You can't currently manually add podcast RSS feeds to these apps: Spotify. Google Podcasts. IHeartRadio App. How to manually subscribe to a podcast. Copy the podcast's feed URL to your clipboard. You'll also find this on a podcast's web page. Here's an example from The Bigs podcast.
You’ve learned how to start a podcast and are creating the content for your podcast. If you enjoy what you do, love the art of the podcast, you want to maximize your listener base. If your listener enjoys your content, they’re also going to want to find an easy way to come back.
The really simple syndication, or RSS feed, is the solution to both of these problems, allowing content creators to reach listeners, and listeners to find their favorite podcasts on their favorite podcast platforms.
- Finding Hidden RSS Feeds on Most Sites. Most sites are built using a Content Management System, or CMS. Every major CMS offers an RSS feed by default, meaning an RSS exists for such sites whether the site’s creators realize that or not. In these cases, you can use a simple URL hack to find the RSS feed.
- Updating Your RSS Feed on Spotify After Redirecting to Anchor September 10, 2019 20:01 After redirecting your podcast to Anchor, you will need to update your hosting provider in Spotify for Podcasters to ensure that your Spotify listing is up-to-date.
What is a podcast RSS feed?
A podcast-only RSS feed sends audio content across the internet, hitting all sorts of directories and updating them as new content creation occurs. An RSS feed will push your audio content to your listeners, so it is front and center in their podcast listening platforms like Apple Podcasts and Google Play.
Podcast RSS Feed Requirements
Besides the audio file itself, here’s a list of recommended tags for most popular podcasting platforms like Google Play and Apple Podcasts:
- Title
- Description
- Show Notes
- Category
- Author
- Image
- Summary
- Language
- Explicit Rating
It’s highly recommended to include a full transcript of your podcast episode in the show notes of your podcast. It’s easy to get your podcast transcribed with Rev, and copy and paste the transcript into your RSS feed.
1. Hosting the Podcast
To create a podcast RSS feed URL, you first need to host your podcast. There exists a variety of tools to make this possible, each of which you should check out. These include:
Rss On Spotify
WordPress via PowerPress
This is a very popular tool to create an RSS feed for any type of podcast. If you have a website running on WordPress, this works easily as it is a plug-in for the platform. You can publish your podcast, get your RSS feed URL through it and away you go.
RSS.com
Another common and popular service is through RSS.com. When you enter the site, you create an account first. From there, you begin to add audio files of your podcast to the dashboard, adding a description as well. You will then have access to the RSS feed URL through the service.
SoundCloud
You can upload your audio files to Soundcloud and create an RSS URL with their platform.
Squarespace
Squarespace offers rich podcasting abilities with the ability to create a blog with an RSS feed with all the recommended podcasting data.
Can You Create an RSS Feed With Any Website Host?
You do not need any special type of website to create an RSS feed. If you go the independent route, you can pretty much use any type of site to craft your RSS feed from scratch.
Creating an RSS Feed From Scratch
You also have the ability to create an RSS feed from scratch. If you already host content on a website, you have a server, you then can also host your podcasts and create your RSS feed. RSS Builder is a great free and open-source RSS creation program to do this. With the program, you can upload your podcasts to your website and manage the feed independently.
With the RSS Builder application, you can start by creating a new feed, giving it a title, and adding in the URL to your website. You then enter a description of your feed and queue it up for generation. As you add content, enter the unique URL to each piece of content to the RSS feed. Once you do this, you can create an XML file that allows folks to subscribe to your RSS feed.
Here are examples of recommended RSS feed XML markup:
2. Upload Podcast Files to the RSS Feed
Now that you understand how to create an RSS feed for a podcast, you need to then upload your podcast audio content. Your RSS feed only picks up the new content you create and upload.
If you go the route of independence, you want to be sure you are uploading your new podcast files to your website, to the same URL which the RSS feed is pulling from. As you upload new podcast files, add the URL to those files to the RSS feed through RSS Builder so it recognizes the file addition and pushes it out to podcast distributors like Google and Apple.
With a hosted podcast platform, you simply upload your new podcast content as soon as possible. If you use RSS.com, upload a new podcast to the platform and the RSS feed picks it up.
3. Submit a Podcast RSS Feed to Distributors
The goal for any podcast is to be available on as many platforms as possible. You want to submit your RSS feed URL to Google Play, iTunes, and other platforms to reach audiences on all these platforms.
How To Locate Your Podcast RSS Feed URL
How do you locate your podcast RSS feed URL? You may be in a situation where you already have a website hosting your podcasts, or you already set up your RSS feed. Now you need to locate the URL for the RSS feed itself to submit to the major podcast distributors. You can do this by working through your various podcast tools.
If you are using a site or service such as RSS.com, you want to go to the site to pull down the RSS feed URL. If you are using the PowerPress plug-in for WordPress, accessing the plug-in reveals the RSS feed URL.
If you want to learn more about all the tools and their options available, check out PowerPress for WordPress, Squarespace’s RSS Feed for Podcast tool, as well as the SoundCloud RSS Feed for Podcast tool.
Connecting the RSS Feed URL to Apple Podcasts
If you want to get your RSS feed available on Apple Podcasts (formerly iTunes), you need to rely on a service known as iTunes Connect. Heading over to the iTunes Connect page, you need to sign in with your Apple ID. Once on the platform, clicking on the iTunes Connect dashboard gives you access to a button to add your RSS feed. Once you add the feed, you click on the “validate” button and a validation step takes place. Pending the validation is a success, the RSS feed adds into the iTunes system.
Connecting the RSS Feed to Google Play
You need to start by visiting the Google Play Podcast Portal. Once you make it to that area, you click on the button to add a podcast. Take your RSS feed URL and paste it into the text box field. You then verify you own the RSS feed via your e-mail, review the information, and click on the publishing button. The Google Play Podcast platform will review all submissions before acceptance and publishing to the distribution tool.
Optimize the RSS Feed for Podcast Distribution
Optimization is pivotal for any RSS feed. The RSS feed is the foundation for your podcast distribution. You can have the best podcast in the world, but if you don’t optimize for searchability, you might not be heard.
Adding a solid description for the RSS feed and adding an audio transcript in the show notes is valuable.
The best way to do this is to get your podcast transcribed by Rev for $1.25 per minute of audio content. You created the content, now get it consumed by users with an optimized RSS feed!
This list of podcast directories and apps is ordered from most important to least important. iTunes provides about 80% of the downloads. If you’re short on time, iTunes is unquestionably the most important of the podcast directories. But if you’ve got 30 minutes, you might as well submit to all of them. Some tracks dont work spotify mac.
The Most Important Podcast Directories:
- iTunes – Submit your RSS feed here. We’ve got screenshots of the process here.
- Stitcher – Go here and click on Join Us Today. Follow the prompts to add your show.
- Spotify – Login to your Libsyn account and follow the process here. Then claim your show here. Either login or signup for a Spotify account. Once logged in click the ‘Get Started’ button if you don’t see it select the Add or claim podcast button from left sidebar and then click Get Started. Follow the prompts to confirm your account and finish up claiming your podcast.
- Google Podcasts – Has replaced Google Play Music. Go here to check to see if Google has indexed your podcast by inserting your RSS feed URL into the Google Direct Link Generator. Click Generate. If Google Podcasts has already added your show to Google Podcasts then people can already find your show, you’ll get a direct link to share with your audience, and you don’t need to do anything else. If your podcast is not in Google Podcasts you’ll get an error “This RSS feed is not currently indexed by Google Podcasts.” Make sure that your website (or the website your podcast host provides for you) meets the Google Podcasts guidelines. You can request Google to index your site from Google Search Console. It can then take 2 hours to a few days for Google to index your RSS feed.
- Amazon MusicandAudible(*Coming soon) – You can either opt-in through your hosting provider’s standard process by accepting the Amazon Music/Audible agreement there, or follow the prompts and submit your content and accept the agreement directly here.
- Pandora – Pandora for podcasts is here! Submit your podcast, and accept terms and conditions here.
- iHeartRadio – Login to your Libsyn account and follow the process here. Or go here and fill out there form. Note: iHeartRadio requires that a show be active for 2 months prior to adding an iHeartRadio destination.
- RadioPublic – Login to your Libsyn account and follow the process here. Or add your RSS feed here. Verify and accept the terms and conditions.
- Radio.com – Login to your Libsyn account and follow the process here. Or go here, fill out the form and click submit. Note: Please allow up to 60 days for your podcast to appear if approved.
- Deezer – Login to your Libsyn account and follow the process here. Or go here and click on Publish my Podcast. Submit your RSS feed, click next, and follow the prompts to submit your podcast.
- Gaana – Login to your Libsyn account and follow the process here. Or go here and sign up. Do not enable the option ‘Host your podcast on Gaana CDN’.
- Podchaser – Go here and click register. Fill out the form and click register. Follow the prompts and login. Click Verify now to receive verification email. Click on your profile icon in the top left corner and click on Add Feed. Add your RSS feed and click add. Go to your homepage and scroll down and click Claim this Podcast. Login to your account and follow the prompts.
- TuneIn – Fill out the form and submit your podcast here.
- PodBean – Go here and scroll down to the bottom and hit Submit your podcast. Create an account. Enter your RSS feed and hit submit. Click View it. Click on Claim ownership. Select option 1 or 2. Verify ownership via email.
- YouTube – Convert your podcast to a video that can be uploaded to your YouTube channel. Use your show art, or episode art and upload along with the .mp3 file to create the video file. Learn how to do this here.
- SoundCloud – Create a SoundCloud account here. You can then set up an automatic RSS download to SoundCloud via Libsyn. Follow the process here.
- Listen Notes – Check the app here to make sure your show is there. If it isn’t go here and submit your RSS feed and email and hit submit.
