into your podcast interview questions. Without forcing it.

You can do this by reading through their past interviews, looking at their social media posts, or even just Googling them. Once you have a good sense of who they are and what they stand for, it’ll be much easier for you to craft your questions in a way that makes sense to both parties.

Craft Meaningful Questions for You and Your Audience

You also need to make sure that your questions feel like they matter. That you care about them. That you know your audience and that your audience is going to care about the answer to your question. That you understand podcast interviewing.

Even if you don’t yet have podcast interviewing completely figured out, you just keep

If they don’t seem like they matter at all—either because they’re too boring or because they’re too hard—you might find yourself looking at a blank face instead of an engaging subject.

Make sure that whatever question you’re asking is interesting enough so that it doesn’t feel like an afterthought on either side of the table. That means you need to go deeper than whatever it is they’re there to talk about. You have to go deeper.

A Killer Interviewer Remembers Why They’re There

And that’s to ask great questions.

Be aware of the power dynamic in your conversation; don’t let yourself get too comfortable during an interview, and let down your guard because you think it will make for a more relaxed conversation! Remember: You’re still in charge here.

You’re driving the bus, and if you get star-struck and lose control, the whole thing can seem like a bit of a farce, boring, or otherwise just confusing.

This interview by Peter McCormack on What Bitcoin Did was one where he lost control, and it went a bit off the rails.

You don’t have to love or hate bitcoin (if you are interested in learning more about bitcoin the CryptoTab Browser is Chrome based and will earn you a bit in the background) to realize that.

This is a show I love, and he was the first to admit that it didn’t come out as he wanted. It happens to professionals, so remember, always be learning.

Ask open-ended questions

When you ask someone to name their favorite color, it’s not an interesting question because there is only one answer (and they probably already know what it is). But if you ask them how they feel about their favorite color, why they chose it, or what color means to them personally—that’s when things get interesting. Podcast interviewing is all about when things get interesting.

This kind of question doesn’t have an easy answer, so your guest will be forced to think more deeply and share more personal information with you and your listeners.

In the same vein…

Don’t ask leading questions!

Leading questions seem like they’re trying to guide your guest into saying what you want them to say. For example, instead of asking, “Do you think [something controversial]?” try asking, “How do you feel about [something controversial]?”

The latter gives your guest more freedom to let loose and divulge something nobody else may know.

Podcast Interviewing is About Letting Them Talk.

Don’t interrupt them while they’re trying to answer a question—let them finish their thought before jumping in with another question or comment of yours; this will make for a smoother podcast episode overall since it will be uninterrupted by any dead air time between responses from either party involved (you as host/interviewer vs guest/interviewee).

Use “why” as part of your questioning technique when asking questions. For example, you could start a question with “Why do you think that?” or “What makes you say that?” This will help your guest feel like they have more control over their responses and gives them a chance to elaborate on their answer before moving on to another question.

Use Active Listening

What this means is a creative podcast experience is going to make heavy use of active listening. You’re going to notice that in almost all great podcast interviews.

Ask about their experiences, not just their opinions. This is especially important if you’re interviewing someone who works in a specific field, like healthcare or law.

It’s easy for them to give you their opinion on a topic, but asking about their experiences, what helped form those opinions, will help paint a more accurate picture of what it’s actually like being in that line of work.

Master Active Listening with Udemy

Watch the Podcast Interviewing Master Work

Take a look at Sean interviewing Matt Damon about why there aren’t so many indie movies getting made with big names.

Matt’s conjecture is that the fact nobody buys DVDs anymore means that filmmakers can’t count on that second major source of revenue. And as someone who worked at Blockbuster for several years before they went under, I tend to agree. That DVD (or even VHS) cash source meant a huge box office smash wasn’t necessarily the only determining factor.

It’s pretty obvious Damon didn’t expect that question and had to give it some thought. It also appeared as if he genuinely enjoyed the experience.

You can also ask them how they came up with those opinions since most people have had some sort of experience that led them down the path they’re currently on. Or maybe they’ve never really thought about it. Either way, getting the guest to think is important.

Keep Your Questions As Simple As You Can

Don’t ask questions that require a lot of background knowledge on the subject matter—keep it simple. If the guest gets a little too in the weeds, a little too wonky, get them to break down, in a creative, relatable way, what they’re trying to say.

Fire off analogies at will. And make sure to respond to your guest in your own words, clarifying what they just said. First, it helps your audience understand what’s being said, and nobody feels taken out of context the next day. It’s what Socrates would do.

Be aware of the power dynamic in your conversation; don’t let yourself get too comfortable during an interview, and let down your guard because you think it will make for a more relaxed conversation! Casual but professional is what you are looking for to get solid answers. How?

Keep on reading.

Remember: You’re still in charge here, so keep your hands on the conversational reins.

Make Eye Contact

This is how to interview someone for a podcast remotely. And it’s something even some of the bests got wrong during the pandemic.

It helps people feel heard and understood, so they’ll be more likely to open up about what really matters to them! It instantly builds charisma. Keeping eye contact is a huge part of active listening.

Pro tip – to keep eye contact remotely, you will look directly into your camera lens. Even if your show is audio only, having a video recording makes for better podcast interviewing.

Practice makes perfect here because it will feel awkward if you’ve never tried it before. The natural instinct is to look the subject in the eyes on the screen, but of course, that’s not where the lens is.

If you’ve never tried it, give it a go by filming yourself or on a call with a friend.

Keep it Casual.

Our friends at hot ones are casual but always professional. Sean’s interview with Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters is stellar.

I have to think they were a few sheets to the wind at the end of the interview, but it was never sloppy.

Casual conversations that don’t require anyone in the conversation to be a subject matter expert encourage the listener to hang in there with you. Even if they don’t fully understand what’s going on.

Skip the Obvious Questions.

If someone is doing a book tour or promoting some product, try to leave as much of that at the door as possible when crafting your questions.

Remember, they’ve probably heard it all before, and it makes for a dull experience. For everyone involved.

If you’ve ever seen a movie press junket go off the rails with the interviewer getting played for a fool, that’s usually why. They’re asking a question that’s been answered a thousand times that day alone.

It makes you, as the interviewer, look like a moron because your subject knows their material back to front. You have to bring something new to the table.

Watch this professional interviewer savaged by Robert Downey Junior for his, let’s call them, lackluster podcast interviewing skills. Well, interviewing skills generally.

Again, our boy Sean Evans will get podcast guests to openly remark about how deep a dive he did or what a good question that is. He only has so many hot wings, so he never burns a sauce (pun intended) on some obvious question nobody will care about.

Conclusion

We hope that these tips have helped you to learn about the best way to interview someone for your podcast. We throw a lot of attention Joe Rogan’s way on this site, and he’s a great interviewer as well, but for my money, it’s Sean Evans who comes out on top.

Watch and listen to how he improves the conversations season after season. He is learning to implement these skills to create compelling content with just about every guest he has on.

If you follow them, we’re sure that your listeners will be impressed by how much more engaging and informative your episodes are! If you want to learn more about active listening and how to get it done quickly, check out this excellent course on Udemy by clicking the link below.

Learn Active Listening Skills Today

Improve Your Active Listening Skills Today

The post 9 Podcast Interviewing Fundamentals To Make Your Podcast Awesome appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

However, “how to start a podcast” seems to be the question most new entrants have. We hope to walk you through how to start a podcast with this comprehensive guide. We’ve talked about why everyone should start a podcast before. We’ve told you that you can set up a podcast recording studio for less than $100.

In several ways, podcasting is a relatively easy medium to dive into with ubiquitous pitches of low barriers of entry, affordable equipment, and the possibility to be up and running within just a few weeks. However, anyone who has ventured into podcasting knows that releasing your first episode is really just the start, and it is truly an uphill climb from there. 

Throughout this guide, we hope to provide you with a basic step-by-step on how to launch a show that can be syndicated and discovered on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, and more, as well as provide you with tips that will help make continuing your podcast an easier process. 

What is a podcast, actually?

What a podcast is, actually, an audio or visual serial much like a radio program, except you can listen on demand through your favorite podcast player.

Before you even begin podcasting, understanding what a podcast is, how it’s formatted, the history and background and how new listeners discover podcasts can be helpful. 

You are probably well aware that a podcast is a portmanteau of the words “pod,” taken from the word iPod, and “broadcast”, however, today podcasts are hardly limited to iPods. Both audio and video podcasts exist, however, we will largely be focusing on audio since it is the more popular format, and the growth of platforms like YouTube and Twitch have made video podcasts less common.

When a podcast episode is ready to be shared, the file is typically uploaded to a podcast host that stores the audio files and then creates an RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed that can be distributed and synced with various online directories such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. 

While you can certainly download a podcast episode directly and listen as an MP3, it is the ability to share a feed with consumers through various online directories that makes podcasts so appealing. Rather than having to share files directly with listeners, the ability to subscribe and automatically be fed new episodes when they are released makes the process easier for both creators and audiences.

Unlike radio, you do not have to “tune in” at a certain time to find a podcast and because of the use of RSS feeds, distributors can share their episodes on as many platforms as they like and reach increasingly large new audiences. It’s scalable, on-demand audio.

Start Podcasting by Planning and Thinking Like a Podcast Listener

The biggest misconception of podcasting is that the average person can simply set up a microphone, share their thoughts on the news of the day or pop culture, and instantly find an audience. Really, starting a successful podcast starts right here. In the planning stage.

With the growth of podcasting, it has become increasingly hard to “break out” and much like YouTube, Instagram, or Twitter, lots of content is created and only ever seen or heard by a few followers. If you want to make a podcast for the fun of it, this may not be a concern, but for creators looking to build or grow a brand, share insight on a field of expertise or grow a large following, this step is by far the most important. 

If you decide to start a podcast, you’re going to be overwhelmed. Feeling overwhelmed at the start is perfectly natural.

To start a podcast takes hard work, and more work, and more work, and mo—

Why did you decide to start a podcast?

At the core, a podcast needs to have information that cannot be found elsewhere, in the form of research, opinions, stories, entertainment, or something else, presented by someone that the audience thinks is the best person to be presenting that information. You need to come across as a smart cookie.

If you want to start an interview show, you’ll need compelling guests, a unique angle in your questioning, and proven expertise on both sides. If you want to discuss pop culture or the news, the same applies.

For comedy, investigative, or any other form of podcasts you will want to determine if you are putting out content that has not already been done before, or at least not as well as you can do it. Essentially, ask yourself the question “Why me?” Why should a listener choose your show over the numerous other podcasts available? 

A podcast presented from scratch in a saturated market means you really need to drill down into your niche.

Thinking of these differentiators before you even begin is a foundational step to creating a successful podcast.

Why this topic to start a podcast?

This topic is perfect to start a podcast because it allows me to explore my opinion on the matter and share what I have learned. You may be thinking.

The perfect podcast exists somewhere between broad and niche, with enough content to return week after week with new information and enough specificity that it does not get lost in the mix of dozens of other similar shows. 

Often, it can be helpful to lean a bit more on the niche side for the sake of building a small but loyal audience dedicated to the exact topic you are planning to discuss. The old adage applies here: if you try to build something for everyone it won’t work for anyone.

Shows focused on specific pop culture or exact moments in history are proof that this can work. There are countless massively successful podcasts based on a seeming niche subject, here are a couple of my favorite examples:

• 99% Invisible is essentially a podcast about how design impacts our life
• The Adventure Zone started as a Dungeons & Dragons podcast
• Revisionist History explores and analyzes individual events in history

If you spend any time on the iTunes/Apple Podcast charts or read any other list of popular podcasts, it can be overwhelming how many popular shows either are hosted by celebrities or other personas with established audiences, as well as how many are created or distributed by big-name studios, networks or platforms.

It is no surprise that these shows can get an initial head start because they have a pre-established audience, but don’t be scared off or intimidated. Plenty of newbie podcasters make it too, and lots of big shows that are now tied to major networks began in bedrooms or basements. 

Ultimately, you’re going to be technically inclined to create the show you want. Sometimes it’s an art and that goes beyond podcast listing information.

Pros and cons of different podcast formats and what they look like

Some people may disagree with me here, however, here are the different formats of podcasts. Admittedly, it’s difficult to bucket some of these because there are always exceptions. 

Talking head and interview-style podcasts:

• Solo — one-person monologues 
• Solo with a guest — interviewing a special guest or personality such as Joe Rogan interviewing Dr. Jordan Peterson.
• Co-host(s) — you and at least one other co-host discuss topics

Narrative and serialized podcasts:

• Episodic documentary podcasts — each episode dives into a new theme, case, or idea
• Serialized documentary podcasts — a full season dedicated to one concept
• Fiction (both episodic and serialized) — fiction podcasts or audio dramas use creative writing and often sound effects for an immersive podcast

While there are pros and cons with every format, typically co-hosted and interview podcasts are easier to produce, but take effort to book guests, deciding on a topic, and are hugely dependent on the host(s) personality, rapport, and interview technique.

Narrative and serialized podcasts usually require more production effort including research, writing, editing, and sometimes travel. 

Create a plan to start a podcast

A common mistake is recording a single episode, setting up podcast hosting and RSS, publishing the episode, and then not having a plan for the episodes that will follow. We strongly encourage new podcasters to develop a plan for at least two months of episodes, which could be as few as two or three episodes or as many as ten or fifteen depending on the length and release frequency. 

There are a few reasons to do this. First and foremost, you will test if your concept holds weight. If you cannot record or even plan out this much content, chances are your concept is not developed enough to warrant a podcast.

Second, because regular publishing is so important, this lead time will hopefully prevent you from ever having to rush to create a new episode just to keep listeners on a regular schedule. Finally, you’ll get a chance to see if you enjoy the work behind podcasting and if it is worth investing more time and money in. 

Ideally, in building this two-month plan you will have a plan for several episodes on deck that can be released in consistent succession. Alternatively, you can calendar out when you will plan, pre-produce, and record different episodes if your topic is based on current events and cannot be recorded in advance. 

Oh, and what’s your budget? Do you find yourself asking…

How to start a podcast for free?

To start a podcast for free, you’ll need to find a host. Once set up with the hosting service and your microphone or phone/computer, it’s time to start recording. You should get a good microphone asap that you’re comfortable using since the quality of your voice is important for podcasting.

Naming your podcast – eg Choosing a Podcast Title

Arguably, the most important part of your planning. You might think you have a great name picked out already, but there are several factors you should consider in ultimately deciding your name. 

• Make sure there’s not an existing podcast with the same (or very similar) name
• Don’t restrain yourself. If you name your podcast after Star Wars, but then ultimately want to pivot to movies in general, you’ll face a difficult decision down the road
• Consider SEO. Though maybe not as sexy, you want your podcast name to be clear and intuitive to what it’s about. Think about how people will discover your podcast by searching. If you have a podcast about football, you’ll likely want the words “football” or “NFL” to be included in your title.
• Own your domains. As a podcasting best practice, you should have a website, Twitter, and Facebook pages at a bare minimum. Consider the availability of these handles and domains when choosing a name. 
• Make it easy to spell and say aloud. This will help in the future with sharing. 
• That clever pun you like right now? It’ll get old after multiple years and hundreds of episodes.

