Everything You Need to Know about Creating RSS Feed Podcast

Understanding RSS Feed Podcasts: A Simple Guide for Beginners

If you want to keep your podcast listeners engaged and updated about new episodes, an RSS feed podcast is a must-have tool. As podcasting grows, RSS feeds help creators share new content with fans easily and automatically. This guide explains RSS feed podcasts, their setup, and why they are important for your show.

What Is an RSS Feed Podcast?

RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication." It is a web feed format that lets you share regular updates—like podcast episodes—online. Podcast platforms use RSS feeds to collect and display new episodes as soon as they are published.

• You no longer need to upload your podcast to each platform one by one.
• The RSS feed delivers updates to apps and directories automatically.

While a standard website RSS feed shares blog posts or news, an RSS feed podcast carries extra details, such as:

• Podcast title and description
• Categories and language
• Artwork and explicit content rating
• Show type and copyright info

Podcast directories (like Apple Podcasts and Spotify) use these details to display your show, making them essential for visibility.

What Does an RSS Feed Podcast Need?

Your podcast’s RSS feed must follow RSS 2.0 guidelines. Having the right tags ensures that major directories and platforms can index your podcast.

Required Podcast RSS Feed Tags

• Title
• Show description
• Episode details (title, number, summary)
• Language
• Categories
• Artwork or thumbnail
• Age or explicit content rating
• Copyright disclaimer

If you miss some tags, Google and other search engines may not suggest your show as a podcast (Google, 2022). Always double-check your feed before submission to major platforms.

How to Create an RSS Feed Podcast from Scratch

There are two main ways to create an RSS feed for your podcast:

• Manually set it up on your own server or website
• Use a podcast hosting platform

Manual RSS Feed Setup

If you build your own RSS feed, you need access to a website server. Tools like RSS Builder let you create and edit feeds for free:

1. Create a new feed and give it a title.
2. Add the website URL and show description.
3. Upload your episode files.
4. Fill in all required podcast tags (title, category, language, etc.).
5. Generate a unique RSS feed URL for your show.

Each time you release a new episode, update the RSS feed’s item info to include the episode’s URL and details.

Using a Podcast Hosting Platform

Most podcasters prefer an easier option using a podcast hosting platform. These services create and manage your RSS feed automatically. Examples include Podbean, Buzzsprout, and Anchor.

• Sign up and upload your podcasts to the platform.
• The platform generates an RSS feed URL for your show.
• Share the RSS feed URL with directories like Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.
• Anytime you upload a new episode, it appears in your RSS feed instantly.

Podcast hosts also help with file storage, metadata management, and distribution across platforms. This saves time and avoids technical errors.

How to Add Podcast Files to Your RSS Feed

To distribute new episodes, add their file URLs to your RSS feed’s list of items. If you use a hosting service:

• Go to your dashboard.
• Upload your new audio file.
• The platform updates the RSS feed for you.

If you are managing a manual feed:

• Upload your episode to your server.
• Edit your RSS feed XML file to include the new episode’s link and tag details.

Submitting Your RSS Feed Podcast to Directories

Once your RSS feed is ready, distribute it to the largest podcast directories to reach more listeners.

• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• Google Podcasts
• Stitcher
• Other podcast apps

Open your account on each platform and submit your RSS feed URL. After approval, your episodes will appear there each time you publish new content.

Why Do Podcasters Need RSS Feeds?

An RSS feed podcast offers several important benefits:

• Fans get new episodes automatically in their app or device
• You only upload once; the RSS feed does the sharing
• Podcast directories use the RSS feed to index and display your show
• Listeners can stream or download episodes whenever they want

According to Edison Research, over 62% of Americans have listened to a podcast (2022), and RSS feeds play a key part in this distribution.

Enhance Your Podcast with Transcriptions and Accessibility

Including podcast transcriptions and captions makes your content more accessible to a wider audience. Services like GoTranscript transcription services can help you:

• Provide text for search engines, boosting discoverability
• Improve accessibility for those with hearing challenges
• Offer closed captions and subtitling services for video podcasts

Conclusion

Using an RSS feed podcast ensures that your audience never misses an episode and that your show can be found easily across platforms. Whether you build your own feed or use a hosting service, following proper setup steps brings your podcast to more listeners. For podcasters looking to further improve user experience and reach, GoTranscript offers reliable solutions. Explore human-powered transcripts, automated transcription, closed captions, and translation services to boost your podcast’s accessibility and success.