There are a couple of hosting options for your podcast. The option you choose really depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Let’s take a look at each option.
Option 1: Host your podcast externally. This can be done through many of the blog sites, such as WordPress and Blogger. If you choose this option, be aware that you will be censored in most cases. This option is really only good if you are a hobbyist, not if you are podcasting for business purposes.
You will need a place to store your podcast audio files. This can be done through a free file storage site, such as Our Media at http://www.ourmedia.com or File Den at http://www.fileden.com.
Option 2: Get your own web host and domain name. There are numerous options for web hosting, with varying prices, but you should ideally look for a service that offers a CPanel, and includes Fantastico with your account. You can purchase your domain name through AwareIndia at http://www.awareindia.net . Many hosting services also offer domain registration.
Once you have secured webhosting and a domain name, you will want to go to your control panel, click on Fantastico, and look for the WordPress blog. Ideally, you will install this on the top domain.
Once WordPress is installed, the next thing to do is to download and install the PodPress plugin. In the WordPress control panel that you have just installed, go to the tab that says ‘plugins.’ You will need to download the plugin, which can be found at http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/podpress/. Once you have downloaded it, follow the WordPress instructions for installing it.
This is an incredibly useful tool. It makes it easy to set your podcast up on your blog, will automatically include a podcast player so that people can listen directly from your site, and will also ping major podcast directories each time you upload a new podcast. You can see an example of how the PodPress plugin is used with a WordPress blog at http://www.puppies-and-pooches.com/puppy-blog. You will see another example at http://www.dougchampigny.com.
Keep your overall purpose in mind. A hobbyist can use free resources, and never pay for more than a long distance call to create and host a podcast. But for business purposes, don’t be cheap. Get the equipment, software, the domain name, and the hosting to do the job right!
For hosting, you need to consider how often you will podcast, and how big your podcasting files will be. This will determine how much disk space you need on your server. Ideally, you should start out with at least a 1000 MB site, but note that as your podcast grows, you will need more space.
Also note that the MP3 files that are your podcasts will be approximately one half to one megabyte in size per minute. This means that for a thirty minute podcast the final file size is going to be about fifteen to 30 MB in size. If there is more music, it will be closer to 1MB per minute. If there is all talk and no music, it will be closer to half a megabyte.
Of course, this also depends on the bit rate that is used. Bit rate determines the overall quality of the compressed file. For a podcast that contains more music than anything else, you need to use 128kbps bit rate, which is CD quality. For a podcast that is mostly talking, without music, you can use a 64kbps bit rate, which produces FM Radio quality. If there is both music and talking on the podcast, you need a 96kbps bit rate, which is close to CD quality.
Bandwidth is also an issue that you must address when selecting a hosting service. Bandwidth is essentially the amount of data, including audio that your web hosting service is going to allow each month. Bandwidth will be used whether your listeners are downloading your podcast to listen to it on another device, or if they are staying on your site to listen to it via your web based podcast player.
To determine how much bandwidth you will need, get an average size of your podcasts (in megabytes) and multiply by the number of people that you expect to download each podcast that you produce. Take that number and multiply again by the number of podcasts that you will make available each month.
For example, you plan to produce weekly, so you will have an average of four podcasts per month, each being about 1 hour long. You will have more talking on your podcast then music, so you can expect each podcast to be about 15MB in size. You figure that you can get approximately 500 listeners each month through your promotions. Here is the formula:
Average size of file x number of listeners x number of podcasts per month
15 x 500 = 7500 x 4 = 30,000 — 30 Gigabytes of data transfer per month
As you can see, it can add up, and when you look at hosting prices, you may see that for many web hosting services, the cost of bandwidth can really add up as well. On the other hand, you will usually be charged a great deal more for going over your bandwidth each month, or worse, you could be shut down by your web host company!
Get what you need to start with, in terms of disk space and bandwidth, and upgrade as necessary.
Related posts:
- Selecting Your Video Blog Host and Domain
If you have already started podcasting, and you’ve set up a domain name, web hosting, and a blog for this, there usually isn’t any need to set up a separate domain name, web hosting, or blog for your video blog. It can all be incorporated into one. Your blog will... - How To Uploading Your Podcast
Ideally, you will create a new directory on your web server for your podcast files. This will help you keep them separate from other website files, and make them very easy to find later. Your podcast should be saved in the .mp3 file format. It is also a good idea... - Editing Your Podcast
Congratulations! You’ve just recorded your first podcast. Now, you just need to get it cleaned up so that it is fit for human consumption. Hopefully, you’ve taken the time to learn how to use your editing software. Start by cleaning up the noise in the background. No matter how silent... - Using ID3 Tags for Your Podcast
Hopefully, your podcast is going to be widely distributed. It can be distributed via your website, someone else’s website, sites such as iTunes, and more. Because of this, it is important to understand and edit the ID3 tag that gets distributed along with your podcast. Podcasts are distributed as MP3... - How To Promote Podcast
Now that your podcast has been planned, written, practiced, recorded, and edited, it is time for the hard work to pay off. You need listeners – otherwise, the entire process was kind of pointless. Getting listeners is easier than you might think. First, remember that the PodPress plugin automatically sends... - Writing and Planning Your Podcast Content
What will you say? Hopefully, you’ve listened to other podcasts and developed an idea about your podcast show. Let’s start with a few basics. First, how often do you want to produce a new podcast? Will this be a one time thing (hopefully not)? Or will you be producing podcasts... - Recording Your Podcast
Have the word processor check your grammar. Spelling isn’t important here, as long as you can read your own typing. Grammar, however, is important, depending on what you hope to accomplish. A Southern accent is fine, poor grammar is usually not. Load your text up into the podcast teleprompter, and... - Action List Part 2
□ Download and install Skype from http://www.skype.com. Play around with it, and see how it is used. Explore all of the features. □ Write a short podcast content outline or script, and phone in your first podcast. Download it to your computer. If you already have editing software, play around... - Action List For Video Blogging
□ Acquire the tools that you need for quality video. This includes a good digital video camera, a tripod, and editing tools. Choose a place where you will shoot your video blog episodes (if it will be the same place each time), and get it set up with the appropriate... - The Difference between Video Blogging and Podcasting
Some people assume that video blogging and podcasting is the same thing. As you read earlier, this is not the case. They are two very different elements, even if they have similar properties. A video blog, as the name suggests, is a video that is placed on the traditional blog... - File Format Selection for Video Blogging and Uploading
Unlike podcasts, which should be uploaded in .mp3 file format, videos can be uploaded in one of several different formats. The format you choose depends largely on how big the video file is, the player that you are using the call the video on the server, and of course on... - Podcasting Tools You Need
Now that you know more about podcasting and video blogging, let’s dive right in, and get started with podcasting. Before you start, there are certain tools that you need. Be warned. There are a variety of tools, and many of them are very high priced, but that’s not really what... - The Difference Between SubDomains And Add-On Domain Names Basics
Let us assume that you have a very good domain name with you. Did you ever know that you could add and compliment another domain in addition to your existing domain name? These domain names are known by the names like sub domains or add-on domains. However, they are almost... - Top 5 Benefits of Using WordPress For Your Website
If you have never built a website before, one of the quickest and easiest ways to get your first domain live and operational in only minutes is to install WordPress on your website. WordPress is a blogging platform that allows you to have a pre-built website for free that will... - The Purpose of Podcasting or Video Blogging
There are actually many reasons why one might want to podcast or to produce a video blog. The reasons are as varied as the people who do it. Some people just want to be heard. Some people want to increase business. Some people just want to draw attention to issues...