Podcast Artwork

Podcasting is an audio format, why do we care so much about the artwork associated with your pod? Well, you know people still judge books by their cover and that’s a visual format or a movie by its poster. So, ask yourself

How to start a podcast and make money?

There are two ways to start a podcast and make money. First is creating a that needs to be discussed. That makes it more likely that you are going to have a large following. Second,if your product has such high demand it makes sense to start podcasting in order to gain exposure. It’s all marketing.

Importance of Podcast Cover Art

In conjunction with your podcast name, think about how your thumbnail icon will draw new listeners in and be iconic and easily recognizable. Leverage your designer friends to help you create an idea, and if you have the budget, consult a professional graphic designer or logo maker. This thumbnail image can also serve multiple purposes as a logo on your website and Twitter and Facebook avatars. In short, it’s a worthwhile investment. 

The important thing to think about here is to stay simple and always keep reminding yourself how small this will appear to most consumers. For most potential listeners, this thumbnail will about an inch long and wide. Don’t go overboard with the design, keep the font to a large size, and stay simple on the design and color scheme. 

For Apple Podcasts, cover art needs to be at least 1400 x 1400 pixels and can go up to 3000 x 3000 pixels. 

Here are a few examples of podcast cover art done right.

How to record your podcast

Ok, whew. You’ve planned your podcast, settled on a format, named it, and bought the necessary domains so you have a digital presence. Now the fun stuff! Recording your podcast will require a learning curve and you’ll get much, much better with every subsequent episode.

Don’t be surprised if the first one takes way longer than expected and you end up trashing it anyways, these things take patience.

Podcasting Equipment

This (hopefully) shouldn’t come as a surprise to you, but you do need some podcast equipment to record a successful show. You don’t want to simply lay your iPhone down and record a 30-minute voice memo and call it a podcast. 

At the basic level, here are the three things you need:

• A podcast microphone
• A podcast mixer
• Podcast software — editing and recording

Podcast microphones

A consequence of the massive amounts of podcasts available at everyone’s fingertips is increased competition, listener expectations, and lowered patience.

Listeners only have a finite amount of time to listen to podcasts, they don’t want to bother with some crummy sounding show where they have to always have a hand on the volume button because the levels are all over the place. As a result choosing microphone equipment becomes paramount for a professional sounding production.

That said, every podcaster has a unique budget when it comes to podcast equipment. Here are our picks for podcast microphones at different budget levels:

• Blue Yeti
• Audio-Technica Cardioid Condenser Microphone
• Rode Procaster

Related reading: detailed breakdown and reviews of podcast microphones, and podcast headphones.

USB mixers

Mixers are sometimes neglected by first-time podcasters …. and it shows in their work. A mixer is essential for podcasters to create a nice leveled show where the audience can hear a crisp voice that’s not muddied by other noises.

Similar to podcast mics, USB mixers typically run the price spectrum. Here are our picks:

• Behringer Q1202USB 12-Channel Mixer
• Yamaha Mg10Xu 10-Input Stereo Mixer
• Mackie ProFXv2, 8 A-B Box

Related reading: a comprehensive guide to the best USB mixers

Podcast Audio Editing Software And Podcast Recording Software for New Podcasters

Podcast recording software allows you to easily record your podcast, export the audio files, and cut and edit your episodes. As with most things in life, the higher-end tools give you more features. Let’s take a quick look.

For recording and editing: 

• Squadcast

Squadcast is a revolutionary follow-up to Skype, designed as podcasting software from the ground up. It offers a great interface for both listeners and podcast hosts. Squadcast supports high-definition audio and turns any desktop or laptop computer into a podcast studio. 

The editing suite included with Squadcast is simple but strong enough that you can create the whole show in the software without much issue. Each voice has its own audio track, so you can balance out your guests into one smooth experience.

Major companies like ESPN have jumped all over Squadcast as their preferred mobile software platform, so it is worth taking a look.

You can get started with Squadcast for $10 a month for 2 hours of audio, though you’ll probably want to step that up pretty early on.

• Alitu – The Podcast Maker

Alitu is a great tool to level up your podcast creation stack. As a complete podcast software, Alitu streamlines your creation process, and rather than bog you down with any stress-inducing tech, it gives users the tools to get the job done, quickly and smoothly. 

The ease of Alitu is obvious from Day 1 of your 7 Day Trial

The core features of Alitu are simply explained and similarly simple to use:

• Record your podcast episodes – the built-in call recording tool allows you to record solo into the platform or invite a contact via direct link.
• Intuitive podcast editing – easily select, cut, and rearrange clips while also incorporating set and forget intros and outros for consistency across your episodes.  
• Automated post-production – no need to worry about mastering your own podcast, Alitu will automatically standardize your volume and leveling and remove background noise. 
• Direct publishing to favorite hosts – you can connect Alitu directly to most main hosting platforms in order to get your podcast live as quickly and smoothly as possible. 
• In House Hosting – We’ve been tipped off that Alitu is on the verge of launching its own hosting tool, this means that it will be the first all-inclusive A-Z podcast software on the market. Ps, you heard it here first!  

Existing Alitu users have shared their experiences of having taken their production time from anywhere between 2-5 hours down to 10 minutes per episode. Other users are just happy to have a platform where they can produce professional content without the technical know-how.

*Editors Note* New users can get a 7 Day Free Trial with this link.

• Audacity
• Pro Tools First
• Adobe Audition
• Hindenberg Journalist
• Zencastr
• TapeACall Pro 

For planning and workflows:

• Asana 
• Airtable
• Trello 
• Basecamp 

Book a Podcast Studio Instead

If buying equipment and the steep learning curve isn’t for you, then we highly recommend finding a podcast studio in your area. Podcast recording studios have been popping up across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia for years, and can offer you easy access to professional recording equipment for minimal expense. 

Most studios can offer expertise from professional sound engineers, podcast producers, and audio editors, so all you have to do is show up and record. Plus, if you seek video recording on top of your audio recording needs, many podcast studios are beautifully designed to ensure your podcast brand is represented well on video platforms.

To find a podcast studio near you, start by searching on podcastrental.com, the web’s only podcast studio booking site. With hundreds of studios available at a wide range of hourly price points, you’ll find the right recording experience for your production needs.

Podcast recording tips

As with most things in life, getting the right tools can only take you so far. The real power is using these tools the right way to get the most out of your investment. Here are some easy tips to record your podcast.

1. Microphone Choice

In the modern recording industry, there are endless amounts of microphones on the market to choose from. Some specialize in vocal recording, while others specialize in specific instruments and applications. Similar to most industries, a higher-priced microphone typically means higher quality audio produced.

For a podcast, a microphone specifically tailored to vocal recordings will be preferred, such as the Shure SM7B. It’s a durable, and reliable mic that produces fantastic audio quality for the price, and can even be seen on the ever-popular Joe Rogan podcast. If that wasn’t enough to convince you, it was even used to record Michael Jackson’s Thriller album. How’s that for quality?

2. Microphone Placement

A simple adjustment can make all the difference. Having your microphone too far from the mouths of those speaking on the podcast will capture a much lower signal volume while having it too close will most likely produce a distorted signal.

The optimal distance between the person speaking, and the microphone is about three inches from their mouth. This will allow you to capture their audio at a healthy volume, without it distorting.

3. Use a Pop Filter

A pop filter is used to shield the microphone from fast-moving air generated by plosives during speech. Words such as “pop”, or “planet” that have a strong “p” sound at their beginnings, can cause spikes in the audio due to the strength of the plosives that those words create.

Another benefit of using a pop filter is to shield the microphone from any saliva that may be dispersed from the speaker’s mouth. This prevents the saliva from corroding the microphone, as well as keeping it cleaner for sanitary reasons. 

4. Proper Speaking

Having the correct microphone and placement won’t mean much if the person participating isn’t speaking properly. To ensure the first two points aren’t wasted, make sure that each participant is speaking slowly and clearly. Each person should be speaking at a comfortable room level, without any huge jumps or dips in their speaking volume.

Any kind of jumps or dips will only make things more difficult for you later on when processing your audio. Any random yelling or screaming of an overly active individual will likely incur distortion, while any sort of whispering or low-level talking will require additional volume adjustments. 

5. Setting Levels

After you have properly set up your microphone, it is time to test and set your audio levels. While proper mic placement will help with avoiding distortion, it is not enough. You need to set proper gain levels to ensure that the microphone’s signal is strong enough to be sent to your audio interface or mixer.

To keep things simple, gain is the amount of input signal. Too much gain will result in a distorted signal, while not enough will result in too quiet of a signal. Your gain level will be set within your audio interface or live mixer that you are recording into.

To set the optimal level, have those who are talking on the podcast speak into the microphones, and set the levels so that they are within the green, and just under yellow on the signal meters. Avoid any audio being in the red, as this means you are clipping and thus distorting.

While setting levels, people tend to test or speak at quieter volumes than when they perform. To account for this, set your levels slightly lower than what’s recommended, and see how much louder they are once the recording starts.

This is also when you want to use your mixer to configure the headphone playback, which using a quality noise canceling headphone will help this. They’re a bit pricey, but they let you hear everything the mics are picking up.

6. EQ Signal Processing

The next step in ensuring the cleanest audio possible is processing the signal as it comes in from the microphone to the audio interface. If you have any outboard signal processors such as an EQ, or a compressor, you’ll want to run your signal from the microphone to these processors first, and then into your audio interface.

EQ or Equalization is the process of boosting or reducing certain frequencies in an audio signal to make it more pleasing to the ear. For example, if someone has a very low voice, you can reduce some of the low-end frequencies to account for their heavier or boomier sounding voice.

7. Compression Signal Processing

After EQing your audio, you can compress it for added control and overall balance. Simply put, compression sets a threshold that when an audio signal passes through it, the strength of that audio signal is reduced by a set amount, in order to bring down any sharp peaks in the audio.

Similar to the pop filter, it’s another way to eliminate any sharp peaks in the audio, making things much more pleasing for the listener. Both eq and compression can be done after the recording process, however, it does help to clean up the original audio signal as it is being recorded.

8. Cable Management

Often overlooked, cable management ensures that your workspace is clean, and organized and prevents any unnecessary accidents. Keep your cables wound around your microphone stands, and neatly organized towards your audio interface. The last thing you want is to accidentally trip on a cable, and have it rip out of your microphone, thus damaging your microphone or worse. 

9. Mixing

When recording multiple audio sources at once, it helps to have a mixer. Using a mixer will allow you to better control the audio levels of each microphone being used to ensure a more balanced mix between each individual speaking.

Each microphone will be plugged into a separate channel, from which you can control their respective volumes. From there you can run your signal from the output of the mixer to your audio interface for proper recording.

10. Room Acoustic Treatment

Lastly, you want to treat your room acoustically. Every room has a sound to it, which is determined by the room’s size, the materials used to make it, and any other objects within it. Whenever a sound is generated, its sound waves bounce off every surface within the room, creating what we call reverb.

Reverb (or echo as some people mistakenly call it) is the sound you hear after you clap in an open room, or those flutter sounds you hear in a hallway. Too much reverb can become an issue, and muddy up your audio quality. To ensure your audio is as clean as possible, you need to treat your room by dampening it with acoustic panels in order to minimize the amount of reverb hitting your microphone.

Setting up large acoustic panels on your walls, and ceiling if possible will absorb much of the sound’s energy, and reduce sound reflections on these surfaces, thus creating a cleaner sounding room for your podcast.

The thicker the panel, the better the sound absorption, and the more frequencies will be affected. Panels that are two to four inches thick will be your best bet here and provide you with the best quality sound absorption.

Producing your podcast

How to edit your podcast and podcast editing tips

Editing, like producing and recording, will take new podcasters some time to get the hang of. Unfortunately, it’s often one of the most time-consuming aspects of podcasting as well. Mastering your editing is crucial to a polished podcast that’s free of bloopers, long silences, and forcing your listeners to constantly adjust their volume knob. 

Here are our best podcast editing tips for beginners:

1. Adobe is your friend

Look, if you’re looking at little-to-no-budget for your podcast and you don’t want to get into other multimedia creative fields, ignore this tip and use Audacity. That being said, if you’re already doing a podcast, I’d be surprised if learning Adobe Audition wouldn’t benefit you.

The awesome thing about Adobe is that it’s not any harder to learn the basics than any of the free products, and your capabilities are endless. Once you learn how to use Audition for your podcast, it will be way easier to learn how to use programs like Premiere Pro, InDesign, and Photoshop for other projects that could grow your brand.

2. Learn keyboard shortcuts

While the time you take to learn shortcuts will slow you down a little at the very beginning, you’ll find that once you’ve used them for an episode or two they become natural and save a ton of time.

In Audition, while the quick select tool is turned on, you can right-click and hold to use the move tool, hold command+k to use the razor tool, and of course command+z to undo (if you’re anything like me, you’ll use this more than anything).

3. Eliminate “ums” and “uhs”

This is the simplest, easiest thing you can do to make your podcast, hosts, and guests all sound more professional. You can work with your host to be recorded and have the speech repeated if they stumble during editing so you don’t miss anything.

4. Record separately

If you want your show to be mistake-free, using video chat and headphones to talk while you record on different mics in different places can help. This gives you a different channel for each person, and you can just cut a cough or a sentence trailing off when someone else is talking. Having multiple tracks also gives you clear visual cues for transitions while you edit.

5. Make a template

In Audition, you can create a template of your own, and in Audacity, you can save a file that operates functionally as your template for future projects. Getting everything you use consistently (intro and outro music, transition sound effects, start and end markers) preset and in one place will save you 5-10 minutes on every single episode and won’t take any longer than that to set up.

A pod is something like a business and one insight we can draw from product development is starting planning your shows with a checklist early on. It’s a good habit to get into. That said…

6. Be creative!

Something as simple as intro music, transition sound effects, or how you end the show can connect your listeners to the specific show they’re listening to and subconsciously keep them coming to your show, and not just shows like it.

7. Use room noise often

One goal in editing is to make your show sound “unedited.” Jarring transitions or significant change in response time take distract listeners and take them out of the show for just a moment. To avoid these, record a 15-second track of “room noise” when you record the show and use that to fill in gaps when needed. 

8. Zoom in on your waveform

You’ll always want to make sure your audio sounds right first and foremost, but being able to see where people start and stop talking and the space between words is invaluable when it comes to saving you time. In Audition or Audacity, use “-” to zoom out and “=” to zoom in.

9. Keep consistent pacing

The first edit of the pilot of the 22-minute sitcom Arrested Development came out to around 45 minutes, but director Mitchell Hurwitz simply told them to eliminate all of the “white space” and it would come out the 22 minutes it was supposed to be.

This resulted in maybe the fastest-paced sitcom ever, and it made everyone from the writers to the actors seem extraordinarily clever—even brilliant—with jokes, you can’t even keep up with on your first watch. My advice in the way of pacing is mostly to stay consistent so the audience knows what they are getting into. Just know that a fast-paced edit can make hosts seem brilliant, but it can also sacrifice some of the thoughtfulness that comes with the podcasts we generally respect the most.

