WHAT IS THE 7 BEST PODCAST HOSTING SITES? (here are my top picks for the best podcast hosting platforms:)
Before we go ahead to review and write about 7 BEST PODCAST HOSTING SITES and my best 5 picks, let’s know a little bit about what Podcast is.
A podcast is a program that is available in digital format for download over the internet. This comes in an episode series of digital audio or video files that a user can download to a personal device to listen to in their leisure time.
This service is provided by a podcast service hosting which stores all podcast episodes in one location and automates the generation of RSS feeds. These feeds list all the podcaster’s episodes.

To start a podcast, there is the need for you to choose the right podcast hosting service as a beginner. As of time of pushing your podcast to iTunes and Spotify to having your files stored and equally marketing your shows, this entails that 7 BEST PODCAST HOSTING SITES from this list can help you grow your audience.
In this write-up guide, I reviewed 7 BEST PODCAST HOSTING SITES/services, along with the top 5 choices, and this will enable you to pick the best for yourself.

THE TOP BEST 5 PODCAST HOSTING (These are My Top Best Picks)

There are as many as 850,000 podcasts worldwide then, how do you plan to have the best podcast recorded for your audience? Having dreamt of starting the next huge podcast services, you have to remember that recording a podcast is not simple as recording a simple random audio files and uploading it to iTunes.
You need to have a solid action plan so, your hosting plays an important part in helping you achieve success.

Reminder: We will cover the best podcast hosting in this guide based on the following features below:
— Price
— Technical Support
— Monthly Upload Volume
— Reliability
— Podcast Monetization
— Ease of use
— And more will be covered.

Then, let’s move ahead.

Which Hosting do You Think is The Best When it Comes to Podcast Hosting?

Then, below are my best pick for the best Podcast hosting service platforms:
— BuzzSprout.
— RSS.com.
— Libsyn.
— PodBean.
— Spreaker.
— Captivate.
— Castos.
— Podcastics.
— Fusebox.
— Podcast Websites.
— Audioboom.
— RedCircle.
— Transistor.
— Simplecast.
Now, time to give brief analysis of 7 BEST PODCAST HOSTING SITES among them.

1. Buzzsprout.
   This stands to be the Best Podcast Hosting Service for Beginners (Free – $24/month + $20 Amazon Gift Card).

Are you looking for an excellent podcasting platform, Buzzsprout is the one for you. They offer helpful free learning material that helps you get started and powerful tools that help you make the most out of your recorded podcasts. Their customer support is another plus when using Buzzsprout. My number one podcast.
Best For —- An Overall Solution
Price —- Free – $24/mo
Annual Discount —- No
Promotion —- Free 90 Days
Try Buzzsprout

Below are the reasons why Buzzsprout is my #1 podcast pick:
— They are trusted by over 100,000 podcasters and have been a host in business since 2009.
— They stand to be one of the only companies that offer a free plan with unlimitted team member accounts.
— There is the ability to embed a podcast player right on your website with Buzzsprout.
This will enable you feature just one episode or a whole playlist of episodes:
Image description of Buzzsprout embeded player below:

To get an excellent audio quality, you can easily upgrade to 128k stereo optimization for better sound.
They give you extra addon in form of podcast transcription services.
And they go ahead making it easy to upload and schedule your podcast too.
This goes like this, you simply upload your audio file, change the episode title and description, and submit your podcast to all significant directories. Image description below:

ANOTHER BENEFIT OF Buzzsprout IS THAT, YOU CAN EASILY ADD EPISODE CHAPTER MARKERS:
Listeners can better understand quick details about your episode at a glance.
Though this is not required (because, it do not appear on every podcast App), but nevertherless are a nice feature. Image description below:

KEY FEATURES OF BUZZSPROUT:

. Help get your podcast listed in all the top podcast directories.
. Your podcast will be tracked by advanced podcast statistics to see how well your podcast is doing.
. One main feature called automatic episode optimization will ensure your episode sounds great and are very easy to listen to.
. Dynamic content will keep your podcast fresh and exciting.
. Transcription features will help make your podcast more accessible to everyone.

LET’S GET TO THEIR PRICE:

They have a FREE plan which allows you to upload two hours of content which could be hosted for only 90 days.
If truelly you are serious about podcasting, when you start with the FREE plan, you can scale and upgrade your plan based on how many hours of content you need to upload per month.

