Podcast – Week 6 – Software and distribution

So, I have put in the leg work regarding the creation of the podcast itself. However, what is the best way to share this podcast with the population? Is it better to post it every week on the sites I wish to use, or is there a platform that could streamline the process of posting? Well, I have found that most podcasters discuss how to distribute your podcast most effectively. All of the podcaster “how-to” guides that I have found discuss the variety of distribution platforms that they suggest. Each guide suggested similar platforms, but highly recommended different platforms. Lets look at 3 of the most popular and how they would work for some beginners like myself.

Spotify for creators (AKA Anchor)

If we are looking for a completely free platform, Spotify for Creators is completely free to use as a creator. Also, if you remember from last week’s post, it came highly suggested by Jade. Spotify for Creators boast about is easy to use interface and the broad audience that it exposes your work to. One of the drawbacks is that it is limited in its monetization potential. So, if one of your main focuses is to monetize your work, this might not be the best platform for you to use.

 

PodBean

Now, if we start to look at the platforms that have not only a free version, but also a paid subscription option, we start to have a lot more options. PodBean is easy to use and allows for numerous monetization options. When I did further research on the platforms (from other podcasters) this platform was one of the most recommended platforms for creators to use. From what I understand, the interface is a little dated, and the best exposure options come from the paid subscriptions.

Buzzsprout

Buzzsprout, recommended and used by Jerry Potter, comes highly recommended for beginner podcasters. It is easy to use and grows the audience quickly. While I can see the desire to use Buzzsprout, as someone who is looking at potentially starting a podcast, the free version does not give you a lot of options. First, it fails to give you a hosting site for your podcast. While it is understandable why they would not create this for the free option, I find that this would be a huge hinderance regarding potential audiences and giving me a real understanding if this is a viable option. However, the analytics (particularly from the paid options) are second to none and provide essential information for those looking to grow their podcast. It also ensures that your podcast is visible in the most optimal locations which allows your audience to grow at a rapid pace. Furthermore, Buzzsprout offers an episode transcription service. This allows for you to reach a broader audience and be more inclusive.  I feel this is a great option if you were a beginner and strikes a good balance between monetization and growing your audience quickly.

Acast and Rss.com – runners up

Now, looking only at how to guides does limit the advice from actual podcasters to only the podcasters that create how-to guide videos. Looking at the advice from podcasters who are connected through social media, and not solely creating how-to videos, we get a more complete list of suggested distribution platforms. I found that these two platforms also came highly recommended by the podcasting community.

Acast has a decently robust “free” option for podcasters. It includes a monetizing option, a basic website and a limit of 5 episodes for a podcast. It also ensures there are no hidden fees when you sign up. However, their paid options (particularly the higher cost options) give creators better features to help grow and monetize their podcasts. While this is a highly suggested platform, it is one of the most expensive platforms (tied with PodBean) to gain access to all its features. I would say this is a platform for those who are serious podcasters, and don’t want their material shared as freely when uploaded to the platform (more on this later).

Rss.com, while providing a special “Educator” option, is not free. They require a minimum of $4.99 (USD) per month (for the educator platform) to use their hosting platform. They do provide a number of relevant resources that would help a beginning podcaster ensure they are as successful as possible. Even their account options (unlimited episodes and storage, social media sharing, episode scheduling, etc) are quite desirable. However, it is a cost that I would have to pay for something I am not even sure I want to start. Also, you do retain ownership of your content and can upload it anywhere else you choose. RSS only asks for non-exclusive rights to post and advertise your work.

Ownership of Content

Now this is something that I didn’t really consider until I saw the question in the FAQ on the Acast platform. However, this is vitally important to all content you share online. When looking at the terms of service for the 5 sites, there are some interesting variations.

First, Spotify for Creators, PodBean, Buzzsprout and RSS.com all agree that the content you create and upload is yours. They do not claim any ownership to the content. They all require “non-exclusive rights” in order to upload and advertise your content on the different platforms. The big difference is the more expansive rights that Spotify for Creators has in their contract. They have the “non-exclusive, transferable, sub-licensable, royalty-free, fully paid, irrevocable, worldwide license” rights to your work, while PodBean, Buzzsprout and RSS.com only claim “non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free” rights. So, in plain English, Spotify has more flexibility what they can do with your content (without needing your permission) while you use their service.

Acast has a slightly different agreement they require their creators to sign. They make it very clear that they do not own the content that you upload. However, when you look at their legal write up, Acast has sole control over your material (even though you retain ownership) and how it is used. You are unable to upload it anywhere else online when you are using their service. I guess this allows for proprietary usage and monetary benefits from their creators’ material. I feel this could be limiting, especially if one of your main focuses is to financially benefit from your podcast.

 

So which platform would/will I choose. Taking into account all of the aspects that I have found, I am debating between Spotify for Creators and Buzzsprout. I like the idea of an easy to use and completely free platform, like Spotify for Creators, particularly when I am unsure whether this will be something I pursue outside of this class.  However, I do not like the broad non-exclusive rights they include in their terms of service. I feel like I need a bit more control over the type of material I would like to produce. BuzzSprout  provides useful analytics and episode transcription. Inclusivity is important to me, and I want to ensure as many people who would like to access this material are able to. The only downside is that these options come at a cost. As I am unsure of my future as a podcaster, cost is a large drawback for me. I feel like the liberal rights that Spotify for Creators and the transcription of BuzzSprout encourages me to choose BuzzSprout in the end. The free option for BuzzSprout would provide a decent starting point for me and would allow me time to get a feel and make a final decision about podcasting in the future.