And don’t be afraid to rehearse. Walkthrough your podcast setting ahead of time so you’re prepared. It’s rare anyone gets it in one take or with their first draft.

10. Playback at a high speed

While you’re listening through your podcast for edits, the best way to save time is simply through quick playback speed. You’ll find that often five or ten minutes will go by with little to no issues, and sitting through that burns up the valuable time you have to edit.

By simply double- or triple-tapping “L” in Adobe’s signature “JKL” shortcut when you restart the playback is invaluable. Just make sure it’s at a slow enough speed where you can understand it and catch errors that need attention.

Can you use music in your podcast?

There are a lot of myths about using copyrighted songs within podcasts. Let’s dispel some of them here. You CAN NOT use copyrighted music if:

• It’s under 30 seconds
• You give credit
• You’re a non-profit

Another misconception is about fair use. Yes, you can use copyrighted music if it’s part of your discussion (i.e. you’re criticizing or commenting on it), but you can’t use music for no purposeful reason (i.e. as your podcast intro).

There are ways you can use music in your podcast, however. Here are a few free and paid resources we’ve compiled to keep your music for podcasts free of any royalty problems.

Publishing your podcast

So how exactly does the audio you record go from your computer all the way to Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, and the rest of the podcast directories? 

To put it as simply as I can, you need to create an RSS feed that points to respective audio files for the podcast and then submit this feed to the main directories.

Though it may sound complicated, it’s a pretty turnkey process if you find the right solution to partner up with.

Podcast hosting primer

Most podcast hosts do much of the heavy lifting for you, they store (or host) your audio files, generate the RSS feed, structure the metadata, and submit on your behalf to the directories of your choice. Still, you want to make sure the distribution hosting service they’re providing is up to modern standards for 2022. Every host we recommend has the widest distribution available and will distribute podcasts everywhere.

The key here in your decision making is finding a podcast host that’s right for you based on the features you need, your budget, the structure of your podcast, and the estimated popularity of the show. Podcast hosts typically price their services based on two things: storage and bandwidth. These terms may seem familiar to you, but here’s what they mean in the podcast world:

Storage — how many episodes are you recording and how long will they be?

Bandwidth — how many people will be downloading your podcast? Remember, when you’re just starting out you can sacrifice unlimited bandwidth and space for a partner that will help push your podcast out to the masses.

Ultimately, we’ve found Buzzsprout seems to be the podcast host that meets the needs of most new podcasters. Their starter plan comes with unlimited storage and a monthly bandwidth of 250GB — more than enough for new podcasters. Their analytics are also easy to use and provide comprehensive coverage. 

Best Podcast Hosting Services

Here’s a breakdown of other podcast hosts we’ve tried and tested, and if you’re looking for a more comprehensive breakdown of podcast hosts and their features, read this article about the best podcast hosting services.

Submitting your podcast to directories

You want people to listen to your podcast, right? Well, where do you listen to podcasts? List every possible place you listen — Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Radiopublic, etc. — and that’s where you want to be. 

Fortunately, if you have a sound podcast host, most do this for you with a click or two with an API connection. Since we recommend Buzzsprout, here’s an example showing how easy it is from their dashboard. And really, Buzzsprout is just about the perfect place to start a podcast. A Buzzsprout presented podcast, even one presented by Buzzsprout from scratch is a lot different than going it alone.

For the directories without a one-click solution from your podcast host, you can typically go to the directory, create an account, and paste your RSS feed to submit. 

How to submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes)

For the third time, if you have a good marketing podcast host they should do this for you. If you’re going a more bespoke route, here’s what you need to do: 

1. Test your RSS feed

Apple recommends new podcasters use Podbase to validate their RSS feeds. Simply paste your RSS feed URL and it’ll automatically verify if your feed is compliant with Apple’s standards.

2. Validate your podcast feed has the right metadata fields

Apple requires you to have the following fields:

• Podcast Title
• Description
• Podcast Artwork

You should have already finalized these three fields before reaching this point, but if you haven’t you need to now. 

3. Submit your podcast to Apple Podcasts

Go to iTunes Connect when you’re ready to submit. If you have an existing Apple ID use it here, if not create a new one. You’ll be asked to validate your RSS feed once again — use the same URL you used in the first step. 

Finalize which podcasting categories you’d like to show up in (up to three), the language of your podcast (use the two-letter language code) and if there’s any explicit material. When you pick a main category, there are a dozen subcategories to choose from, so be consistent when you find something that clicks.

4. When you’re done, click Submit. 

Apple claims the review process can take up to two weeks, but we’ve seen most are approved within a couple of days. You can check the status of your podcast review from within iTunes Connect. Previewing a podcast on iTunes is pretty straightforward and it should automatically be sent to your device when ready.

How to submit your podcast to Spotify

In a similar submission process to Apple Podcasts, Spotify requires the following to submit a podcast to their directory:

• Podcast Title
• Podcast Description
• Podcast Cover Art
• Podcast Category
• Language Selection
• At least one live episode

The episode requirement is the sole difference from the Apple process. If you don’t have an episode recorded yet, we recommend creating a 30- to a 60-second trailer to generate buzz and get your podcast on Spotify prior to the show officially launching.

When you’re ready to submit, go to the Spotify For Podcasters portal and click Get Started. You’ll again validate your RSS feed, enter the requirements listed above, review the generated feed preview, and click through the final prompts. 

Spotify typically approves podcasts faster than Apple, so you should see your podcast in their app in less than a day.

Content Measurement Audience Insight Engagement

At a certain point, if you want a successful podcast, you need to ensure that people are actually downloading, listening, and engaging with your show. If you’re putting all this work into recording then you need to be living, loving, and lusting after your metrics. The better, and more granular the metrics about your show are, the better off you’ll be.

It’s one of the most important factors in choosing a podcast host. Even if they submit your podcast everywhere automatically, if you can’t see the end result of those episodes, then you can’t tailor your show and grow your audience.

Really good hosting with detailed analytics can tell you a lot about your audience beyond downloads. They can tell you information like what device had access and what content platform or app the podcasts were downloaded to.

Growing Your Podcast by Promoting

There is no get-rich-quick scheme for podcasts, nor is there a silver bullet to getting tons of listeners. Like any small business, growing your audience takes savvy marketing fundamentals but most importantly a good product. All marketing does is provide a magnifying glass to your podcast. If listeners don’t like what they hear, they won’t stick around. Focus on making great content first. 

After that, your marketing preferences are going to bear a similar relation to your exercise preference. Just don’t skip leg day.

Here are some basic digital marketing fundamentals you should be doing at a bare minimum:

Build a Website With Your Host or With WordPress

Build a website for your podcast if your podcast host doesn’t already provide one. You should have a streamable player for your podcast embedded within the site, an “about us” section, and ways to get in touch with you through email and/or social media. You can use your site to confirm the email subscription of listeners and build your distribution list. You can send out a newsletter telling interested podcast subscribers what you’re up to.

Basic search engine optimization will help new audiences find your show. What does an established podcaster want? Just that, passive traffic from SEO. Publishing a podcast on WordPress can help older audiences find your show.

The best podcast websites I’ve seen also provide complimentary material to the podcast acting as companion material. Here’s 99% Invisible’s social media website with blog posts providing more info on each episode. 

Have listeners submitting a subscription for paywall content? Yes, please. Even if there’s an error in the subscription confirmation, that’s just another opportunity for a touch point. Remember, a podcast that makes money is a business. You’re a brand unto yourself.

“When I’m out in public, I can tell which media channel is the catalyst for someone approaching me. The bro-approach (i.e., “Yo Dawg”) is made by fans of our videos. Someone who wants to engage in a sober, analytical discussion about the dynamics of streaming or the harms of social media reads the newsletter or my books. But someone who approaches me as if we’re good friends listens to the podcast. It’s similar to running into an old acquaintance you really liked, and who really liked you … but you never had the chance to become good friends. The goodwill is evident. This now happens several times a week.”

– Professor Scott Galloway, NYU | Host of the Prof G Show

Popular podcast hosts know that the interest in a show is intensely personalised. The audience is telling you they are intimately interested in your podcast when you build that rapport.

Stay active on social media and Comment Soon

Social media remains a key discoverability route for new listeners. It remains the most effective audience building strategy beyond having great content.

Post new episodes, engage with fans, solicit feedback, give behind-the-scenes info, give away swag, and more. Many a newbie podcaster established themselves by being guests on slightly more established podcasts because it helps build rapport and camaraderie. Almost like having a mentor.

That’s the power networking has in podcasting.

Foster a community You Love

There are several ways to build the foundation of a community — Reddit, Facebook Page, Slack, and Discord. A strong community will encourage word of mouth engagement and grow your audience in organic ways. 

Ask for feedback from Everyone

Your listeners are your customers, ask for feedback whenever you can. You want to continually improve your show and the best way to do that is to constructively listen to what your fans say about your podcast. 

More than that, ask, repeatedly and consistently for reviews. In a conversation with Mark Timberlake on the Udemy podcast, he explained how important reviews are to the algorithm of every podcast directory boosting your show organically. So make it happen.

Rinse, repeat, and keep at it by Creating Engaging Content

Remember at the top of this guide when I said: “Starting a podcast is hard and takes work, and more work, and more work, and mo—”? Don’t get frustrated by a slow start, tireless nights, or a lack of feedback, and definitely don’t get hung up on download numbers. 

Advertise

Thousands of people come to Discover Pods every day looking for podcasts just like yours. Take advantage of the existing community and grow your podcast today. Learn more here

The post How To Start A Podcast The Right Way (The Definitive Complete Guide for 2022) appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Plus, nothing hurts quite as much as when you’ve created something wonderful and then you find out you don’t have the right to use the music you included. Just ask the Verve.

Podcasting is an exciting technology that enables people to share knowledge, wisdom, and entertainment.  Podcasts are often made with a variety of different equipment such as recording devices and microphones. One very important aspect of podcasting is sound quality.

Music helps to bring out the mood that you are trying to create.  The best part is that you can use free resources to get music rather than spending large sums on purchasing music online. Let’s dive into it.

Podcast Music

If you’re a podcast producer or host, there’s no shortage of places to get music for your show. But if there’s one website you need to know about, it’s Podcast Music.

This site is a great way to find music that fits your podcast and your budget. It has free music, paid music, and all kinds of other options in between—and the prices are pretty reasonable! You can choose a subscription or buying songs one off.

If you’re looking for something specific (like a certain style of song) that can’t be found on the site, they’ll try their best to find it for you at no extra cost.

The only downside to this website is that it can take some time to set up an account and get started with their services. But if you’ve got patience and a little extra time on your hands, this is definitely worth checking out.

YouTube Audio Library

You’ve probably heard of Youtube Audio Library, but you might not know exactly what it is.

Youtube Audio Library is a website where you can download music for your podcast for free. It’s great because there’s a huge selection and the music you find on Youtube Audio Library is usually in the public domain, which means that you don’t have to pay any royalties for using it.

Is the Youtube Audio Library the Best Place to Get Music For Podcasts Free?

If you’re used to living in the Google ecosystem, then Youtube Audio Library might just be the best place to get music for podcasts free. Whereas Google may not have the best podcast app, here they are doing a pretty good job providing quality, free resources.

But it’s not all sunshine and rainbows with this resource. The quality of the music on Youtube Audio Library isn’t always great, and sometimes there aren’t many options available, so if you’re looking for something specific or unique, it’ll be hard to find.

If you’re interested in going ahead with Youtube Audio Library as your primary source of podcast music, here are some tips:

1) Be sure that what you’re downloading will work well with your podcast format (i.e., length and style).

2) Always have an alternative plan in case your first choice isn’t available or doesn’t work out as well as expected.

In short, prepare to spend some time hunting.

Audio Jungle

Audio Jungle is a site that sells royalty-free music and sound effects, and it’s a great resource for podcasters who want to add some professional flair to their podcasts.

Here’s what you need to know about getting music from Audio Jungle:

Advantages:

• You can search by mood or genre, which means you can find exactly what you need.
• There are thousands of tracks available in every style imaginable, so if you’re looking for something specific there’s a good chance it will be available on Audio Jungle.

Disadvantages:

• If your podcast is sponsored by a particular brand or product (like Apple), then using music from Audio Jungle may not be allowed under your terms of sponsorship. Check before purchasing.

Caveat Empor.

Bensound

Bensound is an amazing website for podcasters who are looking to get music for podcasts free of royalty disputes. The site offers a large library of tracks, with different genres and moods to choose from. And pricing on the Bensound for unlimited downloads is pretty reasonable.

However, there are definitely some drawbacks to using Bensound. First, the quality of the tracks isn’t always great. Sometimes you have to go through several pages before finding something that’s high-quality enough for your podcast.

Also, most of the music on Bensound is royalty-free—which means that you don’t have to pay any extra fees if you use those tracks in your podcast.

And finally, if you want exclusive rights over a track so nobody else can use it in their podcasts without asking permission first? That costs money too.

Free Music Archive

The website has a huge collection of songs in different genres, so it’s easy to find something that matches your podcast’s theme. You can also search by mood or genre if you’re feeling desperate.

You can play the music right on their site or download it onto your computer and add it to your podcast later. And if you want to use one of the songs in a commercial project, you don’t have to worry about getting permission—it’s all free. Just make sure you are browsing the creative commons licensed side of the site and not the commercial side.

Like all royalty-free music sites, you’re going to be sifting through some dreck and kissing a lot of frogs to find what you’re really looking for.

Music for Makers

Music for Makers is a great place to find music for podcasts. The site offers a range of options, from free downloads to paid downloads, and it’s easy to use.

But there are some drawbacks: you have to pay $5 for the most popular tracks, and you can only download the songs you want if they’re available as individual files. If you’re looking for a specific type of music or just one song, this won’t work for you.

Still, it’s a great resource that gives you access to thousands of tracks from all genres at no cost.

Melody Loops

Melody Loops is a website that offers free browsing and paid music for podcasting. The site has a wide variety of tracks, including ambient and electronic music, as well as classical music. Many of the tracks are royalty-free, which means you can use them in your podcast without paying any additional fees.

The site has a large selection of genres and styles to choose from, making it easy to find just the right piece for your podcast. The site also features some very creative pieces that can add a unique touch to your podcasts.

Melody Loops has some disadvantages as well. It doesn’t offer detailed descriptions or previews of its tracks; instead, users need to listen to each track before buying it. There’s also no way to preview songs before downloading them from Melody Loops’ website without signing up for an account.

909 Music

This website is a great resource for music producers looking to get some original music for their podcasts. It’s also good for podcasters who want to create their own theme songs.

The site has a very clear, simple interface that allows you to search by genre, mood, and instrumentation (or lack thereof). There are also options for royalty-free music and sound effects. And, that’s because they are selling their music for podcasts free of royalties through SoundCloud.

You can buy music for podcasts free of royalty problems in large packages so you can put the whole concern behind you.