LIKE AND DISLIKE ABOUT BUZZSPROUT

My recommendation is that, you should get started for free and upgrade to any plan you want based on how many hours of content you plan to upload each month.
Get started today HERE

2. RSS.com:
   There are three main features that made me recommend RSS.com for you and they are: Unlimited storage, Powerful analytics and podcasting website that goes along with your recording.
   With these features, you are rest assured that your podcast platform can handle any business growth you will experience as you scale.
   Best For —- Unlimited Podcast
   Price —- $4.99/mon–$8.25/mon
   Annual Discount —- Save 35%
   Promotion —- Get started for FREE

With their unlimited storage and bandwidth which is perfect for more prominent podcasts, RSS.com also offers a wide range of tools, such as episode scheduling and social media integration, making it easy for you to manage your podcast and engage with your audience.
In fact, just in five minutes podcasters can be up and running. That is why podcasters using RSS.com seem to appreciate the ease with which their platform enables them to get started. Image description of 3-Device-Mashup.

Another important feature is that podcasters can use RSS.com’s various partnerships to help boost their audience and find the right sponsor to meet their needs.
It has unlimited downloads and episodes which makes it easy for users to scale their podcast growth even if you are starting from just a few episodes and getting to hundreds, or thousands, of regular listeners.

One feature i like most is the detailed data and analytics which helps you dial in and tweak your podcast for maximum impact.
As it stands, this is the key data that allows you to take your podcasting to the next level, allowing you to adapt and focus on relevant content for your audience. Image below:

Below are the KEY FEATURES:

— The major podcast directories has automatic and guided distribution which includes Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.
— Coming to it’s monetization there is an option for sponsorship opportunities via Podcorn and a donate button on your free public podcast website.
— You can monetize your RSS.com by enabling the donation button which is one among the multiple ways.
— A professional-looking podcast website will give your content an added level of legitimacy, while episode transcription can make it easier for fans to follow along.
— RSS.com will create custom embedded players compatible with any platform, allowing you to showcase your podcast uniquely.
— The thrilling aspect of RSS.com becomes the exceptional NPS (net promoter score) of 63 and an average star rating of 4.9.

Let’s look at the User Experience:

The home page and player is very simple that you can easily access and manage your podcast and see what others would see when they subscribe to your show.
The fact that you can easily customize the setting for each episode is a thriller.
Your RSS feed address can also be customized, this is excellent if you want to make it easy for everyone to find your show.

Let’s look at the PRICING:

To signup and host your first episode is FREE, this will allow you to test the service without any required financial commitment or credit card.
And after that you really like to switch to their paid plans, below are the price analysis for that:

Finally, if you are part of a non-profit organization, get in touch with their sales team to discuss special discounts that might apply.
RSS.com also comes with a Podcast Network plan, this is for those who require more advanced features.

The LIKE and DISLIKE IN RSS.com:

Product Updates:
:- Easy to sign up and start due to product upgrade.
:- The introduction of new languages enables you to get your show going in the right direction even easier.
:- Information can be accessed easily and faster due to improved page loading time to the extent of 10x.

You can use their coupon to get an entirely free month instead of an episode.

Or you can get started with RSS.com HERE

3. Libsyn.

Creating your show and sharing it with the world has never been easy. Libsyn is here with all the tools you needed to get started, and their user interface is so intuitive that anyone can easily figure it out.
Best For = Ease Of Use
Price = $5/mo – $150/mo
Annual Discount = Up To 2 Months Free

Their user interface is the best , which is easy to navigate and understand for first time users.
Libsyns has recently added studio which will let you create and record a podcast using only your computer, with no extra equipment needed.

This means that anybody can start podcasting as quickly as you can due to no requirement of extra equipments. And this is a huge advantage from Libsyn.
They also offer various ways to offer subscriptions, run ads, and monetize your podcast.
This is a great platform to consider if you want to share your knowledge about a topic while building a community arround your show.

Key Features of Libsyn:

:- Existence of advanced stat provides detailed information about your audience and their interaction with your show.
:- There is promotion handle which will enable you share your episodes on social media to reach a larger audience.
:- Unlimited bandwidth will enable you upload as many episodes as you want without worrying about exceeding your limit.
:- There website is ad free which gives you a professional look without the stress of dealing with ads.
:- Came with custom podcast player and this will allow you customize the look and feel of your player to match your brand.
:- You can run ad and earn money on your show as a result of podcast monetization.

Let’s Look at the User Experience:

Recently, there is a new realease of user interface by Libsyn called Libsyn5. This makes navigating the platform easy to find the features you need.

