Whereas podcast directories like Spotify, Apple Podcasts or Google Podcasts present straightforward methods to distribute your episodes, these platforms have their drawbacks in relation to your constructing, rising, and monetizing your podcast. That’s why making a podcast web site could be a good transfer in your present. An internet site may give you lots of flexibility, direct contact along with your listeners, “proudly owning” your content material and model, and a lot extra upside we’ll assessment on this article.
Fortuitously, making a podcast web site doesn’t must be troublesome. In actual fact, there are many choices to go well with freshmen or individuals with out prior expertise. Moreover, constructing a web site in your podcast allows you to get found by new audiences (with search engine marketing 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 in your podcast. Then, we’ll discover 3 ways you are able to do this earlier than sharing our greatest practices and ideas in your website. Let’s get began!
Why You Ought to Contemplate Making a Web site for Your Podcast
Probably the greatest causes to contemplate 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 despite the fact that it not often 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 possibly can add a “donate” button to get assist out of your guests, get recorded voice messages or contact types straight out of your listeners, and extra.
In a listing, your itemizing is fairly primary, consisting of a title, art work, and an inventory of episodes. Nevertheless, with a web site, you acquire extra flexibility, selecting the place you promote sponsors and the way you set up episodes. You’ll be able to add extra content material (and even completely different mediums like a weblog, movies, attachments and so on.) and embrace way more information and sources.
Moreover, a podcast web site gives a single hub the place you possibly can direct guests. As such, you possibly can streamline your content material and make it simpler to advertise.
Plus, you should utilize Search Engine Optimization (search engine marketing) strategies to get found by customers that don’t even learn 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 quicker.
Additionally, you possibly can work together along with your listeners straight by encouraging them to go away feedback or voicemail. You’ll be able to reply to their suggestions and begin to domesticate extra private connections along with your viewers.
Additional Studying: The Prime 24 Podcast Statistics You Must Know in 2023
The Downside With Generated Podcast Web sites
You may think about using a easy, auto-generated podcast web site supplied 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 not often get ample (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.
Learn how to Create a Podcast Web site (3 Methods)
Now that you realize the advantages of making your personal 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 is perhaps the most suitable choice for freshmen 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 lots of automations and podcast-specific options you received’t discover anyplace else. Because it requires no information of coding or technical experience, utilizing Podcastpage is a simple strategy to arrange a website:
It’s a hassle-free various to among the extra demanding choices. As an example, you possibly can profit from seamless integration with YouTube feeds, enabling you to create an attractive web site in your YouTube channel and/or podcast.
For those who’re strictly centered on podcasting, Podcastpage syncs your current episodes and any new episode you publish sooner or later.
Higher but, Podcastpage is a feature-rich podcast web site builder. The platform gives high-quality audio gamers and a variety of pre-designed templates that can assist you create an exquisite website with minimal effort.
2. Create a Podcast Web site With WordPress
WordPress might be the preferred 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. Consequently, you may require many plugins, themes, and configurations to get all the pieces arrange appropriately.
WordPress is an open-source Content material Administration System (CMS), which means its supply code is offered freely, and you’ll principally use it or customise the software program to suit your actual wants. It may very well be a viable possibility when you’re on the lookout for a customized resolution constructed up from scratch.
This will 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. Due to this fact, it won’t be best when you’re a newbie or desire to dedicate your time to working in your podcast (not your website).
This method is mostly extra time-consuming. Plus, you’ll be totally accountable for your website’s safety, search engine marketing, plugin set up and updates, upkeep, and discovering a internet hosting supplier:
You’ll additionally want to decide on a theme in your podcast web site. Dixie is a superb possibility with a contemporary look, loads of structure choices, and its personal audio participant:
Astra can be a flexible theme that can be utilized for just about any objective. Lastly, the Tusant theme is one other glorious selection because it helps straightforward 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
General, a WordPress web site can grant you virtually full management over your content material. Nevertheless, creating one will be demanding and probably costlier.
Additional Studying: Learn how to Begin a WordPress Weblog from Scratch TODAY!
3. Create Your Personal Customized Podcast Web site
As a substitute 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 all the pieces from scratch to suit your imaginative and prescient.
With out substantial coding expertise, you’ll doubtless want the talents of an expert developer. Alternatively, you’ll have to study loads 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 singular, interactive web site. The draw back is that everytime you need to make vital modifications or updates to your website, you’ll require your developer’s providers, which may turn out to be expensive.
Moreover, assist will be restricted when you encounter issues along with your web site. With different choices (like Podcastpage and WordPress), you’ll discover that many different individuals use these platforms. You’ll be able to entry many free sources, 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 Velocity
Sluggish loading occasions will be irritating in your guests. The likelihood of a ‘bounce’ (somebody shortly leaving your website) will increase by 32% because the web page load time goes from one to a few seconds.
There are additionally penalties in your search rankings. Engines like google consider your web site’s bounce fee, amongst different elements like how a lot time individuals spend in your website.
Engines like google then use these metrics to know whether or not your content material is efficacious for customers. Your web site will be ranked decrease on the outcomes pages if the numbers present low interactivity.
You’ll be able to conduct a fast web site pace check to measure your present efficiency. Pingdom is a wonderful instrument that gives on the spot outcomes:
Since quick loading speeds create a greater Person Expertise (UX), there are additionally some easy modifications you can also make to enhance your web site efficiency. For instance, you possibly can scale back web page sizes and use smaller fonts and pictures.
2. Use Search Engine Optimization (search engine marketing) Strategies
Establishing your web site as a hub the place guests can find out about a specific subject is important. Constructing authority can sign to search engines like google that your pages are useful for web customers.
Listed below are some greatest practices to assist enhance your search engine marketing & 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 opinions.