The site offers both free and paid versions of the tracks you download, so it can be a good place to start if you have a limited budget.

One disadvantage of 909 Music is that it doesn’t offer as many tracks as other sources like Pond5 or Audio Network. Another disadvantage is that some of the tracks on the site aren’t available in high-quality formats like WAV or AIFF—which can make them less desirable for professional use.

Overall, 909 Music is a good option if you’re looking for something more affordable than other resources like Audio Network but still want access to high-quality files in multiple formats.

Incompetech

Incompetech is a website that offers original royalty-free music for podcasts. It has a decent-sized library that you can use for your podcast, but it does have some disadvantages.

The first disadvantage is that you have to audibly credit the composer if you want to use the tracks. You can buy a license to avoid this, but if you’re ok with the attribution there’s no charge.

The site owner also runs another completely public domain music site, FreePD.com

MUSOPEN

If you’re looking for free music to use in your podcast, MusOpen has your back.

MusOpen is a nonprofit website that offers a library of copyright-free songs and sound effects, so you can use them in your podcasts without having to worry about getting sued. It’s also one of the best resources for finding music on YouTube.

They offer a Lite membership where you can download 5 audio pieces a day and a paid membership that allows for unlimited downloads, lossless audio, and much more.

Their paid tier is $55.

If you’re looking for something specific—say, an upbeat song with a lively beat—you can search through the site’s collection by genre or mood (like “funky”).

The website also has an option that allows you to download entire albums at once, which is particularly helpful if you’re looking for something specific like an original score from an animated film or TV show.

Finding Your Tunes

There’s no shortage of free music licenses out there for podcasters to find and use. This article should serve as a good lodestar for anyone looking to get started with podcast music, or anyone who wants to discover more about finding and using royalty-free music in podcasts.

The post Where to Get Music for Podcasts Free of Royalty Issues appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Ideally, these places provide an easy way to upload audio files, generate an RSS feed for these files, distribute that RSS feed, and provide a place where an audience can listen. Other features a hosting service might provide are analytics, ad integration, and a website for your podcast. There are a lot of options for podcast hosts, both free and paid. If you don’t want to spend money to host your podcast, here are some free podcast hosting options.

Essentially, where can I upload podcasts?

You can upload podcasts at a hosting service of your choice. Some are paid, but many offer free options so you can launch a test balloon of your show before committing money.

A free podcast hosting service acts as the home for your show. Just like a website needs a hosting provider, podcasts also need some way to help store and distribute the podcast audio files. Though most have cost tiers associated with them, and you can read about our favorite podcast hosting services here, several have more affordable options and some even provide free podcast hosting. Below is a list of the pros and cons and reviews of the best free podcast hosting services.

In general, podcast hosting services:

• Create an easy method to upload audio files
• Generate an RSS feed to describe the files as well as establishes file locations for download
• Distributes your podcast RSS feed to iTunes (Apple Podcasts), Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more
• Provides a server where listeners can go and find the audio files

Another way to look at hosting is it serves as a vehicle that transports the show from its upload to its storage to its distribution and finally to its analytics as well as potential money-making opportunities. The host helps simplify everything in the creation and management process.

Don’t want to read the entire analysis? Here’s our quick winner:

Buzzsprout —  a simple, intuitive, and feature-rich podcast host perfect for most podcasters.

What to Look for with Podcast Hosting Free of Charge

Best Practices and How to Start a Podcast

In addition to its means as a platform that stores your important mp3 files and data, free services are also geared toward startup shows and traditionally has a lot of extra features and resources. These services may provide valuable tutorials and other reading material to learn more about what makes a good podcast and how to improve the overall quality of the audio recording. If you’re just starting out, make sure to check out our guide on how to start a podcast.

Podcast Analytics

Though the analytics for a podcast are basic at the free podcast hosting level, they can still help deliver important information and where and how your generating an audience as well as build upon that audience. The goal is to eventually have enough listeners that you can turn a profit on the podcast, though many still do it simply for the hobby of podcasting.

Pitfalls of Free Podcast Hosting

There are many other advanced features that are sometimes included with a free version and other times only granted to podcasters with paid accounts. These include a blog or website for listeners to stop in and visit, methods for listener feedback, automatic uploads to popular directories (Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, etc.) and customer service for any questions or problems you run into regarding the hosting or RSS feed.

The same rule applies with podcast hosting with any product: you get what you pay for and once again the old adage is true, “if you’re not paying for the product, you’re the product.”

If after some time your podcast outgrows the free host tier,  there is always the opportunity to upgrade to a paid podcast hosting solution.

Many are reasonably priced between in $10 to $20 per month. Until then you can expect the upload time and bandwidth to be limited, which not only impacts the number of hours you can upload each month but also the playback speeds. Advanced metrics and potential money-making opportunities are usually restricted to paid subscribers as well.

In the end, free versions are basic means to an RSS feed and file hosting, but as your audience grows you’ll want to consider an upgrade. When you get to that point, make sure to read our best podcast hosting services review. For now a free account is sufficient for many new podcasts.

Compare Free Podcast Hosting

Best Free Podcast Hosting Services

Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout is a hosting service that features a basic, free podcast hosting plan along with affordable monthly options that require no contract or credit card to sign-up. Buzzsprout currently works with notable podcast directories like Apple/iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcast and Stitcher.

The website has worked to provide hosting for over 50,000 people since the website was launched in 2009. It boosts several 5 star reviews from satisfied customers.

Strengths

• Subscription includes your own custom website and ways to sync with popular directories
• 250 GB of bandwidth each month for paid plans, even less for the free version
• Supports multiple audio file types then optimizes the quality of the file
• Easily migrate a podcast from another source onto Buzzsprout with minimal effort

Weaknesses

• Unlimited storage for free plan, but can only upload 2 hours each month
• Only 90 days of hosting for a free podcast before Buzzsprout wants you to upgrade to a paid version

Buzzsprout is promoted as one of the easiest ways to host, promote and track a podcast. Like a lot of providers it includes detailed analytics to learn more about the audience tuning in.

The website is designed to make it easier to upload and publish once an episode is recorded. Publishing can take place within minutes of an upload, or even get scheduled days or weeks in advance.

It supports a number of different audio files. Not only that but the website optimizes the file based on if it’s more spoken word, or a show that also incorporates a lot of music. A purchasable add-on will event boost audio to 128k stereo.

One great feature on the dashboard is that it provides a notification of how much upload time is left in the current cycle, so you do not have to guess approximately how many more minutes you have left to upload each month.

Podcasters may learn everything about where and how listeners are connecting, what device or directory they are using to play the episode, and more advanced stats.

Buzzsprout helps get you listed on popular podcast directories and is also mobile-friendly. An embedded version is provided for your own domain. The hosting provider also includes your own website upon sign-up.

The free subscription delivers 2 hours of upload time each month and the episode is hosted for 90 days before its removed. The next step up costs $12 per month, and only one more hour of upload time each month yet is hosted indefinitely.

Deal: Get a $20 Amazon gift card when you sign up. Click here.

Spreaker

Spreaker is a well known provider for podcasters as it’s an all-in-one system for new as well as established shows. It provides a versatile program that helps you create, distribute, as well as potentially make money on your podcast.

Spreaker says they are “the one-stop-shop for recording, publishing, monetizing, and distributing your podcasts.” The free plan gives you basic stats, and the ability to store up to 5 hours of audio, and 10 episodes for the whole account.

The episode size limit is 300MB for all plans on Spreaker. You can host multiple podcasts on the same account, and they assist with distribution to iHeart Radio, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Spreaker does not offer monetization for their free podcast hosting plan, though it is available on their paid ones.

You don’t need a credit card to sign up for the free plan. Spreaker has an app you can use to produce your show, and even go live (no other free podcast plan allows for live broadcasting). The free plan has a 15 minute limit per live broadcast session.

Spreaker was launched in 2010, and now hosts thousands of publishers along with millions of active listeners. It includes apps for Android and iOS as well.

Strengths

• The best recording studio of any free hosting service for podcasts
• External tools like broadcasting software and mixers supported for advanced audio production
• Unlimited bandwidth on all subscriptions including the free version
• Live streaming, including up to 15 minutes per episode for users not paying a dime
• Podcast monetization program with dynamics ads, giving 60% of the revenue to the podcaster
• IAB certified podcast statistics
• Allows a single account to manage multiple podcasts

Weaknesses

• Monetization is only available on the paid plans

Spreaker is unique in that it also features an onboard recording and editing system on its platform. Users may record a podcast and post at a later date, or even broadcast live. Content may also get migrated from an existing service through its RSS importer. The studio app is extremely resourceful and easy to use.

After you record or upload an audio file, it’s time to distribute. Spreaker supports various forms of social media for uploads as well as mainstream directories like Apple Podcasts and YouTube. Like most podcast hosting services, you may also embed a widget onto your own website for immediate playback.

Analytics are crucial to the success of any new podcast and Spreaker provides basic statistics for its free and $5.99 per month plans, as well as more detailed stats for the higher priced monthly subscriptions. The analytics for the free plan is good but not great, about what you would expect as well as comparable to other free hosting providers.

The free plan also includes 5 hours of audio storage and 15 minutes of max live streaming (in a single session). However, the podcast monetization tool is not available with the free sign-up. Bandwidth is unlimited on every type of subscription.

Deal: First month free with code “discoverpod”. Click here.

Simplecast

Simplecast is taking a big and bold approach, with a modern design aesthetic that looks more like a high end gym or streetwear brand than a podcast hosting service. But, don’t be distracted by the bold fonts — with a $15 per month unlimited plan and two-week trial with no credit card required, they clearly mean business.

Simplecast also offers tools aimed at growing podcasts in their $35 per month Essential plan and $85 per month Growth plan, including more advanced analytics, collaboration tools and an increase in the number of included monthly downloads. 

Simplecast also offers Professional and Enterprise plans for larger volume shows, which is rare for some of the newer podcast hosting platforms out there. You have to contact Simplecast’s sales team for pricing, but working with a growing host could be a great option for a growing podcast network looking to get competitive pricing and lots of access to customer support. 

Podbean

Podbean is self-described as an “easy and powerful” way to podcast. The podcast hosting service provides four different plans for users, including one completely free version. As your podcast grows it also offers two paid versions.

Podbean currently hosts over 240,000 podcasters with more than 7.4 million episodes combined. The site also boasts around 6 billion downloads.

Strengths

• Provides excellent resources for sharing and building audience
• Features an app for Android and iPhone users
• RSS Feed and iTunes Support included even with free plan
• One of the largest podcast hosting platforms available
• Will scale as you grow

Weaknesses

• Free version is limited to 5 hours of storage
• Cannot use your own domain name for a podcast through free subscription

Podbean advertises as a service that presents everything you need to create, manage, and promote a podcast. The website features everything from custom domains to upload and publishing tools, methods to promote a podcast, as well as embedded players for the episodes.

The provider is like a lot of the podcast hosting companies featured in the article in that little programming knowledge is necessary to record, produce, upload and share your new podcasts. It is also mobile-ready which is a must for any podcast hosting service these days.

Though the three paid options do deliver unlimited bandwidth, the free version is capped at 100GB monthly, and five hours of storage space. The hosting is described as reliable with a robust network that is flexible based on where and how your viewers listen.

Podcasters may connect their own website to the hosting provider or embed a player on their own domain for easy playback. Sharing tools enable listeners to connect with you on social media, while other types of audience engagement like enabling feedback are nice additions.

Podbean presents a breakdown of how the podcast is performing, and also provides advertising sponsorship opportunities for its members. The website can help introduce premium subscription services to your podcast as well as crowdfund.

Related reading:

• Libsyn vs. Podbean Podcast Host Review
• Blubrry vs. Podbean Podcast Host Review

Deal: Get your first month free if/when you upgrade for a paid account. Click here.

Acast

Acast says they are “the world’s leading independent podcast company.” The free podcast hosting plan gives you basic analytics, unlimited episodes, and a basic podcast website. You can’t integrate with Patreon, customize your website, monetize with advertising, or distribute to Amazon Music, Spotify and Youtube using Acast on the free plan (as these features require a Pro account).

You’ll have to submit your RSS feed to listening platforms manually. There is not a limit to episode size for the free plan specifically, though the max episode size is 150MB for all plans on Acast to match the file download limit on Apple Podcasts. You don’t need to input any billing info to sign up on the free plan. Acast allows for multiple shows, but you are billed one plan per podcast – not an issue for using the free plan, but could potentially make upgrading costly if you have multiple podcasts on Acast.

Anchor

Anchor is self-proclaimed as “the easiest way to make a podcast.” When it started, Anchor had some controversy about who owns the content uploaded to it, but they have since clarified in their terms of service that “You retain ownership of your User Content. Using Anchor does not cause you to lose ownership of your content.”

Since being acquired by Spotify, Anchor has had numerous issues with the podcast community including producing podcasts in a non-compliant manner, making their podcasts unplayable in some podcast players, several large-scale bugs, deleting podcasts without cause, allowing pirated podcasts on their platform (and here) — and to be monetized, and many others. I would recommend staying away from Anchor.

They only offer a free plan, which allows for unlimited episodes, basic analytics, a simple website, and some monetization options, though the latter is available only to users in the US. There is no episode size limit, though you can only upload 250MB at a time (but multiple files can be combined into a single episode).

The biggest downside of Anchor is that you can only create one podcast per free podcast hosting account. If you want to use Anchor for multiple feeds, you’ll need multiple emails – but only a different email, as you don’t need a credit card to sign up. Anchor also assists with distribution to a number of listening platforms, and has an app that podcasters can use to make their show.

Castbox

Castbox is a podcast app (self-proclaimed as “the best free podcast app with over 95 million volumes of content”) that also allows podcasters to host their feeds for free. Their plan allows unlimited hosting, but they only offer statistics from people who listen using their app.

If you want additional analytics on your show, you’d have to use a third party service, and this can be a dealbreaker to many (especially because many third party services aren’t free themselves). You can host multiple feeds in the same account on Castbox, and you don’t need to input any billing info to sign up. The episode size limit is 400M, the second largest of all the free hosting services. There are no monetization options available through Castbox, and you’ll need to submit your RSS feed to other platforms manually – though it will automatically show up on the Castbox app.

Pinecast

Pinecast’s tagline is “podcast hosting made easy.” The free plan gives you basic analytics, up to two podcast feeds, and access to the tip jar (which lets you collect donations from your listeners). Pinecast also assists with distribution to a number of listening platforms.

On the free plan, you can upload an unlimited number of episodes, but only the ten most recent episodes per podcast are available to listeners – previous episodes are not deleted, and if you join a paid plan your full backlog will be available to all. If you’re making a serialized show with more than 10 episodes, this might be a dealbreaker, but if you’re doing topical episodes this might not be an issue.

The free plan has a 48MB episode size limit, which becomes 80MB on a paid plan (along with unlimited feeds instead of two). You don’t need a credit card to sign up for the free plan, and there are no monetization options available through Pinecast beyond the tip jar. 

