What are the best podcast hosting platforms for beginners?

"What is the best podcast platform for beginners?" The short answer is – it depends on you and your goals! I cover several popular podcast hosting platforms, including Captivate, Transistor, Buzzsprout, Podbean, and Libsyn. My personal favorite is Captivate because for $19 a month, you can create unlimited podcasts and episodes, with only a price increase if you go over 30,000 downloads. I use Captivate for multiple shows and love its feature set.I also highlight the importance of understanding your goals: Are you trying to sell your own stuff (like my book "Profit from Your Podcast") or are you aiming for advertising revenue? I explain how selling your own products can often be more profitable than relying on podcast ad revenue for most beginners.You're Going to Have a Learning CurveWhile each hosting platform has a learning curve, they're all pretty approachable. Don't stress about being a beginner – take a day or a few hours to watch tutorials and get to know the software. I encourage you to treat this learning phase as putting gas in your tank for a smoother ride ahead.For those wanting extra help, I offer step-by-step videos and support through the School of Podcasting. Use coupon code "Listener" at checkout for a discount!Websites and Companies mentioned- Captivate.fm (Podcast hosting)- Transistor.fm (Podcast hosting)- Buzzsprout.com (Podcast hosting)- Podbean.com (Podcast hosting)- Libsyn.com (Podcast hosting)- Blubrry.com (Podcast hosting)- Schoolofpodcasting.com (My educational resource for podcasters)- profitfromyourpodcast.com (My book website)- RSS.com (Mentioned in context of advertising)- Spotify.com (Mentioned in context of advertising)- TidyCal.com (Calendar tool I use)Ecamm Live (Live streaming)If you need more guidance, reach out to me—I’m here to help podcasters grow!Mentioned in this episode:Podcasting in Six Weeks - Free CourseWe are bringing back Podcasting in Six Weeks and this time we are running an experiment and that is IT's FREE. Meeting weekly and go step by step and launch your podcast (it's designed for someone who does have a podcast, but wants one). Go to www.schoolofpodcasting.com/sixweeksPodcasting in Six WeeksReady To Grow Your Podcast?Starting August 19th (So sign up now) a cohort class at the School of Podcasting will lead members through the process and steps of growing your audience. You will receive feedback, and action steps to take to make your show in downloads, reach, and influence. Use the coupon code listener to save when you sign upSchool of PodcastingThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: OP3 - https://op3.dev/privacy