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How to Add Podcasts to Your Blog

Podcasting is a way of distributing audio files over the internet using RSS. Bloggers generally offer podcasts as mp3 audio files and distribute them in “episodes” on a weekly basis. Episodes can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or more.

Getting Started Podcasting

To begin podcasting, you need some audio-recording software and equipment.

Audio recording software: Record your podcast using software, such as Audacity® (audacity.sourceforge.net) if you have a PC or GarageBand® (www.apple.com/ilife/garageband) if you have a Mac. Audacity is a free standalone program, and GarageBand comes with Apple’s iLife suite ($79). Both of these software packages allow you to record and edit audio files.
Microphone: Though some computers have built-in microphones, you’ll probably want to buy a higher-quality external microphone to record your podcasts (built-in microphones often sound tinny and distort sound easily). You can buy these microphones at electronic stores or online by searching for “podcast mics.” They range from about $10 to $100 and up.
Headphones: Buy a basic pair of headphones for listening back to your recordings. Although you can listen through your computer speakers, headphones allow you to hear nuances you likely won’t hear through speakers.
Audio conversion software: Since you’ll want to distribute your podcasts as mp3 files, you need software that can either record directly to mp3 (such as Audacity) or convert other audio file types to mp3 format. If you’re using GarageBand, you need to use software such as Apple’s free iTunes program (www.itunes.com) to convert from AIFF files (GarageBand’s standard output file type) to mp3.
Web storage space: Typically you’ll need to host, or store, your files yourself (see How to Create Your Own Blog). Be sure your hosting plan provides you with enough storage (at least 3 GB), as long audio files take up a considerable amount of space.
FTP software: You need FTP software to upload your mp3 files to your website. Use a free FTP program such as Smart FTP (www.smartftp.com).
Blogging software: Blogger, Movable Type, and WordPress all offer excellent support for podcasting. These three platforms let you drop a podcast into your blog simply by adding a link (usually by clicking on a Link button) to the location of your podcast file on your website.

Creating Podcasts

Once you’ve got all the required software and equipment assembled, you’re ready to create your first podcast. This involves:

Recording your podcast
Editing your podcast
Uploading your podcast

Recording Your Podcast

Record your podcast with Audacity, GarageBand, or any other audio recording software. Usually, recording is as simple as plugging your microphone into your computer and pressing the software’s record button. Keep these tips in mind as you record:

Speak slowly but naturally, and don’t worry if you make a mistake. You can re-record several takes of the same material and edit the podcast later.
When you’re finished speaking, press Stop and save the podcast as an mp3 file (if using Audacity or another program) or an AIFF file (if using GarageBand).

Editing Your Podcast

Use your recording software to stitch together the best parts of your recording and delete awkward pauses or mistakes. You can also use the software to add sound effects or a professional-sounding musical introduction to your podcast (see the software documentation or “help” files for specific guidance on how to edit and add sound effects or music to your podcasts).

Converting Your Podcast to mp3

If you’ve saved your podcast file in a format other than mp3, you’ll need to first convert the file to mp3 format before you can upload it. To convert an audio file:

Open your podcast file in a software program that converts audio file formats. For a free, easy-to-use solution, try Apple’s iTunes® (www.itunes.com).
Once you’ve opened your file in iTunes, click on it and choose “Convert Selection to MP3” under the Advanced tab in the top menu bar.

Storing Your Podcast Files Online

Though a few websites offer free podcast hosting, the storage space they offer will usually hold just a few hours’ worth of podcast content. In addition, these sites typically embed advertising messages within your podcast audio file.

The best way to host, or store, podcasts is to buy your own domain name and web-hosting plan with a company such as GoDaddy (www.godaddy.com) and then store your podcast files on your website’s server. Most web-hosting packages offer plenty of storage space for many hours’ worth of podcasting content.

Uploading Your Podcast File

Once you have a finished mp3 file to work with, follow these steps to upload it to your website’s server:

Use FTP to upload the file to a directory on your website. It’s best to keep your podcasts organized in an appropriately named directory, such as www.yoursitename.com/podcasts, with “yoursitename” being the name of your website.
In your blog, add a link to your podcast by using your blogging software’s Link command or placing an HTML link directly into the text of your post where you’d like the podcast link to appear. Your HTML link will look like this: <a href=”http://www.yoursite.com/podcasts/yourpodcastfile.mp3”>Download my latest podcast!</a>. In this example, “yourpodcastfile” is the name you gave to your podcast audio file when you created it.

In addition to posting a link on your blog, you may also want to distribute your podcast through a podcast aggregator or RSS feed reader, explained below.

Distributing Podcasts

Posting links to podcasts on your blog is the most direct way to distribute your audio content, but you can also expand your audience by using two other distribution methods:

Podcast aggregators: Podcast aggregators are websites that collect links to podcasts, then let users search by keyword for podcasts that might interest them. To add your podcast to an aggregator, submit to the aggregator a link that points to the location of your file on your website. Some of the more popular podcast aggregators are Odeo® (www.odeo.com) and iPodder® (www.ipodder.org).
RSS feed readers: RSS feed readers allow users to subscribe to your podcast. Any time you upload a new podcast, the user will receive that new content through the RSS feed reader. For your podcasts to work with RSS and to allow your readers to subscribe to your podcasts, be sure to enable your blogging software’s RSS features.