Podomatic

The free podcast hosting plan gives you 15 GB of bandwidth per month and 500MB of storage a month, by far the most technical limits of any free podcasting plan. There is not a limit on the number or length of episodes beyond the available bandwidth and storage on your Podomatic account. The episode size limit for Podomatic is 350MB for all plans.

On the free plan, you cannot get any analytics for your show, integrate with Patreon, or get sponsorships with Podcorn using Podomatic, but they will help assist with distribution to a number of listening platforms. Like with Castbox, the lack of analytics is Podomatic’s biggest drawback.

You can manage multiple feeds using one email, but must have separate accounts with different usernames. Podomatic also offers a way to record your podcast directly on the podomatic website (though it does not support guest callers), and you don’t need to input any billing information to sign up.

SoundCloud

SoundCloud is not a podcast host. Do not use SoundCloud for podcasts.

The post The 9 Best Free Podcast Hosting Services in 2023 appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Podcasting is not new, but what is new (and surprising to most) is how powerful of a marketing tool a branded podcast can be. Unfortunately, most companies don’t really understand what a podcast can do for them or why they should have their own podcast.

A company’s bottom line is what keeps them in business. The difference between growing and dying can come down to how you get your message out.

According to Huify, acquiring a new customer is up to five times more expensive than retaining a customer. When you consider that, customer retention jumps out as a marketing must.

Not only are existing customers cheaper to maintain/acquire, they’re much more likely to buy again, and forgive brand mistakes. Most importantly, they’re more likely to try something new. In short… they’re loyal. They’ll grow alongside your brand, and will advocate for it when times are tough.

All of a sudden, the added cost and expense of starting a company branded podcast doesn’t seem so off putting.

But why? Let’s take a look.

Podcasts are Effective at Building Relationships

The customers I described above, the loyal ones, are in a relationship with your brand. With more than 50% of the population listening to podcasts, making relatable, long form content is more important than ever. If you want to connect, you need to provide informational value.

When a listener downloads and presses play, they’re inviting your message into their world.

Professor Scott Galloway, Professor of marketing at NYU Stern, explains the connection thusly. When someone comes up and says hello, it’s because they heard his podcast. It’s not his books, not his articles, or television punditry. It’s the podcast that strikes a stronger chord with the content creator or brand.

Storytelling Builds Rapport

The reason? Storytelling is more effective than statistics when it comes to building rapport. And rapport is at the heart of any good audience.

Nobody goes to a cocktail party and remembers the guest rattling off statistics, do they? Well, it so happens, podcasts are the perfect opportunity for long form storytelling.

Most marketing channels provide just enough time to fire off some of your greatest accomplishments. Those often come in statistical form. Podcasts allow a brand to expand upon those statistics and put them into context.

Think of a spokesman doing a segment on cable news with only 15 – 30 seconds of time to present their talking points. Almost all will end up trying to relate statistics to a story. Most of the time those segments go in one ear and out the other.

Content Expansion

Podcasts, on the other hand, are different. Pods are a medium that let’s content creators and brands discuss their product or mission at length. Even if someone doesn’t listen to a particular episode, it still adds value. A larger topic discussion, the episode can still serve as the hub where other content spokes will connect.

The marketing department can expand on each episode and link back for greater context. A hosting solution like Podbean’s unlimited bandwidth, download, and storage is a marketer’s dream. Every discussion adds to the repository of marketing material.

Marketers are great at expanding upon larger content pieces, but isn’t starting a podcast too involved to be truly effective?

It’s Never Been Easier (or Cheaper) to Start a Podcast

Starting a podcast has never been easier. It doesn’t matter if you are an amateur in your basement or a major, publicly traded, brand. In 2021, it’s a level playing field.

In fact, you can set up a podcast recording studio for under $100 which removes any barrier of entry for a company branded podcast.

Podcast hosting companies like Podbean spent a great deal of time and energy making a user experience that is unparalleled. Beyond that, it’s an experience that is cost-effective. From recording, to publishing and episode statistics, Podbean makes the process from beginning to end simple. There’s no code or technical knowledge needed to put your brand into the podcast zeitgeist.

Podcasts Aren’t Commercials

Commercials were the bread and butter of advertising. 30 second television campaigns with clever slogans. With bait designed to hook as many potential customers as possible.

The sales hook beats the potential consumer over the head. It’s off putting and that sales method has sailed.

Podcasts are subtle. They’re nuanced expressions that humanize a brand by letting listeners attach real human beings to a brand through audio. Human beings are conditioned to bristle at being sold to, a branded podcast turns that feeling on it’s head.

A branded podcast gives companies the opportunity to display expertise, over a long period of time, using real people. It’s a game changer in the world of content marketing. They keep your brand top of mind without being pushy.

The Biggest Question to Ponder About Branded Podcasts

The hardest question for a marketing department to answer about starting a branded podcast isn’t “why,” but “why not?” If everyone should start a podcast in 2021, why shouldn’t your brand?

The barriers of entry are low enough on the hardware to be nearly non-existent. Podcast hosting companies like Podbean make the user experience seamless and cost-effective at the same time. Your episodes are stored into perpetuity and can serve as the basis for the entirety of your content marketing plan.

The format is more effective at building rapport between potential customers or a brand. More so than any marketing channel available. When you get your brand’s up and running, let us know.

The post Why Every Company Needs a Branded Podcast appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Behind any successful podcast is a reliable, manageable podcast hosting platform. From editing tools to file management, you will not be able to find success as a podcaster without a platform that clicks with your production methods, and before you can begin racking up the 5-star reviews, you will need to understand the schematics of RSS feeds, audio storage and file distribution. 

The best and the worst part about podcast hosts is just how many there are, though. Digging through the sea of options can be overwhelming, but lucky for you, we’ve selected two of the most popular and will provide a full breakdown of the pros and cons of each. 

Spreaker vs. Buzzsprout 

Spreaker definitely knows how to grab your eye the second you show up to their website. The platform is bright, modern and inviting. In October 2020, iHeartMedia acquired Spreaker’s parent company Voxnest, and although the changes to the Spreaker platform itself have been minimal, this should also give you an extra sense of security that your episodes will be safe with Spreaker. You will also have the added promotional benefit of being part of such a large network. 

While aspects of monetization, publishing or growing a podcast can be complicated or intimidating, Spreaker does a great job at presenting their tools and resources in an easy to understand way. Spreaker is working hard to be a one-stop shop that can be used by a newbie podcaster or an experienced host looking to transfer a large library of audio to a new, more modern or robust platform. 

Spreaker’s Dynamic Ad Insertion is an industry leading feature that makes monetization simple and accessible. The tool allows for programmatic advertising, which lets podcasters easily and seamlessly integrate ads into their episodes without having to seek out individual sponsors or advertisers. Speaker has an entire marketplace of advertisers ready and willing to deliver targeted, relevant ads on podcasts hosted with their platform, and is set up for these ads to be inserted into an episode with the click of a button.

Not unlike Spreaker, Buzzsprout looks to be an easy to use, modern platform with a powerful offering of tools. Their free plan will allow your episodes to be accessible for ninety days with total series length limited to two hours every month. If you want to step up to $12 per month, it comes with a slew of benefits like unlimited storage and the ability to import podcasts for free.

The two platforms actually look very similar visually at the moment, but where Spreaker and Buzzsprout are differentiated is in regards to the features offered. For example, on their paid plans Buzzsprout offers a proprietary Magic Mastering tool to help you nail the perfect audio balance. They also have an option to have episodes automatically transcribed for an additional cost. On the other hand, Buzzsprout currently has less monetization tools available than Spreaker. 

Pricing and plans

Many new podcasters will look at price first, and Spreaker and Buzzsprout are two of the best platforms available that still offer a free hosting option. 

Spreaker’s tiered plan system is flexible and easy to understand, because you are paying for hours of storage rather than bandwidth or file size. Their most popular is the $20 per month “Broadcaster” plan, which will be more than sufficient for most new podcasters. This plan, and all of Spreaker’s plans for that matter, allows for easy uploading to Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Radio, and also provides users with advanced statistics and tools for monetization like paid subscriptions. 

Buzzsprout’s plans are for storage per month, rather than total storage. Experienced, longtime will appreciate this, as it means they are not paying a big fee upfront for preexisting content that is being moved over. The most popular plans are $12 per month or $18 per month for 3 hours or 6 hours of storage respectively, plus the option to get Magic Mastering as an add on. With all Buzzsprout plans, more content can be uploaded for an additional cost if a plan maximum is exceeded. 

In many cases, Spreaker will be the more affordable option. Your limitation comes from exceeding their total audio storage option, however newer podcasters will have plenty of room before hitting the storage caps, and when they do, there is the option to easily upgrade to a larger plan.

Read more: The 10 Best Podcast Hosting Services (for new & experienced podcasters)

Pro Tools

Buzzsprout’s flagship tool is Magic Mastering, and they also offer things like Episode Transcription for $0.25 per minute and automatic episode optimization. 

Magic Mastering defines itself as “an Instagram filter for your audio” and uses technology to adjust your files to sweeten and polish them. Audio engineers or experienced podcasters may not see the appeal, but if you are more interested in sharing ideas than dealing with levels and EQ, this might be a perk worth looking into. 

Buzzsprout also offers most commonly desired features for podcasters, such as advanced statistics, podcast websites, and the ability to easily put your podcast on all of the top podcast directories. Their monetization tools are fairly limited, although they do offer an affiliate marketing program to generate some revenue. 

Spreaker on the other hand has fully leaned into monetization as their specialty. They have an option to easily integrate programmatic ads into your show with their industry leading platform, allowing you to quickly monetize your episodes while still staying in control of your content. Spreaker also offers an affiliate program. Furthermore, their promotion tool, AdHub, allows you to promote your podcast within their platform and potentially gain new listeners overnight.

Another standout feature offered by Spreaker is the desktop and mobile Spreaker Studio app, which can make recording and uploading your episodes a breeze. While it does not have the “filter” effect of Magic Mastering, the Spreaker Studio App is another tool to look into if you are not tech-savvy and are looking to make the recording process as simple as possible. 

Who should use which?

Buzzsprout and Spreaker are both very capable podcast hosts with a generous supply of active users to vouch for them but their strengths come in two very different ways. Both hosts really understand the power behind statistics and storage, and if you are simply looking for a reliable host for basic podcasting, you will be in good hands with either. Overall, Buzzsprout has the best interests of the beginner in mind, while Spreaker has their eye on the consumer which can appeal to two spectrums depending on what specifically you’re looking for.

Buzzsprout aspires to be a beginners guide to all things podcast and comes equipped with tools that will come in handy in the long run, but Speaker builds on that by not only being understandable and modern and acknowledging the importance of making not just a podcast, but a profit. Buzzsprout is accessible but doesn’t approach podcasting with the business mindset, which is something Spreaker doesn’t seem that shy to discuss upfront with their customers. 

When evaluating the two platforms, first decide how much storage you need and what price you are hoping to pay, and then evaluate between the pro features available. For some people, Buzzsprout’s Magic Mastering or Transcription may be a top desire, but if you are a podcaster with dreams of monetizing your side hustle (or just making enough to get a free coffee every now and then), there is no denying that Spreaker is the way to go. 

The best news? Whichever solution you go with, we’ve got a discount code for you.

Spreaker — 90% off your first month with code: discoverpod

Buzzsprout — $20 Amazon gift card when you become a customer

The post Spreaker vs Buzzsprout: Podcast Host Review appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

But how are these platforms similar or different? And what are the advantages and/or disadvantages of each of them? Let this extensive podcast host review guide you and hopefully help you find the hosting platform that best suits your needs. 

Podcast Hosting Plan Options and Pricing

Most searches for a new hosting plan will start with pricing and storage options. 

Anchor is a podcasting platform owned by Spotify and one of the key selling points of the platform is that it is now and forever will be a 100% free platform for all and any podcasters. Along with being free to use, Anchor also offers unlimited storage for your feed for an unlimited time. 

Spreaker also offers a free option. However, the hosting platform also offers several different paid options depending on the needs of the podcaster. The On-Air Talent plan (USD$6/month), for example, offers multiple podcasts hosting, one-click distribution, customizable RSS feeds and programmatic monetization, while the Anchorman plan (USD $50/month) offers all of that plus additional features which include but are not limited to, paid subscriptions, full statistics, and customizable player colors. 

As media professional and audio expert Rachel Corbett eloquently states, that podcasters should be wary when using a free platform. Primarily because if podcasters are not paying for Anchor’s services with their money, then they need to make sure that they aren’t paying with anything else, like their content. If you do choose to host your podcast with Anchor, make sure that you thoroughly read their terms and conditions. In terms of Spreaker, who also offers a free plan, we would also recommend carefully reading exactly what you would get (and not get) with their free plan. 

Podcast Recording & Editing Options 

Both Spreaker and Anchor offer a modern and polished user interface, however, the main difference between the two is a lack of overall control. 

On the one hand, Anchor is a great tool and is very easy to use. It’s a fun tool to play with when you are editing your podcast. Anchor allows podcasters to add background music, intros, or create audiograms, but that isn’t unique to Anchor. Spreaker offers all of these features as well. Anchor also has a mobile app and recommends that podcasters record their episodes directly on their phone. 

The problem however is that although Anchor does allow you to edit your podcast episode, the podcaster has very little control in the editing process. You can drag and drop segments and add a little music, but that’s about it. Podcasters can’t edit effects or EQ, for example, and they can’t export the audio easily to third-party processing software. So in the end, the podcasters have very little control over the actual audio of their podcast. 

Yes, you can record the audio separately and then import it into Anchor on your desktop, but one of the main selling points of the platform is that podcasters can do everything from recording to editing to distribution on the mobile app. 

Finally, the file format that Anchor records in is an m4a, not a wav. file of an mp3 file. What does this mean? In short,  it is a low-quality audio file format. 

Spreaker also argues that it has its own recording, editing, and distribution app, called the Spreaker Studio App. Their free podcast software lets podcasters record, publish, distribute and analyze their podcast, whenever and wherever, easily. The unique in-app features give you total flexibility at your fingertips, making it ideal for podcasting on the go. 

The Spreaker app is different from Anchor as it allows podcasters to not only professionally record their podcast in the app’s audio studio, but it provides easy-to-use editing tools, live podcast recording, a Skype podcast recording integration, podcast listener statistics on mobile devices, and one-click distribution. 

Speaking of distribution, let’s compare how these two platforms distribute your podcast episode to major podcatchers.  

Marketing Your Podcast One-Click Distribution 

Anchor originally made it difficult to claim ownership over your podcast content. However, the platform recently updated its terms and services, which do allow podcasters to retain ownership, but not without jumping through a couple of hoops first.

What does this mean? When distributing your podcast with a platform like Spreaker, for example, to podcatchers (Apple Podcasts or Spotify), Spreaker shares your podcast with your email and account. This means you have complete control. It means that you can log into Google Podcast Manager, for example, to see podcast statistics by using your email address. 

