Podcast Terminology Explained

What is a Host?

A host is a website that will take a lot of the work of podcasting off of your hands. An example of a hosting service is Buzzsprout. These host websites help you by providing you with statistics, promotion tools, and guided posting. They will also do distribution for you.

Keep in mind, though, that these hosting platforms will have their own requirements to ensure that your podcast artwork is okay. For instance, it needs to be 3000x3000 pixels or it needs to be a certain quality. They may also require that it needs to be a certain format, for instance, JPEG or PNG. These are all the requirements for artwork to be successful. The good thing about this is that if something isn't right about your artwork, you can use it as a reference to change it and update it for the future.

What is Distribution?

Distribution in podcasting is a service in which a host will list your podcast on podcast directories for you. For example, Buzzsprout will take your podcast episodes as you upload them into their website and then ensure that your podcast episodes make it to all of the directories that you want them to be on.

Directories are the listening apps in which people will access your podcast. For example, some listening directories are Apple Podcast, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. Using a service that distributes your podcasts for you can be an amazing time saver and take a lot of stress on your plate. This can also help you to appear more professional,

What is an RSS Feed?

Put simply, RSS allows you to move your content to different platforms and reach out to different listeners without making them go to the original website that you posted on.

This is making sure that what you are creating on your hosting platform is in sync with what is on your directories. For example, you use Buzzsprout, and you put all the information that you want posted into this hosting platform. Now, does this information relate to your directories properly?

Using an RSS feed as a tool will help you make sure everything is aligned. This will make your podcast a lot more professional and a lot more accessible to potential listeners. For instance, if someone wants to feature you as a guest on their show, all your information is there on the platform that they are looking at and it is easily accessible. They don’t have to go to a different website to find your information.

Another thing is that with the right RSS feed distribution, you can ensure that you are not confusing your audience. If you are referring to a specific podcast episode during your current episode, you want to make sure that you are referring to the same episode on all of your directories. For example, Episode 20 on Spotify should not be Episode 21 on Apple Podcast. This could confuse and frustrate your listener.

Now that you know these common podcasting terms, we hope that you can use them like a pro to help optimize your content!