Coming to The Pricing:

The following plan which you can chose is based on hourly upload per month. And below are the price:

• 3 hours: $5
• 6 hours: $15
• 10 hours: $20
• 14 hours: $40
• 27 hours: $75
• 55 hours: $150

The Likes and Dislikes of Libsyn: Let’s consider them.

LIKES:
:- There responsive customer services makes it easy to contact and happy using it.
:- Coming to their posting options, you will have varieties of ways to share and schedule your content.

DISLIKE:
:- Most painful aspect of Libsyn is that, there is no free platform to start with before dipping your hands into the paid plans.

Let’s Look at the Product Updates:
The existence of social scheduling features helps you promote your episodes on social medias even more easy and better.
And you can get started with Libsyn here.

4. PodBean:

Best Hosting starting from ($29/Month + 1 Month Free).

The most amazing thing with PodBean is that newbies and professionals can use this platform to find the podcasting success they are loooking for.
This is because, PodBean makes setting up and monetizing your podcast as easy as it can be. It can be obtainable by using your phone to start sharing your messages with the world in just a few clicks.
Your audience can easily find your content through the podcasting website which they made available with every account.

Best For = Easy Creation
Price = $0/mo – $99/mo
Annual Discount = Yes – Save 23%
Promotion == Get Started For Free

They are the easiest-to-use host on this list who has been in the podcast hosting space for over ten years now, and can boost of hosting over 540,000 podcasters. Below is their image description:

Let’s take a look at their Key Features:

:– The availability of five hours of storage on the free plan.
:– You have unlimited storage on the $9/month plan.
:– You enjoy dynamic ad insertion.
:– You can accept recurring revenue from listeners through Patreon program.
:– There is the existence of auto-upload to youtube.
:– Mobile app Availability.
:– Auto-posting to social media like facebook and twitter is available.

Now is the time to examine the User Experience:

The commonly seen left hand menu is an indication of freindly user experience you can get from PodBean.
What makes creating a podcast with PodBean simple is the ability you have to import existing audio files if you want.
You have the ability to choose a different podcast logo, use the default one, and can be able to change the color scheme to match your brand.
Finally, the stats overview on the below image will give you a good idea of your podcast’s performance and where to focus your effort.

Let’s examine the pricing before going to the Likes and Dislike.
PRICING:

Basic (Free and Open-Source): You will get 5 hours of storage and 100 GB monthly.
Unlimited Audio ($9/month): You are entitled to Unlimited storage and bandwidth, pro themes, advanced design, and ad marketplace.
Unlimited Plus ($29/month): Equiped with the above two features, plus Patreon program and dynamic ad insertion.
Business ($99/month): Also entitled with the above three Features, plus multiple domains, private podcasts, advanced statistics, and live chat support.
You will get unlimited audio hosting and video storage, if you get the $29/month PodBean Unlimited Plus Plan. That is my recomendation for podcasters who are serious about running their professional show out there.

The Like/Dislike about PodBean:

LIKE:
-> Their ability to let you have a short podcast hosting will make it easy for you to get your show going immediately online.
-> Your listeners can always hear your latest episode because, there is no downtime and fast download.
-> Very easy to get started due to the ability to upload audio and video podcast with just a few clicks.
-> You can integrate with major podcast platforms which makes it easy to distribute show to broad audience.

DISLIKE:
-> There is no image dimension and best practices in creating cover and episode art.
-> You can customize the dashboard more just as you wanted so, that makes it easier to find your needed information.
This is my number four choice in podcast hosting, and has proven to be the best podcast host with excellent video and youtube features.
Try PodBean Here.

5. Spreaker:

Coming to content management system (CMS), spreaker is one of the best for podcast hosting. Very simple to use and has many features that make it perfect for podcasters of all levels.
Best For = Content Management
Price = $0-$120/mo
Annual Discount = Yes – Save $398/yr
Promotion = Try Free

This is a one-stop shop for every podcaster.
Are you a beginer or publisher developing tons of contents? Spreaker has a solution for making any podcaster’s journey smooth and profitable.

One of the best features is the ability of the software to connect listeners, podcast creators, and advertisers in one place (web and mobile apps applicable).
This creates the best opportunity for any content creator to monetize their entire podcast catalog.