However, by default, Anchor distributes your podcast using their email and doesn’t show your email address in the RSS feed. If you do want to use your email address, you can manually change the setting in your account, but it does take a couple of extra steps. Nevertheless, at the moment it seems as if you still can’t claim ownership of your account on Spotify. This means that you probably don’t have access to the analytics in Spotify for Podcasters. 

On the other hand, Spreaker has made distribution almost too easy. All podcasters need to do is click the distribution option in the Spreaker CMS dashboard, select the podcast distribution platforms of choice and click submit – Spreaker does all the rest. This also means that once it is set up it is good to go for all of your future episodes. Once a podcast episode is published on Spreaker, it will automatically and almost instantly be published on all the podcatchers that you previously selected. 

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s talk about making money with your podcast. 

Monetization Options

Spreaker has found a niche appealing to professional podcasters with straightforward monetization tools, as well as features like the ability to host multiple podcasts on the same account. 

Monetization is an area where Spreaker is pushing the boundaries and providing modern features. For example, they have integrated programmatic advertising, easy dynamic ad insertion, and other tools that make monetizing easy for podcasters of all sizes. Podcasters also can earn money even if they aren’t located in the US. Spreaker has opened up monetization for various countries like Canada, the UK, Portugal, and many more. This means that even if you are not located in the U.S., you can still make some money from your podcast if you have the right amount of downloads per episode. 

Anchor also does offer monetization, however, like many of their other features, it seems like it is quite basic and limited to Spotify-specific advertisements. You can activate Sponsorships for your podcast on both web and mobile from the ‘Money’ section of Anchor. However, let’s be clear. Anyone can ‘set up monetization’ on Anchor/Spotify, however, the protection or barrier to entry is that these are direct sponsors so the podcast has to be selected by the sponsor/Anchor. What does this mean exactly? Well just because you activate Sponsorships, doesn’t mean that you will get any. It is not an open marketplace programmatic monetization tool like Spreaker, it is more of a direct sales ad model. You can also activate Listener Support, which allows podcasters to collect monthly donations from their listeners. It seems also that Anchor only allows monetization options for individuals located in the United States, which can be quite limiting if you have a podcast anywhere else in the world. 

The Final Verdict

In the end, Anchor is a great option for people who are just starting their podcast. If you are a hobby podcaster and are not looking to grow, then Anchor might be the perfect solution for you. The platform does do everything, but at the same time, it doesn’t do everything well if you catch our drift. Anchor provides the basics, but if you want to expand your podcast, monetize your podcast or build your brand with your podcast then Anchor probably isn’t the right solution for you. 

That’s where Spreaker comes in. Spreaker is the perfect one-stop-shop for all of your podcasting needs. Whether you are just starting, or you have years of experience and multiple shows underneath your belt, Spreaker has something that is perfectly tailored to your needs. 

The platform also has a unique Prime Program for podcasters who want to monetize their content. The program helps maximize podcasters’ ad revenue,  increase their exposure, and streamline their publishing. If you are looking to monetize your podcast in any way, then there is simply no better place for your podcast. 

The post Anchor vs. Spreaker Podcast Host Review appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Once down the rabbit hole, after podcast consumption is podcast creation. The types you can create are limitless and the barriers of entry are pretty low. 

While you don’t need much, one of the first and most important is a reliable podcast host. The best host that gives you flexibility and encourages your creative endeavors. Well, and gets your creation into people’s earholes with minimal friction. That’s a big one.

We’re going to take at two major contenders and break down what makes each unique. Today, it’s Podbean vs. Anchor for the title of the best podcast host.

Podbean

If you’ve been around podcasting for any amount of time, you’ve heard the name Podbean. They’ve been at it since 2006, and in that entire time, their name has been near the top of everyone’s best of lists.

It’s not hard to see why. Their free plan is a nice offering.  

Podbean Always Free

That free plan buys you 5 hours of audio storage along with 100GB of bandwidth each month. You get basic statistics on audience listenership and episode downloads. As well a free companion website that gives your podcast an accompanying blog.

This companion website might be Podbean’s killer app. Most people are multimodal learners. This means they learn by some combination of audio, visual, or written.

A companion blog with expanded commentary and show notes sets your show apart from the competition and does so seamlessly.

You don’t need to be any kind of techie to make any of Podbean’s services work for you either. Their podcaster first philosophy means they make the process transparent and get out of your way.

The basic plan also covers all of your distribution bases. Your show’s RSS feed is widely distributed to ensure listeners can find you on all major Android and iOS podcatchers. Your show will also be included in Podbean’s native apps as well.

Podbean Unlimited Audio: Unlimited Storage and Downloads, Plus Comprehensive Analytics and Customizable Monetization

While the free offering is nice, most hobbyists and beyond will want to look at their $9 a month plan. $9 a month is 30 cents a day… so, for all intents and purposes, that’s a very low bar.

Unlimited storage and bandwidth starts with the $9 plan. That’s true unlimited as well, so if an episode goes viral, you don’t have to worry about it costing you anything or going over budget. For someone with OCD about metered pay as you go versus unlimited, having unlimited available for $9 is a real comfort. I wouldn’t have thought you could put a price on peace of mind, but it turns out you can, and it’s nine bucks. 

Bandwidth and storage just isn’t something I want to spend time worrying about. I want to focus on growing my show’s reach and getting it to make money.

When it comes to monetization and reach Podbean really shines. The $9 tier is where you get true unlimited creative control. You get access to “pro” themes, comprehensive listener statistics, a mappable custom domain for your show. And, this is a biggie, access to the advertising marketplace and their dynamic ad insertion tool called PodAds (to run your own ad campaigns). That whole bundle is unlocked at the $9 tier. 

I actually had to double check that one twice. Four checks, because that’s just a tremendous value. All paid plans come with IAB-certified comprehensive statistics and Podbean offers easy-to-understand graphs that help you better analyze how your podcast is performing. Not only that, but Podbean also helps you tap into listener support to monetize. They have a built-in Patron program for ongoing listener support, where you can provide special Patrons-only content and you can also sell premium content directly through their app.

Podbean also has a $29 per month plan that is best for video podcasts. At that level you’re able to provide audio, written, and video content to your listeners that’s widely distributed and easily monetized. 

New features, like Podbean Live and their Podbean app for recording on the go have only made the service richer. Adding new features onto an already robust podcaster only platform.

Podbean has sought to be an all-in-one solution for every level of podcaster, and they’ve adhered to that philosophy since 2006.

Anchor.fm

Anchor is all about being the free solution for podcasters of all walks. Create, distribute, and monetize for free. That’s the deal. Which is, pretty much true. Once Anchor.fm became Anchor.fm by Spotify’s acquisition in 2019, there were some concerns about what would happen to the service. Thus far it seems to be on the up and up. 

There was a bit of uproar about who actually owned your content in early drafts of the Spotify TOS, but that seems to have been worked out. It does leave open questions about a long term relationship with Spotify. Your mileage and comfort level is going to vary. 

Recording a podcast with Anchor is pretty straightforward. You can use the website with your desktop setup as you normally would. That’s what we tend to recommend ensuring the audio quality is the highest possible. 

You can also record right from their native app. Recently our writer Tal gave that a spin and it worked well enough. He ran into some issues with plosives when he was holding the microphone away from his face while looking at the screen.

The app fared much better when you held your phone like, well, like a phone. As if you were having a conversation. This isn’t a deal breaker, but it’s worth noting.

Again you can record audio and upload it however you’d like, so the app wouldn’t be our go-to interaction anyway.

Anchor Unlimited Hosting, Analytics, and Monetization

Anchor offers unlimited storage and unlimited bandwidth. That sets them apart from other free podcast hosts and is likely the biggest reason new podcasters start out with Anchor. As I mentioned, metering OCD is a real phenomenon and a big selling point. 

Once you’ve created your episode, added your cover art and descriptive write up, it’s distribution time.  Anchor distributes to almost every podcast outlet under the sun. Which is handy, in getting your show out there.

Anchor’s plan also comes with some useful analytics tools to see where your listenership is coming from. The IAB 2.0 certified analytics dashboard will also tell you where and when you’re losing listenership over time. That helps figure out how to retain an audience and what segments or features may not be working.

Monetization works well on Anchor, but your monetization is where they’re monetizing their platform as well. Which is perfectly fine, as long as you know that going in. 

Monetization on Anchor works in two basic ways. First is a patreon type model called Anchor Listener Support where hosts can ask their fans for donations ranging from $.99 to $10. Anchor takes 4.5% of whatever is donated and Stripe has their 3% processing fee. This leaves hosts netting roughly 90% of their listener donations.

Which isn’t terrible, considering what you’re getting, but it isn’t exactly “monetizing for free” either. Who are we to split hairs? 

If your Anchor hosted show has 50 or more unique listeners it is eligible for Anchor sponsorships.

The second model will see Anchor match your show with appropriate advertisers from their database. They’re doing the legwork here on making the relationships, acting as an in house broker. And they’ll take a 30% brokerage fee based on a CPM (Cost per 1,000 listens) model. 

But everything else is free, so you have to expect them to monetize somewhere.

Conclusion

Which host is ultimately right for you, the nascent podcaster? If you’re going to dabble around and not take it too seriously, you might be okay with Anchor. But after testing and evaluating the offers, it’s hard not to like everything you’re getting with Podbean’s Unlimited Audio plan. 

Their commitment to ease of use and companion website is hard to beat. 

The post Anchor vs. Podbean Podcast Host Review 2021 appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

If you’ve been around the podcasting space for a bit, you’ve likely heard people discuss the merits of podcast hosting services like Libsyn, Blubrry, Podiant, Spreaker, RedCircle, PodBean, Buzzsprout, Castos, Simplecast, SoundCloud (tip: don’t use SoundCloud for hosting podcasts, and several others. This post aims to objectively lay out the pros and cons of the top solutions to help with your decision.

In any case, we hope to help simplify the process with this comprehensive overview of why you need a podcast host, how to pick a podcast host, and what makes some of the options stand out amongst the pack. We’ll also help explain just why a free podcast hosting option may not be what it seems.

Why do you need a podcast hosting service?

To put it simply, the main reason you need a podcast hosting service is so you don’t have to worry about how your podcast is getting stored and shared. Podcast hosting services are engineered specifically for the type of content you will be recording and sharing and have features built in to eliminate some of the technological aspects of creating a podcast.

In addition to the ability to share to multiple distributors with RSS feeds, podcast hosting services can also simplify the process of adding cover art and descriptions, embedding or sharing files on social media or other websites and can even automatically optimize your audio to be the right file formats and sizes for your listeners.

Many of the best podcast hosting services are also committed to the podcast community and work tirelessly to update and improve their offerings to satisfy current trends. As you’ll see as we go into more detail about some of the best services, many of the top options have very similar offerings available, and it is the more niche, new features being rolled out that may help you decide where to host.

Maybe you are a show that would benefit from automatic transcription, so a hosting service that integrates directly with a place to do that will be helpful. Maybe you are making a longer show that needs chapter markers. Whatever it may be, chances are another podcaster has the same needs and there is a podcast hosting service that is one step ahead of you and already has the feature integrated.

Of course, not everyone wants or needs to be spending $100.00 a year for hosting, and there are plenty of free podcast hosting services as well. However, like all free things in life, you may notice that the storage space, speed, and availability of features in these plans are somewhat limiting. And is that what you want in your podcast hosting service?

You may also learn that free options pay for themselves by putting ads in your episodes that you didn’t approve and aren’t seeing any profit from. Be cautious of free plans and realize that if you want your podcast to grow, stand out amongst the competition, and be as enjoyable as possible for your listeners, the small investment will pay off in the long run.

Why can’t I use my website to host my podcast?

If you are a new podcaster exploring options of where to host your episodes, the thought of simply hosting them on your own website or even in Dropbox or Google Drive may have crossed your mind. Podcasting host services exist for a reason, both technical and financial.

Related reading: how to start a podcast

Podcasts typically are shared and distributed with a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feed, a common system for online publishers to distribute content to Internet users. When you download a podcast from Stitcher, Google Play, or Apple Podcasts, the podcast hasn’t actually been updated individually to those platforms. Instead, the RSS feed was shared with each library and when a new episode is uploaded to the creator’s podcast hosting service, it is automatically pushed out to all of the audiences. Most websites or storage options that are not meant for podcasting are not suited for this and don’t have the bandwidth.

As you read on, you’ll learn that podcast hosting typically provides more than just a place to store files. If you think you don’t need the extra services, there are free options available that will still be easier to use, more effective for reaching new audiences, and less prone to issues than the systems you might use to store other files.

Our favorite podcast hosting services

Don’t want to read the entire analysis? Here’s our quick winner:

Buzzsprout —  a simple, intuitive, and feature-rich podcast host perfect for most podcasters.

Starter plan comparisons

As you can see from the rows of check marks in the table above, a lot of the best podcast hosting services offer similar features and are mostly differentiated by their price and some of the specialty options that they have available. We’ll now go more in depth into these several options, as well as a handful of newer companies or more specialized podcast hosts that are starting to make a splash.

Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout is one of the places you can host your podcast for free, offering competitively priced plans with various amounts of storage and bandwidth. The free plan removes episodes after 90 days, so while it might be nice for a breaking news show or as a trial run, we suspect you’ll grow out of that option early.

Buzzsprout’s main selling point is that it is clean, easy to use and understand, and more modern than some competitors. From the statistics offered to the easy-to-create websites, the platform feels very “21st century” in the fonts, colors, and aesthetics. Even though it has been around for a decade, the vibe feels very much like a start-up, which can be really appealing.

Buzzsprout also provides an audio transcription service, starting at $0.10 per minute, which is competitively priced compared to other similar services. They are one of the few platforms to have this option integrated directly into their dashboard.

Read our full Buzzsprout review.

Deal: Sign up for Buzzsprout and get a $20 Amazon card.

Alitu

Alitu, the podcast maker, is NOT just another place to host your podcast. While Alitu’s hosting options are robust and free for any user for up to 1k downloads, the platform does so much more to get new and time-strapped podcasters up and running.

Unique from other podcast hosting providers, Alitu, is an end-to-end podcast creation software where you can record, edit, produce, publish and HOST all from the same place. Not only will you get free hosting with any paid subscription, but you won’t have to shell out extra money for all the other tools necessary to create a podcast. Alitu also provides a highly accurate and fast transcription tool at no extra cost to subscribers. Talk about value. Right?

The best bit? It will save you time so you can focus on other important aspects of podcasting, such as promotion or booking your next guest. Alitu also provides audio transcription at no extra cost, and with new features launching every couple of months, it’s even harder to put a price on that value. 

Alitu is a highly preferred podcast editing software by startups, individuals, and SMEs. The pricing starts from USD $27 per month for a yearly subscription.

RedCircle

RedCircle is the podcast hosting platform that puts the creator first.

The company has been around since 2018 and has been growing quickly. They’re focused on helping their creators grow and monetize their Podcasts.

That RedCircle, unlike many other podcast hosts, is so focused on growing its business right alongside the bevy of creators on its platform is both novel and refreshing. Quite frankly, it’s a philosophy we really dig.