Google Key phrase Planner is a useful instrument that helps you establish related key phrases in order that you realize what customers are looking for:
Since sure key phrases will be difficult to rank for on account of their recognition, think about using long-tail key phrases. These are multi-word keyphrases, akin to “greatest low cost internet hosting for podcast web sites”. Though long-tail key phrases have decrease search volumes, they is perhaps simpler to rank for since they’re often extra particular. When you rank excessive on lots of these key phrases, you could get vital quantities of site visitors.
To make the most of your key phrase alternatives, it’s essential to incorporate as a lot written content material as doable. Due to this fact, we advocate producing detailed present notes and podcast transcripts whereas creating weblog posts and using feedback sections.
Different methods to spice up search engine marketing in your podcast web site embrace utilizing related title tags and meta descriptions. We additionally advocate creating quick clickable URLs and ensuring that your net design is responsive on smaller screens.
Additional Studying: 11 search engine marketing Greatest Practices to Comply with in 2023
3. Go for Multi-Web page Performance
An excellent podcast web site usually has a number of pages, akin to separate pages for every of your episodes. Amongst search engine marketing perks, this setup means that you can publish in-depth present notes, making your website extra accessible and informative.
In fact, you’ll want a homepage in your website, which is the place guests will often first land. We advocate that includes your latest or hottest episodes right here.
For instance, once 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 possibly can adapt your podcast content material into written posts. This helps you attraction to extra customers and gives an additional place to hyperlink to.
While you publish new episodes, creating a brand new weblog put up will be helpful so that you’ve got a singular 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 be an important component to incorporate in your website since you possibly can describe your present and supply a short backstory in regards to the hosts. By this private info, you possibly can 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 record. A contact kind could make guests really feel extra comfy about reaching out to you. That being stated, 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 widespread decisions since listeners can play one in every of your episodes whereas shopping 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 too can discover embedded audio gamers that combine with different platforms. As an example, The Man Cave Chronicles podcast encompasses a YouTube embed participant:
It’s essential that your audio participant is customizable. On the very least, it ought to have the important options you want, akin to computerized timestamps, superior controls, obtain choices, and social sharing buttons.
For instance, Podcastpage’s audio participant is totally 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 art work. You may give your audio participant an interesting border or cover it at particular occasions to not inconvenience your listeners.
6. Prioritize Person Expertise (UX)
A well-executed podcast web site is accessible, straightforward to navigate, and informative. You also needs to goal to signpost essential 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 the best way to obtain content material and share movies. In the meantime, it ought to all the time be clear how customers can contact you or be a part of your mailing record.
To supply 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 must strive arduous to search out what they want in your website. With this in thoughts, think about putting your subscribe hyperlinks someplace seen and accessible akin to your header or footer. You may also spotlight helpful info, akin to social icons, subscribe buttons, and listener opinions.
Additional Studying: The 25 Main Podcasting Instruments to Assist You Begin or Develop Your Podcast
Now that you know the way to create an important 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 in your present. With methods like search engine marketing, you possibly can simply appeal to new guests and enhance your model’s visibility.
Plus, along with your website sitting within the prime search engine outcomes, you possibly can acquire extra credibility and construct an authoritative net presence.
We’ve already mentioned how one can arrange a devoted podcast website. We advocate utilizing Podcastpage’s web site builder because it’s easy to make use of, making it appropriate for full freshmen and professionals alike. As such, you possibly can pace up your workflow with pre-designed templates and get your podcast website up and operating very quickly!
2. Use Social Media
Utilizing social media is an effective way to domesticate stronger relationships along with your listeners. Plus, you make the most of social platforms to determine your model’s character by humor, storytelling, and memes.
Social media can be helpful for partaking along with your viewers and constructing neighborhood since you possibly can work together with listeners straight:
Some nice methods to have interaction along with your viewers embrace asking questions, operating polls, and responding to feedback. Additionally, think about sharing wealthy media, together with soundbites, pictures, and movies.
Moreover, you possibly can create posts to replace your listeners about upcoming episodes. We additionally advocate sticking to a constant posting schedule in order that listeners know when to anticipate new content material.
3. Associate With Different Creators
Growing mutually-beneficial relationships with different podcasters in your area of interest may help you appeal to new listeners who’re already engaged with comparable content material.
For instance, once you’re on YouTube, you’re usually introduced 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 function 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, and so they promote yours) or turn out to be a visitor on one other present. Alternatively, you may desire to host a visitor in your podcast. Then, you possibly can ask them to share your hyperlinks with their viewers or plug your web site on the finish of the episode.
You’ll be able to seek for comparable exhibits utilizing particular key phrases to search out different creators inside your area of interest. You too can discover classes and tags on sure platforms to search out acceptable collaborators.
For those who contact hosts straight, think about crafting a transparent electronic mail to pitch your thought. You may define what your podcast is about, who your target market is, and what you possibly can supply the opposite podcaster.
Additional Studying: The 11 Greatest Digital and Social Media Advertising Podcasts to Take heed to in 2022
Conclusion
Podcast directories will 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 a lot of choices to fit your expertise and expertise. Then, you possibly can get pleasure from search engine marketing perks, extra management, and superior customization choices in your podcast.
To recap, listed here are 3 ways you possibly can create a podcast web site:
- Podcastpage: This web site builder is the best resolution for podcasters.
- WordPress: Palms you full management over your content material. Nevertheless, it will probably contain plenty of upkeep and configuring further instruments for performance.
- Create a customized podcast web site that’s solely your personal: Nevertheless, this method requires a steep studying curve or the help of a developer.
Do you have got any questions on making a podcast web site? Tell us within the feedback part beneath!
Creator 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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