Hi everyone. A client for whom I've created a website asked if I would be able to add podcasts to their site. I barely even know what a podcast IS, so I'm not sure if this is something I should attempt to do. I let him know that I'm unfamiliar with them and would do some research and get back with him. If it's too complicated, I'm going to pass. He didn't give me very much information because he was in a hurry when he bumped into me and asked the question, so I'm going to have to contact him to ask more questions.

What kind of questions do I need to ask?

All I know is that they have a local radio show. I think he has someone who will be creating the podcasts and he needs me to do everything else, which I assume is find somewhere to host the podcasts and make it work.

The little bit of research I've done suggests that I need to use a podcast hosting provider to make sure there's enough bandwidth. Is it just a matter of hosting this stuff somewhere and then LINKING to each file so people can download them? Do I have to do an RSS Feed? If I do, does that complicate matters? I barely even know what that is.

If he needs to create the podcasts from scratch, are there any services out there that do that?

I have no idea what to do or even how much to charge. If I were to take on this project, I would need to keep it as SIMPLE as possible.

If anyone with experience in this department could offer some good advice, I'd really appreciate it.

Hello,

I am going to try to address most of your questions as best I can.

The word podcast can be confusing, so instead think of it as an audio or video file that is available on the web that people can download and listen to (or watch) when it is most convenient for them. That's it.

What makes a podcast different from just another audio or video file on the web is the RSS feed (RSS is sometimes referred to as Really Simply Syndication). That's the true magic of podcasting. Without an RSS feed, a podcast is NOT a podcast.

The RSS feed allows someone to subscribe to the podcast and have access to the new episodes as soon as they are made available. RSS feeds can be submitted to multiple podcast directories making a show (podcast) available for subscription to hundreds, if not, millions of people.

So, to answer your question: Do I need an RSS feed? The answer is a yes, absolutely.

In terms of actually getting the podcast on the website:
In addition to making the podcast available through an RSS feed on the site, you will also want to post the audio directly onto the website.

For posting the audio file, you will need to ask your client what platform he is using for his site. Meaning, is it Wordpress, Joomla, HTML based or something else? The type of website platform/coding he uses will make a difference in how you post audio online. With Wordpress there are plugins available, etc.

The most simplistic way to get the audio up is to upload the audio file to the web (using a podcast hosting service for the audio is a great way to go and you already know that. I use Libsyn for my shows). Then just create a hyperlink that says something like: Click Here to Listen and then link it to the audio file.

I would say if this sounds like something you are not remotely interested in doing, pass it on to someone else that can help (you can subcontract it out if you want, as well). You want to be happy and confident in the work you provide. If podcast support is not it, that's ok. It took me about 2 years to truly get a solid foundation in all things podcasting and I am still learning.

Of course, if this sounds like something you definitely think you would enjoy, there are plenty of resources on the web and books to start learning. I love podcasting, it's fun. But, it's not for everyone.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask.

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Darlene Victoria Gonzalez
The Voice & Vision Behind Your Business

Thanks, that's very helpful! The client has a Facebook page ... can a podcast be uploaded there with an RSS feed? And how do you get an RSS feed?

The easiest way to setup an RSS feed is to use something like Feedburner. Check out this post and subsequent video for details on how to setup a feed using Feedburner: How to Create a Podcast RSS Feed - Business Darlings

As far as posting to a Facebook page... once you have the RSS created it should be fairly simple posting to a Facebook page. There are several different RSS Feed Apps that you can install on the page to achieve this.

If your client uses Wordpress and plans to post the individual episodes on their site, you can also install a plugin that will send posts directly to their Facebook account.

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Darlene Victoria Gonzalez
The Voice & Vision Behind Your Business

Wow, what an awesome step by step video! That looks so easy. Thank you very much ...