RedCircle makes money when its creators make money. Period. Even their free tier offering has sophisticated ways to monetize a podcast. RedCircle is unique in that it allows anyone to create a podcast for free — no matter how small or large your audience is today — and allows you to monetize from day one using pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ads.

As your audience grows, so does your income potential.

In addition to the free tier, paid hosting plans start at $9/month or $30/month (all plans include unlimited bandwidth and distribution). There are additional monetization options available through:

• RedCircle’s Ad Platform (RAP)
• Cross Promotions With Like-minded Podcasters
• Subscriptions and Pay Walls
• Donations

Libsyn

Libsyn launched in 2004 before you probably even knew podcasts existed. They are one of the original and most popular podcast hosts and help podcasters of all levels quickly create and share work.

As of late, Libsyn has given its offering a facelift that has made it much more attractive, adding to what was already a robust podcast hosting offering.

The in-depth tutorial, aptly named “How to Start a Podcast,” walks anyone looking to grow a show from how to hone a concept through the technicals of creation and promotion. Soon they will also be covering that oh-so-sweet concept of monetization. All within one helpful guide, which beats searching through random YouTube tutorials. Although they have spent a lot of time on their YouTube channel, that’s also a helpful resource.

On the software side, Libsyn now features an all-in-one recording studio that requires a simple USB mic to create a high-quality podcast. Integrated Canva templates make creating your episode cover art a breeze. An embeddable podcast player makes sharing and promoting your episodes easier than ever.

Plans begin at only $5/month, and the offerings have caught up to the competition. They are an established veteran worth considering if money is your top deciding factor.

PodBean

PodBean has a great basic plan for $9/month, as well as a smaller plan for just $3/month that is a step up from some free options. Their analytics are very visual, which can make them easy to understand and can also be really helpful for sharing with potential partners or advertisers. They have other features that may be appealing to podcasters looking to monetize, like a Patron service that is similar to Patreon in that it allows for a paywall on certain content.

PodBean truly has one of the widest arrays of features available, although some features only come at the higher priced plans. Still, the basic plan is a great, reliable option that podcasters big and small will love and find more than sufficient.

Read our full PodBean review, Libsyn vs. PodBean

Deal: First month free with code “discoverpods”.

Blubrry

In our recent full review of Blubrry, we spoke highly of their Powerpress option that allows for seamless publishing with WordPress websites and their support line where you can actually talk to a person, rather than wait for an email response. They also provide a free WordPress website for new customers if you don’t already have one.

Price wise, it falls right about at the middle of the pack and while it may not be flashy, Blubrry remains an excellent choice for podcasters. They offer a wide array of pricing options, so it is important to decide what your podcast future looks like before locking into a yearly plan. While the $12/month basic plan will be sufficient for some, larger networks of shows also have options up to $80 per month.

Blubrry is a veteran in the hosting space and really all about the simplicity of its interface and the speed of “post – upload – publish” with Powerpress.
One key differentiator, is they are one of the few players currently IAB certified, helping standardize the podcast analytics.

Read our full Blubrry review, Blubrry vs. PodBean

Deal: First month free with code “discoverpods”.

Castos

Castos may not be as recognizable of a name as some of the other options, but their WordPress integration is rivaled only by Blubrry in terms of ease of use, and they also do offer unlimited bandwidth and storage at only $15/month.

Castos has an automated import process that users switching from a competitor to their platform to easily move content over, and they also have an integrated Youtube publishing option that can convert your audio into video files that can be shared with the click of a button.

Don’t eliminate Castos simply because it costs a couple dollars more than some similar platforms. It is one of the few options out there that really does differentiate itself with the features available, and we think they’re worth an extra $30 a year.

Deal: First month free with code “discoverpods”.

Captivate.fm

Captivate is a relatively newcomer to the podcast hosting space from the UK. They are certainly making waves in the space and claim that if you move to their service, you’re going to stick there. In fact, one of their testimonials states that they tried seven different podcast hosts before landing on Captivate.fm.

Bold.

While they don’t offer a free plan, they do offer a 7 day free trial so you can get used to their platform. Before signing up, you can take a look at their extensive library of content designed to help independent podcasters grow their audience.

Since so many podcasts fail before reaching the fifth episode, having a host that is focused on your success makes a lot of business sense.

Here are some of the key things that make Captivate.fm worth a look:

1. Growth-oriented: Captivate.fm is designed to help podcasters grow their audience and build their brand. It offers a range of marketing and analytics tools to help podcasters track their growth and make data-driven decisions.
2. User-friendly: Captivate.fm has a simple, intuitive interface that makes it easy for podcasters to upload, publish, and manage their episodes. It also offers a range of customizable player options, so podcasters can match their player to their branding.
3. Podcast website: With Captivate.fm, podcasters can create a custom podcast website that integrates seamlessly with their hosting platform. This allows podcasters to have a dedicated website for their show that is fully customizable and easy to manage.
4. Support: Captivate.fm offers excellent customer support, with a team of podcasting experts on hand to answer any questions and help users troubleshoot any issues.
5. Pricing: Captivate.fm offers transparent pricing with no hidden fees. It also offers unlimited storage and bandwidth, so podcasters can upload as many episodes as they like without worrying about extra costs. If you pay annually, the starter plan sits right in the middle of the pack at $17 a month.
   
   To that end, Captivate does want some commitment from their content creators, but they return the favor with quite a bit of training and resources.

Overall, Captivate.fm is a podcast host that prioritizes the needs of podcasters and offers a range of features to help you, as an indie podcaster, succeed. Overall, Captivate.fm is a host we’re going to be doing a deeper dive on with a full review in the near future, but for now, it’s certainly worth a look as a paid podcast host.

Podiant

Podiant is one of the few podcasts that offers truly unlimited storage and bandwidth, and they won’t price you out or increase your rates as your listenership and following grows. Podiant has great statistics and analytics and offers users a free podcast website (but who doesn’t these days).

One way they do stand out is their Production Assistant system, which can help with scripting, reviewing and adding notes to edits and more all from your Podiant dashboard. For larger podcasts with precise scripts or lots of guests coming in and out, or for shows with hosts in different cities, this can be especially helpful with organization. We’ll also give props to Podiant for offering websites that are also pretty nice to look at and have more of an aesthetic focus than some competitors.

In addition to the basic $12.99/month plan, Podiant offers professional plans that allow you to host more than one podcast with a single account and provide you with one on one technical support.

Deal: Get 25% off your first 3 months with code “discoverpods”.

Spreaker

Spreaker’s plans are for total audio storage, rather than monthly limits, which can be beneficial or restricting. The $6 per month On-Air Talent plan allows for 100-hours of storage, which would be great for a show planning to only release a single season but would only last a little over a year for a weekly show with longer episodes. The Broadcaster plan, priced at $18 per month, increases to 500-hours of storage and the Anchorman plan allows for 1,500 hours of storage. It is easy to switch from one plan to another, so if you max out your storage you can just level up. 

A key differentiator for Spreaker is the ability to manage multiple podcasts through a single account. They’re also one of the few podcast hosts to have  their statistics IAB certified — a growing standard in the industry.

Spreaker offers live podcasting on all their plans (with time caps varied by plan), which is a new feature offered by some hosting services that will certainly be appealing to hosts looking to take live calls or interact more closely with their audiences. While they do not currently offer customized websites, you do get advanced distribution capabilities including embeddable players with all plans so it is easy to share episodes on other web platforms. Spreaker also has a monetization program through dynamic ad insertion. It works as a revenue-sharing program in which the podcaster gets 60% of the ad revenue, and Spreaker keeps 40% of it.

Other Podcast Hosts To Consider

Transistor.fm

Transistor sets to differentiate themselves from competitors by offering the ability to create unlimited podcasts within a single plan. You can add additional users per podcast as well, making it a great option for teams and small networks with multiple shows. The platform, analytics, customizable websites and other features are all very cleanly designed and easy to navigate. 

Transistor has download limits on their unlimited plans, with the lowest being 15,000 downloads on their $19 per month Starter Plan, but promises never to shut off an account if a download cap is reached, which is a nice touch. Instead, they’ll contact you and allow you to easily upgrade your plan. Those upgrades include the $49 per month Professional plan (75,000 monthly downloads) and $99 per month Business plan (200,000 monthly downloads). 

Simplecast

Simplecast is taking a big and bold approach, with a modern design aesthetic that looks more like a high end gym or streetwear brand than a podcast hosting service. But, don’t be distracted by the bold fonts — with a $15 per month unlimited plan and two-week trial with no credit card required, they clearly mean business. Simplecast also offers tools aimed at growing podcasts in their $35 per month Essential plan and $85 per month Growth plan, including more advanced analytics, collaboration tools and an increase in the number of included monthly downloads. 

Simplecast also offers Professional and Enterprise plans for larger volume shows, which is rare for some of the newer podcast hosting platforms out there. You have to contact Simplecast’s sales team for pricing, but working with a growing host could be a great option for a growing podcast network looking to get competitive pricing and lots of access to customer support. 

bCast

bCast is a podcast host built for marketers, by self-confessed marketers, Tom Hunt and Neil Morgan. Their unique pitch is they build every feature around making your podcast more profitable. A few notable features:

• Automated transcription for SEO growth
• Audio inserts to easily add calls to action or sponsor ads to the start or end of any episode for any period of time in a few clicks
• Custom domains to allow you to host your podcast website on your own domain or subdomain
• Auto opt-in which is a smooth strategy for converting listeners (downloads) into leads (email addresses)

bCast plans start at $15 per month, which gives access to most features and 10,000 downloads per month, plans scale up to unlimited podcasts, downloads, premium support and the ability to remove branding for $75 per month.

Fireside

A platform that is quickly gaining popularity is Fireside, which was founded in 2016 and is working to grow their network by offering a competitively priced unlimited plan and a seamless, 1-click hosting platform transfer process. Their standard plan is $19 per month for unlimited storage, with a cap at 75,000 downloads per month. The plan is definitely worth considering, especially if you are looking for a plan that also includes a robust, customizable website builder. In addition to the Standard plan, there is a $9 per month starter plan and a $49 per month Professional plan, where downloads are unlimited and you can work with up to 10 collaborators. 

Which podcast host is right for you?

We hope that this list helped narrow things down a bit, but chances are you are still facing a dilemma and are having a tough time choosing between a couple options. Take these final tips to heart when deciding where to host your show.

First, think about the growth you want your show to have and what platform will allow for that. If you are confident that you may need a plan larger than a basic plan in six months, look for a host that will allow you to upgrade. If you think this podcast is mostly just a hobby, consider a lower priced plan and save a bit on hosting that could instead be invested in slightly nicer podcast recording equipment.

Second, consider the websites. If you already have a personal website that is run through WordPress, Blubrry and Castos automatically stand out as front runners. If you don’t have a website, look at samples of each platforms websites and decide what you like best aesthetically.

Finally, remember that you can switch. Podcast hosts know that the space they operate in is very competitive, and they make it easy to seamlessly move your files from one host to another (usually for free). While this is an important decision to make, you are buying a hosting service, not a house, and ultimately the best way to choose between the top options is to go with your gut, see which hosts some of your favorite shows use, and go with the option that feels right to you.

Podcast Hosting FAQs

What is podcast hosting?

Regardless of where you find your podcasts, from Apple to Spotify to Stitcher, the audio files have to be stored — or hosted — somewhere. You may have heard of some of the most popular podcast hosting services, like Podbean, Blubrry and Buzzsprout, and a quick Google search will reveal dozens more options catering to podcasts both big and small. 

The primary benefit of a podcast hosting platform is that it provides the ability to share files automatically with multiple distributors using an RSS feed. This means that when you upload your new episodes to your podcast host, they can be easily pushed out to any platform you’ve set your feed up with, rather than having to upload to multiple platforms individually. Cover art, descriptions and data like downloads and listenership also all can be managed with your podcast host. 

In addition to pricing, storage space allotment and ease of use, you’ll find that podcast hosts differentiate themselves with a variety of helpful features like easy-to-build podcast websites, social media integration, post scheduling and in-depth statistics. 

Can I host my podcast on my website?

If you have a personal, business or even a website exclusively built for your podcast established, you may be considering simply using that site to host the files. While you may find a way to do this and potentially save a few dollars, the storage space and bandwidth required to host a growing podcast will quickly add up and you’ll realize it is not an effective or reliable way to host your files.  

Some popular website creation sites, like Squarespace and WordPress, have RSS publishing capabilities available that work well and are relatively easy for smaller podcasters. Again, storage and bandwidth will be an issue as your site grows but if you are dedicated to putting your audio files directly on your website consider an easy to use platform like Squarespace. 

Podcast hosting services are not the same as other file storage, so you cannot use a platform like Dropbox or Google Drive for your podcast (although these tools are very useful for collaborating while you are recording your episodes). 

Can I use SoundCloud to host my podcast?

The short answer to the question of whether you can use SoundCloud to host a podcast is yes, but you may not want to. SoundCloud is a streaming service, rather than a service built for hosting podcasts, and you will run into various obstacles if you decide to host with SoundCloud. 

While SoundCloud is free, you will be limited to three hours of uploaded audio per month. For musicians, this is typically more than enough, but podcasters will quickly run out. The free option also does not provide any statistics or the ability to schedule postings, which are both useful capabilities for podcasters. Paid plans are $7/month for SoundCloud Pro, or $15/month for SoundCloud Pro Unlimited, in which case it makes more sense to use a comparably priced dedicated podcast host. 

You don’t need to take my word on it, either. Steve Wilson, head of marketing for Apple Podcasts, discourages podcaster from using SoundCloud as their podcast host.

That being said, it doesn’t hurt to upload episodes to SoundCloud as a supplemental place for listeners to find your content. SoundCloud has a great social component and is actively growing their podcast capabilities, so it is a good platform to get familiar with. 

Related reading: SoundCloud alternatives for hosting podcasts

Which podcast host is right for me?

You can choose your podcast host strictly based on cost, but you’ll be better off if you look at the bigger picture and see what the benefit add of some of the top plans are. For example, Buzzsprout offers discounted audio transcription for podcasts using their service, and Castos has integrated Youtube publishing. Think about what you will really need when you are podcasting and what your goals are and then factor in the extra perks with how much you value them.

If you are setting up a podcast that you expect will have large listenership off the bat, we recommend an established host like Buzzsprout or Podbean because of the unlimited monthly storage and comprehensive podcast analytics. If you are not worried about maxing out your bandwidth or storage, take some time to look through all the options out there to see what interface feels right.   

How much does podcast hosting cost?

In most cases, expect to be paying around $10.00 to $15.00 / month for podcast hosting. If you are working with video, or looking to host a large commercial podcast, that rate will be higher depending on your specific needs. 

Most hosting sites will allow you to either increase your plan capacity if you are running out of space or provide an option for a one-time purchase of extra storage. Check your plan details before signing up if you are not sure exactly how much space you’ll need. 

You’ll also notice that some plans have hourly storage limits while others have limits based on file sizes. Episode file sizes can vary a lot based on the recording and exported file specifics, but a very rough ballpark is that a 60-minute spoken podcast will be around 50MB. 

