Which Podcast Hosting Service Should I Use?

There are many reasons why you might want to host your own podcast. Maybe you want to experiment with different formats or have complete control over your content. Or, maybe you just want to be able to share your passion with the world. No matter your reasons, once you’ve decided to go down this route, the next step is to choose the right platform. We’ve got you covered on this front. Here’s a quick run-down of the different types of podcast hosting services available and why you might want to choose one over the other.

Free Podcast Hosting Services

If your reasons for podcasting are fairly altruistic, you may decide to go with a free podcast hosting service. These platforms give you the basics – mostly just a website where you can put your podcast’s audio files and some basic analytics. However, for someone who values their privacy, these free services are not for you. They’re ideal for someone who just wants to experiment with podcasting or has a small audience they want to grow. If you want to go down this route, the two most popular choices are Anchor and Podbean.

Paid Podcast Hosting Services

If your reasons for wanting to podcast are more entrepreneurial, you might want to go with a paid podcast hosting service. These platforms give you a lot more flexibility and control over your content. They also provide advanced analytics, so you can really hone in on what’s working and what needs to be changed. The two most popular choices in this category are Gimlet and Studio71.

Professional Podcast Hosting Services

If your reasons for wanting to podcast are fairly professional, you might want to go with a professional podcast hosting service. These platforms give you the flexibility and control over your content that paid services offer, plus the added bonus of having a team of people helping you run your show. The two most popular choices in this category are Blubrry and Midroll.

Entertainment Podcast Hosting Services

If your reasons for wanting to podcast are just for entertainment, you might want to go with an entertainment podcast hosting service. These platforms give you the flexibility and control over your content that paid services offer, plus the bonus of having people who love your content helping to grow your audience. The two most popular choices in this category are Buzzsprout and Chorus Podcast.

Vlogging Podcast Hosting Services

If your reasons for wanting to podcast are both entertaining and educational, you might want to go with a vlogging podcast hosting service. These platforms give you the flexibility and control over your content that paid services offer, plus the unique bonus of being able to post videos of yourself explaining things. The two most popular choices in this category are Pat Flynn’s Overcast and Michael Hyatt’s Platform.

Choosing the Right Platform

No matter which type of podcast hosting service you choose, the next step is to choose the right platform. To find the best platform for your needs, you need to ask yourself a few questions. These should help you narrow down your choices to a manageable number. In addition, when choosing a podcast hosting service, be sure to consider their support, the value, and functionality of their mobile apps, and the quality of their online communities. Here are the key questions to ask:

Which Type Of Content Are You Producing?

The first and most important question to ask is which type of content are you producing? Are you producing audio content, video content, or both? Each type of content has its perks and quirks. For example, if your top motivation for creating a podcast is to inform and educate, you might choose to go with a paid service that enables you to do more rigorous SEO. However, if your major motivation is to entertain, you might want to consider an entertainment service.

What Type Of Audience Do You Want To Reach?

The next question to ask is what type of audience do you want to reach? There are many different types of audiences that fall within the realms of podcasting. For example, let’s say you’re creating an educational podcast. You might want to reach academia, teachers, students, or anyone interested in learning. Each of these groups has their perks and quirks. For example, teachers might value interactive content such as quizzes or exams while students might value more casual delivery. To really hone in on the ideal audience for your show, take the time to find out who your specific listeners are and what they’re interested in. This way, you’ll be able to choose the right type of content and the right platform to reach your target audience.

Which Type Of Content Do You Have The Time To Produce?

Producing content that entertains or informs can be quite time-consuming. Depending on how long your show runs, how frequently you post, and how much work you want to put in, it can be quite the juggling act. For a vlogging show, capturing and organizing video content can be quite the time-consuming process. So much so that many vloggers don’t even do it themselves, but rather, outsource to a freelance videographer.

Which Type Of Marketing Campaigns Work Best For Your Podcast?

The next step after choosing the platform is to choose the right marketing campaigns. Depending on your budget and how well you want to rank for particular keywords, you might want to choose paid campaigns or organic campaigns. Let’s say you decide to go with paid campaigns. You’ll need to decide between Adwords, YouTube Ads, or Facebook Ads. Each of these has their perks and quirks. For example, if your budget is limited, then you might want to choose YouTube Ads over Facebook Ads or Adwords because you can run multiple ads on each platform. If you want to know more, check out our review of the best PPC (Pay Per Click) platforms here.

How Much Money Do You Have To Spend?

One of the most important questions to ask is how much money do you have to spend? The amount of money you spend on a podcast hosting service will depend on how long you plan on being able to podcast, how frequently you plan on posting, and how much work you want to put in. For a newbie, it might be best to go with the free options. However, if you have a limited budget, you might want to look into paid services. In addition to this, if time is no longer a constraint, you might want to consider a premium service where you can outsource some of the more tedious tasks. For example, if you’re looking for an audio-only platform where you can just upload your audio files and start building an audience, you might want to go with a premium service so you can focus more on creating content.

How Much Time Do You Have To Devote To This?

The last important question to ask is how much time do you have to devote to this? Once you’ve decided on the type of content you’ll produce and the audience you want to reach, it’s time to set a schedule. Even if you have the time to devote full-time to this activity, it’s still a good idea to set aside blocks of time each week to work on your podcast. Just to give you some time projections, if you’re using the average American’s yearly earnings as a guide, you might want to plan on spending around 20 hours a week (500 hours a month) just to qualify for a modest lifestyle.](https://blog.flexguard.com/blog/choosing-the-right-podcast-hosting-service?utm_source=YTS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=YTSTwentyFour)

In this article, we listed some of the most important things to consider before launching your podcast. Hopefully, this article will help you make the right choice and equip you with the basic information you need to succeed. If you have any other questions or comments, please feel free to add them below. Don’t forget to subscribe if you want to stay informed about new content and announcements regarding the podcasting industry. In addition to this, you can follow us on social media to stay connected and receive special offers and exclusive content.