Whereas podcast directories like Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts present simple methods to distribute your episodes, these platforms have their drawbacks in the case of your constructing, rising, and monetizing your podcast. That’s why making a podcast web site generally is a sensible transfer to your present. A web site can provide you a whole lot of flexibility, direct contact along with your listeners, “proudly owning” your content material and model, and a lot extra upside we’ll overview on this article.
Luckily, making a podcast web site doesn’t should be troublesome. The truth is, there are many choices to go well with newcomers or folks with out prior expertise. Moreover, constructing a web site to your podcast lets you get found by new audiences (with web optimization and natural site visitors), acquire extra management over your content material, and work together straight along with your listeners.
On this put up, we’ll talk about why it’s best to think about creating a web site to your podcast. Then, we’ll discover 3 ways you are able to do this earlier than sharing our greatest practices and ideas to your website. Let’s get began!
Why You Ought to Contemplate Making a Web site for Your Podcast
The most effective causes to think about making a podcast web site is that you’ll personal your whole model and content material. Proper now, you may use a platform like Apple or Spotify, and though it hardly ever occurs, they’ll pull your content material out of the platform with out discover. Additionally, these platforms have a lot content material that the listener can simply be distracted in the direction of different episodes from different podcasters.
Greater than that, a devoted web site unlocks a myriad of customization choices, permitting you to curate your guests’ expertise:
As seen within the above instance, you’ll be able to add a “donate” button to get help out of your guests, get recorded voice messages or contact kinds straight out of your listeners, and extra.
In a listing, your itemizing is fairly fundamental, consisting of a title, paintings, and an inventory of episodes. Nevertheless, with a web site, you acquire extra flexibility, selecting the place you promote sponsors and the way you manage episodes. You possibly can add extra content material (and even completely different mediums like a weblog, movies, attachments and so on.) and embrace far more data and assets.
Moreover, a podcast web site supplies a single hub the place you’ll be able to direct guests. As such, you’ll be able to streamline your content material and make it simpler to advertise.
Plus, you should use Search Engine Optimization (web optimization) methods to get found by customers that don’t even find out about your podcast. Greater visibility within the search outcomes can drive extra natural site visitors to your web site, enabling you to develop your podcast a lot sooner.
Additionally, you’ll be able to work together along with your listeners straight by encouraging them to depart feedback or voicemail. You possibly can reply to their suggestions and begin to domesticate extra private connections along with your viewers.
Additional Studying: The Prime 24 Podcast Statistics You Have to Know in 2023
The Downside With Generated Podcast Web sites
You may think about using a easy, auto-generated podcast web site provided by your podcast internet hosting supplier. These websites present handy platforms for storing and sharing your episodes. Nevertheless, there are specific downsides to this feature. You hardly ever get enough (if any) customization or design freedom. Many of those platforms received’t supply a weblog, customized pages, or generally even a customized area, so there’s not sufficient upside there.
Find out how to Create a Podcast Web site (3 Methods)
Now that the advantages of making your individual podcast web site, let’s take a look at 3 ways you are able to do this!
1. Create a Podcast Web site Utilizing Podcastpage
The Podcastpage.io platform could be the most suitable choice for newcomers or individuals who don’t need to spend effort and time managing a web site. Podcastpage will allow you to get pleasure from each worlds – you’ll get a full web site, with limitless episodes, customized pages, a weblog, hundred of design choices, and so on., and nonetheless a whole lot of automations and podcast-specific options you received’t discover wherever else. Because it requires no information of coding or technical experience, utilizing Podcastpage is a straightforward solution to arrange a website:
It’s a hassle-free various to a number of the extra demanding choices. As an example, you’ll be able to profit from seamless integration with YouTube feeds, enabling you to create an attractive web site to your YouTube channel and/or podcast.
When you’re strictly targeted on podcasting, Podcastpage syncs your present episodes and any new episode you publish sooner or later.