Can I use a free podcast host?

If you are just starting out with a new podcast, looking to see if you have any audience at all, and are not even sure you’ll want to make more than a few episodes then by all means use a free podcast hosting plan offered by a reliable service. Buzzsprout, Libsnn and Soundcloud are just a few options you could use to try out podcasting for free.

Make sure you are using a platform that will allow you to move to a different plan though when you are ready to start growing your podcast! 

Related reading: best free podcast hosting

Where should I publish my podcast?

In our guide to podcast hosting services, we explain the pros and cons of some of the best podcast hosting platforms for any budget. Blubrry, Castos Simplecast and many other services have offers for a free first month, which can be helpful if you want to see exactly what a podcast host is capable of before committing. It tends to be pretty easy to transition from one host to another with integrated file transfer services and most plans are monthly, so remember that while this decision is important, you are not locked in for life. 

The post The 10 Best Podcast Hosting Services (for new & experienced podcasters) appeared first on Discover the Best Podcasts | Discover Pods.

Since its founding in 2010 Spreaker has developed a suite of solutions aimed at all levels of podcasters, from beginners to established publishers looking to make a move. In the last decade-plus, they’ve established themselves as the unrivaled leader in monetization through programmatic advertising.

And Spreaker has been investing quite a bit into making sure podcasters of all walks can focus more on creation and less on the nuts and bolts of bringing money through the door.

They were recently acquired by iHeartMedia, so I’m not the only one excited about what they’re doing. So, what sets this podcast host apart?

Let’s get under the hood and see what makes Spreaker tick.

Read more: best podcast hosting solutions

What is Spreaker

Spreaker consists of two complementary, but standalone offerings.

First is the content management system (CMS) where you’ll handle the majority of your back-end work. Your analytics, distribution, and revenue generation all take place within the CMS dashboard. 

The second is the Spreaker studio app. Spreaker’s companion app is designed to help content creators record, publish, distribute and analyze their podcast, whenever and wherever, easily. In fact, the unique in-app features give you total flexibility at your fingertips, making it ideal for podcasting on-the-go. 

Read more: Record an Interview With The 8 Best Affordable Mobile Podcast Microphones

While you don’t need to use the studio app, I did find it added a good deal of value and was a unique offering among podcast hosts that further sets Spreaker apart. 

Creating a Podcast in Spreaker

Starting a podcast on Spreaker is simple. It does feel like home in that respect. After creating your account and confirming your email you can jump right into creating a podcast. There are several spots on their website to create the podcast container that houses your episodes.

Clicking on the menu in the top left of the page, the account context menu, gives you a drop down of several features. Clicking on “My Podcasts” will load Spreaker’s Content Management System (CMS) dashboard. It’s here you can get an overview of your storage, shows, and episodes. 

From here you click “Create a New Podcast” which brings up a page where you can specify the title and description of your show, along with your show’s artwork. 

All in all, a very straightforward process, as you’d expect from an industry leader like Spreaker.

The Spreaker Content Management System

The heart and soul of Spreaker is the CMS. This is where you’ll handle the bulk of your podcast work.

If you don’t want (or don’t have the need) to use the Spreaker Studio app to publish your show, you can do it from the CMS dashboard. But you can do quite a bit more than publish individual episodes.

Spreaker CMS Features

Podcasts

The CMS dashboard gives you an overview of your storage limit, measured in terms of hours, not file size, as well as your episode limit. A “free speech” account starts with 5 hours of storage and 10 episodes. 

Paying accounts have quite a bit more; even on plans starting at $6 a month.

Spreaker includes a basic website with each show you create which is a nice touch if you don’t have your own web presence. It also has a customizable embedded player where you can feature different episodes as you see fit.

It’s especially helpful when you’re testing the waters on a new show before you go all in.

RSS

Spreaker takes the lead on ensuring your show is properly distributed with robust RSS feed customization features.

It is important to note that if you are coming to Spreaker from another host, you can import your show’s RSS feed here in the Podcasts tab of the CMS dashboard. 

Scheduling

Spreaker does focus on leveraging a podcast creator’s time so they can focus the majority of their time on the content and not worry so much about the back end administration. 

To this end, Spreaker allows you to schedule multiple shows simultaneously into the queue.  

Statistics

Spreaker hosts are treated to robust statistical reporting for their shows. Standard time filters apply here and you can dig into the following categories on paid accounts.

• Downloads
• Likes
• Geography
• Referral Sources
• Devices
• Number of Followers
• Episode Evolution
  Starting with the Anchorman Plan (covered below) the episode evolution feature will help content creators track an episode’s progress over the first 30 critical days.

Paying accounts are also able to export all of this data as a comma-separated values file. That comes in handy when you’re going shopping for show sponsors. 

Spreaker has a couple more tricks up its sleeve that really set it apart from other podcast hosts. Let’s take a look.

Spreaker Add On Store

Also within the Spreaker Studio app you’ll notice there’s a menu item called “Royalty Free Library.” Part of Spreaker’s corporate philosophy is that there will be no hidden fees. That does not mean, however, that there aren’t some upsells.

Clicking that link takes you to the Spreaker Store where there are several add ons that can take your show to the next level.

These include:

• Epidemic Sound Royalty Free Music and Effects Library
• Jamendo Royalty Free Music Library
• Podcast Host Academy
• Show Transcription
• Professional Voice Overs

Are any of these add ons necessary to produce a great show on Spreaker? Of course not. But these add-ons provide podcasters all the tools they need to succeed in their podcasting journey – all in one place. 

If you don’t have to leave the Spreaker ecosystem to chase down royalty-free music to import into your show, all the better. Your mileage will vary on these features, but they seem to be reasonably priced for a new Spreaker host.

Read more: 5 Ways To Deal With An Unexpected Drop In Podcast Listenership

Spreaker’s Monetization Features

If you’d rather create than sell, paying Spreaker hosts can take advantage of Spreaker’s integrated ad network. If you’re noticing an integration theme at Spreaker, that’s on purpose.

Spreaker is well out in front in terms of podcast monetization, specifically programmatic advertising. There isn’t a comparable platform when it comes to income-generating potential for hosts.

Not a company to rest on its laurels, Spreaker’s ad network has the highest performance in terms of revenue and it consistently brings innovative features to the table. Features, it seems, that are unmatched in the podcasting market. 

For example, as someone with a background in audio editing, Spreaker’s silence detection tool is an invaluable bit of leverage. Spreaker developed a system that analyzes your podcast episodes and finds specific moments of silence. It then ranks all of these based on the duration, the distance between each silent spot, and its position within the episode. Silence detection is a game-changer in programmatic ad insertion. It means that content is completely undisturbed, the listener’s experience is superb and podcasters can earn money from their content with peace of mind. 

But let’s talk quickly about programmatic advertising and how Spreaker is leading the way in programmatic. 

Read more: Buzzsprout vs. Libsyn vs. Spreaker

Programmatic Advertising & Dynamic Ad Insertion

Programmatic advertising refers to the marketplace where the automatic buying and selling of podcast advertisements occur. Programmatic advertising allows you, the podcaster, to take the guesswork out of making money with your podcast. Instead of seeking your own sponsors or advertisers, with Spreaker, you are able to use their built-in programmatic marketplace. Their marketplace is full of advertisers who are ready and willing to automatically deliver targeted and relevant ads on your podcast. It is as simple as flipping a switch.

How is this possible? Through Spreaker’s dynamic ad insertion. 

Once you’ve opted in, Spreaker’s dynamic ad insertion allows you to insert an ad anywhere in a podcast episode – pre-roll (beginning), mid-roll (middle), or post-roll (end). Spreaker makes this so easy with their ad software as you can either manually choose points in the episode where you want your ads inserted or you can simply click a switch that auto-optimizes all ads in a particular episode. It also makes sure that you, the podcaster, has full control of this process.

Dynamic, relevant, and timely ads inserted into your back catalog is an enormous boost for show creators. Programmatic advertising is a game changer because it allows hosts to leverage and monetize their entire catalog. 

The Spreaker Studio App

Remember how I mentioned that Spreaker’s lineage is in live radio broadcasting? This history is readily apparent in Spreaker’s studio application.. 

The Spreaker Studio App Overview

It is a basic software reproduction of a live studio console. It’s a well done piece of software, designed with simplicity and functionality front and center.

Because creators don’t need to create their podcast in Spreaker Studio to use the Spreaker content management system, they can use a full digital audio workstation (DAW), or any software they feel comfortable with if they need a bit more power. But for recording on the go or recording live, Spreaker Studio is intuitive and well appointed.

But for recording on the go or recording live, Spreaker Studio is intuitive and well appointed.

Once I got over the hurdle of what I was working with a workflow that made a lot of sense began to unfold. What you’ll want to do as a host, even if you’re planning on broadcasting your show live, is have all of your segment pieces completely finished beforehand. You’ll do this outside of the Spreaker Studio App in a DAW of your choice and import them as audio segments.

Then when you go to record the final version of the show you’re going to release, either live or in “offline mode” you can add spontaneity in the app. The same way a radio DJ would take requests while a song is playing, you can have a live twitter chat or take calls. Then you can respond in real time, between segments should you so choose.

The emphasis on live recording gives the Spreaker host a leg up over some of the other  podcast hosting solutions.

Recording With the Spreaker Studio App

Aside from not being a DAW, the app has a tremendous amount of versatility. For starters, the Spreaker Studio App is available for Mac, Windows, Android, and iOS. Spreaker was also the first podcast solution to natively support Chrome OS thanks to Play Store integration.

That’s a lot of platform synergy.

I was able to test both the Windows desktop and Android versions of the Spreaker Studio app. Both were adequate for recording a live show pre-recorded tracks. The desktop version of the app is by far the better solution for recording live audio.

Playlist Tab

The playlist tab allows you to queue up pre recorded audio that can be played in sequence.

Tracks Tab

The heart of the desktop mixer is the “Tracks” tab. This is where you’ll find the two channel mixer. On the desktop version of the app you can simply drag your pre recorded audio tracks into either channel to play them. You’ll then sequence your audio in real time, fade between channels to play your next pre recorded audio segment.

Effects Tab

The effects tab contains 9 “soft buttons” that can be loaded with any sound effect or audio track you’d like. The defaults are common ones like applause, lighting, and laughter. But, again, you can put whatever you want to have at your fingertips. This is the most morning drive time element of the software and would be inseparable from Spreaker’s roots.

Chat Tab

If you are recording and broadcasting your show live, whomever is listening can interact via chat while you’re doing so. This feature isn’t available with a free account, but it’s another aspect that feels more like doing a digital radio show than a podcast.

The wheels in my head are already turning with how to use this.

In addition to the two mixer channels, you can also record live audio via the “Microphone & Sources” section under the Tracks tab.

Here, unlike the mobile app, you can use whatever outboard gear you’d like. If you have a physical mixer and mic setup, you can use those in the app. I was able to use my Zoom R8 without incident. 

Auto-Ducking settings that automatically balance the volume between live and recorded tracks. You’ve got enough on your plate without having to worry about manually adjusting those levels.

At the bottom is the master output. You can map this to wherever you want the audio output to go. Normally that’s wherever your headphones are, but if you’re not using the mic feature, you could conceivably have this go to some speakers. 

Every audio input, no matter what tab it’s under, has its own monitoring and mute buttons. The former allows you to solo just what that channel is doing so you can check the levels. The mute button allows you to cut that track’s signal to the audience feed so they will never know it is there. That way you can queue up exactly what you want to come in. Mute also comes in handy as a cough button.

All things considered, a Spreaker host has a lot of flexibility and tools at their disposal when putting together a live feed. 

Post Recording With Spreaker Studio

Once you’re happy with your track, it’s time to publish. Publishing is done from inside the studio app if you should so choose.

The Drafts and Uploads menu brings up a screen where you can drop your canned shows that are ready to publish. This screen also is where you’ll find the live tracks you just finished recording above.

Spreaker Studio gives you the option to add artwork before you decide to delete or publish. If you’re a paying Spreaker host you also have the option to export the audio file you just recorded. If there were some glaring errors, you can take that into your DAW of choice to polish before bringing it back for publishing.

Once you hit publish, your show goes live in all the necessary haunts. Apple, Spotify, Google, Podchaser, etc. 

Record Interviews With Skype

As a medium, the interview podcast exploded in 2020. Even if you were lucky enough to have a fancy home studio to record in during lockdown, there was nobody coming over for an interview. The entirety of the format moved online.

The beautiful opportunity for small and independent podcasters was a lower barrier of entry. All of a sudden the playing field was more level because everyone was in their home doing this online.

Which brings me to my favorite Spreaker host feature for new podcasters. Skype integration right inside Spreaker Studio.

This means that one of your tracks within the mixer is the feed from your Skype session. That’s slick.

There’s no free lunch of course. The drivers take a little bit of work to install and it only works on the desktop iteration of the app, but it’s a game-changer. For creators who aren’t the most tech-savvy, this integration is a boon.

Spreaker Studio Software Conclusions 

As a stand-alone piece of live podcasting software, Spreaker Studio is impressive. The mobile versions of the app lack some of the professional bells and whistles. You’re limited to your device’s onboard microphone for example, but even Spreaker Studio “lite” is nice to work with.

Spreaker Host Pricing Tiers

First and foremost, Spreaker has committed to always having a free podcast hosting plan so long as they are around. It’s part of their operating philosophy that creators should have access to the means to broadcast.

Spreaker host plans are as follows:

On-Air Talent

$7 Per Month or $6 Per Month (Billed Annually)

On-Air Talent is Spreaker’s entry-level paid tier that brings with it some of the professional features like programmatic advertising and customizable RSS feeds for better distribution.

Broadcaster

$20 Per Month or $18 Per Month (Billed Annually)

The Broadcaster tier opens up some of Spreaker’s advanced analytics as well as limited access podcasts to add additional value.

Anchorman

$50 Per Month or $45 Per Month (Billed Annually)

Spreaker’s professional Anchorman tier grants access to the full suite of granular analytics as well as additional branding options like customizable player colors.

Conclusion

In 2021 there are a ton of outlets to host your podcast. If you’re just starting out and don’t want to jump around too much as you grow, there’s a lot to like about being a Spreaker host. Why? Let’s break it down. 

First and foremost, as mentioned before, Spreaker offers a free plan that you can test out. Although the features are limited, podcasters can really get a real feel for the platform before they decide to invest in a particular plan. 

And when you do decide to switch to a paid plan, there is something for everyone. From their on-air talent to anchorman, podcasters can take advantage of Spreaker’s ease of use, and numerous features, including monetization and one-click distribution (to name just a few).

And as we are on the topic of monetization, there is in fact, no other platform with an equal offering and revenue generation potential for programmatic out there on the podcast market today. It you want to make money off of your podcast, then Speaker is the perfect home for you.

Finally, the Spreaker Studio software is truly impressive. If your show conception is heavy on interviews, I can’t think of a better host to start. 

In the end, I don’t know where else you’d want to be.

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