A.I. Generated Illustration

Selecting where and how you host your podcast media files should be done with care and consideration based on your podcasting needs. Every podcaster will encounter unique challenges based on their needs, and these challenges might lead each podcaster to a different method of hosting their media files. Nevertheless, your media files should be hosted on a provider that can handle the request loads your podcast will generate. Initially, your demand might not be high, so your hosting costs will reflect that.

Hosting your podcast media files can be considered the backbone of your podcasting framework. If your host is weak, the overall stability of your podcast will be compromised. Make sure to do your homework: identify your needs first, then proceed to explore your options based on these needs and your budget. You will find that hosting options come in all shapes and sizes, which can be very confusing when you first start podcasting.

The first consideration should always be your abilities. How well do you understand the systems and structures involved in media hosting? This is likely the biggest hurdle when starting a podcasting journey, as very few people understand the structure of media files, or the systems used to host them. For podcasting, the most commonly used formats are mp3 or mp4, though some use “.wav” files.

Another consideration is the online presence you want to establish. Many successful podcasters establish a web presence using their website domain to build trust and recognition in the podcasting community. Many believe the best approach to podcasting is to use a website in conjunction with a host that will stream your audio or video podcast via a direct .mp3 or .mp4 file. A large number of podcasters use platforms like WordPress and hosting services such as Amazon AWS S3. I believe you should use this method. I host my media files and use the direct link within WordPress. This approach allows you to maintain complete control over your media presence at a very affordable cost.

When using WordPress with a plugin, one of the best and most affordable hosting companies is “Castos”. For the PodCreations website, I use the Seriously Simple Podcasting Plugin.

If you’re not keen on tackling technological challenges, you might prefer one of the many hosting providers that offer comprehensive packages to meet your needs. I trust and use two hosting companies. The first is “Disctopia”, which I use for my main podcast, “Dead America”. I am very satisfied with the service they provide. The second hosting service I use is “Pod Ops”. I appreciate how Pod Ops has been expanding and adding useful tools to its platform.

Conclusion: Your choice of hosting matters! Take the time to understand your needs and ensure that your hosting provider offers the features necessary to make your podcasting journey as enjoyable as possible.