Higher but, Podcastpage is a feature-rich podcast web site builder. The platform supplies high-quality audio gamers and a variety of pre-designed templates that can assist you create a ravishing website with minimal effort.
2. Create a Podcast Web site With WordPress
WordPress might be the most well-liked web site platform on the market. Over 40% of the net is constructed on WordPress, nonetheless, meaning it’s not particularly tailor-made for podcast web sites. Because of this, you may require many plugins, themes, and configurations to get the whole lot arrange accurately.
WordPress is an open-source Content material Administration System (CMS), that means its supply code is obtainable freely, and you’ll mainly use it or customise the software program to suit your actual wants. It could possibly be a viable possibility if you happen to’re in search of a customized resolution constructed up from scratch.
This will likely add up in each money and time over time, when evaluating to different choices.
Constructing your podcast web site with WordPress has a steeper studying curve. Subsequently, it won’t be very best if you happen to’re a newbie or want to dedicate your time to working in your podcast (not your website).
This strategy is mostly extra time-consuming. Plus, you’ll be absolutely accountable for your website’s safety, web optimization, plugin set up and updates, upkeep, and discovering a internet hosting supplier:
You’ll additionally want to decide on a theme to your podcast web site. Dixie is a superb possibility with a contemporary look, loads of structure choices, and its personal audio participant:
Astra can also be a flexible theme that can be utilized for just about any function. Lastly, the Tusant theme is one other wonderful alternative because it helps simple listening:
When choosing your theme, there are specific options to look out for:
- Loads of customization choices
- Fashionable show layouts
- The performance to incorporate and play podcasts
- Compatibility with different podcasting platforms/instruments
Total, a WordPress web site can grant you nearly full management over your content material. Nevertheless, creating one may be demanding and probably dearer.
Additional Studying: Find out how to Begin a WordPress Weblog from Scratch TODAY!
3. Create Your Personal Customized Podcast Web site
As an alternative of constructing a web site from a WordPress theme or a Podcastpage web site, you possibly can go the customized route. Making a customized podcast website signifies that you’ll design the whole lot from scratch to suit your imaginative and prescient.
With out substantial coding expertise, you’ll doubtless want the abilities of knowledgeable developer. Alternatively, you’ll have to study rather a lot to do that your self.
The creator of your website, whether or not they’re a designer or a developer, can have full management over your structure/content material. The upside is that it’s best to find yourself with a novel, interactive web site. The draw back is that everytime you need to make important adjustments or updates to your website, you’ll require your developer’s companies, which may turn out to be expensive.
Moreover, help may be restricted if you happen to encounter issues along with your web site. With different choices (like Podcastpage and WordPress), you’ll discover that many different folks use these platforms. You possibly can entry many free assets, fast troubleshooting ideas, and helpful boards.
6 Greatest Practices for Your Podcast Web site
Hopefully, you’ve now decided the most suitable choice for creating your podcast web site. Let’s check out six greatest practices to optimize your website!
1. Deal with Pace
Sluggish loading instances may be irritating to your guests. The likelihood of a ‘bounce’ (somebody rapidly leaving your website) will increase by 32% because the web page load time goes from one to a few seconds.
There are additionally penalties to your search rankings. Serps consider your web site’s bounce fee, amongst different elements like how a lot time folks spend in your website.
Serps then use these metrics to know whether or not your content material is efficacious for customers. Your web site may be ranked decrease on the outcomes pages if the numbers present low interactivity.
You possibly can conduct a fast web site velocity check to measure your present efficiency. Pingdom is a superb instrument that gives instantaneous outcomes:
Since quick loading speeds create a greater Consumer Expertise (UX), there are additionally some easy adjustments you can also make to enhance your web site efficiency. For instance, you’ll be able to cut back web page sizes and use smaller fonts and pictures.
2. Use Search Engine Optimization (web optimization) Methods
Establishing your web site as a hub the place guests can study a specific subject is important. Constructing authority can sign to serps that your pages are useful for web customers.
