Podcasts
The Podcasts app in Aiir lets you create and manage podcasts on your websites and mobile apps.
Our service can host your podcast including audio, automatically generated RSS feeds and web pages which let you listen in your browser.
Alternatively you can add podcasts hosted elsewhere, using their existing RSS feed.
Plus our mobile apps are integrated, so all the content can appear there too. All you need to do is produce the amazing audio!
Jump to:
- Episodes
- Metrics
- Adding a podcast to a station
- Localising
- RSS
- Submitting to a third party podcast directory
- Embedding images in podcast episodes
Episodes
We refer to a 'podcast' as a series or container of multiple 'episodes'. For example you may create a podcast for your morning show, and upload a new episode each day after the show.
Podcast episodes always appear in chronological order - you can't re-order them. You can schedule them to appear or disappear though, that goes for the RSS feed too.
Metrics
You'll see that each episode has a number of 'requests'.
A request represents an individual download of an episode. They are counted at the point someone begins to download the audio file, or presses play to listen on your website.
It's notoriously difficult to provide reliably accurate metrics for podcast listening, due to the nature of the technology. For example, a request will be counted regardless of whether they finish downloading the audio or if they even listen to it.
Podnews have a useful article on this issue - the section titled "Understanding the difference between plays, streams and downloads" is particularly relevant.
Adding a podcast to a station
Each podcast can be added to one or more stations. You can do this when you create a podcast, or at any time later by going to the "General Settings" section of a podcast.
Once a podcast is linked with a station, only people who have been given access to that station will be able to edit or delete it, or add episodes.
To add or remove podcasts on each station, go to the Stations section of the Podcasts app.
You can change the order they appear on your website or mobile app. You can also toggle the visibility of a podcast. A hidden podcast is still accessible on your website, but it doesn't appear on the podcasts index page.
Localising
If your website supports localisation, you can select whether a podcast will appear on the podcasts index page for a person's location preference. We don't support localisation at the individual episode level.
RSS
Each podcast has an RSS feed which is automatically generated. You'll find the link to it within Aiir, at the top of the podcast page on your website, and in a meta tag so that search engines and browsers can find it too.
You'll need the RSS feed's URL if you want to submit your podcast to stores and directories.
The RSS feed must validate according to a specific standard, otherwise it may be rejected by third parties, so use the Validate button to check. If there's a problem and you don't think you can resolve it, get in touch.
Submitting to a third party podcast directory
Podcasting is at the size it is today thanks to the discoverability of podcasts via directories, such as Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify.
These apps, either pre-loaded on to computers and phones, or used by your listeners as a place to consume other audio content, offer a fantastic place to find your podcast specifically or discover it amongst other featured content.
For that reason it's really important to ensure your podcast is available everywhere your potential listeners might be. We've provided details below on the three most common directories. If you're interested in another, it's most likely the process is similar and involves signing in and providing the RSS URL you can see inside the Aiir Podcast app. Contact us if you're having trouble.
Apple Podcasts
To get your podcast to appear in the Apple Podcasts app, submit it via the Apple Podcasts for Creators website. You can find out more in their help guide.
Google Podcasts
To get your podcast to appear in the Google Podcasts app and directory, submit it via the Google Podcasts Manager. Google will also automatically show podcasts in their search results when they discover the podcast feed on your website.
Spotify
Embedding images in podcast episodes
It is possible to embed an image directly in an MP3 file so that it appears in iTunes while listening.
- Drag and drop the MP3 into the Music section of iTunes
- When it appears in the list of tracks, right-click it, and choose Get Info
- In the window that opens, click the Artwork tab, then click the Add Artwork button
- Browse for the image you wish to use as cover art, and click OK
- The image has now been embedded in the MP3 itself, and you can upload the MP3 to Aiir