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Podcasting has emerged as a popular digital medium because of the flexibility it offers to the listeners. The on-demand nature of the medium has given it a significant popularity boost. A podcast consists of an episodic series of audio, video, PDF, or ePub files for automatic download over the Internet. A podcast allows the listeners to multitask, and this feature has contributed significantly to its popularity.
A podcast can go a long way toward growing your brand. It is an accessible medium to capture your audience’s attention and deliver a personalized experience. The global podcasting market size was valued at USD 9.28 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.5% from 2020 to 2027. If you plan to initiate your podcast project, you need to develop a strategy to build a highly engaging podcast. You need to choose a format, record your podcast, and deliver it on the right platform, among other things. Launching your podcast on the right podcast is a crucial part of your podcast project.
A podcast platform is a place to store and distribute your podcast’s audio files. It is a specialized service and is different from website hosting. A podcast platform includes tools and services that allow users to host, promote, and track their podcasts. It also has RSS feeds for podcasts, eliminating users’ need to upload updated content across each platform manually. Your podcast platform’s in-built design and marketing tools make it easier for users to increase their audience base and generate revenue. With the multitude of options available in the market, choosing the right platform to launch your podcast can be a daunting task. Here are eight things you should consider to find best podcast platform.
· Storage Capacity
While choosing a podcast platform, you should consider your storage needs in both the near and long term. A podcast platform offers varied storage space to stock up tons of media files based on the subscription plan. Check the storage capacity of your podcast platform. Choose a platform that gives you the flexibility to scale up over time. The storage limit of the platform is either based on file sizes or total time. Select a podcast host which offers unlimited audio storage space in a subscription plan that suits your budget.
· Intuitive And Easy Platform
Assess the ease-of-use, operation, and navigation while choosing a podcast platform. The hosting site should have an intuitive design not to spend much time learning about its technicalities. Drag and drop tools will enable you to access the various features easily. A clear and understandable navigation system and easy-to-use templates are some of the features you should look for in a podcast hosting platform.
· Customization
A podcast platform should allow you to edit the podcast, add appropriate background music, customize the frequency, and upload on different media, as per your requirements. Customization is a crucial element to choose a proper podcast platform.
· Website Integrations
You can increase the outreach of your brand with the help of podcasts. Website integration is an essential part of your podcast project. It enables the listeners to learn more about the brand and read the show notes and transcripts from your podcast website. The podcast platform you choose should integrate a website to connect the outputs across both interfaces seamlessly. You can also look for a dedicated podcasting WordPress plugin in your podcast platform to manage the show within the WordPress dashboard. Assess the domain routing capabilities of your podcast platform.
· Audience Analytics
Your podcast platform should have an audience analytics tool to get a better insight into your audience. The analytics tool enables you to figure out who is listening to your content and on what platform. The data-driven insight facilitates understanding the domain in which you need to improve your podcast’s engagement. You can learn more about your show and episodes’ growth by analyzing your audience’s behavior patterns and demographics.
· Content Repurposing Services
Look for content repurposing services in your podcast platform. It allows you to repurpose or reuse all existing content elements to transform them into a new format. Repurposing allows you to maximize your content’s potential. Check for specific features in your podcast platform that will enable you to publish your podcast across every directory without much hassle. Repurposing of content and easy publishing across different media helps to save publishing time and cost.
· Monetization Support
The primary purpose of creating podcasts is to generate revenue. While choosing a podcast platform, ensure that the tools will help you to monetize your podcasts easily. Select a forum that will support your marketing operations to improve your podcasts’ reach to generate high ROI and conversion rates. It should allow you to sell sponsorships or ads, join an advertising network, sell repurposed content, or syndicate your show to different channels to improve the accessibility of your podcast and boost productivity.
· Compliance
You need to ensure that the podcasting analytics on the hosting platform is IAB compliant. Interactive Advertising Bureau or IAB has listed a set of guidelines to perform podcasts’ analytics, including the measures that track the listeners’ data. Hence, choose a platform that keeps you in line with the standard regulatory protocols.
To Conclude:
While choosing a podcast platform, look for the features mentioned above. Assess the marketing and design features, user interface, and storage capacity of the podcast platform.
