Your Podcast RSS Feed Help Guide

21.01.2024

Need quick podcast RSS feed help?

If you are having problems with your RSS feed, let us get straight to the point. Either:

Use Cast Feed Validator (free tool) to check for errors in your RSS feed: https://www.castfeedvalidator.com/ or
Compare your RSS feed to another using the example from Listen Notes: https://feeds.simplecast.com/zG20qvRw

We recommend the first one.

Here’s an example

Here’s an example of the wonderful Lex Fridman podcast: castfeedvalidator.com/lexfridman. It’s perfect because you can see that there are a few things that could be improved.

If you don’t know your RSS feed URL, you can either find it on your host or search for it here: https://www.listennotes.com/ and click on “RSS”.

Introduction to Podcast RSS Feeds and Podcasting

Understanding how podcast distribution works is very helpful for any podcaster, and at the heart of this process lies the podcast RSS feed. An RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed for a podcast allows podcasts to be easily distributed and accessed across various platforms and devices. This article will delve into the essentials of what a podcast RSS feed is and why it is a critical component in the podcasting world.

Let’s say you’ve just finished your first episode of your new show and want to get people to listen to it. First, you need to understand that an episode of a podcast is not uploaded directly to any podcast directory, such as Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Instead, what these podcast directories want from you, is that you let them know when a new episode is ready and from where they can find the audio file to display it to users on their platform. That’s essentially what RSS feeds are utilised for. A bit more, but we’ll come to that. Once you have finished your first episode, you need to store your audio file somewhere. That’s what podcast hosting platforms are for. You create an account at one of them and upload your first episode. Additionally, you want to ensure it is distributable, and podcast hosting platforms will help you with creating the podcast RSS feed.

Understanding the Basics of Podcast RSS Feeds

The concept of an RSS feed might seem technical, but it’s quite straightforward, especially in the context of podcasting:

Definition of an RSS Feed: An RSS feed for a podcast is a standard XML file that contains information about your podcast and its episodes. Podcast directories and players read this file to display your podcast to listeners. XML stands for Extensible Markup Language and is a language used to structure information or content. XML is not limited to RSS feeds and is widely used. You don’t need a deep understanding of XML to get your podcast RSS feed ready, so don’t worry about it.
How It Works: The RSS feed is automatically updated every time you publish a new episode, ensuring your listeners have the latest content. It includes details such as the episode title, description, release date and audio file URL.
Distribution: By submitting your podcast RSS feed URL to podcast platforms (such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts), your podcast becomes available to a wide audience. The platforms constantly check your feed for new episodes to update their listings.
What’s contained in a podcast RSS feed?: Everything a podcast directory needs to display your podcast to users. Basically all the information about your podcast, but nicely structured as XML. For example: title of your podcast, a summary, language, category, podcast cover, and all the information related to your episodes, such as release dates and where the audio file can be found. If you want to see an example, you can go to www.listennotes.com/rss-viewer and enter an RSS feed URL. You can find an RSS feed URL using the listennotes search function. Just search for your favourite show and look at the RSS URL.

So, what is a podcast RSS feed? It’s the backbone of podcast distribution, making your content available to listeners around the world.

The Importance of RSS Feeds in Podcasting

RSS feeds play a vital role in podcasting and their importance cannot be underestimated:

Essential for Distribution: The primary role of a podcast RSS feed in podcasting is to distribute your content. Without an RSS feed, it would be difficult to distribute your podcast across multiple platforms.
Enables Automation: Once set up, the RSS feed automates the distribution process. New episodes are instantly available on all subscribed platforms as soon as they are published.
Control Over Content: With an RSS feed for your podcast, you maintain control over your content. You can update, modify, or delete episode information and it will reflect across all platforms.
Reach and Accessibility: An RSS feed maximizes your podcast’s reach, making it accessible to anyone, anywhere, on any device that supports podcast consumption.
Analytics and Tracking: Many podcast hosting services offer analytics based on your RSS feed, providing insights into your audience, episode popularity, and other valuable metrics.

In summary, understanding ‘what is an RSS feed podcast’ is essential for successful podcasting. It’s the tool that amplifies your reach, simplifies distribution, and offers valuable insights into your audience’s behavior.

Creating Your Podcast RSS Feed

Creating an RSS feed for your podcast is mandatory to make your content accessible to anyone. Here’s a step by step guide on how to create a podcast RSS feed:

1. Choose a Podcast Hosting Platform

Select a Host: Choose a podcast hosting provider that suits your needs. Popular options include Buzzsprot, Spreaker, Libsyn, Podbean, and Anchor.
Why a Host is Important: We covered this briefly at the beginning. A hosting platform not only stores your audio files, but also helps you create and manage your podcast’s RSS feed. Theoretically, you could host the media files on your own website and generate a “podcast-only RSS feed”, but if you are just starting out with podcasting, we recommend that you do not do this to save yourself a lot of time.

2. Setting Up Your Podcast

Create an Account: Sign up and create your podcast profile on the hosting platform.
Podcast Details: Fill in your podcast details like title, description, category, and artwork, which will be included in your RSS feed.

3. Uploading Episodes

Episode Upload: Upload your podcast episodes to the hosting platform.
Metadata: For each episode, provide the title, description and other relevant metadata. This information will be reflected in your RSS feed. You can decide whether your content is explicit or not. It’s explicit if it contains only adult content. Keep an eye on this.

