Do you feel like it’s about time you transform your blog into something more? A podcast might sound great to you, it sounds great to us as well. This is why we are going to show you how to set up your podcast on WordPress.

Wait, what is podcast anyway? Briefly said a podcast is a set of series that periodically appear in a certain place on the internet where users can subscribe and download them. Think of them as an internet radio, but not exactly. They are more similar to blogs and vlogs, actually.

The success of a podcast depends on the RSS Feed of the platform you use. Luckily, WordPress comes with a built-in RSS Feed so you don’t have to worry about that. Now the only thing you have to do is record and upload your audio files.

Choosing a media provider

We assume that you already have a WordPress website or a blog. If you do not have but you wish to create one for yourself click here. Since uploading your audio files directly to your website might do more harm than good, we highly recommend you use a media hosting service. If the audio files are stored in your site they will make it sluggish and thus lead to bad user experience. You can even see your subscribers go if your site is slower than a snail.

If we were to launch podcast ourselves we would definitely choose the media hosting service that Blubrry offers. And I will tell you why – because they offer user-friendly posting plugin for WordPress called PowerPress. Many of your favorite podcasters use it, therefore if you need help, just check the forum. On the top of that, you get tools that help you optimize your content for iTunes, create artwork and many many more.

Getting your recording equipment alive and kicking

If you were thinking you can just use your PC’s built-in microphone you are right. You can. But the sound quality would be terrible. You don’t want to terrorize your listeners, do you?

You’d better invest you a proper microphone that will serve you well for many years. There are plenty of options on the market but these are the most commonly used among podcasters:

Samson C01U (USB) – Great for newbies 🙂

Rode Podcaster (USB) – Best price/quality on the market

Heil PR-40 – you will need an audio mixer for this one. It is a professional microphone that connects with XLR cable, not USB.

There are other accessories you might like to have like pop filters or shock mounts but they are optional.

Recording your podcast

You have a decent mic and a pair of headphones, now you are ready to make some recordings. There are many simple and free recording software out there. Undoubtedly, Audacity is the one that pops into my mind right away.

It is favored for its intuitive interface, you just hit the “Record” button and you are already recording. The program allows you to edit your recordings as many times as you like.

Does it feel strange to hear just your voice? Don’t worry, you can import files and add them as a background music. You only have click “File” and then “Import”.

Once your podcast is ready we advise you to export it in MP3 format. This format is smaller compared to audio files but the sound quality is preserved.

Share your podcast with the world

Now, before you publish it, you first have to install the PowerPress plugin. If you are not familiar with WordPress plugins, click here.

When you activate the plugin, you have to configure your settings like statistics and Blubrry hosting services.

Fill in your credentials.

Just follow the instructions and fill the required fields. The software needs this information to work properly. Click “Save” at the bottom of the page.

Your website is ready for your podcasts but since you store them on Blubrry you have to upload them there first.

Uploading files to Blubbry

Log in to your account and go to podcaster dashboard. Then click “Upload New Media Files”.

Now you are ready to broadcast them in WordPress.

There are many broadcasting player plugins for WordPress, use the search engine to find one that suits your needs. It’s not a problem to go without a player but then your listeners should download the files in order to listen to them. The player plugin enables streaming directly from your site.

Publish your podcast on WordPress

Anyway, publishing your podcast is a piece of cake. Go to “Posts” and choose “Add New”. Think of separating your posts into different categories, according to their topic. It makes life easier for both you and your listeners/subscribers. Scroll down until you see “Podcast Episode”.

Now connect your Blubrry account and there it is. You just have to give your post a proper name and description to make it live.

Basically, this is everything you need to know to have your podcast published on WordPress. However, if you do a little bit more work you might make your podcast available to literally millions of potential subscribers. Interested? Check this out 🙂