Listed below are some greatest practices to assist enhance your web optimization & search rankings:
- Publish solely your greatest materials.
- Use focused key phrases inside your content material.
- Embrace loads of high-quality hyperlinks.
- Use social proof like testimonials and evaluations.
Google Key phrase Planner is a helpful instrument that helps you establish related key phrases in order that what customers are trying to find:
Since sure key phrases may be difficult to rank for as a result of their reputation, think about using long-tail key phrases. These are multi-word keyphrases, comparable to “greatest low cost internet hosting for podcast web sites”. Though long-tail key phrases have decrease search volumes, they could be simpler to rank for since they’re normally extra particular. When you rank excessive on a whole lot of these key phrases, you might get important quantities of site visitors.
To reap the benefits of your key phrase alternatives, it’s vital to incorporate as a lot written content material as attainable. Subsequently, we suggest producing detailed present notes and podcast transcripts whereas creating weblog posts and using feedback sections.
Different methods to spice up web optimization in your podcast web site embrace utilizing related title tags and meta descriptions. We additionally suggest creating brief clickable URLs and ensuring that your internet design is responsive on smaller screens.
Additional Studying: 11 web optimization Greatest Practices to Observe in 2023
3. Go for Multi-Web page Performance
An awesome podcast web site usually has a number of pages, comparable to separate pages for every of your episodes. Amongst web optimization perks, this setup permits you to publish in-depth present notes, making your website extra accessible and informative.
After all, you’ll want a homepage to your website, which is the place guests will normally first land. We suggest that includes your latest or hottest episodes right here.
For instance, while you arrive on the Full Mutuality podcast web site, you’re instantly greeted by a sticky audio participant showcasing its newest episode:
You may also think about including a weblog to your podcast web site the place you’ll be able to adapt your podcast content material into written posts. This helps you attraction to extra customers and supplies an additional place to hyperlink to.
Whenever you publish new episodes, creating a brand new weblog put up may be helpful so that you’ve a novel location for every episode. Right here, you may embed your audio participant, add your present notes, and embrace your episode transcript:
An About web page can also be a terrific component to incorporate in your website since you’ll be able to describe your present and supply a quick backstory in regards to the hosts. By this private info, you’ll be able to forge significant connections along with your listeners.
Lastly, think about making a devoted web page the place listeners can get in contact or subscribe to your mailing listing. A contact kind could make guests really feel extra snug about reaching out to you. That being mentioned, strive to ensure the shape is brief and straightforward to finish to spice up conversions.
4. Add an Audio Participant
Mounted or sticky audio gamers are well-liked decisions since listeners can play one in every of your episodes whereas searching different areas of your podcast web site. You may also embrace an embedded audio participant in order that listeners can play episodes out of your podcast internet hosting firm.
You may also discover embedded audio gamers that combine with different platforms. As an example, The Man Cave Chronicles podcast incorporates a YouTube embed participant:
It’s vital that your audio participant is customizable. On the very least, it ought to have the important options you want, comparable to automated timestamps, superior controls, obtain choices, and social sharing buttons.
For instance, Podcastpage’s audio participant is absolutely customizable, enabling you to alter all colours and controls, add timestamps, and make it ‘sticky’ throughout all pages:
Their audio participant has an optimized structure that features your episode title and podcast paintings. You can provide your audio participant an interesting border or cover it at particular instances to not inconvenience your listeners.
6. Prioritize Consumer Expertise (UX)
A well-executed podcast web site is accessible, simple to navigate, and informative. You must also intention to signpost vital options in order that it’s apparent the way you need guests to behave in your pages.
After they arrive on an episode web page, listeners ought to immediately know how you can obtain content material and share movies. In the meantime, it ought to at all times be clear how customers can contact you or be part of your mailing listing.
To offer a clean, constant UX, think about selecting a visually interesting theme that matches the tone and really feel of your podcast.
