If you are a podcaster, you are probably using or have heard of Buzzsprout as a podcast hosting platform. The company offers some of the best hosting services on the market, having been around for over a decade and attracting more than 100,000 users.
Buzzsprout offers an array of features to help podcasters create and market their shows. They also offer a free plan which makes it extremely easier for a newbie to get started. Want to know more about this podcast hosting service provider?
That is what this review is all about – we are going to look at the things that make Buzzsprout stand out as well as those that should be improved.
Since there are a lot of options out there in terms of podcast hosting, it is imperative that you understand the strengths and weaknesses of these hosting sites before making a final decision.
Perhaps the most challenging part for new podcasters is setting up their Buzzsprout for their first show. And even experienced users tend to encounter some headaches when it comes to shifting their podcasts from one platform to Buzzsprout. But this platform takes care of all that wonderfully, making the entire process seamless.
So let’s start with setting up a new podcast on Buzzsprout.
The good thing about this hosting platform is that they offer a free plan, which you can start on with as you set your show up.
You can always upgrade it later to a premium plan since, on the free plan, episodes disappear after three months (90 days).
Nevertheless, the free plan is perfect for getting your show off the ground.
Simply click the signup button and complete the signup steps using an easy step-by-step guide. Everything is baby-step and you will be required to provide details such as the title and type of the show (serial episodic). Once you have created your first episode, simply upload the file in the “Upload a new episode” section.
After that, you will be asked to fill in additional details, mostly metadata, such as time of release, description, and the episode number.
Remember the description is very important in getting your potential listeners interested in your show, so make sure you take your time to write an exciting podcast description.
Next, once you have uploaded your first episode, you will need to list it in different directories. To do this, go to the “Directories” section, from which you can access all the options available to you.
Pick from directories options such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts among others. After checking your podcast details, which the system will automatically pre-fill, click submit and you are good to go.
You may not want to publish the show immediately, in which case you can just leave it on schedule or draft and then you publish it anytime you wish in the future.
The platform also features auto-modification of files.
What about migrating to Buzzsprout? We have seen that getting started on Buzzsprout is fairly simple. But what if you want to move your podcast from another hosting company to Buzzsprout? It is equally simple!
First, you log into your Buzzsprout account, and you will be asked if you are a new podcaster or have a podcast already.
In this case, choose the second option, after which you will be asked to search for the name of your podcast (note that Buzzsprout will by default search on iTunes).
What if your show is not on iTunes? Just type in your RSS feed and Buzzsprout will automatically import all your episodes.
I should mention that when on a free account, you will be allowed to import only two episodes.
Apart from automatically importing your episodes, the platform will also upload all metadata and artwork of your podcast, so that you don’t have to fill in the description and other details again.
Lastly, you will need to redirect the RSS feed. While it sounds a little bit technical, it is a breeze process thanks to Buzzsprout.
Simply copy and paste the new Buzzsprout RSS feed in place of your current hosting service information.
And that is all when it comes to migrating your podcast to Buzzsprout. Remember you can switch from Libsyn, Blubrry, and Podbean among others, to this platform.
Another thing to keep in mind is that RSS feeds can take up to a month to be updated. So you will have to continue with your current hosting service until about a month.
One of the things that make Buzzsprout a really great podcast hosting platform is its publishing workflow. Once you log in, you come across a huge “Upload a New Episode” button to start creating your show.
After clicking the upload new episode button, simply drag your audio into the upload box and the file will be sent to Buzzsprout’s storage.
The platform can sometimes change your file to make it a standard format and bitrate. This feature is available for free users and it means you can just upload anything you wish and let the platform worry about the right format.
However, if this is a downside for you, you can always upgrade to a paid plan to avoid it.
Next, you will be asked to fill out the details of your episode. Be careful what you put on this page because it will also be your id3 tags that the platform will include in your mp3 file.
Just to be sure, Buzzsprout takes details such as the following:
At this stage, your episode is ready to be published unless you want to put it on a drafty or schedule for another date in the future.
With an additional $6, you can enjoy the Magic Mastering feature in Buzzsprout. With this tool, you can polish up your audio before publishing, just like an Instagram filter, but for your audio.