Let’s take a look at the Key Features of Spreaker:

:- (CMS) The content management system involved will allow podcasters of any level to enable the distribution of new episodes automatically to most of the major listening platforms like (Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, iHeartRadio, Alexa, Deezer, etc.)
:- Enable you to manage and schedule multiple podcasts under the same account.
:- Via dynamic ad insertion, you can strategically set your monetization at the episode and show level.
:- The statistics are certified by the IAB

Now, let’s examine the experience had by users:

The overall design is user freindly because, the left-sided menu is an indication of easy navigation to select any menu you needed.
You can integrate it with your existing blog or website which makes creating a podcast very quick and easy.
Your show’s performance will be tracked by the app giving you detailed insight.
You can share your show with potential listeners and market it to broader audience through their promotion feature as indicated by the image below.

Now, let’s look at their amazing price:

. Free Speech (Free): 5 hours of audio storage, up to 10 episodes.
. On-Air Talent ($8/month): 100 hours of storage.
. Broadcaster ($20/month): 500 hours of storage.
. Anchorman ($50/month): 1,500 hours of storage.
. Anchorman ($120/month): Unlimited storage.

The Broadcaster plan at $20/month is the most popular plan which allows you 500 hours of storage, advanced stats, and monetization features.

With this bonus of mine from Spreaker Link, you get one month completely free, and the price adjustment.

Below are my Like and Dislike about Spreaker.

LIKE:
— Spreaker has incredible slate of features which makes it possible to create and share a podcast across the world.
— You don’t need multiple of tools to get your podcast online due to it’s all-in-one platform and ease of use.
— They has rapid customer service which are willing to help at any point in time.
— You can sort through their category and topic making it easy to find new content.

DISLIKE:
— Most people dislike Spreaker because, once you reach a certain number of downloads you begin to pay a higher rate.
— Some glitches may prevent a show from being uploaded on a few occassions.

Products Updates:
.. Their update will enable you schedule episodes straight from your phone so you cannot be able to miss a beat.
.. Podcast categories has a refresh, so makes it even easier to find the right show.
.. There is the presence of One-click distribution which makes your podcast go live in minutes in all the places.
As one of my readers, you can get one month of 90% off through Spreaker Here.

6. RedCircle:

I know every podcaster would like to grow his/her audience and monetize to make good money, then RedCircle is the place for you.
You can use the ad platform to sell subscription and make money, recieve donations and do cross-promotions with other shows.
They are one of the best due to the ability to customize and control your content .
You can as well release your content when you want, how you want and to whomever you want to do that with.
RedCircle will allow you to scale quickly and reach as larger auidience while spending smarter, for brands and agencies wanting to launch or grow their advertising campaigns.

Key Features of RedCircle:

— You will definitely grow with innovative tools that will see to your success.
— With their all-in-one platform, you will host, distribute and monetize your content.
— You can keep your show going with the ability to accept one time and recurring donations.
— You can build subscription revenue to ensure long term success.
— There is the cross-promotion marketplace which will help you connect with other shows to grow your audience.

Then, Let’s look at the User Experience of red circle:

To use RedCircle free you start by filling a short form. That makes it one of the user-friendly platform to use.
Features and options you need are all arranged in one place without having to search for them.
And your first podcast will go live by simply dragging and dropping a cover image of the given size.

The Pricing:
RedCircle offer is one of the kind which allows unlimitted hosting and distribution, subscription donations and more.
Then in which you will get two paid plans as follows:
–> Growth Plan: $9 per month.
–> Pro Plan: $30 per month.
Enterprise Plan: Contact them for more information.
There is annual paid subscriptions which offer a saving of up to $60 per year.
You can as well get free 7-day trial on the paid plan.

Now is the time to examine the LIKE of Red Circle:

LIKE:
:– Their UI (user interface) is very modern and easy to use, making podcast creation and distribution a relief of time.
:– No harsel if you want to switch over to another provider.
:– Excellent insight and analytics to help you measure and grow your podcast.

:– You can make changes to already uploaded podcast and below is——
How to make updates to your podcast.

Need to make a change to your podcast, but already distributed it to the various listening platforms? No problem! You can still make significant updates to your podcast including changing the title, description, artwork, categories, and more.

To edit your podcast, simply click on your show and then the 3 dots (…) next to the title. From there, select Podcast Settings from the drop-down menu that appears:

You can make changes by entering the new information into the appropriate text fields. Click Advanced Settings to make further edits, such as language, external link, etc:

Click Save whenever you’re ready to finalize the changes. Any updates made to your podcast will be picked up by the various listening platforms within 24 hours or less (or whenever they ‘crawl’ for your RSS Feed.)

Product Updates:
The ad platform and the user interface have been updated to make it more easier for user to navigate.
You can get started with RedCircle Here.

7. Transistor.
   They are With The Best Built-In Podcast Analytics ($19.99/month).

Transistor: Is rated as one of the high quality and professional service that hosts popular podcasts, these includes Drift, Honeybadger, and Cards Against Humanity.
Transistor do provide their podcasters with built-in analytics and almost everything you need to grow your podcast audience.

Let’s examine their key features:

— Capable of hosting unlimited shows.
— Multiple users per account.
— Able to generate branded websites with your domain name.
— You can distribute your podcast to major networks.
— Able to view advanced analytics and reporting.
If you want one area they stand out from others, talk about their analytic tools as one.
Within the dashboard, you can view your trends and stats such as average downloads per episode, the number of subscribers, and your downloads over time.
One major quality is that you can import your existing feed into transistor with simple migration tools if you are using hosting platforms like Libsyn or Anchor.

Now, let’s get to the User Experience:

If you are looking to submitting your show to various platforms, Transistor is excellent when it comes to doing that.
It is very easy to share your show with the world when it comes to transistor.
The app comes with various integrations that will enable you promote your show and get more listeners.
You can track your progress and see your show’s performance through the bar graph design on the stats screen. Image illustration below.

Time to examine the price:

. FOR STARTER PLAN ($19/MONTH): This will provide unlimited podcast and episodes for up to two users, and 10,000 downloads per month.
. FOR PROFESSIONAL PLAN ($49/MONTH): Everything in the starter plan included with up to five team members and 50,000 downloads per month.
. BUSINESS PLAN ($99/MONTH): Including features in the starter and professional plans, and with up to 10 team members and 150,000 downloads per month.
One good thing with Transistor is that they will allow you to scale your podcast and equally your pricing as your audience grows.
The choice of your plan will likely depend on the monthly downloads you need. This will enable you be able to get started with their starter plan and upgrade when time is right.

Time to examine what we may LIKE or DISLIKE:

LIKE:
.. Existence of support features for various platforms means you can quickly and easily get your show out there to the world.
.. Long-Time users can testify about the simplicity and user-friendliness of Transistor.
.. Due to its excellent analytics, you can track your progress and be able to see where your listeners are coming from.
.. You can quickly get started due to the ease of the interface.
.. Very affordable for people starting due to the fact that the pricing is based on the number of downloads you recieve.

DISLIKE:
.. The slightly unresponsive nature of their customer service posses a threat in terms of attending to clients on time.

Examining the Product Updates:

Addition of pages and links to your podcast website will give your listeners more information about your show.
Existence of the new podcast website template will enable you to create a website that looks great and simple to navigate so, take advantage of this feature.
Utilize the custom episode image display on your podcast website so listeners can see what each episode is all about before getting to listen to them.
For serious podcasters who take podcast analytics seriously, you can start your 14-day free trial on Transistor now, This will enable you get two months free when paid annually.
TRY TRANSISTOR HERE

WHAT ARE THE BEST 5 FREE PODCAST HOSTING PRODUCTS AVAILABLE?

As a beginner in the podcast world, there are low-cost and even free options you can pick depending on your budget.
One of the troubling issue is that, most free plans do come with limited functionality which can poss a hindrance. But if you are starting newly, free hosting services are great ways to start and test out their features.
Though you might not be able to host hours of content on your podcast server, still this free trial or free plan can help you gather experience on how podcasting works.

So, let’s examine my pick on best 5 free podcast hosting services.

1. Buzzsprout.

According to them, they will give you everything you need to host, promote, and track your podcast.
They are the number one whose free plan provides most features compared to every other host enlisted here.
There is a complete hosting dashboard for you with their free plan, two hours of upload time, and hosted episodes for up to 90 days.
If you are just starting podcast, Buzzsprout free plan is perfect for getting your feet started and learning as time goes on.
Their slogan “The easiest way to start podcasting” is an indication that they are truely the easiest way when it comes to starting a podcast.

Their advanced analytics makes it easy to upload your files, add them to every significant directory, and start tracking your listeners.
Pricing: Free – $24/month
Website: buzzsprout.com

2. Libsyn.

One of the most popular host whose intention is to help everybody both the newbies and the pro-podcasters looking to monetize their work quickly.
They launched as way back as 2004 making them one of the original podcast host.
They are a prominent player in this space of podcasting with a track record of over 35,000 podcast host, 62 million+ audience members, and 4.6 million podcast download in 2016.
Just like other podcast host do, they provide their users with 50 and 1500MB of monthly bandwidth storage space and go ahead to provide analytic reports, RSS link generation, premium content and their App.

Even though they are not 100% free yet, i have to add them on this list because they offer you their services starting at $5.
Pricing: $5 – $75 per month
Website: www.libsyn.com

3. SoundCloud.

Discover more with SoundCloud go+, that is what they make it look like with their slogan above.
SoundCloud introduced its hosting platform in 2015 and still stand as the world’s largest music and audio hosting site.
There is this 175 million unique visitors and incredible 12 hours of content upload every minute on their website.
Using their hosting services, you can access their embedded players, twitter cards, and time comments. You have the opportunity to upload 3 hours of content per month with free account and also get basic reporting.
They have more advanced Unlimited account which give you unlimited upload time, schedule releases, embedded controls, and the ability to pin five podcasts to your profile.

Price: Free to $16 per month ($12 when paid annually)
Website: www.soundcloud.com

4. Podomatic.

Podomatic will allow you to easily create your own podcast website so that you can share your content with the world. Anyone can equally listen, share and download mp3 of your episodes.
Recording, uploading and promoting your work can all be done in your dashboard.
What makes them oustanding is the ability they have to develop your podcast advertising and crowdsourcing with the help of Patreon and Advertisecast.
With their social sharing options, your podcast can be shared directly on Facebook and Twitter feeds.
You can create a website and have a free podcast app for iOS and Android which is made possible due to their partnership with Weebly.

You can start with their free plan and latter switch to their four pro plan ranging from $9.99 to $24.99 per month.
Pricing: Free to $60+ per month
Website: www.podomatic.com

5. Blubrry.

This is the best wordpress podcast hosting starting from ($12 — $80/month).
This is the number one WordPress plugin for podcasters. Blubrry is equally a great podcast hosting service which offer not only hosting services but also manage WordPress hosting with PowerPress.
This plugin is consistently maintained with over 75,000+ active installs, it is free to use and offers SEO options and MP3 tagging.
They Highlighted their creator-first approach with this saying “Blubrry believes we should provide you great tools and not interfere.”
With their podcasting manual, you can get detailed information on using their services and equally tips and advice to become successful on your first podcasting journey.

They go with lowest option pricing of $12/month and offers 100MB storage.
To enjoy their unlimited hosting services, you can upgrade to their professional plan.
They have four varieties of paid plan with custom price ranging from $12 to $80, which will leave you with 100MB to 1000MB/month of storage space.
Due to blubrry customer-first approach, it is quickly becoming one of the top-rated choices.
According to Interactive Advertising Bureau, they have also joined the IAB compliant.
Having examined the best free podcast hosting software, let’s now know what podcast hosting is all about.
Then,

What is Podcast Hosting?

This is the service that provides the file hosting and RSS feed for your podcast.
The work of the hosting companies is to upload your audio files, tell the hosting platform your show’s details, and go ahead to generate your feed.
Any user that subscribes to your podcast will recieve the audio files and media to their platform directly. This is achieved by the podcast hosting services.
Simply defining podcast, it is a series of audio files that are bundled into a single file.
To be stored, they naturally required a lot of space and bandwidth.

That is the reason while they can not be stored in a personal website server because, they do not have enough space to handle podcast programs.
Finally, this is made up of a webserver which will allow file downloads (the mp3 files themselves) and an RSS feed decsribing your audio file.
And the best provider can do much more than the above stipulation.
Then, let’s look at what podcast directories are.

What Are Podcast Directories?

These are service providers like iTunes, Spotify, and Google Play.
Their work is to recieve your podcast files, and RSS feed and push them to their front-end systems.
With the aid of a podcast App, their computer, iPhone, or Android devices, these directories easily will allow your audience to find your show.
Let’s examine the working process.
Here is how it works.
The image description below:

The source of the image description: transistor.fm

We will now examine the best podcast hosting website.

What is The Best Podcast Hosting Site?

Due to its ease of use, price point, and feature set, Buzzsprout stand to be the best podcast site.
That not withstanding, the best thing that has happened to podcasters nowadays is that, there are many on the market now.
And your choice can be widespread as far as choosing from sites like Spreaker, Transistor FM, and a bunch of other platforms.

Now let’s come to how much podcast hosts make.

How Much Do Podcast Hosts Make?

These hosts can make from zero to million dollars. Due to its Uniqueness (podcast), it can be 100% unmonetized or wholly monetized.
Its among the few platforms online where you can be a hobbyist or a proffesional.

HOW CAN ONE HOST A PODCAST AND WHAT PLATFORM SHOULD I PUBLISH MY PODCAST?

HOW DO I HOST A PODCAST?
To host a podcast, there is the need for you to choose one of the podcast hosting companies on this list in order to make such move.
And i will advice you should make use of one of the free platforms here such as Buzzsprout to get started testing your show.
And i should assume you already have a microphone and recording software to start with.
For individuals who just want to test a show and share their ideas, you can start by hosting a podcast with your laptop and free software like Audicityand Buzzsprout.
Then, let’s get into the kind of platform you should publish your podcast on.

What Kind of Platform Should i Publish my Podcast On?

In this process now, what kind of platform should you think of hosting your podcast on?
Let’s look at the simplicity involved, once your files have been uploaded to your podcast host, now you should be ready to decide where your audience will find you. Where do you like your audience to find you?
Then, its time to look for such directories like iTunes, Google Play and a whole lot of others. These directories will ensure you get in front of the listeners, and should ensure that your feeds are updated automatically after each episode.
Let’s examine the lists of the top podcast directory platforms.

1. How You Can Submit to Apple Podcast.

(iTunes)

In March 2018, this podcast app passed 50 billion all-time podcast downloads and over 550,000 shows. This is an indication that iTunes is one of (if not the) most popular podcast app.
Follow the guide lines below to get your podcast uploaded on iTunes:

1. You should have an active Apple ID to be able to submit your podcast.
2. Sign in to iTunes connect.
3. You should be able to enter your RSS feed into the text box by clicking on the top-left area of the podcast dashboard.
4. You will see your podcast’s information loading from your podcast host and will immediately show you a feed preview. And you should make sure your text and artwork look ready to go.
5. Finally click submit and wait for the approval.

2. How You Can Submit Your Podcast to Google Play.

(Google Play)

Recently, Google play added new feature which they called Google Podcasts which is a way to discover free and trending podcasts. Google play stands to be one of the most popular apps, which can boost of over one billion monthly active users.
Follow the stipulated guides below to submit your podcast on Google Play:

1. First, ensure you have Google all in one account and go to Podcasts in Google Play Music.
2. Then click the Publish button, log in to your Google account, and accept their terms of service.
3. Next thing to do is to enter the URL for your RSS feed.
4. Click submit and check your inbox for a verification email.
5. Go ahead to click Publish and wait for approval.

3. Submiting Your Podcast on Tunein.

(Tunein)

Tunein has over 75 million listeners and over 120,000 live radio streams as a growing site. But they swarm with lots of live sports, music, news, and global internet radio stations.
Below are how to submit your podcast on TuneIn:

1. You have to fill in the tunein contact information making sure you add your podcast information.
2. Go accept their terms and conditions.
3. Clikc submit and wait for approval.

4. Submiting Your Podcast To Stitcher.

(Stitcher)

Stitcher stands to be one of the on-demand radio service focused on informational news broadcasts and poadcasts.
You can follow the guidelines below in order to submit your podcast on stitcher:

1. Firts, you have to apply on their content provider page and enter all the required information.
2. You have to add your new show once you are logged in and is approved.
3. Then followed by adding your podcast’s RSS feed and go ahead to hit submit button.
4. Wait for them to get you approved.

5. How you can submit your podcast to Spotify.

With an impressive 191 million active listeners and 87 million paid subscribers, Spotify is now quickly becoming one of the largest podcast platforms ever in existence.
They allow users to download music, play any song with unlimited skips, and feature higher quality podcast audio. And have a premium plan of $9.99/month.
Previously, you will not be able to get your podcast on spotify within their website. Then, you will be forced to use your host to push your podcast on spotify.

Recently, this process have changed. There is a feature they called, beta program Spotify for Podcasters, here, you can learn how to upload your podcast and get started immediately.
The process is for you to log in to your account, submit your RSS feed, and they will take care of the rest.

For those of us who will like to go the old-fashioned route, this particular article will definitely help you get your podcast running on spotify as your hosting provider.

CONCLUSION:— PODCAST HOSTING: My Ultimate 20 Steps to Start a Successful Podcast.