To optimize your UX, guests shouldn’t should strive laborious to search out what they want in your website. With this in thoughts, think about putting your subscribe hyperlinks someplace seen and accessible comparable to your header or footer. You may also spotlight helpful info, comparable to social icons, subscribe buttons, and listener evaluations.
Additional Studying: The 25 Main Podcasting Instruments to Assist You Begin or Develop Your Podcast
Now that you know the way to create a terrific podcast web site, listed here are 3 ways to advertise your podcast!
1. Construct a Web site
A devoted podcast web site creates an area so as to add content material and develop a hub to your present. With methods like web optimization, you’ll be able to simply entice new guests and enhance your model’s visibility.
Plus, along with your website sitting within the prime search engine outcomes, you’ll be able to acquire extra credibility and construct an authoritative internet presence.
We’ve already mentioned how one can arrange a devoted podcast website. We suggest utilizing Podcastpage’s web site builder because it’s easy to make use of, making it appropriate for full newcomers and professionals alike. As such, you’ll be able to velocity up your workflow with pre-designed templates and get your podcast website up and working very quickly!
2. Use Social Media
Utilizing social media is a good way to domesticate stronger relationships along with your listeners. Plus, you make the most of social platforms to determine your model’s persona via humor, storytelling, and memes.
Social media can also be helpful for participating along with your viewers and constructing group since you’ll be able to work together with listeners straight:
Some nice methods to interact along with your viewers embrace asking questions, working polls, and responding to feedback. Additionally, think about sharing wealthy media, together with soundbites, photographs, and movies.
Moreover, you’ll be able to create posts to replace your listeners about upcoming episodes. We additionally suggest sticking to a constant posting schedule in order that listeners know when to count on new content material.
3. Companion With Different Creators
Growing mutually-beneficial relationships with different podcasters in your area of interest will help you entice new listeners who’re already engaged with related content material.
For instance, while you’re on YouTube, you’re usually offered with advisable movies. These clips allow you to find new creators who can acquire subscribers by being featured on this place.
You’ll additionally see this advisable characteristic on platforms like Apple Podcasts:
When you’ve discovered different exhibits in your area of interest, you possibly can start with a promo swap (you promote one other podcast, they usually promote yours) or turn out to be a visitor on one other present. Alternatively, you may want to host a visitor in your podcast. Then, you’ll be able to ask them to share your hyperlinks with their viewers or plug your web site on the finish of the episode.
You possibly can seek for related exhibits utilizing particular key phrases to search out different creators inside your area of interest. You may also discover classes and tags on sure platforms to search out applicable collaborators.
When you contact hosts straight, think about crafting a transparent electronic mail to pitch your thought. You may define what your podcast is about, who your audience is, and what you’ll be able to supply the opposite podcaster.
Additional Studying: The 11 Greatest Digital and Social Media Advertising Podcasts to Take heed to in 2022
Conclusion
Podcast directories may be helpful within the early days of your present. Nevertheless, when you’ve constructed a following, it’s time to create a podcast website. Whereas making a web site may sound overwhelming, there are various choices to fit your expertise and expertise. Then, you’ll be able to get pleasure from web optimization perks, extra management, and superior customization choices to your podcast.
To recap, listed here are 3 ways you’ll be able to create a podcast web site:
- Podcastpage: This web site builder is the best resolution for podcasters.
- WordPress: Arms you full management over your content material. Nevertheless, it may contain plenty of upkeep and configuring extra instruments for performance.
- Create a customized podcast web site that’s solely your individual: Nevertheless, this strategy requires a steep studying curve or the help of a developer.
Do you’ve gotten any questions on making a podcast web site? Tell us within the feedback part beneath!
Writer Bio
Tom is the co-founder of Podcastpage.io, the main web site builder for podcasters and audio/video creators. When Tom isn’t busy coding, you’ll discover him serving to podcasters develop their exhibits!
Hero photograph by Hillary Black on Unsplash
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