When turning towards podcasting, one of the first things to consider is the hosting platform as it can make or break your career as a podcaster. Choosing the right hosting platform may seem daunting at first, but by considering a few factors, you can easily make an informed decision. This is particularly necessary if you are planning to get into podcasting for the long-term. The hosting platform you choose should not only help you meet your goals but also produce effective results.
Consider these factors when choosing a hosting platform for your podcast.
1. Look for Easy Website Integration
If you run a website to display your podcast, you should consider the website integration features offered by the host. For instance, it should be able to integrate WordPress themes and plugins to save you time and energy. Bluehost is a WordPress-recommended hosting solution that is perfect for sites with low traffic, but for larger websites there are many alternatives to Bluehost such as Cloudways, which offers enhanced speed, performance, and security, as well as automated WordPress migration.
2. Consider Your Budget
Since every podcast host offers different financial plans, you must consider the budget too. The podcast host you pick should not break your bank. Some hosts also have hidden costs that are mentioned in their terms and conditions. Read them with scrutiny to avoid getting overcharged in the future. A few platforms are providing monetization support, which means that the content creator can fetch ideas to make money off their podcast. The strategies provided by such hosts can massively help you promote your content and even make it viral. You can also learn effective ways to pitch a sponsorship.
3. Look for Easy Set-Up
If you are new at hosting podcasts, the last thing you want is to struggle with the setup or waste too much time before every session. No one wants to learn to code or watch tutorials to install a software program right before recording their podcast. As suggested by the podcasting enthusiasts at wiredclip.com, look for a host that does not take more than 5 minutes to set up. The ease of setup is such a crucial factor that most podcasters narrow down their options on the basis of tech-friendliness. Even if you have any issues with the setup, learning it should be easy and within minutes.
4. Search Audience Analytics Features
Some hosting services provide this super useful additional feature of measuring audience analytics and taking insights to improve performance. This also helps you understand your audience and learn more about their interests. Every successful content creator listens and analyzes their audience to grow, thereby making it a vital factor for you as well. Certain tracking tools provided by some hosts let the podcaster track the stats and understand the engagement received in each episode. It also includes features that detect the weak parts of your podcast to eliminate them for higher engagement.
5. Consider Services that Allow Content Repurposing
Redirecting or repurposing content is a right that every podcaster should have. This is a bare minimum requirement that all hosts should comply with. Whether it’s YouTube, Spotify, or any other platform you use to reach your audience, check if your host will let you repurpose your podcast. The host you choose should also allow you to have ownership of your content, which means no one else can use your work without your consent. Sadly, not all hosts allow this. Their terms and conditions state that they can use some part of your content for their use. If you fail to check the terms, you are allowing your content to be used by the host. This may also not give you the freedom of redirecting your content to other websites or platforms.
6. Examine Storage Limits
Needless to say, podcast audio needs a lot of storage space, which is redirected to your host. Even if the host you are choosing offers impressive features, you should reconsider your decision if it does not provide adequate storage. This gives you limitless opportunities to create longer podcasts and run them worry-free. A lot of podcasters wish to produce long-form content (about 60 to 90 minutes) but are unable to because of the storage limit. This is why they often resort to 30 or 45-min podcasts. Your host should also allow you to produce content daily or weekly instead of once or twice a month. Make sure that the host you choose offers unlimited storage space.
Your quest for the best podcast host can be nerve-wracking, especially if you are planning a new career with this venture. As you begin your search for the best host, do not ignore these factors as they will decide how fast you can grow as a podcaster. Lastly, the platform you choose should also grow with time to provide the best features for podcasters to create high-quality content.