1. NEED TO BRAINSTORM YOUR PODCAST IDEA.
   This should be based on a strong premise. Due to the fact that there are so many podcasts on the market today, there is need for you to perfect your show’s approach, purpose, mission statement and there should also be a unique value proposition.
2. AVOID BEING BORING
   Becoming controversial nowadays have become the order of the day. And controversial approach makes a strong personality which are often shared more on social media than dull, agreeable content. This looks like something unheard-of but it is the reality of time we are living on in the world today. So get controversial with your project.
3. MAKE DECISION ON YOUR PODCAST FORMAT AND STYLE
   You can choose to be a solo host, conduct one-on-one interviews, or go about telling interactive stories. You must go with a coherent episode style.
4. THERE IS NEED TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE RESEARCH WITH OTHER PODCAST ON YOUR NICHE
   Be ready to engage on a competitive niche but make sure it is not oversaturated. Let it be niched-down though having a sense of broad approach. Take for example, instead of a podcast of braod niche like Asian history, you could go with the level of government in Hong Kong.
5. MAKE SURE YOUR IDENTITY IS SPECIFIED
   Firts thing to do is to get your podcast title and description ready along side with your logo well designed and carved out with your cover art.
6. MAKE BETTER ARRANGEMENT OF YOUR PODCAST EQUIPMENT.
   These should include a good podcast microphone, laptop, headphones, mixers, audio recording software, and a webcam.
7. YOUR MONETIZATION STRATEGY SHOULD BE PLANED FROM THE START.
   You should specify your goals before you begin. Either making money with sponsorships or funneling your listeners to your blog to increase traffic.
8. SELECT GOOD PODCAST HOSTING SERVICE.
   Thedre is the need for your podcast hosting company to provide you with features like; storage, bandwidth, integration with podcast directories, podcast websites, podcast players, marketing tools and more.
9. START BY PRE-RECORDING YOUR FIRST EPISODES.
   You should put your best effort into your first episodes. Make sure to introduce listeners to your show, allowing them to know what its all about and equally creating engaging content released in quick succession.
10. AND YOU SHOULD EQUALLY CREATE PRE-RECORDED SLOGANS.
    These should include music, and segments that you can reuse to create a consistent brand identity.
11. COME UP WITH A PLANED PODCAST CALENDER
    To maintain a consistent schedule, make sure you record, mix, and upload future episodes as far as you could in advance.
12. MAKE SURE YOUR LISTENERS HAVE A CALL-TO-ACTION
    Giving your listeners priority task to perform should be observed. Give them something to do such as rating and reviewing your podcast, going to a page on your website, or checking out a sponsor.
13. SUBMIT YOUR PODCAST TO THE TOP DIRECTORIES
    This should be done with directories such as, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, TuneIn, and Google play to maximize your reach.
14. NOW IS THE TIME TO SCALE YOUR DIGITAL MARKETING STRATEGY
    Releasing your episodes are just the preliminary which means, the work has just begun.
    To increase your subscribers count, come up with tactics like a podcast website, email marketing, social media marketing, PR and more.
15. COME UP WITH A PODCAST WEBSITE
    This should be a website with home page, an episode page that will host your transcripts and podcast player, an about page, and equally a contact page.
    To increase earning, create a resource page with you top recomended products and go ahead to add affiliate links. To make money, go ahead and mention these links in your episodes so that listeners could click through.
16. THERE IS THE NEED TO HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT FOR YOUR PODCAST
    Relevant hashtag is neccessary and make sure you follow similar niche to increase your audience.
17. HERE, TRANSCRIPTION IS REQUIRED
    Repurpose your content to text to enable you add them as blog post to your website.
    Assuming you recorded video, try to add the episode to a YouTube chanel of yours.
18. FORM NETWORK CONNECTION TO OTHER PODCASTERS THROUGH EMAIL OUTREACH
    Get to building real relationships so that you can be a guest on other podcasts and get more famous guest for your self.
19. SELL SPONSORSHIP SPOTS BY CREATING A MEDIA KIT
    When you might have built a following and have reached thousands of downloads, then go ahead to creat a media kit with sponsorship rates.
    Go ahead to research the competition rates and sell sponsorship spots in package format to sustain consistent revenue.
20. STAY PODCASTING
    Remember, most people quit before they make it. So, creating a successful podcast can take 2-3 years of consistent work.
    Take note that creating a successful podcast is not just churning out marvelous or amazing contents but, having a rock-solid digital marketing strategy coupled with steadfast consistency are all needed for peak success in podcasting.