8 – What is a Podcast RSS Feed and How Does it Power a Podcast?

Hello there and welcome to Podcaster Plus, the podcast offering tips and tricks to simplify and automate your podcast. Find all the episodes at podcasterplus.com/show. 

Today we’re getting into the subject that really often gets overlooked, something called the RSS feed. Many podcasters understand that they need an RSS feed, but I’m expecting that many of you don’t really know what it is, why you need it, and how it works. And this episode will hope to demystify what an RSS feed is and show you how it is the engine that drives your podcast distribution. 

As always, we will divide the podcast up into different sections, and here is section one. 

What is an RSS feed? So let’s start with the basics. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. Think of it a little bit like a digital bulletin board, specifically designed for podcasts and other content like blogs and new sites, things like that. It’s a standardized format, typically something called an XML file. But honestly, you don’t need to worry about that. And this contains all the essential information about your podcast. So, for example, the title, the description, episode titles, episode descriptions, links to download each episode, publication dates, and a whole load more. This information is structured in a way so that it’s easy to read and understand by podcast players, by podcast apps and directories. 

So section two, how does an RSS feed work? Well, imagine your podcast episodes as individual posts on this digital bulletin board. Your RSS feed acts as a central index, listing all your episodes and providing the necessary details for listeners to access them. When someone subscribes to your podcast through a platform like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app that you choose, they’re essentially subscribing to your RSS feed. The podcast app then regularly checks the RSS feed for any updates. Whenever you, the podcaster, upload a new episode and update your RSS feed, the app detects this change and automatically downloads the new episode for the listener. This is how listeners get new episodes without having to manually check your website or social media. This automated process is what makes podcasting so convenient for both creators and listeners. 

So section three, why is an RSS feed essential for podcast distribution? Well, the RSS feed is the backbone of podcast distribution. Without it, your podcast wouldn’t be discoverable on major podcast platforms. Podcast directories and apps rely on RSS feeds to locate and index your podcast. This means that if your podcast doesn’t have a properly formatted RSS feed, it won’t show up in search results and potential listeners will not be able to find it. Think of it like this, your RSS feed is your podcast’s address. It tells podcast apps where to find your episodes, and how listeners can subscribe to receive new episodes automatically. It’s the crucial link between you, the creator, and your audience. 

Okay, section four, creating and managing your RSS feed. Fortunately, creating and managing your RSS feed is usually handled automatically by your podcast hosting provider. So services like rss.com, Libsyn, Buzzsprout, and many others, provide tools to create and manage your RSS feed as part of their hosting packages. They handle the technical details, ensuring your feed is properly formatted, and updated whenever you upload a new episode. In fact, you may have no idea that this has even happened. However, it’s important to understand the basics of your RSS feed. You should be able to access and view your feed’s XML file to ensure all the information is accurate and up to date. Most hosting providers give you a way to view and download your RSS feed, and this allows you to check for errors and make any necessary adjustments.

Section five, beyond the basics, enhancing your RSS feed. Whilst your hosting provider handles the core functionality, there are ways to optimize your RSS feed and improve discoverability and listener experience. This includes carefully crafting your podcast title and description using relevant keywords and including high quality artwork. These details are all included within your RSS feed and are crucial to attracting new listeners. Many podcast hosting platforms offer tools and guidance about optimizing your RSS feed. 

So section six isn’t really a section, it’s just a conclusion. So here we go. In short, the RSS feed is the unsung hero of podcasting. It’s the invisible technology that powers the seamless delivery of your episodes to your listeners. Understanding its role is crucial for any podcast are looking to maximize their reach and audience. By working with a reliable hosting provider and optimizing your RSS feed, you can ensure your podcast is easily discoverable and accessible to a wider audience.

So there you go, that’s what I’ve got for you this time around. Thank you very much for tuning into the Podcaster Plus Podcast. You can find it at podcasterplus.com/show, and we’ll see you next time for some more tips and tricks to simplify and automate your podcast.