At Kindleman we LOVE Podcasts. It all began with Serial back in the day and we're still hooked - The Teacher's Pet, This American Life, 99% Invisible and everything in between. There's more to a podcast than great content you also need a great website to showcase the work and we've looked at many. Here's our thoughts.
To create a great podcast website, you need to consider several key elements that will enhance the user experience and make it easy for visitors to find and enjoy your podcast. Here are some steps to help you create a fantastic podcast website:
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Plan your website structure: Start by determining the main sections and pages you want to include on your website. Common sections include Home, About, Episodes, Contact, and possibly a Blog or Resources section.
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Choose a platform or content management system (CMS): Select a platform that suits your needs and technical abilities. We recommend WordPress, Squarespace, or Wix. We've used them all. These platforms offer user-friendly interfaces and various podcast-focused themes and templates. We also design and build our own for additional individuality.
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Design and branding: Create a visually appealing design that aligns with your podcast's theme and branding. Use consistent colours, fonts, and imagery throughout your website. Hiring a graphic designer will help create a professional and eye-catching logo or header.
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Showcase your podcast episodes: Create a dedicated page for your episodes. Include a list of episodes with titles, descriptions, and thumbnail images. Provide an audio player for each episode, allowing visitors to listen directly on your website. Make it easy for visitors to subscribe to your podcast on popular podcast platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts.
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About page: Create an About page to introduce yourself, your podcast, and your team. Share information about the podcast's goals, mission, and what sets it apart from others. Consider including host bios and photos to establish a personal connection with your audience.
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Contact page: Include a dedicated contact page with a form or email address to allow visitors to reach out to you. This is particularly important if you want to receive guest inquiries, sponsorship opportunities, or general feedback from your listeners.
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Transcripts and show notes: Consider providing written transcripts or detailed show notes for each episode. This enhances accessibility, improves SEO, and allows visitors to quickly find specific topics discussed in an episode.
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Blog or Resources section: If relevant to your podcast's theme, create a blog or resources section to provide additional content. This can include articles, interviews, guides, or recommendations related to the podcast's subject matter. Regularly update this section to keep your audience engaged and attract new visitors.
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Social media integration: Include social media buttons or links to your podcast's social media profiles on your website. This allows visitors to easily follow and engage with you on platforms like Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. You can also embed social media feeds to showcase recent updates or listener interactions.
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SEO optimisation: Optimise your website for search engines by incorporating relevant keywords in your page titles, descriptions, headings, and content. This helps improve your website's visibility in search engine results and attracts organic traffic.
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Analytics and tracking: Set up website analytics tools like Google Analytics to track visitor statistics, including page views, user engagement, and traffic sources. This data will provide insights into your audience's behaviour, allowing you to refine your website and podcast strategy.
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Mobile responsiveness: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and responsive across different devices and screen sizes. Many users access podcasts on their mobile devices, so it's crucial to provide a seamless experience for all visitors.
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Regular updates and maintenance: Keep your website up to date with fresh content, new episodes, and relevant information. Regularly check for broken links, optimise loading times, and ensure all features and plugins are working properly.
Remember, creating a great podcast website requires a balance between functionality, design, and content. Keep your audience in mind and strive to provide an engaging and user-friendly experience that reflects the essence of your podcast.
If in doubt - give us a shout!
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