This feature, while is not that helpful for experienced or professional audio editors, can come in handy for those who have no knowledge of audio production.
Buzzsprout’s Magic Mastering allows you to streamline your audio editing process, meaning you can spend your precious time writing and recording the show and less time in the editing room post-production.
If you are a beginner, this feature can prove to be a lifesaver, particularly if you do not have enough experience with audio production or engineering.
You can improve your recording for spoken words leading to better encoding automatic edits that optimize the sound quality of your episodes. You can eliminate background noise as well as hissing sound and adjust voice and music volumes automatically.
This feature attracts an additional charge but once you start using it, you will immediately realize that the extra 6 dollars is worth it. But you can still try it for free to test it on an episode.
When you upload an episode, you will see a prompt asking you to try Magic Mastering for one episode. Accept and upload your audio file and the feature will be automatically applied.
In addition to the great features this platform has, it also offers some promotion and marketing tools to allow podcasters to spread the word about their shows.
These tools include the following:
The first and one of the most useful promotion tools is video soundbite. With this feature, you can select a section of your audio and create a short video from it to create a trailer for your new episode. This way you will be able to attract more audience to your show and invite them to come and listen.
Moreover, the tool is super easy to use and all you need to do is start time or section for the clip.
In addition to video soundbites, Buzzsprout also offers a dynamic advertising feature that lets you add relevant ads at the start and end of your episode, to promote your show.
You can also use this feature to share or announce your new episodes to your audience.
If you are new to podcasting, chapter markers are among the standard features of podcasts today. This feature allows you to divide episodes into chapters or segments based on specific topics.
Creating chapters enables you to attract a new audience since they allow listeners to have greater control over what and or when to listen within an episode.
The best time to add chapter markers is during editing, although Buzzsprout allows you to do it within the platform.
As a podcaster, you want to know how many people download your episodes per month or whatever period you set. Statistics are usually standard across the board, regardless of the hosting platform.
With this feature, Buzzsprout lets you access stats about anything you want to know about your podcast, including recent episodes, most popular episodes, and the number of published episodes among others.
The platform also allows you to find your podcast achievements and badges within the stats area, to provide you with that impetus to get going when you feel things are not going your way.
This platform offers everything you need in order to host, promote, market, and even track your podcast. Some of its great features include:
To monetize your podcast and generate some income, Buzzsprout comes with an affiliate marketing database that you can join directly from your Buzzsprout account.
You can access the Affiliate Marketplace under the tab labeled Resources, and you will be able to find a number of ready-to-partner firms.
With Buzzsprout, you can submit your podcast to a number of directories including Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music just to name a few.
And it is pretty easy to connect with all these directories via Buzzsprout. Just click on the “Directories” and choose the network you want and press submit.
If you want to create a website for your podcast, you can easily add your show to it with Buzzsprout using a few steps. The platform itself offers two options:
Buzzsprout has an API that enables for 3rd part integration with your show. For instance, you can integrate your podcast with Hindenburg Journalist and Alitu.
This is probably what you have been waiting to hear – how much does Buzzsprout cost? Well, the site has four different pricing plans that easily fit most pockets.
With the above plans, you can easily calculate how much Buzzsprout services will cost you per month if you know how long your podcast is.
With all these great features, Buzzsprout is without a doubt one of the best options for podcast hosting. It is easy to set up for beginners and also extremely easy to migrate your podcast to the platform. However, their upload limit can stand in the way of your content length, but it is definitely not a deal-breaker. Buzzsprout offers a lot of value, and you should try it out – whether you are a beginner or experienced podcaster.
Buzzsprout is one of the best hosting platforms for podcasts and great for beginners thanks to its baby steps setup guide.
Although there are plenty of podcast hosting platforms out there, Buzzsprout edges all of them with its incredible features and ease of use.
No, but it has a free plan that expires after 90 days.
Buzzsprout is without a doubt one of the best podcast hosting platforms today. It offers an array of great features that can help you create and promote your podcast.
Yes, Buzzsprout will automatically add id3 tags for your podcast. This means you can easily upload the files from your smartphone, Skype, or Zoom recorder. No need to edit or convert, just upload it!
Buzzsprout has many competitors and the list includes Podbean, Libsyn, Simplecast, and Captivate to name a few.