- PodDirectory – Go to the submit page here and enter your RSS feed and hit submit. PodDirectory will send you an email to claim your podcast and add to their site.
- Acast – Go here and scroll down and hit the Add your Show to the Acast app now. Enter your RSS feed and hit submit.
- Pocket Casts – Submit your RSS feed here.
- DoubleTwist – To submit a new podcast enter your RSS feed and show details here.
- Player.FM – Go here and submit your RSS feed. Or email [email protected] with Show Name, RSS Feed URL and description of the show.
- PodKicker – An android platform. It’s hyper-simple, submit your RSS feed here.
- Castbox – This pulls from the iTunes API so all you need to do once you submit your RSS feed to iTunes is check the app here to make sure your show is there. Click on the search tool and add in your RSS feed.
- iPodder – Go here and fill out the super short form and click Submit Podcast.
- Anypod – Go here and add your RSS feed. Click Add Now and click Add Podcast. If your show can not be found email [email protected] for support.
- Downcast – This pulls from the iTunes API so all you need to do once you submit your RSS feed to iTunes is check the app here to make sure your show is there.
- Podcast Addict – This pulls from the iTunes API so all you need to do once you submit your RSS feed to iTunes is check the app here to make sure your show is there.
- Overcast – This pulls from the iTunes API so all you need to do once you submit your RSS feed to iTunes is check the app here to make sure your show is there.
- Castro.fm – This pulls from the iTunes API so all you need to do once you submit your RSS feed to iTunes is check the app here to make sure your show is there.
- iCatcher – This pulls from the iTunes API so all you need to do once you submit your RSS feed to iTunes is check the app here to make sure your show is there.
- Windows Phone 8.1 – Windows Phone 8.1 uses a Bing-enabled search mechanism to locate podcasts. To improve the search results of your podcast, add “feed:podcast” to your keywords tag within your podcasts RSS feed. Podcasts can also be located by entering the RSS feed directly into the podcast app search window.
- Improve Bing-Enabled Podcast Search Results – By using Webmaster Tools, you can tell Bing about your site. In return, Bing Webmaster Tools tells you how well your site is performing in Bing and Bing-powered search and keeps you up to date about issues we see on your site. To inform us about sitemaps or RSS feeds, including those containing podcasts, follow these steps:
- If you haven’t done so already, sign up with Bing Webmaster Tools.
- Add the site that hosts the Podcast RSS/feed and verify ownership of the site.
- Use the Submit Sitemap tool and submit the full RSS feed URL containing the links to your podcasts. (Within a few hours, you’ll see whether Bing successfully downloaded your sitemap or feed so that it can be indexed.)
Important podcast directories updates:
Podbay.fm – (Coming Soon)
Spotify Podcast Rss Feed
Removed due to inactivity:
BlackBerry – Submit your Feed here
This year, access to Google Play Music Podcast Portal will be removed permanently and replaced by Google Podcasts:
Google Play Music – Go to your https://g.co/podcastportal to submit your show for approval. Log into Google, click Publish. Or submit your podcast here.
Get Featured on The Feed
Here’s the info to get featured, just follow the below. And if you have a 30-second promo of your show, I’d love to play it.
The soul of this series is to share your show as well as to share your experience with podcasting, as it tends to inspire and educate the community as a whole ?
Send a message to Elsie Escobar:
With an attached PLAIN TEXT file (.txt) with your answers to the following questions:
Here is a list of questions:
If you don’t want to answer some of them, please feel to skip. If you want to offer more insight about anything you think might serve other podcasters, please feel free to share.
When did you start podcasting?
Why did you start podcasting?
What’s your show about?
What’s your podcasting set-up? Hardware, software, CMS, etc.
How have you promoted your podcast?
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
You can simply reply to this email with your answers or send along a text file. https://codernew762.weebly.com/volumio-spotify-app.html. Whatever is easier for you ?
Why did you start podcasting?
What’s your show about?
What’s your podcasting set-up? Hardware, software, CMS, etc.
How have you promoted your podcast?
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
You can simply reply to this email with your answers or send along a text file. https://codernew762.weebly.com/volumio-spotify-app.html. Whatever is easier for you ?
For promotional love need:
- Your website
- Best way to connect with you: Twitter/Facebook page/Email
- iTunes podcast link
- Podcast artwork: please attach podcast artwork or provide direct link for your artwork (600 x 600 up to 1400 x 1400)
- Anything that you are currently promoting (if anything)
Conclusion
Updated January 20th, 2017
Hat tip to Karsten Aichholz for the heads up on the broken iTunes link.Hat tip to Paul Colaianni of The Overwhelmed Brain for support with building this list.Hat tip to Niels Kaastrup-Larsen of Top Traders Unplugged for the Pocket Casts recommendation.Hat tip to Dominic Labriolaof Real Shift Radio for the valuable insight on Spreaker. We’ve decided they didn’t make the cut in 2020. Their free plan has limited uploads.