4. Generating the RSS Feed

Automatic Generation: Most hosting platforms will automatically generate an RSS feed for your podcast.
Feed URL: Once your feed has been generated, you’ll receive a URL. You’ll submit this URL to podcast directories. Most podcast hosting platforms automatically submit the RSS feed to podcast directories. You can choose which ones you want to submit to.

Tips for RSS Feed Creation

Consistency: Ensure all information is consistent and up-to-date across episodes.
Quality Check: Regularly check your feed for errors or issues that might prevent it from updating properly.

Optimizing Your Podcast RSS Feed

You can’t really optimise the RSS feed itself, but it’s what’s in the RSS feed that matters - your content.

Essential Elements of a Podcast RSS Feed

Clear Titles: Use clear and descriptive titles for both your podcast and your episodes. Avoid titles like “Episode 1”.
Accurate Descriptions: Provide accurate and compelling descriptions with relevant keywords for SEO.
Quality Artwork: Include high-quality artwork in your RSS feed, as this is often the first thing listeners see. This is often undervalued. We can’t emphasise enough how important this is. Sometimes it’s just a second for a potential listener to decide for or against listening to a show.

Improving Discoverability

Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords in your podcast and episode descriptions to improve searchability.
Regular Updates: Keep your podcast feed updated with regular episode releases to maintain listener engagement.

Technical Aspects

Validating Your Feed: Use tools like Cast Feed Validator to ensure your RSS feed is correctly formatted and free of errors.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting RSS Feeds

Dealing with issues in your podcast’s RSS feed is a part of managing it. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Feed Not Updating

Check for Errors: Ensure there are no errors in your latest episode upload that could be preventing the feed from updating.
Hosting Platform Issues: Sometimes the issue might be on the hosting platform’s end. Check their status page or contact support.

Inconsistent Episode Display

Metadata Accuracy: Make sure all your episodes have consistent and correct metadata.
Check on Multiple Platforms: Verify if the issue is with a specific directory or across all platforms where your podcast is available.

Broken Feed URL

Verify URL: Double-check the RSS feed URL that has been submitted to directories. It should match the one provided by your hosting platform.
Redirection Issues: If you’ve changed hosting platforms or feed URLs, ensure proper redirection is in place.

Other Issues

Encoding: Some special characters are not allowed or may be encoded incorrectly, such as apostrophes.
Dates: There is usually a strict format that must be followed.

Monitoring and Updating Your Podcast RSS Feed

Regularly monitoring and updating your RSS feed is helpful for maintaining the health and relevance of your podcast. Here’s how to manage your podcast’s RSS feed effectively:

Regular Monitoring

Detect Issues Early: Regularly check your RSS feed for any technical issues or errors that might affect distribution.
Platform Requirements: Stay informed about changes in platform policies or requirements to ensure your feed remains compliant.

Updating Your RSS Feed

Adding New Episodes: Each time you publish a new episode, ensure it’s correctly reflected in your RSS feed.
Metadata Updates: Keep your podcast’s metadata, like descriptions and artwork, up to date in your RSS feed.

Managing Feed Changes

Hosting Changes: If you switch hosting providers, ensure a smooth transition of your RSS feed to avoid disruptions in service.
URL Redirection: In case of a feed URL change, set up proper redirection from the old feed to the new one to retain your subscribers.

Utilizing Analytics

Tracking Performance: Use analytics tools provided by your hosting platform to track the performance and reach of your podcast episodes.
Insights for Improvement: Analyze listener trends and behaviors to make informed decisions about future content and marketing strategies.

Advanced RSS Feed Features for Podcasters

Exploring advanced features of RSS feeds can enhance the podcasting experience for both creators and listeners:

Customization Options

Custom Tags: Use custom tags in your RSS feed to provide additional information about your podcast or episodes.
Content Categorization: Implement categories in your feed to help listeners find specific types of content more easily.

Interactive Elements

Chapter Marks: Add chapter marks to allow listeners to navigate to different sections of an episode easily.
Enhanced Show Notes: Include links and multimedia content in your show notes for an enriched listening experience.

Security and Access Control

Feed Security: Implement measures to protect your RSS feed from unauthorized access or alterations.
Private Feeds: Explore options for creating private RSS feeds for exclusive content, like bonus episodes or premium subscriber content.

Multi-language Support

Language Tags: Use language tags for episodes in different languages to cater to a diverse audience.
Localized Descriptions: Provide episode descriptions in multiple languages for better accessibility and reach.

Conclusion

Understanding and managing an RSS feed for your podcast is fundamental in the digital age of content creation. An RSS feed not only simplifies the distribution of your podcast but also opens up numerous possibilities for growth and engagement.

Recap of Key Points

To effectively generate an RSS feed for your podcast, it’s helpful to understand what an RSS feed is, how it benefits your podcast, and the steps involved in creating and optimizing it.
Regular monitoring, updating, and exploring advanced features can significantly enhance your podcast’s reach and listener experience.
We invite you to share your experiences and tips on managing your podcast’s RSS feed. What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?
For those new to podcasting, we hope this guide demystifies the concept of podcast RSS feeds and aids you in your podcasting journey. Happy podcasting!

Final Thoughts

RSS feeds can be intimidating at first. However, once you understand what RSS feeds are, how to set them up and how to maintain them, they will play a minor role in your daily podcast life. If you are still unsure about your podcast RSS feed, help is just a click away. Send us a message on social media or by email.

Exploring more

Read more about the basics of podcasting: