The Podcast Setup Show (Pt 2)

Episode Summary: Part 2 of the podcast setup series — ID3 tagging, choosing a media host and building a website, generating a valid RSS feed, launching on iTunes and other directories, and marketing every new episode. What You'll Learn What ID3 tags are and why they matter for every podcast episode How to choose a media host and set up a website as your podcast's home base The 2 methods for generating a valid RSS feed The full launch-day and directory-submission process, from Podcasts Connect to Stitcher Part 1 covered planning, pre-launch decisions, and gear/production. This episode picks up with tagging and uploading to a media host, building a website, creating an RSS feed, going live on iTunes, submitting to other directories, and marketing. Step 11: ID3 Tags ID3 tags are the digital metadata baked into an MP3 podcast file. The process: record and edit the episode, export as .mp3, and add ID3 tags. Software used: ID3 Editor. Step 12: Media Hosts The place podcast MP3 (and video, for video podcasts) files actually live. Libsyn is the choice here, at $15/month; other notable options include Spreaker, SoundCloud, Podbean, and Blubrry. Step 13: Set Up a Website A home base is essential. The exact setup used: WordPress (free), the Divi theme by Elegant Themes ($69/year), and Bluehost ($13/month for cloud hosting). Step 14: RSS Feeds RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication, and a podcast can't launch without a valid feed — it's how new episodes reach subscribers' devices automatically the moment they're published. How to generate an RSS feed — 2 methods: Method 1: generate it directly through a media host like Libsyn. Method 2 (the method used here): use the PowerPress plugin by Blubrry on a WordPress site, even while hosting media through Libsyn — a mixed approach that works well. Step 15: Launch on iTunes Copy the RSS feed to the clipboard, head to Apple's Podcasts Connect portal, sign in with (or create) an Apple ID, click the blue +, and paste the feed in. Step 16: Submit to Other Directories iTunes is the biggest, most prominent library, but submitting to as many others as possible — Stitcher, Spreaker, TuneIn, Google Play — genuinely widens reach. Each one just needs an account and a one-time RSS feed submission for validation. Step 17: Marketing & Promotion The process after every episode: use Buffer to send the blog post and show notes out to Twitter, Instagram, Google+, and Facebook — repeated 4–5 times per episode. A promo video accompanies most episodes, though a simple photo with text graphics works fine too. A Medium article also gets written, essentially repurposing the show notes or script into a standalone blog piece. Bonus Step 18: Moneti… Read the complete show notes and resources on mikemurphy.ai. Support the show Subscribe To Weekly Newsletter: AI Unplugged Connect With Me 🌐 Website 📧 Newsletter 🎥 YouTube 🐦 X 💼 LinkedIn Comments, Questions & Feedback: [email protected]